Build Your Own Village Hall

The drive to build village halls in the 1920s and 30s tested the resolve and initiative of rural communities. There were a wide range of schemes to collect the necessary resources. Most notable in Derbyshire was the assistance given by the Manners family (the family name of the Dukes of Rutland) to their local village of Rowsley. Haddon Hall, the family’s local retreat, had recently been renovated and the Manners lot organised an open day for everyone to come and have a nosy around. The associated charges went towards the Rowsley Village Hall Fund. Apparently the open day was extremely well attended by people from far and wide, including the US.

In other places, legacies were left by rich benefactors; and in more generally well-off places, they had a whip-round. In less prosperous places, a wooden hut might have been shoved up in a corner somewhere.

More detailed information is available on the process of building a hall in an unnamed location near Salisbury Plain in 1929/30. There were no specially wealthy residents here, but villagers decided that if money could be found to purchase materials, then they would build it themselves. They were lucky enough to have skilled carpenters and bricklayers among their number. One bricklayer pledged to lay 10,000 bricks “which gave just that touch of romantic generosity which served to silence the pessimists.” The foundations were dug in 1929 with work being carried out in the evenings and on Saturday afternoons. Men and boys of all classes mucked in with digging and carrying. The women and elderly meanwhile were tasked with getting the money to buy the materials by collecting subscriptions and organising a fete, raising an “unexpected total of £625.” The basic building was complete by the end of that year and further additions of a porch, kitchen and offices were made the following year. The total cost was £586 9s 7d and the spare time of around 3 dozen people. Total bricks used: 42,000.

What a shame that this article in The Times was reluctant to say where all this took place – it would be fascinating to know if it is still standing and still in use.

Have a look at my books, do

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The Curious Case of the Whitminster Village Hall Thief

This article is copied from The Illustrated Police News, 14 February 1935: Judge Thanked "Thank you very much, sir, I've got off very light." Remarked John Moore, 76, when sentenced by Mr Justice Hawke at Gloucester Assizes to six months imprisonment on charges of breaking into Whitminster Village Hall and stealing articles valued at 4 shillings and 6 pence. There was a term of 344 days remaining of a previous sentence, and Moore was told that he would have to serve that time. P.S. (Police Sergeant) Howkins revealed that since 1904 Moore had been continually in and out of prison. Since that time he had been sentenced seven times to penal servitude, involving in all 23 years. In addition, he was in 1927 sentenced to four years imprisonment and had served further sentences most of them in respect of house breaking. Moore's last sentence was three year's penal servitude. Moore handed in a statement to the judge, beginning "I most respectfully wish t...

Woods Ware China at the Serving Hatch - The Book!

I have now put together a book to accompany this blog, featuring all the best bits and much more besides, about the development and use of village halls over the past century. It costs £1.29 for a Kindle download and £3.99 for a printed version. Here's the blurb: "Enter any village hall and look at the noticeboard. The range of activities taking place these days is enough to keep anyone entertained. Cinema evenings, keep fit classes, scouts, Women’s Institute, St John’s Ambulance, lunch clubs, support groups - all keeping the physical and spiritual on the straight and narrow. Where would we be without the village hall? What a marvellous innovation, and one that seems to grow in importance as we realise that we have lost sight of community somewhat, and need to nurse it back to life. You might, if you were in a particularly philosophical mood while hanging around the vestibule, wonder where and how it all began." English village halls have been a fixture of our lands...

The Story of a Harvest Tea, 1945

Extract from “The Countryman” journal, Spring 1946 At the end of the casual workers’ season last year we had as usual our harvest tea. The “boughten” cakes must have been fairly good; and the bread and butter was helped down by some home-made preserves and potted meat. Although it was a poor spread, things being as they are in the food line, our guests seemed to understand and enjoyed it…for decorations there were flags, and the words on a rather faded portrait flag stood out, “God bless Queen Victoria.” After the tea Harriet recited “The Boy Stood on the Burning Deck” and “Dare to be a Daniel”, and sang “The Bells of Aberdovey” and “Don’t Hang My Harry; You’ll Break His Poor Mother’s Heart.” During the applause the board placed on apple boxes for a seat collapsed. There was a bit of a mix-up and it was agreed that Polly, who weighs 15 stone, should have a box to herself. Up to this time young Tommy had had 10 cups of tea and 15 cakes, and Jim had dropped...

Woods Ware China at the Serving Hatch

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