Launch of £1.2m Suffolk hall tomorrow to replace BBC star

Accommodating up to 120 people, the timber-framed Castle Community Rooms have been opened to replace St Michael's Rooms in Framlingham, which starred in the BBC show about Danebury Metal Detecting Club.

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The building, designed by James Gorst Architects in partnership with Framlingham Parochial Church Council, is available for weddings, receptions and meetings and boasts a hall with seating for 100 people, as well as a meeting room accommodating 16.

The main hall in the Castle Community Rooms in Framlingham (Image: Chris Davey)

Social and musical events, exhibitions and fitness classes can also be held there.

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Laura O'Brien, an associate with the architects, said: "Creating places for people to gather, socialise and meet was crucial to the vision for the project; the building opens out towards the churchyard and town to the south, enhancing the connection to the market and inviting the community in.”

James Gorst, the architects' director, said the designers felt a responsibility to ensure the new building fitted in with a picturesque and historic area.

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He added: "The new hall, with its crisp metal cladding and simplicity of form intentionally references the traditional black barns of Suffolk. Our aim is for the new building to be a quiet and respectful counterpoint to the church and the surrounding trees."

Pop star Ed Sheeran's father John has helped to support the new community rooms, including by raising funds at a talk held at Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham in September.

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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.