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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Woods Ware China at the Serving Hatch

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