A 19th Century building in the heart of Ederney has been restored and extended by the village’s Community Development Trust and transformed into a community hub.

The mission of the Ederney Community Hub at Murphy’s on Main Street is to “connect people with one another and with the heritage of the building and our locality”, says the Centre Manager, Neil Armstrong.

No. 15, Main Street in Ederney, was constructed circa 1840 and was likely built as part of a gradual redevelopment of the village, which was carried out at the turn of the Victorian-era by the local landlord, the Reverend William West.

The property is one of a small number of listed buildings in the village, which include the adjoining No. 17 Main Street, and the Old Market House (Town Hall), all of which are from the same period.

The building is an increasingly rare example of an early 19th Century commercial shop with living accommodation. It is Grade B1 Listed, and of regional importance for its architectural and historic value.

“Its significance lies in its late Georgian architectural style, particularly its front elevation and rural vernacular detailing, and it has a group value with buildings constructed at the same time as when the village was expanding,” explained Neil.

“There is a social significance and economic interest again associated with the village and, in particular, the Murphy family, who lived at the property from 1915 to 2004, and ran a successful café there for many decades.”

Murphy’s on Main Street comprises tearooms, multi-use studios, creative spaces and co-working offices serving the health and wellbeing needs of local people and attracting visitors to the area.

The hub will address rural isolation, social deprivation and economic difficulties, as well as connecting the area to wider society using some of our natural and historical assets to boost a tourism economy.

Neil continued: “Murphy’s on Main Street represents a way of life mostly forgotten, and the building is once again a village gathering place.

“Ellen Murphy’s café served the community for decades, with many locals still recollecting fond memories of calling in for much-needed sustenance on a Fair Day.

“In the 1990’s, Pat Murphy reminisced that Ederney’s Fair Day was a major event, with hundreds converging on the café needing to be fed and watered!”

Neil says the restoration of No. 15 Main Street has ensured this valuable service will return to the village. The new tea rooms will be integral to the community hub, serving users with the health and wellbeing studios, programmes and workshops, as well as locals, tourists, visitors, shoppers and passers-by.

Ederney Community Development Trust will shortly be seeking Expressions of Interest from prospective parties to operate the new tea rooms, and if anyone is interested in further information, they can email info@murphysonmainstreet.com, or call 028 6625 1412.

Murphy’s on Main Street, Ederney Community Hub, was made possible working with The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Village Catalyst Grant Scheme.

Thanks to National Lottery players and the Village Catalyst Grant Scheme, Ederney Community Development Trust has been able to caringly restore and extend No. 15 Main Street into a community hub comprising tearooms, health and well-being studios, creative spaces and co-working offices, serving the health and wellbeing needs of local people and attracting visitors to the area.

The Village Catalyst grant scheme is a partnership initiative between the Department for Communities, the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and the Architectural Heritage Fund.

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