Last surviving WW1 Airfield building in the New Forest - £450,000 raised for refurbishment!
East Boldre Village Hall Refurbishment begins
The Trustees of East Boldre Village Hall, the last surviving WW1 Airfield building on the Forest and important community space, have successfully raised over £450,000 for their refurbishment project. Treasurer, Gina Antczak said: “we would like to thank all the organisations and individuals who have generously donated so far. This will cover the majority of the building costs but we’ll need to raise more to do everything on our wish list so we will reach out to the local community and our following of heritage enthusiasts in a crowdfunding appeal at a future date”.
Lord Montagu, Patron of East Boldre Village Hall, visited the site as the builders started and said “I am pleased to see this building which has significant historical interest and is at the heart of the community being given a new lease of life. The refurbishment will benefit everyone who uses the hall in the future”.
The project will transform the hall and make a huge difference to the community. Not only will the building have a much improved kerb-side appearance but internal changes will allow for a greater number and broader range of activities to be provided. Westmade Ltd, Building Contractors, will oversee the works and the first job will be to remove the wall between the seating area and old store room.
Planned features include extending the theatre hall by nearly 50% and improving access to the Robert Coles Room. There will be a new, larger and more modern kitchen and modernised and refurbished toilets. Upgraded stage facilities with projection and sound for film, theatre and talks together with the increased seating capacity with new, more comfortable chairs will enhance the user experience. Cushioned flooring in the theatre hall will benefit those attending exercise and dance classes.
Chair, Mike Husband said: “We are thankful to the volunteers for their help and the time they have invested. A focus group has given the trustees invaluable help and advice on the new kitchen and decor, and we've received kind offers to help with clearing the hall, the kitchen refit, carpentry, decorating and more but we are always looking for extra volunteers. Thank you also to all the hall users who are managing the disruption so well. We know that the waiting will be worth it. The hall will feel warmer, lighter, more comfortable, user-friendly and above all, more welcoming. We look forward to inviting everyone back when the hall re-opens.”
The hall is expected to re-open during early Summer 2026.
Please follow progress on their Facebook page – East Boldre Village Hall
More information can be found at https://www.eastboldre.org/ebvhmain.html
Advance bookings can be made at
Any donations would be gratefully received via Just Giving https://www.justgiving.com/charity/eastboldrevillagehall or email
Left to right : Jacob Whitmarsh, Darren Cowley and David Burt from Westmade Builders. Gina Antczak, Lord Montagu, Michael Husband and Michael Upton, 3 of the Village Hall Trustees.
Lord Montagu helpng with the first wall that will be removed.
Additional information for the Editor:
Funds have been raised mainly from generous organiseations but also from talks, exhibitons and other events at the hall.
- Anonymous donation £10,000
- Beaulieu Beaufort Foundation £5,000
- Caroline Montagu-Weston Foundation £10,000
- Charles Burnett Foundation £10,000
- Community Infrastructure Levy £100,000
- Community Lottery £100,000
- East Boldre Parish Council £2,500
- Garfield Weston £30,000
- Hall funds (from activities, events, book sales, donations, Covid grants) £45,000
- HCC Leaders' Community Fund and Councillor's Fund £25,000
- New Forest NPA Communities Fund £2,000
- NFDC Community Fund and NFDC Councillor's Fund £25,700
- Mrs B Timms who used to help run the hall £5,000
- Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund (ACRE) £68,300
- SSE for the facilitation of a generator £15,000
for futher information please contact :
Gina Antczak, 07850 118160;
or Judith Richardson, 07773 284211;
