Work is going well on the repair and renovation of the Old Laundry funded by some generous grants and donations.

In the existing building we are preserving as many original features as we can and replacing those which are past saving - the wooden vent in the roof has been replaced with an exact copy but the old bread oven, the water pump and much of the lime plaster and sandstone floor have been saved. We have had some surprises, including signatures on the old lead flashing written by workmen on the roof in past centuries. These include Norman Southward in 1971 the days when he and his father (along with other relatives) were often "volunteered" by Miss Mary for work on the church. John Tyson from Eskdale signed in 2003 and a painter from Whitehaven, made two entries - the first with his name, Pearson, and the date 4 May 1889 and a second inscription "Queen's birthday 1889". In one of life's happenchances, this inscription written on Queen Victoria's 70th birthday was found on the day of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral.