Save Our Hall

Milton Abbot Village Hall

Building Restoration & Improvement Programme

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Progress Report — April 2026

This report provides an overview of the restoration and improvement works undertaken at Milton Abbot Village Hall. The building has undergone significant remediation to address long standing issues with damp, rot, and structural deterioration. The following room-by-room account documents what has been done, what remains, and the vision for each space.

The History Room

Background

The History Room forms the first extension made to the building a few years after it was built in 1842. Access was created by breaking through a doorway from what is now the kitchen. The room previously featured a cast iron fireplace in the corner.

Works Completed

•        Cast iron fireplace and chimney removed

•        Original floor removed

•        Wet rot and dry rot fully eradicated

•        Damp proof membranes installed

•        Increased ventilation installed

•        New flat, level floor laid

Vision & Future Use

The intention is to transform the History Room into a small, characterful snug and games room — potentially with a pool table as a centrepiece — finished to a high decorative standard. Its scale and direct access to the kitchen make it ideal for hire by smaller groups, whether for private meetings, social gatherings, or quiet activities.

The room benefits from direct kitchen access and fire escape routes in both directions, making it safe and practical. It is expected to become the hall’s smallest hire option, suited to intimate bookings.

Funding Position

Grant funding secured to date is not sufficient to bring this room fully up to the desired standard. The committee will continue to pursue further funding opportunities to restore the original panelling and complete the finishing works.

The Kitchen

Background & The Problem

The kitchen was the most severely affected room in the building. Surface water ran off the main road toward the building, entering through ventilation holes and saturating the ground beneath. The walls were chronically damp as a result, the floor and all internal kitchen equipment had deteriorated beyond repair.

Works Completed

•        Perimeter trench dug to intercept and redirect surface water away from the building

•        Damp proof membrane installed

•        Damp proof course installed in solid sections

•        Increased sub-floor ventilation installed, connecting kitchen, hall, and reading room

•        New flooring laid throughout

•        All rotten kitchen equipment and fittings removed

•        Replastering underway

•        New lowered ceiling installed to reduce heat loss and improve ambience

•        New energy-efficient LED lighting installed

•        Modern electrics installed with sockets positioned for practical kitchen use

Equipment & Design

The kitchen has been designed for modern, practical use. Planned appliances include two single ovens (suitable for batch cooking), an electric induction hob, a fridge, and a hot water boiler. Two alcoves have been opened up: one to house a high capacity microwave, the other to provide a dedicated hand wash station — bringing the kitchen in line with current food hygiene standards.

A stable door has been installed, allowing staff to serve from the kitchen hatch while maintaining a safe barrier between the kitchen and public areas when required.

Timetable

•        Plastering: First week of May 2026

•        Electrical fit-out: Second week of May 2026

•        Kitchen fitted and fully operational: Before end of June 2026

Outcome

Once complete, the kitchen will be fully compliant with relevant legislation and fit for purpose, providing hirers with a modern, functional space suitable for food preparation, reheating, and catering.

The Original Hall Entrance

Works completed

The hallway floor has been transformed with attractive new tiling. The previous concrete floor had no damp proof membrane, leaving it saturated and contributing to cold, damp internal walls and rotting timbers in that part of the building.

The floor was completely lifted and excavated to a greater depth. A damp proof membrane was installed, a ventilation space was created and a new suspended floor was built of concrete block and beams, allowing air to flow freely between the hall, kitchen, and reading room. This passive ventilation system is fundamental to keeping the building dry going forward.

New improved lighting has been installed with automatic sensor control; making it easier for use at all times.

Access & Accessibility

The entrance now features a compliant disabled access ramp. All key rooms — the main hall, reading room, kitchen, and history room — are now on a single level, providing a safe, stable, and fully accessible environment for all users including wheelchair users.

The Reading Room

Heritage & Character

The Reading Room is a remarkable space. Its high ceiling, ornate central ventilation, decorative ribs, and springing points of the wall arches bear a striking resemblance to Tavistock Town Hall — and with good reason: both were designed by the same architect. The room benefits from a beautiful aspect, warming beautifully in summer as sunlight enters through the main window.

The room’s volume and character make it well suited to a wide range of activities including yoga, art groups, reading groups, and exhibitions. It connects directly to the stage on one side, has fire escape access on the other, and has direct access to the main hall and kitchen in a few steps via the hallway.

Current Position

Carpet tiles have been laid as a temporary measure, allowing the room to be hired while further work is planned. The floor has been made safe and stable. However, the timber beneath will ultimately need to be lifted in full: woodworm-affected timbers will be removed and replaced, and a new heavy duty chipboard floor will be laid throughout.

Outstanding Works

Internal fire retardant wall covering is in place as a temporary measure. It would be counterproductive to carry out permanent finishing work prior to the new floor being laid, as all internal surfaces would need to be disturbed again. This work is subject to further funding.

The Basement

The basement beneath the reading room had been used as a dumping ground and was in a poor state — damp, rotting timbers and filled with fungal spores. Extensive remediation has now been carried out:

•        Completely cleared and emptied

•        Badly laid and damaged slate floor removed to allow the building to breathe

•        Window unblocked and Ventilation significantly improved, with fresh air flow through to the building exterior

•        Structural supports and switch plates brought up to modern standard

The next phase will see a damp proof membrane installed to prevent moisture vapour from rising further into the structure above.

Summary

The restoration of Milton Abbot Village Hall represents a substantial and complex programme of work. The fundamental issues of damp, rot, and poor ventilation — which had degraded the building over many decades — have been systematically addressed. Each room is either complete, nearing completion, or stabilised and safe for interim use.

The kitchen is on track to be fully operational during June 2026. The hall and entrance are transformed. The reading room and history room require further investment to reach their full potential, and the committee remains committed to pursuing every available source of grant funding to achieve this.

The end result will be a village hall that is warm, dry, safe, accessible, and a genuine asset to the community of Milton Abbot for generations to come.