Hundreds of people took up the invite to get a look inside Mylor's Tremayne Hall, which is undergoing a year-long refurbishment.
An open day was held last week so residents could see the progress made so far in transforming the facility into the Tremayne Hall Community Centre.
Work started on the project last September, following a successful fund-raising campaign, and the centre is due to be officially opened in October, although the work should be completed in time for the frist lettings in September.
The open day not only gave people the chance to see the work done so far but also provided an opportunity for local groups to attract new members.
"It is difficult to calculate how many hundreds came to see the current state of the building work and to put their names down for possible future activities, but there was a constant flow of people thgoughout the afternoon showing surprise, interest and enthusiasm for the development", said Val Jeans-Jakobsson, a member of the management committee.
"A large group of volunteers manned the tables offering a wide choice of ideas for all ages, including various sports, dancing, drama, art and community classes, local history, an over-60s' lunch club and a Mylor Creek Association."
Tremayne Hall started life as a poorhouse in 1827 and later, under the patronage of Sir Charles Lemon, it became a school. After a major fire in 1921 it was rebuilt as a church hall with the school being relocated.
"Following this it became a village hall and is fondly remembered by many who can recall its heyday when it was humming with all kinds of functions," said Mrs Jeans-Jakobsson.
"For example, the St Mylor Players were a hugely successful drama group at one time, putting on memorable playsand pantomimes. Now is the perfect opportunity for them to be reincarnated."
Anyone wanting to learn more about the Tremayne Hall project or watch progress on line should log onto www.tremayne.org

(This piece was illustrated with five black and white photographs of too low a resolution to reproduce here)

(West Briton, 7 June 2007)