Erwood Market Hall facelift will keep community spirit alive

In such rural settings throughout Mid Wales, venues like village halls are truly vital in bringing communities together.

And, thanks to small grants here and there from local councils and businesses, renovations have future-proofed Erwood Market Hall, which will mean residents young and old can continue to meet and maintain their fitness, wellbeing and relationships.

The grants, which amounted to around £4,000, meant Builth Wells-based Craig Harris Decorating was able to restore vital wood, stone and metalwork at the 125-year-old building in July.

“The inside of Erwood Market Hall was decorated top to bottom when the hall was closed due to Covid restrictions,” said a spokesperson for the hall committee.

“It was clear then that damp was seeping through the two gable ends which entailed much work to renovate the internal plaster on the walls.

“Raising the money to address the problem took some time as it costs over £4,000 to put right the permeable outside walls.

“But we had some small grants from Erwood Community Council and from Hansons, the quarry in Llanelwedd, and, most significantly, a big grant from Monmouth Building Society who now have a branch in Brecon.

“This has enabled the committee to afford the re-pointing of the outside stone wall where needed, the total re-paining of the two ends and the windows at the back of the hall and a special water-proof spray coating to finally stop the damp penetrating the wall.”

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Behind the clear aesthetic improvement, the renovation will provide a huge boost to a rural community which might only have a village hall or a pub as a social gathering point, as is the case with Erwood.

“This very rural community has a population density of fewer than 2 people per square kilometre and a total population of about 1,500,” added the committee.

“Yet Erwood Community Chorus has 20 singers, the Young Farmers Club has about 60 members (ages 11-26), including leaders.

“Concerts attract the hall's maximum seating capacity of about 80. The coffee club for the elderly and lonely attracts 35-40 and this is soon to be extended to offer a highly subsidised lunch in a warm environment.

The hall celebrated 125 years as a vital community asset to Erwood in 2023. (Image: Craig Harris Decorating)

“In such a rural community, the village hall brings the community together. It enables the young to meet and take part in fun and farmer training, and the old, lonely and very isolated to come together.”

Last year, the hall celebrated 125 years of being central to the fabric of Erwood life, including those residents living in the surrounding countryside.

It hosts a wealth of events and clubs, and is used regularly on a weekly, fortnightly and monthly basis. A local fitstep class is held every week, while Erwood YFC also use the hall every week.

Erwood Community Chorus, an all-ages group engaging in 'natural voice' singing, uses it every other week, while a coffee morning for the elderly, including regular community lunches, is held once a month, with the Mothers’ Union, WI and Messy Church (family fun craft activities) groups also gathering monthly.

There are also myriad other occasional visitors to the hall, from Erwood Community Players, Erwood Community Council and Erwood Show committee talks, in addition to visiting local choir concerts.

The hall's use for 2024 can be viewed on the programme list on the Erwood Market Hall Facebook page.