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Preservation Project

Exciting times lie ahead as we make progress with our Preservation Project.

 Over 40 years have passed since the Village Hall was first bought by the residents of Hinton Martell and now it is time for the hall to undergo a programme of restoration and refurbishment in order to bring it up to date and increase its appeal for those wishing to book a venue for classes, parties and wedding receptions. In 2019, the Villagers were asked
how they saw the future of the Village Hall. Many of them wanted the Hall to be upgraded, so that it was no longer cold and draughty and a high proportion of respondents indicated that they would like to see improvements to the kitchen and toilet facilities. Attendance at activities and events is currently restrictive as there is very limited disabled access, and this is an issue we are going to address as the project moves forward.
Improvements to the building and an enhanced programme of activities and services housed within the hall would significantly enhance the hall's role as a community hub and provide important local services and facilities for this isolated rural area.


We have started the project to re-furbish the Village Hall!

We are delighted to be able to report that Phase 1 of the Preservation project has  been completed.  We have upgraded and replaced the roof of both Halls 1 and 2, repaired the chimney stack, stabilised the walls in Hall 2 and re-built two bays of the Church wall which have been in danger of collapse.  Prior to re-opening the Hall, we had the interior of the hall smartened up, with repairs to the  crumbling plaster, the addition of dado rails and re-painting of the walls and ceilings.  New electric panel heaters have been installed, so the Hall is now a much more inviting space for the community to use.  We very much welcome your on-going support and look forward to seeing you at some of our fund-raising and other social events. 

Would you like to join us?

We are looking for people to help us with our Preservation Project.  If you have brilliant ideas for fundraising, or if you have practical skills to share, please come and join our friendly team.  Please contact Sue Dawson on 01258 841332 or any member of the committee. Together we can make our Village Hall the community hub we can be proud of.

  • Constructing the new roof over the 60's extension

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  • Lead flashing to complete the roof

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  • Breather membrane and battens ready for tiling

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  • The new roof on the 60's extension

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  • Small store room


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  • The new toilet taking shape


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  • New toilets

    Two new toilets in place of the Gents' loos

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  • Plastering!

    Plastering work to finish the new construction

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Take a closer look at how our building work has


been progressing...

  • 25/8/21

    The Village Hall from the road, with the protective barrier in place.

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  • 25/8/21

    Removing the tiles from the front of Hall 1.

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  • 25/8/21

    The removal of tiles from the front of Hall 1.

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  • 25/8/21

    The waterproof protective barrier is in place.

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  • 25/8/21

    Hall 2 - Rear of the east elevation - tile laths are being installed.

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  • 25/8/21

    Hall 2 - East elevation tile laths are being installed.

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  • 26/8/21

    The Village Hall - work in progress.

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  • 26/8/21

    Dismantling the chimney.

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  • 26/8/21

    Dismantling the chimney

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  • 26/8/21

    Removal of the tiles on Hall 2

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  • 26/8/21

    Hall 2 - East elevation removal of tiles.

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  • 26/8/21

    Hall 2 - East elevation removal of tiles

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  • 27/8/21

    Chimney re-build in progress

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  • 27/8/21

    New chimney plate in situ

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  • 27/8/21

    Hall 1 - shows damage to  cantilever rafters and evidence of birds' nests.

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  • 27/8/21

    Shows damage to cantilever rafters and evidence of birds' nests.

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  • 27/8/21

    Hall 2 - East elevation Fully stripped , re-felted and battened, with tiles waiting to be fitted

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  • 27/8/21

    Hall 2 - East elevation from St. John's.  Fully stripped, re-felted and battened with tiles waiting to be re-fitted

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  • 27/8/21

    Hall 2 - East elevation from the scaffold, fully stripped, re-felted and battened, with tiles waiting to be fitted

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  • 27/8/21

    Hall 2 - West elevation, fully stripped, re-felted and battened.

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  • 28/8/21

    Hall 2 - West elevation from chimney - fully stripped, re-felted and battened.

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  • 27/8.21

    Hall 2 - West elevation stripped down.

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  • 28/8/21

    Hall 2 - West elevation re-felting

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  • 6/9/21

    Front elevation - Old cantilever rafters removed

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  • 6/9/21

    Front elevation - Old cantilever rafters removed

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  • 6/9/21

    Front elevation- Old cantilever rafters removed

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  • 6/9/21

    Note the rot in the bargeboard!!

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  • 6/9/21

    100 Years of birds nests in the skip.

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  • 6/9/21

    Chimney Plate in Place

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  • 6/9/21

    The Finished Chimney top

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  • 6/9/21

    Cantilever rafters stained and ready for installation

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  • 10/9/21

    Hall 1 Tiles and laths stripped for repair.

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  • 10/9/21

    Hall 1 - Tiles and laths stripped for repair.

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  • 10/9/21

    Hall 1 - Tiles and laths stripped for repair

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  • 10/9/21

    Hall 1 - New cantilever rafters in place.

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  • 10/9/21

    Hall 1 - New cantilever rafters in place.

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  • 10/9/21

    Hall 1 re-felted and new tile laths in place.  Note the re-built chimney stack.

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  • 10/9/21

    Hall 1 Re-felted and new tile laths in place.

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  • 10/9/21

    Hall 1 Refelted and new tile laths in place.

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  • 10/9/21

    Hall 2 West elevation.  Tiles partially re-hung.

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  • 10/9/21

    Hall 2 East elevation.  Tiles partially re-hung, awaiting re-work of valley at the hip roof and wall ties.

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  • 10/9/21

    Hall 2 East elevation.  Tiles partially re-hung.

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  • 13/9/21

    The tiles are going back onto the main Hall.

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  • 13/9/21

    Re-hanging the tiles at the front of the main Hall.

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  • 13/9/21

    Working on the ridge of the main Hall

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  • 13/9/21

    The re-built chimney stack and re-tiled roof of Hall 1

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  • 13/9/21

    Making good progress re-hanging the roof tiles of Hall 1

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  • 15/9/21

    Hall 1 Front Elevation - re-making the front bargeboard

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  • 15/9/21

    Hall 1 - Front elevation - re-making the front bargeboard

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  • 15/9/21

    Hall 1 Front Elevation - re-making the front bargeboard.

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  • 16/9/21

    Hall 2 - West elevation Ready for tile hanging

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  • 16/9/21

    Hall 1- Rear elevation.  Stripping tiles, battens preparing for repair

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  • 16/9/21

    Hall1 - Rear elevation - Stripping tiles and preparing for repair.

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  • 16/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation - stripping tiles and preparing for repair.

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  • 16/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation - stripping tiles and preparing for repair

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  • 16/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation - stripping tiles and preparing for repair

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  • 16/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation - stripping tiles and preparing for repair

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  • 16/9/21

    Hall 1 - Front elevation - preparing to re-hang tiles.

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  • 17/9/21

    Hall 1 - East elevation - bargeboards re-painted

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  • 17/9/21

    Hall 1 - East elevation - bargeboards re-painted

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  • 17/9/21

    Hall 1 - East elevation bargeboards re-painted

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  • 21/9/21

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  • 21/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation - Bargeboard Repair

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  • 21/9/21

    Hall 1 Rear elevation - new cantilever rafters installed

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  • 21/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation - new cantilever rafters installed.

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  • 21/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation - old cantilever rafters removed.

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  • 21/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation - old cantilevers removed.

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  • 21/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation - Repairs to bargeboard and roof boards

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  • 21/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation - Repairs to bargeboard and roof boards.

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  • 22/9/21

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  • 22/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation.  Re-felted and new tiles laths installed.

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  • 22/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation.  Re-felted and new tiles laths installed.

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  • 22/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation.  Re-felted and new tile laths installed.

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  • 22/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation.  Re-felted and new tile laths installed.

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  • 22/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation.  Re-felted and new tile laths installed.  Stacking tiles for re-installation.

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  • 22/9/21

    Re-building the Churchyard wall.  Tree stump removal.

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  • 22/9/21

    Re-building the Churchyard wall at the rear of the Hall.  Tree stump removal.

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  • 22/9/21

    Re-building Churchyard wall at the rear of the Hall.  Tree stump removal.

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  • 22/9/21

    Re-building the Churchyard wall at the rear of the Hall.  Note the marks showing where the tree had grown around the bricks.

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  • 22/9/21

    Re-building the Churchyard wall at the rear of the Hall.

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  • 23/9/21

    Re-building the Churchyard wall at the rear of the Hall.

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  • 23/9/21

    Hall 1 - East elevation.  Bargeboards repaired.

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  • 23/9/21

    Hall 1 - Hall 2  Valley gutter preparation - lead tray installed.

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  • 23/9/21

    Hall 1 - Hall 2  Close up of valley gutter preparation - lead tray installed.

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  • 23/9/21

    Hall 1 - Hall 2.  New step-flashing installed.

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  • 23/9/21

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  • 23/9/21

    Hall 1 - Hall 2.  Valley gutter and tiles installed.

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  • 23/9/21

    Hall 1 - Hall 2.  Valley gutter and tiles installed.

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  • 23/9/21

    Hall 1 - Hall 2. Valley gutter and tiles installed - view from the Churchyard.

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  • 27/9/21

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  • 27/9/21

    Hall 1 - Hall 2 - Valley gutter preparation

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  • 27/9/21

    Hall 1 - East elevation.  Verges filled.

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  • 27/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation.  Final tile run to School House.

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  • 27/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation.  Final tile run to School House almost completed.

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  • 27/9/21

    Hall 1 - Rear elevation.  Final tile run to School House almost completed.

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  • 27/9/21

    Hall 2 - West elevation.  Installing tiles.

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  • 27/9/21

    School House - Ridge tiles repair.

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  • 7/10/21

    Hall 1 Rear and Hall 2 Fully re-tiled

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  • 7/10/21

    Hall 1 Rear & Hall 2 West side.  New valley gutter.

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  • 7/10/21

    Repaired Churchyard wall

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  • 7/10/21

    Repaired Churchyard wall

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  • 7/10/21

    Repaired Churchyard wall

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  • 8/10/21

    Hall 1 & 2 West side from the Churchyard.  Roof works completed.

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  • 8/10/21

    Hall 1 & 2 tiling completed

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  • 8/10/21

    Hall 1 & 2 - Close up view of the new valley gutter.

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  • 8/10/21

    Hall 1 Gable end work completed.

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  • 8/10/21

    Village Hall from the Churchyard.  Roof works completed.

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  • 8/10/21

    Village Hall front view from the roadside.  Roof works completed.

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The Preservation Project



In 2019, a survey was conducted, asking the Villagers how they saw the future of the Village Hall. Many of them wanted the Hall to be upgraded, so that it was no longer cold and draughty and a high proportion of respondents indicated that they would like to see improvements to the kitchen and toilet facilities. Attendance at activities and events is currently restrictive as there is very limited disabled access, and this is an issue we are going to address as the Preservation Project moves forward.

Improvements to the building and an enhanced programme of activities and services housed within the hall would significantly enhance the hall's role as a community hub and provide important local services and facilities for this isolated rural area.


An initial appeal to the Heritage Lottery Fund was successful in granting enough money to pay for planning permission and for the services of a professional fundraiser. In 2020, planning permission was granted to renovate the roof and chimney, install a new heating system, upgrade the windows, improve the kitchen facilities and improve access for the disabled by installing a ramp.


Unfortunately, Covid-19 struck just as the Village Hall Committee were planning a full year of fundraising events (in order to get the project off to a successful start) and all events and bookings had to be cancelled. In 2020, a number of 'socially distanced' fundraising initiatives were launched. To date, in addition to the £10,000 already raised by the Village Hall Committee, £1,432 was raised by an online auction, over £1,200 to date by the 'Buy a Tile' initiative and donations are still coming in from the newly launched 100 Club.


We are extremely grateful to the following organisations for their generous support of our project:

  • The Talbot Village Trust
  • The Pilgrim Trust
  • The Bernard Sunley Foundation
  • A.C.R.E.
  • Dorset Council (Leisure Development Fund)





Phase two is just beginning...


Following the completion of Phase 1 of the project, we are now working hard to start on the second phase of work.  The priorities identified are the refurbishment of the toilet area, the repair of the windows, installation of secondary double glazing and the improvement of the disabled access.

Some funding has been carried over from the first phase, and in addition to this, we have secured grants from:

  • The Arnold Clark Community Fund
  • The Benefact Trust
  • Veolia The Landfill Trust


Other bids are in progress and, of course, your support at our events all helps us to make improvements to the Hall.  If you are in a position to make a donation to the project, please contact Sue Dawson: suedawson6@hotmail.co.uk.