A village hall in North Yorkshire has won £20,000 of lottery funding to help it become more environmentally friendly.

Snape Institute, in Snape, near Bedale, will use the money, alongside additional donations from other funders, to install solar panels with a battery system and new double glazed windows.

The hall was built in 1885 and has a trustee management committee of 12. It was built by Edith Milbank in memory of her father, Mark Vane Milbank, and grandfather, Mark Milbank, both of whom had owned Thorp Perrow and its estate.

The main hall and kitchen, which were the lecture hall and reading room in the original building, were later extended to add a billiard room by Sir William Gray in 1905. Original features still remain, giving the hall an arts and crafts period feel. It was gifted to the parish in 1925 with the object of improving the conditions of life for parishioners.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Snape Institute from the village green

The institute is used by a range of groups for regular meetings and numerous classes are held there weekly.

The £20,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund will help the committee to contain heating and electricity costs and provide a better environment for those using the hall. 

At the same time, the committee will be able to turn its attention to raising funds for a much needed extension with improvements to toilets, a small meeting room and a storage area.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Inside Snape Institute, which has received £20,000 of lottery funding

Sarah Lowe, chair of the management committee, said: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, we will be able to make much needed developments to our village hall enhancing its long term viability and the environment.

"This is important because our hall is a major village asset offering regular opportunities for residents of the parish and wider to come together for social, educational and physical activities; it is a hub of activity offering scope for people to meet up and this in turn helps to reduce social isolation."

Diane Hosking, committee secretary, added: “The committee works hard to see the hall busy with a wide range of activities occurring each week and, in particular, invites comments of parishioners so that we are responsive to our community in all we do."