Greyfriars Ebenezer Hall

Greyfriars Ebenezer Hall - for the next 100 years

What was the problem

After four decades of tender loving care by the Community Association the Ebenezer Hall was getting tired

Slates falling off the roof
Damp patches coming up through the floor
Large crack in the wall of the lavatory
Not “energy efficient” and no longer met the new required standards

What we needed to do

Photo above June 2008, below January 2009

Outside

Take the roof off;

Replace any suspect timber.
Install insulation to meet building regulation standards.
Renew the guttering.

Replace the sash windows and secondary double glazing with double glazed windows designed to enhance the ambience of the building

Remove the vegetation and repair defective brickwork

Inside the Hall

Replace ceiling

Remove existing floor surfaces, install damp-proof membrane, sub-floor and wooden, semi-sprung floor

Remove secondary double glazing - see “Outside” above

Remove dado and replace with skirting boards and chair rails - similar to Ann Rose Hall - retaining ballet barre

Photo above June 2008, below January 2009

Provide permanent projection “screen” on south end wall plus public address system

Install concealable desk for Pre-School Playgroup in a range of units under the “screen”

The Loos

Complete renovation

The Foyer

Install “lantern” roof light for sustainability and atmosphere

Architects, Sheerin Bettle Associates, and contractors, Raymond Brown Building Ltd completed the work three days ahead of schedule on 19 December 2008. The total cost of the work and items added during the contract is £160,000.

Generous donations, particularly from The Stephenson Charitable Trust, Ringwood & District Old Peoples Welfare Association, the late Raymond and Mrs Brown, the Garfield Weston Foundation, Ringwood Town Council, St Leonards & St Ives Parish Council and Hampshire County Council, many Greyfriars Clubs and Affiliated Societies and individual members, together with a particularly generous anonymous donation, have enabled us to complete the fund raising in just two years.

A Purbeck stone plaque has been put up in the foyer area to record this wonderful effort.

Thank you for your help

Buy the full-colour booklet on the history of the Hall revealed by the work

"The Ebenezer Hall at Greyfriars"
by Mary Baldwin and Mike Osborne

£2.50 from the Greyfriars Office