Dancing at the Barn

The archives contain many stories of villagers building new community halls in the 1920s and 30s – either raising the money to bring in professionals or pooling labour and expertise to physically build it themselves.

Villagers in Bishop’s Cleeve, Gloucestershire, decided to convert a 14^th century barn after waiting 30 years for a venue to service the growing population. The conversion was finally completed in the summer of 1956.

First of all, the barn had to be bought from the church for £500 – it had previously been in the possession of the Bishop of Worcester. Apparently nine government ministries got involved in the process. The barn had to “retain historic interest.”

What did Bishop’s Cleevians want to use it for? Saturday night dances and flower shows were top of the list, but there was also a county library, public meeting room, welfare clinic and kitchen.

In a farsighted measure, parking was to be provided for 50 cars!

Here’s the Google image of the old barn and the very adequate parking today – good to see it all still well used. Worth the 30 year wait.

Instagram: @woodswareservinghatch

How about some good plain English cooking, nothing fancy

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The Ode to the Village Hall

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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!

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Woods Ware China at the Serving Hatch

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