THE first spadeful of earth was turned over this week as preparations were made for the erection of Bridestowe?s long-awaited new village hall. Planning for the new hall began more than seven years ago, when the village?s old hall ? an asbestos building originally used as a military ?nissen hut? ? was condemned. Originally, it was hoped a new hall might be built on the same site, but it was decided to sell it to developers, and a new site was acquired. Since then, the villagers have been busy fundraising and has successfully received grants from DEFRA, the National Lottery, the Community Council of Devon, and Devon Renaissance, as well as money from the parish and borough councils, and a large donation from Thomas Moore ? the New York lawyer who holds the lordship of Bridestowe. Robin Young, village hall committee chairman, said: ?Raising the money has taken dedication by a large number of people. ?They?ve persevered and kept going and going ?and now here we are!? The village celebrated its achievement on Monday afternoon ,when Autumn Seston-Tromans wielded a spade to turn over the first sod of earth on the site. Autumn won the honour by successfully designing the new hall?s logo in a competition organised in the village. ?It seems right that it should be one of the younger people that sets the building going,? Robin Young said. ?After all, they?re the ones who are going to be here to use and enjoy the hall in future decades.? Plans for the new hall have grown since it was originally conceived. When the preschool for Bridestowe, Sourton and Lydford received notice it would have to give up its current base at Bridestowe primary school to allow for the school?s expansion, it was decided a purpose-built pre-school building and play area should be incorporated into the new hall?s design. It is hoped the pre-school and the rest of the hall, will be open from November. Janet Rattenbury, head of the fundraising sub-committee , said: ?We reckon we?ll have it open by Christmas ? in time for a party.? On Monday the start of the new build project was celebrated with cream teas. The new hall is being prefabricated from wood in Romania, and will be transported to its site in Bridestowe later this year. But Robin Young said the village could not rest on its fundraising laurels quite yet. ?We still need a little more money to fully fit out the inside of the building,? he said. ?Hopefully, now that people can see that the building is really underway, we?ll get some new donors coming out of the woodwork to support us.? Bookings for 2007 functions in the new village hall should be available later this year.