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Bramcote Memorial Hall


In 1965 – the Golden Jubilee of the Women's Institute movement – the Federation of WIs organised a village scrapbook competition. The aim was to collate a picture of British village life at this point in time. Over 2,600 villages responded with pictures, descriptions, poems and commentary from several members of the community. Paul Jennings collated the results into a book called “The Living Village”, published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1968. I have a Country Book Club edition and it certainly has made for fascinating reading. It is a snapshot of a time when the last of the old rural traditions were just hanging on by a thread.

Of course there are several mentions of village halls. One section talks about memorial halls and here is a quote from the scrapbook collated for the village of Bramcote, a village on the A52 just west of Nottingham. I haven’t visited it, but now I fear it is merely a suburb of the city rather than a rural village.

“The Memorial Halls which were erected in so many villages after the 14-18 war have done a great deal towards enriching village life. There is surely no better way of commemorating those who died for their country than by making that country a better place to live in, and the Memorial Halls have helped in no small way to do this. Bramcote’s is constantly booked; badminton clubs, Pathfinders, W.I., handicrafts, children’s dancing class, socials and youth dances, school meals service, produce shows and Christmas fairs, not to mention the baby clinic run by the Welfare State every fortnight in the hall.”

Jennings comments:

“At Bramcote the Community Association, among many other activities, ‘purchased a 3-length extending ladder, 3 decorating and pasting tables and a blowlamp; these are on hire at a very nominal charge to members’.

This is a portrait of a very dynamic hall and gives a great insight into the usual activities of the mid 1960s.

I am pleased to say that Bramcote Memorial Hall is still thriving. You can find out more through bramcotetoday.org.uk but here is a list of current activities taking place there:

Playgroup, bridge, chess, dance classes, garden club, kickboxing, pilates, slimming and tai chi.

The emphasis is still on community wellbeing – keeping fit both physically and mentally – although new ideas have been embraced the bottom line remains the same.

Some Google review quotes:

·        Tango lessons every Wednesday

·        Good clean place for a painting workshop

·        Great place nice atmosphere

·        I didn't visit this place. I just walked past it. From what I can see from the outside, it looks pretty nice



What if amateur dramatics is your thing? Find out here how Lilian Baylis funded the Old Vic

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