A MYSTERY bequest totalling £200,000 is set to transform Addingham Memorial Hall, creating a special room for the village playgroup and improving facilities for the many groups using the building.

An elderly lady from the village, whose identity is not being revealed, died recently and left the money to the hall in her will.

Committee member Penny Jerome said: "It is a tremendous sum. She was a supporter of the hall and a great supporter of the village.

"It is a very well used building and when we received the bequest we had to think what we could do to improve it."

Groups using the hall include the Civic Society, Playgroup, the weekly Mother and Baby Clinic, Luncheon Club, Probus Club, Civic Society, Drama Group and whist drive. The hall also plays host to the pantomime and antiques show held in Addingham.

Improvement work begins on Monday and the hall could remain out of action for up to 14 weeks while the alterations, extensions and general refurbishment of the building takes place.

The memorial hall building has been at its current site since the end of the 19th century when it was used as a chapel for the Primitive Methodists, according to local historian, Kate Mason.

It was bought in 1958 for £1,000 as part of a village venture to create a lasting memorial to the men and women of Addingham who sacrificed so much during World War Two.

The elected committee held a number of fundraising events during the 12 previous years to raise the money, including horse races, whist drives, dances and children's days.

Twenty years later a bequest from a brother and sister, who had grown up in the village and since moved to the USA, enabled the building to be converted into a village hall.

Now a second bequest is taking the hall into the 21st century.

Mrs Jerome explained: "We are knocking down the main wall at the front of the building making a bigger entrance porch, disabled ramp as well as steps and a ladies cloakroom.

"The bar area and what used to be Barclays Bank will now be a large storage room.

"We are also building on a bit more at the back for a room to be used primarily for the playgroup, which meets every day, so they don't need to put things away, but other organisers will still be able to hire it if necessary."

The builders will be raising the roof above the stage, and replacing the kitchen. Disabled access will be provided and the lobby area will be enlarged.

The committee has not yet decided how they will celebrate the re-opening of the hall, but are looking to host an event.