St George's Centre
St George's Centre was a former school, and now a community information and activity centre on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. The centre is situated in the area of Reforne, within the village of Easton. It is found close to the Grade I listed St George's Church. St George's Centre has been a Grade II Listed Building since September 1978.[1] At this same time, the centre's community hall, formerly the school assembly hall, also became Grade II listed. The hall was built c. 1880.[2]
History
A former school, which was opened 5 April 1857, the building was constructed by contractors Hansford and Waight, at a cost of £775. The building had educated schoolchildren for 112 years, until it closed in 1969. It was designed originally to provide education specifically for the children of Tophill. Portland's first school, Maister's School, established in 1720, was Portland's only free day school for over one hundred years, until 1857 when St George's School was built along with St John's School in Fortuneswell. Following the closure of the school, the building suffered from years of neglect and vandalism. In December 1981, The Island of Portland Heritage Trust was formed, and the trust began fundraising to purchase the building from the Crown Estate Commissioners. The target was achieved, a project team appointed, and the conversion of the school into a Community and Craft Centre was completed by 1984.
The project had created over 50 jobs for the unemployed, who would work on various community programmes, whilst the Trust, in conjunction with the West Country Tourist Board opened the Portland's first Tourist Information Centre to encourage visitors to the island. Today the centre remains a registered charity.[3] The trust continues to own the building, and the charity relies largely on hall hire and workshop fees to cover the maintenance and overheads.[1][4] The activity and information centre today provides facilities for a whole range of local activities, including arts and crafts, bingo, the Royal Manor Workshops, a play school and a dance group. The complex is used extensively by many local organisations.[5] The building's halls consist of the Peter Trim Community Hall, Girt Hall and the Skylark Studio.[6]
References
- 1 2 Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1203114)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ↑ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1206092)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ↑ http://www.stgeorgesreforne.co.uk/ On the "Home" page
- ↑ http://www.stgeorgesreforne.co.uk/ On the "About Us" page
- ↑ "Auctioneers help to raise cash for Portland Heritage Trust (From Dorset Echo)". Dorsetecho.co.uk. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ↑ http://www.stgeorgesreforne.co.uk/ On the "Halls and Rates" page
External links
Coordinates: 50°32′49″N 2°26′27″W / 50.5469°N 2.4407°W
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