School transformed into village community centre

School transformed into village community centre

2 October 2013

CLOUGH Old School has been officially reopened as a community centre for the area.

Built as a single room primary school in 1858, it was extended in 1925 to provide a second classroom and served as the local school until the 1960s.

When it was replaced by Clough Primary School, now Cumran Primary School, the building was still used by groups including Down Further Education College and Clough Village Committee, until renovation and modernisation work was needed in 2010.

With grant assistance from the Rural Development Fund the work was completed in March included re-roofing, replacing windows, a new kitchen, thermal enhancements, disability access improvements and a flexible open space to cater for the needs of group sizes.

Describing it as a day of celebration for the village and wider area South Down MP Margaret Ritchie congratulated the local community and the Committee of Clough Old School.

“At long last, the landmark building, the Old School, in the centre of the village has been transformed into a community centre,” she said.

“The school, which is owned by Clough Presbyterian Church, is another piece of essential community infrastructure which is already used for a wide range of activities for the elderly, young people, drug awareness and craft classes and Christian Exploration lectures.

“All these activities clearly reflect and characterise the overall ethos of this facility — a place of education and caring for the local community of Clough.

“Situated in the heart of the community, the renovation of this building has contributed to the regeneration of this village following in the footsteps of the health village, Cumran School and the new garage complex.

“Special thanks must go to the Minister, the elders and members of the local Church and wider community who have displayed vision in ensuring this facility has been made available for the local community and to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Down Rural Area Partnership for the provision of monies to enable the restoration of the hall to take place, which is sympathetic to the architecture of the original structure and the local built heritage.

“I also hope that the village plan prepared by Mentor Consultants some time ago will unveil other pointers for the further regeneration of the village, which needs to be accompanied by resources from central and local government for implementation purposes,” she said.

Today the Old School is used for classes, courses, outreach, senior citizens clubs, the local Orchard Grove care home and it is available for hire.

For further information and booking enquiries contact Margaret McCall on 028 44811295 or email: clougholdschool@btinternet.com