Berkhamsted Town Hall was named business of the year at the local chamber of commerce AGM last week.
The annual award recognises a business or organisation that has benefited the community over the past year.
The winner is chosen by the Berkhamsted and District Chamber of Commerce in association with Lloyds TSB.
Awarding a certificate and cheq
ue for £500, Richard Crook from the town's Lloyds TSB branch, said: "This year's award is not going to a business, but is going to a group of people who have made a significant contribution to the town of Berkhamsted. It is a team that works extremely hard."
Manager of the building, Ian Hall, said: "It's a team effort that keeps the town hall going and the staff deserve the praise."
Chairman of the chamber Ron Cowie, who is also chairman of the town hall trustees, stressed the award recognised the staff who looked after the facility, not the trustees.
The hall was built in 1859 and used as a market place. However in the 1970s it was left derelict because it did not comply with fire regulations and was not bringing in enough money.
Attempts were made to sell the building to developers, but this was prevented by the Rescue and Action Group, formed by concerned residents including some of the town's famous past and present residents such as Graham Greene and Richard Mabey.
Restoration began in 1982 and was finished in 1999.
The full article contains 247 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
