IT already serves as a cinema, cafe, coroner’s court and meeting place to many.

New Earswick Folk Hall can now add Post Office to that list after a branch was opened in the village for the first time in almost 12 months.

The former village Post Office moved from Hawthorn Terrace in 2014 when the postmistress retired and it has been without a parcel and letter sending service since February 2016.

New Earswick Parish Council sought an alternative to save the service after residents expressed concern about the closure of the facility.

Jospeh Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT), which owns and runs the Folk Hall, applied to run the Post Office from the venue after receiving support from people in the village.

The Post Office service was opened yesterday by Tom Moran, Post Office General Manager, and Campbell Robb, who recently started in his post as the new Chief Executive of JRHT.

At its opening ceremony in 1907, Joseph Rowntree gave the Folk Hall to New Earswick declaring that “if a village is to have a united life and a common interest in things affecting its welfare, it is almost necessary that it should have a place for meeting.”

York Press:

Campbell Robb, chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the residents of New Earswick will once again have a Post Office at the heart of their community.

“We believe that it will play a vital role, along-side all the other great services in the Folk Hall, in connecting and supporting everyone in the community with each other and with new opportunities.”

Tom Moran, Post Office General Manager, said: “The Post Office plays a vital role serving over 11,500 communities across the country and I’m delighted we’ve been able to work with JRHT to restore a Post Office to New Earswick.

“Post Offices are so often the heart of a community so opening up in the Folk Hall is a perfect fit for this area.”

For information about events go to newearswickfolkhall.com