The Co-op store in Pilton was opened earlier this year by the founder of the Glastonbury Festival, Michael Eavis, and it has since gone on to become a hub of the community.

The shop is adjoined to the village hall, the Pilton Working Men's Club and it incorporates the post office. But this spot's community feel is not a recent development, this site has been at the heart of the village for hundreds of years.

The hall, club and shop are part of the Parish Rooms, which were constructed in Pilton on the site of what was reported to originally be a guesthouse commissioned by the Abbot of Glastonbury in the 14th Century.

The building went through a series of uses after the dissolution of Glastonbury Abbey and was home for up to 10 families in the early 19th Century, being the poor house of the Parish. Rural poor houses like these would be simple facilities to house families in need. Occupants would divide their time between working on farms and maintaining local roads and other parish works.

As the need for the poor house reduced over time, it fell into disrepair and was uninhabited until 1890. In that year, a meeting was held to form the Pilton Working Men's Club.

Edmond Clerk of the nearby Burford House was mourning the loss of his wife, Alice, and in her memory, he offered to rebuild and refurbish the decrepit old building before presenting it to the parish.

The Parish Rooms were in such disrepair that they had to be completely rebuilt with the old foundations remaining as a blueprint to the original layout. What was to later become the Youth Club was in the original cellar, and this part of the building is now used by the Co-op.

At the time, Mr Clerk set aside a library room with subscriptions to a range of national periodicals, from responsible newspapers to relaxing frivolities like Punch and Tit Bits.

The magazines that can be found there now are for sale in the Co-op, but the premises still house the Working Men's Club with its popular bar and skittle alley. The club hosts a number of organisations throughout the year – when there is not a pandemic in force.

Pilton Village Hall was renovated as part of an improvement programme in 2005, with a Post Office being added in more recent years.

Now the Co-op has joined the hall on the site and incorporated the Post Office meaning this building, which has been a community hub for years, can continue contributing to the welfare of Pilton and the surrounding area.

When Co-op Members buy own-brand products and services, 2p for every £1 spent goes to support local causes and community organisations. To find out more about Membership, follow the link here.