This is how the new building will look.
OBJECTIVE
The objective is to provide a suitable building that would deliver a high quality, environmentally friendly, multi-purpose facility, which will effectively become the “village hall” of Lathom. The development therefore, will provide much needed facilities for a wide variety of large and small groups for which there is an ever increasing demand within the local area.
HISTORY
The existing premises has been used for a wide variety of purposes over the last 85 years. The main hall was originally part of the Lathom Re-Mount Depot for the Army Service Corps on the Lathom Estate during the 1914-18 war. It was moved and re-built on its present site in the early 1920’s by the 3rd Earl of Lathom for the performance of plays etc. Many well known actors and actresses performed on the stage, including Noel Coward, Ivor Novello and Olga Lynne in the early 1920’s before they moved on to become well known personalities in the theatre world. The building itself, was later extended to include Committee and Youth Club rooms, together with kitchen and toilet facilities.
It became the headquarters of the Lathom Women’s Institute for a considerable number of years, who still meet there. With a decreasing and ageing membership, the upkeep of maintaining the building became excessive. It was agreed in March 1999 to transfer the ownership of the property to Ormskirk & District Scouts, and was confirmed by Eversheds Ltd. (Solicitors) that the Freehold Title was absolute.
A Structural Survey of the hall reported back that “it is very unlikely that this building can be affectively repaired to ensure long term structural stability in its current form” over £45.000 was spent on various repairs and running costs.
A further Structural Survey came to the same conclusion plus added the following comment “it is quite clear that it cannot be economically refurbished, it should be remembered that a timber framed building such as this constructed in 1900 probably had an anticipated life span of 30 to 40 years. It is over 100 years old. It as also suffered from prolonged lack of sufficient maintenance” hence after 110 years of use its current dilapidated appearance.
To date a lot of background work as been completed that is required on a project of this magnitude and is of course very much ongoing as is the associated funding of this worthwhile development.
