The Iron Room, West Down 

The Church Room is locally known as the Iron Room because its exterior is cladded in iron. It will be at least 100 years old in 2011 (records before this date have yet to be confirmed). Prior to the building of the Village Hall in the late 1950s, it and the chapel school room were used as meeting rooms in the village. Records recall it being used for a variety of events including parties, celebrations, whist drives, wedding receptions, WI, Mothers' Union, and very much more. For larger functions, such as the Coronation tea, the school was used.

The PCC embarked on a refurbishment project in May 2010. A local builder was engaged and his part of the project is now complete (as at September 2010). The refurbishment included the strengthening of the structure, the installation of a disabled toilet - something that is much needed - and an upgraded kitchen. Visually the Iron Room will look exactly the same which is something the PCC has been keen to achieve throughout the refurbishment.

The refurbishment has only been possible by donations from the community (in excess of £13k) and a loan from the church Local Mission Growth Fund (£20k), which will have to be paid back over the next two years, and loans from parishioners. The project is still moving forward whilst further money is raised.  Parishioners' have taken over most of the outstanding work and the reopening will be undertaken in two phases.

An interim opening has already taken place (October 2010) and the hall is being used regularly by the Youth Club (Tuesday evenings), Bible Study (Wednesday mornings) and Coffee Morning (Thursdays).  The final opening event will coincide with the completion of the sewer connection for the new disabled toilet and the upgraded kitchen.

A small informal Steering Committee has been set up to look in to the future use of the hall which will eventually become the new Management Committee on behalf of the church.  If you want to be involved please contact andy.odell999@btinternet.com. Details of the membership of the Steering Committee and its meetings will be published here is due course.  The Steering Committee will be looking at how to pay off the loan at the earliest opportunity.

Once it is known when the room will be reopening with the disabled toilet fully operational a booking system will be set up and managed by Andy Odell.