A new community facility will open in Workington – revamping a disused building.
The Old Man’s Shelter in the town’s Vulcan Park was created after Helena Thompson donated money for it to be built in 1937.
It was intended as a reading and meeting room where men could gather to read the newspaper.
Work has now started to transform it into the Park End Shelter to be used by the whole community.
The Park End Shelter will become a centre for workshops, events, and activities that promote health and wellbeing, creativity, skills development, and climate action.
Use of the building will be available for free for non-profit and voluntary organisations.
Cllr Michael Heaslip, chair of Workington Town Council’s environment committee, said: “We are delighted to be able to restore a currently unused, but historically significant building and bring it back to life for the community.”
Work is expected to take eight weeks and the renovation work includes a kitchen and meeting room with tables and chairs.
