In 1938, the villagers of Ewelme in the charming
Chiltern Hills seemed to be having a disagreement about whether they needed a
village hall or not. One resident wrote to the local newspaper, setting out the
reasons why a village hall was needed. As well as a requirement for young
people to be able to have recreation under supervision of their elders, the anonymous
scribe railed at certain matron types in the village who displayed an “astounding
attitude”.
“Are
not these women the very ones who either loudly deplore the fact that they
cannot keep maids because there is nowhere for the said maids to go in an
evening? And also the ones who condemn their granddaughters for wasting bus
fares to go to the cinema in Wallingford?”
Fair point, I would say. But the following point was
even fairer:
“Who
stood between ourselves and death 20 years ago? The lads of this brave little
village…who would we call on again in like danger? Those same lads to whom a
shelter for a concert or dance is denied.”
A poignant comment indeed to be making in 1938.
This goes to show who made the decisions in the
feudal hangover days of not so long ago – the elderly, wealthy matrons who wilfully
did not understand the needs of the young villagers. The social changes that
the Second World War were shortly to bring were often sorely needed.
Here’s the image that turns up on Google Maps when
you search for Ewelme Village Hall. They got one eventually. But judging by the
architecture it took a war and a few more years before the premises were built.
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