Fundraising campaign to replace Walsingham Village Hall

Walsingham Village Hall was gutted by a deliberate blaze in January, 2023.

Shocked locals told of their devastation after losing a popular venue used for everything from discos, parties and weddings to a polling station.

The aftermath of the fire at Walsingham Village Hall (Image: Denise Bradley)

Villagers clubbed together to raise funds for the building, on Wells Road, before it opened in 1984.

Now they are joining forces again, after being warned insurers are unlikely to cover the full cost of a more modern replacement.

Plans have been drawn up for the new building. But loss adjusters say the village is likely to receive £700,000 towards it, leaving a £300,000 shortfall.

Parish councillor Keith Tuck at Walsingham Village Hall (Image: Chris Bishop)

A Gofundme page has been set up (Image: Walsingham Village Hall)

Parish councillor Keith Tuck said they were applying for grants, launching an online appeal and organising events such as a Rock on the Rec weekend of June 22-23.

A Gofundme page has been set up under the banner of the Walsingham Village Hall Phoenix Project.

Mr Tuck, 57, helped mix the concrete for the original hall during his college summer holidays.

"It held discos, parties, weddings, funeral wakes and was used by everyone - the playgroup, the schools, it was a big shock to the community when it went up," he said.

An artist's impression of the new village hall at Walsingham (Image: Claxton Hall Associates)

The remains of the village hall, which will be demolished to make way for the new building (Image: Chris Bishop)

"We're hoping the phoenix will rise from the ashes. We're going to build better back - it's something the government are saying, so we've kind of jumped on the bandwagon."

The fire began in a wheelie bin near the kitchen door on January 30, 2023, and spread to the roof.

Fire crews battling the blaze at Walsingham Village Hall (Image: Michael Walsh)

Firefighters were quickly on the scene but were unable to prevent the roof collapsing.

A 13-year-old boy was later arrested on suspicion of arson but was never charged.