A VICTORIAN-ERA reading room for the working men in a Purbeck village is due to be restored.

It was built in Church Knowle by landowners the Mansel family of Kimmeridge and given in trust to the villagers for quiet recreation.

But years of deterioration have led to it being described as almost derelict.

Now, as a result of the work done by the local council to produce a parish plan, new life will be breathed into it as a community drop-in centre.

A grant of £15,000 cash has come from the Dorset Community Partnership to complete work as well as £3,800 from Purbeck District Council.

Outgoing parish council chairman farmer John Hole said: "It will be good to see this building that stands right in the heart of our village being put to good use again as a community drop-in centre - with perhaps an IT connection as well."

According to a deed of gift of April 1888 it was to be used as a recreation and reading room of for some similar purposes for the benefit of the working men and other inhabitants of the parish of Church Knowle'.

But by the beginning of this century it had become dilapidated.

Its only use for many years had been to store equipment for the village fete.

Plans for building since 2000 have included selling it to help those in need.

Another idea was to change the use of the reading room into a craft showroom and shop and office.

Now the intention is to use it as a village community centre.

There are some community uses that are ruled out by the original conditions set down when it was handed over the village. These stipulate that: "The said premises shall not at any time either directly or indirectly be used as a place for religious worship or meetings for religious or political purposes - nor for the sale or consumption thereon of any intoxicating liquors."