THE Friends of Poundstock Gildhouse gathered for their annual social evening on Wednesday, October 14.

Following a hot supper the friends enjoyed a splendid musical entertainment from Pauline and her Boys. There was much to celebrate; a highly successful year crowned in September by the gaining of a prestigious architectural award for the Tudor building.

In 2009 the newly restored Gildhouse has so far been visited by over 300 local school children who were able to take part in Tudor re-enactment days as part of their National Curriculum work.

Using Tudor techniques and wearing period working clothes the children made cob from local mud and saw how it was used in the construction of the Gildhouse and then satisfied their hunger and thirst with bread and ginger beer they had made themselves. After lunch they changed their working clothes for something more grand and sumptuous, ready to be 'rich' Tudors and relax with music and authentic dances.

During the school holidays this opportunity was extended to all ages when Gildhouse volunteers organised two family Tudor days. Everyone, locals and holiday makers alike, loves dressing up!

Tudor days apart, the Gildhouse is open to everyone on Wednesdays from April to October. This year the building has been explored and admired by over 250 visitors from Australia, Brazil, Germany, Canada, the USA and, of course, all over the UK.

The next function is the annual Craft Fair and Pumpkin Festival on Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25. As well as having the opportunity to buy locally made crafts and food, visitors can see the entrants for the heaviest pumpkin competition and judge the best carved category — or even bring their own.

As well as being admired by visitors, the Tudor structure has been well used in the way its builders intended, with the local community using it for all kinds of events. This year has seen a quiz, regular talks, a wide variety of meetings, the formation of not one but two community choirs and of course coffee after church every week. Private functions have included six wedding receptions, three birthday parties and a Christening celebration.

It was this community use that formed one of the main comments by the judges from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) who visited the Gildhouse in August.

They were judging the Conservation section of the Town and Country Design awards and in giving the Gildhouse the top prize said: "The renovation has enabled the building to fulfill a multitude of community and social uses and continue the tradition of its central role at the heart of the village into the 21st century."