Burnby Hall refurbishment update
Pocklington Community Trust is pleased to report that building work is now underway to start repurposing Burnby Hall for community use…….
January marks the beginning of a rolling programme of repairs and refurbishment to the Community Hall and the Old Hall.
The DIFEY grant funded project to create a Baby Changing room and upgrade the lighting in the foyer of the Community Hall, that started between Christmas and New Year, is now nearing completion.
The UKSPF grant funded replacement of the glass lantern and emergency repair work to the roof above the central stairwell of the Old Hall begins today. Work will take 2-3 weeks depending on weather conditions.
During the February school half term holidays, work to replace all the sash and casement windows in the Community Hall with accoya double glazed units will start on 16th February. The YOR4Good grant funded project will take 2-3 days. During the window installation the Community Hall will remain closed.
Also, in February, contractors will be undertaking tree work to raise the crown of the trees at the rear of Burnby Hall. This project is funded by Pocklington Town Council.
In March, a wall will be re-instated to enclose the area previously used for civil wedding ceremonies and now renamed the Stewart Room, to create a meeting room and lobby to the main entrance of Burnby Hall. This Two Ridings grant funded project, will also re-instate a reception window opening onto the entrance lobby. The former Accounts office will become the Community Trusts office and main reception to Burnby Hall.
At the end of March, subject to weather conditions, work to repair and repaint the windows on the front and side elevation of Burnby Hall will begin. This project is funded by Pocklington Town Council.
Delays in securing the lease for Burnby Hall from ERYC has resulted in the Town Council being unable to access Community Ownership Funding, which was to have been the principal source of funding to finance the project. Consequently, the refurbishment of Burnby Hall can no longer be completed as a single project but must be completed in phases. Given funding constraints this is now a multiyear project.
For the 2026-27 financial year (starting in April), Pocklington Community Trust have identified a number of key projects that are critical to opening up Burnby Hall for community use during 2026.
These projects include the replacement of the ground floor male and disabled toilets with new enlarged unisex and accessible toilets. The Town Council’s architects have already been instructed to prepare detailed plans and specifications to allow the project to go out to tender. This project is critical to opening up the first-floor rooms for hire. The second essential major capital expenditure project is the installation of a platform lift to allow hall users with mobility issues access to the first-floor rooms. The architects have been instructed to prepare plans and consult with structural engineers.
Working in partnership with the Town Council and building on our success in securing grant funding during 2025-26, the Community Trust will begin securing funding to help finance the next phase of this major community project. Until now, the delays in securing the lease from ERYC has prevented the Community Trust from applying for larger capital grants.
