Less than a year ago, the Grade 2 listed, Devoran Village Hall faced closure. The fabric of the building was deteriorating fast, the windows and roof were leaking, the walls were mouldy and running with condensation with a dark and dingy interior. It was difficult to heat and keep warm, and as a result many of the user groups had resorted to meeting in their own homes.

Devoran Village Hall management committee had made a number of unsuccessful grant applications and despite a very successfully fund raising campaign, sufficient funds could not be raised to do the necessary work. The hall's luck changed with one last grant application to SITA Cornwall Trust. The Trust supports community improvement projects near landfill sites, by awarding grants from funds generated through the Landfill Communities Fund.

Against all the odds Devoran Village Hall made a successful bid for SITA Cornwall Trust's 2015 Flagship Grant. There was extremely stiff competition and they were only the third project to be award the Flagship Grant.

This grant has enabled Devoran Village Hall to be transformed. The hall is now warm, light and airy with a new insulated floor and roof. There are also upgraded toilet facilities, a catering kitchen and improved access for those users with mobility problems. The exterior has had a face lift too, which includes nesting boxes for the local sparrows that were displaced during the roof replacement.

Wherever possible local contractors and suppliers were used. The new windows were made by a joinery firm within the village.

Now user groups no longer have to squeeze into their dining rooms and kitchen to solve their computer problem, play Bridge or meet for an afternoon Beetle Drive.

The refurbishment of the Devoran Village Hall also had the add bonus of revealing some of the hall's history. While preparing to lay a new floor an archaeologist was on site to supervise the work. The hall was known to have been a workshop for the Redruth and Chasewater Railway, which ceased operations in 1915. The work revealed an inspection pit for wagons and engine down the length of the hall with machine mounting blocks either side and set in the end wall of the main hall was a small hearth. The hearth is thought to have been a small repair forge with what is thought to have been the bellows block sitting in the floor to one side of it. The bellows block remains exposed and can still be seen by visitors to the hall. Unfortunately these fascinating discoveries could not be seen by the public before they were covered over, so an interpretation board has been made to show what is below everyone's feet.

Devoran Village Hall will be officially reopened by Mr Paul Brinsley, Chairman of the SITA Cornwall Trust at an afternoon of celebration on Monday 2nd May. There will be entertainment from Devoran Pre School and the Riverside Singers, a community choir based in the village followed by afternoon tea.