A new timber-framed community hub, built to replace a building that starred in BBC TV series The Detectorists, will be having its official launch in a couple of weeks.

The Castle Community Rooms in Framlingham will be formally opened at the invitation-only event on Saturday, March 18.

East Anglian Daily Times: The hall inside the Castle Community RoomsThe hall inside the Castle Community Rooms (Image: Chris Davey)

The facility, supported by pop star Ed Sheeran's father John, was opened following the demolition of the 130-year-old St Michael's Rooms, which was the home for Danebury Metal Detecting Club in the show.

READ MORE: Suffolk: New hub supported by Ed Sheeran's dad is now open

The event is restricted to supporters and fundraisers for the new community rooms and will feature a performance by a string quartet from Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham.

An open day was held for visitors to have a look around the new venue in February, one month after it had started taking bookings.

READ MORE: Framlingham: Community Rooms apply to play music and films

East Anglian Daily Times: One of the meeting rooms at Castle Community Rooms in FramlinghamOne of the meeting rooms at Castle Community Rooms in Framlingham (Image: Chris Davey)

The rooms are available for weddings, receptions and meetings and there is a hall with seating for 100 people, a meeting room accommodating 16 around a table, a kitchen and an office for St Michael's Parochial Church Council (PCC). 

The modern building, which took a year to complete at a cost of £1.2m, has been designed with a lightweight structure on specialist foundations to preserve both archaeology and mature trees on the site, while being unobtrusive on the Church Street landscape.

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The aim was to provide a facility for the whole community to use, including for social and musical events, exhibitions and fitness classes.

Mr Sheeran helped to raise funds for the building, including holding a talk at the high school in September.

Other backers have included the town council, which provided £126,000 and East Suffolk Council through £700,000 of Community Infrastructure Levy money, along with St Michael's Church and the charity Gee Wizz.

Catherine Johnson, a member of the fundraising committee for the rooms, said: "The event will be a chance to say 'thank you' to our fundraisers."

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