A late 18th century Herefordshire dovecote is poised to provide what’s seen as the perfect setting for the country’s latest village shop.
The Co-operative Loan Fund is delighted to announce that a loan has been approved to support Eardisland Community Shop Ltd. The small rural community in Herefordshire has taken the first step to opening its very own community shop, and the setting for this shop has attracted great attention.
Eardisland’s distinctive landmark, the centuries old Dovecote beside the river Arrow has been subject to renovation work since1999, and its trustees offered to lease the ground floor, providing the village with an ideal location for a new community shop.
One of the village’s major attractions, the Dovecote houses a wide collection of memorabilia and items of historical interest which attracts more than 20,000 visitors each year. The loan will provide the financial support needed to set up and run a viable and sustainable business in the village.
Albert Sheffield, chair of the village shop steering committee, said: “The loan is fundamental to the success and sustainability of this project. The shop will provide a big boost to our community, and after more than 10 years with no village shop, we can finally look forward to having a wide-range of products on our doorstep.
“The support we have received from the Co-operative Loan Fund and organisations such as the Plunkett Foundation has proved invaluable and we are looking forward to starting work in the next few weeks in transforming part of the Dovecote into a sustainable business venture.”
He continued: “We are using local tradespeople whenever possible during the renovation, and once the shop opens, we will be stocking a wide range of locally produced goods.
“The shop will be run for the benefit of the community and any surpluses generated will be ploughed directly back into our local community, making this project beneficial for all members of the village.”
Ian Taylor of The Co-operative Loan Fund added: “The Dovecote is a prime location for the village shop to serve residents and tourists alike, and The Co-operative Loan Fund is delighted to be supporting such a unique project.
The community has demonstrated hard-work and dedication to get the village shop where it is today, and once work gets underway, local tradespeople, businesses and residents alike will all begin to feel the benefit of community-ownership.”
