AN HISTORIC hall which once seemed doomed is bursting with life after a multi million pound facelift.

The future couldn't look brighter for manorial Dam House at the heart of Astley's conservation area -- thanks to seven years' endeavour by a small band of visionaries and a supportive community.

Since mediaeval times Astley's manor house has stood secluded off Church Road and today's superbly refurbished building dates from 1650.

But step in through the replica Chowbent sparrow-bill studded front door (the original dating from the time of the English Civil War or earlier, was stolen while the former hospital administration block lay empty) and you are in for a treat.

"It has taken seven years but it seems like a lifetime," said relieved volunteer Elaine White, thrilled with the culmination of a £2.4m dream steered by a dedicated Morts Astley Heritage Trust team of her husband Geoff, Christine and David Jones, Sylvia and John Tonge, Pat Carroll and Margaret Hatton.

"Our main aim was to save the hall for the community. We always believed we could save it."

Sceptics doubted the hall would ever be developed for community use after Astley Hospital closed in 1994 and the land was sold for development.

But the faithful few who formed the Trust in November 1994 worked closely with planners to come up with an idea which would make the manor house once more the focal point of the village.

Heritage lottery funding, Euro money, English Heritage and Brighter Borough packages plus charitable trust grants and backing from Lloyds TSB, Astley Rotary and Groundwork enabled the magnificently refurbishment testimony to the hard work and dedication of Trust members.

The hall is now home to a clinic and nursery and there are tenants occupying offices with just about the best location and outlook imaginable.

Community and conference rooms are available for group meetings and this week inquests of a very different kind were being held over tea and home-made scones in the newly opened heritage tea rooms created in what was the old hospital board room.

The eatery (open 8.30-4 weekdays and 10-4 weekends) features a Victorian theme, waitresses dressed in black and white and on-site baking.

Future plans include an education centre for the top floor of the rambling house and a display area for schools and other visitors.

Stepping up a flight or two is an enlightening experience and historians and archeologists have marvelled at tell-tales left over centuries of construction and adaptation.

The upstairs servants quarters with 10 bedrooms give much food for thought. They are believed to be an adaptation of a mediaeval long room theme.

The wattle and daub plastered on some sections of the wall and ancient timbers, even older than the prized yew tree in the ground which some claim is 600 years old.

But the transition and pandering to fashion and style over the years have aroused similar interest among students of a Victorian theme.

"This is a marvellous place to work," smiled Christine Jones, a project leader from the very beginning, relishing the beginnings of what looks set to be an exciting future.

"I don't think the project has a set finishing date. There will always be something to do."

Similarly satisfied colleague Elaine stressed: "We are all volunteers, which I think some people sometimes forget. This has been a community campaign all the way."

Then she pondered: "Back in 1994 who would have thought that we'd be sitting here in 2001, getting ready for a garden party!"

Both she and Christine reflected how at times the completed dream seemed unattainable but the sometimes neglected but never abandoned old home has been superbly restored by contractors Bethel White, of Newton-le-Willows.

Intensive work has also been undertaken on the surrounding woodland area where in August garden party celebrations are being held to mark another milestone on the buildings remarkable journey through time.