A SMALL community in Monmouthshire is celebrating the news that it has won almost £7,000 towards funding the restoration of an historic landmark.

Villagers in Grosmont, near Abergavenny, want to see repairs and refurbishments carried out to the Grade II-Listed town hall, which has been the focal point of the community since the 19th Century.

It was re-built by the Duke of Beaufort in 1831 after the original building fell into disrepair and was given to the parish in 1902.

The work includes repairing some of the steps and fire door, putting a hand and guard rails in the fire escape to make sure it meets fire safety regulations, removing ivy and moss from the roof and sympathetic redecoration of the outside of the building.

It is expected to cost the community council more than £8,000, so the grant of £6,921 awarded by the Village Alive Trust, which aims to preserve historic buildings, is a huge boost.

The building has an upstairs assembly room and a groundfloor market hall.

It is a rare survivor of a wellpreserved early 19th Century town hall and is the only meeting place for the community council and several local groups.

Another historic building to benefit from funding is St Arvans Church, near Chepstow. A grant of £8,000 will be used to re-tile the tower, dating from 1820, in traditional stone.

Village Alive Trust secretary Dr Jean Prosser said: “There are very few sources of funding for historic building projects at present and the Village Alive Trust is delighted to support these worthy schemes. Our 80 percent level of assistance is a particular benefit to most projects.”