Generations of former pupils, teachers and residents gathered in Cilcennin on 17 October, to celebrate the reopening of their village school, seven years after its closure.

Ceredigion MP Ben Lake and former pupil Rae Jones cut the ribbon at Hen Ysgol Cilcennin, marking the culmination of a 13-month renovation.

The former primary school, which opened in 1877 and closed in 2019, has been transformed into a community hub featuring a pop-up café, community pub and outdoor recreational facilities.

The project was spearheaded by community group Cilcennin Cyntaf, which secured funding from the National Lottery Community Fund to return the building to local ownership and use.

The refurbishment involved substantial internal renovations, improved insulation, replacement windows and the installation of solar panels and battery storage to reduce the building's reliance on external energy supplies.

Outside, new green spaces and children's play facilities have been developed, extending the site's potential beyond its former educational purpose.

A presentation documenting the transformation, shared following the opening, traced the school's history through generations of photographs, alongside images of volunteers undertaking renovation work.

Cilcennin's old school
The refurbished community hub in Cilcennin served the community as a primary school for 142 years. Photo: Supplied (Supplied)

It detailed how the project began with a simple question: "Could we bring the school back under community ownership?" The response from residents was straightforward: "Let's try."

Saturday's celebrations reunited former pupils and staff, many of whom returned to the building where they had spent their childhoods.

In a social media post following the opening, organisers described the occasion as an evening of celebration and reminiscing. "A place that once brought generations together through education will now continue to bring people together through friendship, community spirit and shared experiences," they said.

The group is now looking towards future community events, local history projects, youth activities and environmental initiatives.

For a school which served Cilcennin for more than 140 years, the reopening represents a continuation of its longstanding place at the heart of village life.