Tarbock Village is only home to around 2,000 people but it is older than the city itself.
The tiny village dates back to 1066 when King Edward was 'overlord' as first mentioned in the Doomsday book in 1086. The area could not settle on the spelling of the village and went through at least five name changes in the last 936 years. The very first spelling was 'Tarboc', eventually changing to its current version in the seventeenth century.
While many of the village's earliest homes became huge farm houses, the remaining original cottages are still in perfect condition and are considered conservation areas. One of the oldest cottages in the village dates back to 1776.
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If you have a wander around the village today the open green spaces and miles of farmland can make anyone feel relaxed. After a while it becomes obvious there is not a large choice of restaurants or places to socialise for residents.
The Village Hall, on Netherley Road, is the many place for socialising in the village, but its future came under threat after Covid when it was rumoured it was to be sold off. Residents united, forming a new committee for the Hall and raised enough money to renovate the building creating a now thriving community hub.
Vicki Corcoran, 38, is the Treasurer and Trustee of Tarbock Village Hallm and also runs the hotel for cats next door 'The Pets Country Manor'. The current hall was built in 1993 on the site of a petrol station and stands in a different location to the original village hall, which dates back to 1577, then technically a part of Lancashire.
Residents couldn't bare to let go of the only social space they had. A year ago an initial group of 20 people volunteered to renovate the hall and transform it into the heart of the community.
The vibrant hall was completely revamped, with £65,000 in funds raised to fit new flooring, windows, doors, repainting and for a new garden. The hall is now used six days a week with residents volunteering everyday to keep the it running.
Vicki told the ECHO: "In Tarbock there isn't anything else. There are no local shops, there is no local pubs. The place next door where I used to live had a pub next door but that closed 15 years ago. So there is nowhere for anyone in Tarbock to go and meet up with friends or socialise or just get out of the house.
"Because it is a rural area, it can be quite isolating. Our neighbours have spread out far apart so the village hall is really important. I don't think it has been that important in the past but that was because nothing really went on there.
"Over the last 12 months we have had different events and market days and they are just absolutely brilliant. "
There are now seven volunteers, which Vicki says, help out every day. The residents installed the lighting, painted all the walls and completely renovated the back storage room into a fun games room. Adults and children enjoy the pool tables, ping pong tables and coffee mornings to catch up with friends in the area.
One person who travels miles to support the hall is Paul Hughan. The 60-year-old runs Personal Training classes out of the space and loves to get all the locals involved. He told the ECHO: "It brings everyone together, especially the older folks. Before the hall some people had never met each other and they only lived six doors down.
"Before the hall there were no coffee mornings and no one could meet each other. Now it is just great for everyone and it allows everyone to build friendships."
Collette who frequents the hall said: "The village all came together to keep the hall alive. It was in disrepair but now it is brilliant. All the residents just come over whenever they need help and it is just great."
The hall provides a variety of classes including fitness, dance and coffee mornings, creating a space for everyone to catch up and build friendships.
The hall is located at the heart of the village surrounded by acres of green spaces. The average house price is £167,354. The majority of properties sold are semi-detached houses.
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