THE completion of the first phase in the conversion of an historic building has been celebrated.

The Cross Barn, in Odiham, marks its 500th birthday in 2032 and in 2016, a project called Barn 500 was launched to ensure that by the time of the anniversary, a refurbishment and sprucing up of the venue ensured it could keep pace with the ever-increasing demands of users, without damaging its heritage status.

Now, with the help of Hampshire County Council, Hart District Council, Odiham Consolidated Charities and the Friends of the Cross Barn group the first phase of the project has been completed.

This means the barn now has new toilets and new chairs which have replaced the twenty-year-old previous ones.

This success was celebrated formally at the start of the Friends of the Cross Barn Spring Party which featured a champagne reception, after which a ribbon cutting took place with the toilets declared open and 100 new chairs brought into use.

The Cross Barn Odiham, built in 1532, was the earliest brick-built agricultural building in Hampshire, and served the farm, of which it was part, until the end of the twentieth century.

As the land, on which it stands was sold for development it was converted to use as the village community centre.

The trustees of the site are determined that it will continue to be available for the enjoyment of future generations for many years to come and so launched Barn 500 as the while the conversion of the barn has been effective, it was previously done on a limited budget.

To record the gratitude of the trustees of the site, the chairman Ian Green presented commemorative certificates to Councillor Jonathan Glen, from Hampshire County Council; Councillor Ken Crookes, from Hart District Council; Derek Spruce from Odiham Consolidated Charities; and Francis Howard, from the Friends of the Cross Barn.

After the presentation, the Friends of the Cross Barn enjoyed a supper and a showing of the film The Hound of the Baskervilles.