Work has started this week to preserve a village hall near Malmesbury.  

Preservation works on Charlton Village Hall, Charlton started this week.

After thirty-six years of wind, rain, and snow, the wooden end gables were deteriorating.

Now, thanks to £2,000 funding from the Hills Group Limited and a grant from the Malmesbury Area Board, the exterior cladding is being refurbished.

Rotten timber will be replaced and preservative will be applied to the gables and the sides of the hall.

The Hills Group money has been made available through the Landfill Communities Fund which is administered for Hills by Community First, the Rural Community Council for Wiltshire.

Anne Hodgkins, secretary of Charlton Recreational Centre, said: “These grants have enabled the management committee to ensure the future of a well-used community building, and we are very grateful to Hills and the Area Board for their support.

"Our committee works hard to raise funds locally and these grants have enabled us to spread that money between this work, the ongoing refurbishing of our play area and, with the help of volunteers, redecoration of the hall interior.

"We are looking forward to a great day out at the Charlton Fair on July 14, to raise funds for further improvements.”