Sydling St. Nicholas Village Hall has been at the heart of this scenic chalk stream village in West Dorset since 1939, when it was donated to the community by Colonel Miskin, the then owner of Sydling Court. It benefited from an extension in 2000, while a major modernisation scheme has recently been completed which includes a commercial kitchen and greatly extends the range of opportunities now available. However, within months the first Corona Virus lock-down occurred and has curtailed our major activities, including our Duck Race, Open Gardens, award winning Marathon, Christmas Dinner Dance, wedding receptions and arts events. While many village organisations which meet in the hall have welcomed the opportunity to maintain contacts through internet-based meetings, we all miss the camaraderie and social interaction from meeting in person and the focus the Village Hall provides in shaping and supporting village life.
Nevertheless, despite Covid restrictions, the Village Hall Committee has adapted to provide community activities during lock-down, including Internet Quizzes, Cream Tea Deliveries and a Virtual Open Gardens which enabled villagers to enjoy the gardens that this year they were unable to visit. It has also been pleasing to see lights on in the hall, which though closed, still hosts our resident artist working in isolation in her studio upstairs and maintains a small element of normality in these extraordinarily difficult times!
However, we just cannot wait to spring back into action and welcome villagers and visitors back to our hall once again, regaining the social fabric that our Village Hall provides and we currently so greatly miss. We particularly look forward to hosting a special celebration and thank you to all who have supported our community during the pandemic and to mark the beginning of the next exciting chapter in the life of this very special institution.