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Northumberland
Village halls in Northumberland
Acklington Village Hall
Northumberland
Acklington Village Hall is proud to serve the local community and act as a hub for all kinds of activities for all kinds of people. We offer a warm welcome to locals and visitors, young and old (and everyone in between!).
Acomb village haĺl
Northumberland
All good wishes
Acomb parish council. Com
Bamburgh Pavilion
Northumberland
Bamburgh is a historically important village on the North Northumberland coast. The Pavilion overlooks the village green, in the shadow of the magnificent castle. As well as supporting the village cricket team. croquet club and tennis court, it is used by many local groups. It is also used for events such as wedding receptions, craft fairs and fund raising events. During lock down it has been redecorated and refurbished and is now ready to return to its key role in village life.
Barrasford Village Hall
Northumberland
Barrasford Village hall was built in 1927. It has been extended and improved over the years, with a major ongoing refurbishment programme since 2011. The building is very well used and has a large main hall and a further spacious meeting room known as the supper room. A variety of regular events take place; beavers, cubs and scouts, toddler group, Pilates, pottery and art classes, monthly community coffee morning etc. The hall is also available for hire for one-off private events. There is a fully equipped kitchen with range cooker, commercial dishwasher, fridge and freezer. A licensed bar is available on application. Contact for further information
Bolton Village Hall
Northumberland
Bolton lies on a fold of land in the valley of the river Aln. To the south Alnwick Moor rises above the farmalnd, to the north towers Titlington Pike, and to the west and north the impressive range of the Cheviot Hills dominates the skyline, culminating in Cheviot itself. The history of the village goes back to pre-christian times. Bolton Village Hall was built in 1929 on land given by the Burrell Family and using money raised by public subscription, in memory of those who died in the first World War. It has continued to function as the centre of village life to the present day. Activites include: Keep fit classes, dancing classes, quiz nights, Gardening Talks, Wine Tasting Evenings, Ceilidh’s, Band Practice, Film Night’s, Harvest Festival Suppers. The hall is available to book for Private Parties, Meetings, Local and National Elections. During the recent pandemic The Committee has been busy refurbishing the Ladies Toilets and ensuring the hall is Covid secure.
Bowsden Village Hall
Northumberland
Set in the centre of the beautiful village of Bowsden, in picturesque north Northumberland. Today's larch clad hall replaced an earlier village hall, completed in 2009 with the help of National Lottery funding and provides local residents and visitors with a thoroughly modern meeting facility. The village hall is the focus for village life and we have a busy calendar of regular events ranging from our monthly coffee mornings, soup and sandwich lunches to film nights, pub and quiz nights.
Capheaton Village Hall
Northumberland
Built in 1921, originally as a reading room, library and meeting place the village halls usage has always reflected society at the time. From the 1930s to the 1970s it was an extremely popular weekend dance venue fondly remembered by many Northumbrians. More recently the hall has become host to Capheaton Village Tearoom, a national award winning venue that provides for local residents and the wider North Eastern area. Again, as a reflection of current society many of the the users of the hall are now cyclists, walkers and locals who come through the daytime with evening usage being much reduced. The hall has been there for the last 100 years as a meeting place for the community and providing a focal point for all that is good in our area.
Colwell Village Hall
Northumberland
We are taking the opportunity to upgrade our kitchen facility and carry out some much needed maintenance, repair and decoration in preparation for opening and hosting events later in the year.
Corbridge Parish Hall
Northumberland
Situation in the charming and historic village of Corbridge in Northumberland. Built in November 1922 by Edith Helen Straker-Smith in memory of her father Joseph Henry Straker. The Parish Hall’s boundary wall to the north and west incorporates the fabric from the lost medieval St Helen’s Church. Corbridge Parish Hall is proud to serve the local community and act as the focus for many community activities.
Creighton Memorial Hall Embleton
Northumberland
Our Hall was built in 1901 thanks to a generous donation from the local vicar Mandell Creighton who went on to be Bishop of London. Over the decades the Hall has always provided a very active hub for the community and has seen many and varied uses during its lifetime. It has a purpose built snooker room which has functioned steadily during the hall’s long life the only difference being that the coal fire is no longer in use. At present time the hall is used on a regular basis by many different user groups as well as special village events including Embleton School’s Christmas performance. we are a popular venue for scout/ guide and visiting school sleep overs. Thanks to a great deal of help from our county Village Halls Association we have been able to access several grants which have been used to bring the Hall up to the high specification required by wedding and family party groups. These bookings provide the income that helps to keep regular user charges to a minimum.
Crookham Village Hall
Northumberland
Crookham Village Hall is sadly closed at the moment because of Covid. We look forward to a grand re-opening and the resumption of our activities as soon as circumstances allow. The good side of the closure is that it allows our builder free access to the hall so that he can get on with the rebuilding of our derelict small hall. When we return, we should be bigger and better.
Etal Village Hall
Northumberland
The Etal Peace Commemoration Hall was officially opened in January 1926 by Lt. Col. Rt. Hon. Hugh Joicey DSO of Etal Manor (later 3rd Baron Joicey). Colonel Joicey gifted the hall to the local community to commemorate peace, and to encourage learning, study and “rational recreation” after the devastation of the First World War. The hall underwent extensive renovation in 2005 and normally plays host to a wide range of events, groups, and activities. In 2020 it was closed for several months but was successfully made into a Covid-secure venue for when restrictions were eased. We hope that in 2021 it will soon re-open, and that again it will be able to offer all sorts of recreation, support and entertainment to the local community and beyond.
Felton Village Hall
Northumberland
Felton Village Hall has been the home to our community newsletter team by leasing The Bridge Committee space since 1998. We are eternally grateful for their support as it gives us a base for our printing and distribution teams. This truly makes the hall a central part of our community, long may it last. The Bridge Newsletter team.
GIlsland Village Hall and Reading Room
Northumberland
The hall is an import place for local people of all ages and normally has a full diary of children’s dance clubs, youth group and yoga but especially important is its groups attended by many older residents this includes craft and gardening clubs and an over 60’s social and support group which have all sadly had to stop. We do however still host the Outreach Post Office service which has been essential during the Covid pandemic as they bring items and orders from their shop and are a lifeline for those unable to travel far. Although some members of the hall committee have been unable to go out during this time some have helped set up and run a local Covid support group for collecting shopping and prescription’s. We have also used our Facebook page and hall notice boards to share helpful information regarding support and care services and details of businesses willing to deliver to the village during the pandemic.
Gunnerton - St Christopher’s Church and Community Hall
Northumberland
St. Christopher's Church Gunnerton is the only public building in the village and whilst its primary function is as a place of worship in the Anglican Benefice of Chollerton, it has since restoration in 2003/4 provided an additional function as a public place for meetings and gatherings of all types. It has a small kitchen with electric cooker and washing up facilities, a disabled w/c and separate disabled entrance and ramp. Regular functions are held such as a monthly lunch club, monthly afternoon teas and meetings of various local groups.
The building is of the Arts and Crafts period with carvings influenced by that movement, and designed by John C. Hawes who became an ordained priest. The design is in the Anglo-Catholic tradition. There is a magnificent stained glass W window installed in 2005/6 to a design by Tees-side artist William Tillyer. The building won a Hadrian Architectural Award in 2007.
Heddon Village Knott Memorial Hall
Northumberland
The Knott Memorial Hall was built in 1936 for the benefit of the residents of Heddon by Sir T Garbutt Knott, in memory of his parents, Sir James and Lady Margaret Annie Knott.
The site upon which it was built formed part of the Church Banks; this had been, for many years, an unofficial playground for the village children. The Hall has a spacious stage with a green room on it’s north side which is 55ft long and 30 ft wide and an annex currently known as ‘the supper room’ The original floor was of polished birch and inlaid to mark out a badminton court.
The Hall has a well-furnished kitchen, ladies and gents cloakrooms and toilets. and is the location for a Public Access Heart Defibrillator.
It is currently used by various recreational and activity groups and is also the venue for the annual Heddon Village Show, the Ad Murum Singers’ Mid-Summer and Christmas Concerts, St Andrews Church Fetes and The Village Christmas Market.
Hindmarsh Hall
Northumberland
Here in Alnmouth on the Northumberland coast, our village hall began life 250 years ago as a granary for the busy C18 grain port. Today it is the hub of the community, hosting events nearly every day in pre-Covid times from Beach School for kids to the Seniors’ lunch.
We have turned the threat from Covid into an opportunity to complete extensive renovation work whilst the Hall is closed work and make the Hall. The aim is to conserve an historic Grade II listed building and make it more environmentally friendly and comfortable for users. So we are busy raising £120,000 of which we now have almost half.
Everyone misses the activities the Hall offers in the village and so we have made extra efforts to keep folk informed about the work with newsletters and posters.
A thriving village hall can be the glue that holds a community together.
Horncliffe Memorial Hall
Northumberland
Horncliffe Memorial Hall serves a small parish in North Northumberland and provides space for several clubs, exercise classes and private parties. The Committee organises a wide range of activities from coffee mornings to themed dinners, workshops, music evenings and theatre. The aim is to bring the community together for relaxed, social gatherings and to hopefully provide something for everyone in order to help combat feelings of loneliness and isolation. We look forward to a return to business as usual at some point in 2021.
Howick Village Hall (Copley Hall)
Northumberland
The Hall was originally built circa 1876 as a reading room for the village residents and employees of the Howick Estate and is formally named after Mary Copley, the wife of the 3rd Earl Grey. It later became the village shop, part of the Howick Cooperative Society which had outlets as far north as Belford. It is owned by the Howick Trustees, who run the Howick Estate, and has registered charity status. As the Village Hall it provides a focus for the local community our entertainments programme and private functions and regular groups: the Craft Club, Coastal Choir, Howick WI, Film Club, an Art Group and also plays and musical events put on by the Highlights Company. The Hall is very well supported by residents of outlying areas. In recent years it has undergone a number of improvements to keep the hall a welcoming place for all ages without spoiling its old fashioned village hall feel. The Hall is also used by the Howick trustees as a training facility for it employees and is registered with Northumberland County Council as part of their Emergency Community Assistance Plan.
Jubilee Hall, Newton-on-the-Moor.
Northumberland
The Village Hall was built in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, hence the name. We play an important role for the local community who enjoy coming to Coffee Mornings on the second Saturday of the month. We also have Folk Music concerts and Ceilidhs, wine-tasting evenings and the hall is used by various groups including Carpet Bowls, Accordion Club, Fiddle Group and Pipers. The hall can be hired for private functions. During lockdown we have completely refurbished the kitchen and look forward to welcoming everyone back!
Kirkwhelpington Memorial Hall
Northumberland
Kirkwhelpington Memorial Hall
The church in Kirkwhelpington dates from the 13th Century although little of the original fabric remains as this area of North West Northumberland suffered badly in the border wars and the subsequent border reiving. Today the parish of Kirkwhelpington has a total population of under 400.
In September 1921, a committee formed to build a village hall in Kirkwhelpington approached the Duke of Northumberland for a suitable piece of land. Their intention was to erect a wooden hut and they negotiated with Mr Papillon, the Dukes agent at Barrasford over the land. Having established the site, it was agreed that it should be leased for 1/- per annum. In 1925 the land was gifted to the Trustees.
Lesbury Village Hall
Northumberland
Lesbury Village Hall is a Grade 11 listed building. We have a full repairing lease, but try to keep our charges as low as we can. So far, our income from hiring the building and using it for community clubs and events has enabled us to cover our general running costs. In the last four years we raised funds, mainly through grants, to enable us to refurbish the hall completely. The hall is a much loved community venue and, under normal circumstances, it is fully used every week day, as the “what’s on” link shows on our new website. There are special events at weekends and the hall is available for parties, weddings and exhibitions. During the pandemic we have done all we can to keep our community together. We are a designated “Warm Hub”, and as a result many of our events include the provision of food. We have managed to continue to provide a regular lunch bag for members of our lunch group, all of whom are in the 85-98 age group and live alone. Thanks to grant funding sourced by Community action Northumberland (CAN) we have also been able to provide equipment and have trained several members of the lunch group to use zoom. There are designated zoom sessions with food twice a month and chats twice a week. We now have one lady in the group who is able to set up meetings herself and she organises chat sessions with individuals, picks up any urgent requirements to let us know about and also helps others in the group to set up meetings. It has been a real life line for this group. The Garden Club and Photography Club hold zoom meetings and the members of the Art and autumn Club keep in touch in the same way. Now that we have refurbished the building and have a full programme we are looking to the future. We want to run broadband in the hall and make it a digital hub, although given our other overheads and the wish to keep hire charges low it is providing to be too expensive at the moment. We feel that many people who are very elderly will find the journey to the hall quite difficult after being virtually housebound for a year or more and we want them to be able to participate in as many events as possible. We also want to explore green energy and we would like to provide electric charging points close to the hall. Most of all, we want our hall to meet the needs of its community and to continue to grow the support we offer.
Longhirst Village Hall
Northumberland
Longhirst Village Hall was built by the Lawson family in 1847, as a reading room for the village. It then became the first school building in the village and later, the St. John’s Church Hall. In 2002 it was leased by the Church for a period of 99years to a new charity (The Longhirst Parish Association) set up for the purpose refurbishing, developing, and maintaining the Hall for the benefit of the whole community.
Longhirst Village Hall is well equipped with efficient heating and lighting, disabled access, disabled toilets, fully equipped kitchen including cooking, dishwashing, coffee-making, and hot-water geyser, full-size but not full height badminton court, projector screen, hearing-loop sound system. A certain amount of off-road parking is available both in front of and behind the Hall for bona fide users of the premises.
Longhorsley Village Hall
Northumberland
Originally built in 1988, since its refurbishment was completed in 2009 Longhorsley’s village hall has come to be the centre of village life, providing events and regular group activities that cater for all ages across our area. It has a large main hall, a smaller side hall and a well-equipped kitchen, 28 parking spaces and full disabled access. One unique feature is our Millennium Wall Hanging, created by the village’s Embroidery Group which initially formed in May 1999 for the purpose of making this beautiful parish map. A triptych which now hangs on the main hall’s wall, this montage represents the buildings, activities and areas familiar to all parishioners. In ‘normal’ times the W.I., Film, Art, Embroidery, Keep Fit, Yoga and Bowls groups meet here regularly and weekly ballet classes are held. During the 2020/21 COVID pandemic the hall has remained open as the venue for the weekday playgroup and the three outreach post office sessions per week.
We thank ACRE, Community Action Northumberland (CAN) and Northumberland County Council for their support during this difficult time and look forward to when we can fully re-open.
Longhoughton Community & Sports Centre Trust Ltd
Northumberland
Longhoughton Community & Sports Centre is a modern and spacious community venue in the heart of Longhoughton village on the coast of North Northumberland. This pandemic has shone a light on our indomitable community spirit. 2021 continues to bring its challenges to our community but despite our continued closure we have been able to maintain and encourage lots of community spirit through our amazing volunteer group who are on hand to help out anyone in the area who needs support and practical help. We are busy planning our reopening event with hope and enthusiasm for brighter days to come for all of us!
Merton Hall
Northumberland
Merton Hall was opened in 1964 in response to concerns that elderly gentlemen were sitting on village seats in all weathers with nothing to do!
By 2020, Merton Hall, in Ponteland, was attracting 10,000 visits per year from people of all ages before the lockdowns.
The first building on the site, which was located near the former Ponteland railway station, was a wooden hut used as a reading room before the current facility was built.
Middleton & Todridge Village hall
Northumberland
The start of Covid in 2020 coincided with a substantial refurbishment which included the building of a new extension as well as a fully accessible toilet. The changes have added much to attract users and it seems to have worked because 2022 had record numbers using the hall. New activities included two regular weekly Pilates sessions, a weekly Yoga session and four all-day training sessions booked by Northumbria Primary Care. We also hosted two wedding celebrations. These were in addition to the meetings of the newly formed Wansbeck Natural History Group and the popular weekly Table Tennis sessions. Other activities included three performances from Highlights Rural Touring. Returning users included: Hartburn Community Project’s Film Nights, Cambo Young Farmers, Middleton Leek Club’s annual show and two cycle races.
Netherton and District War Memorial Institute
Northumberland
Erected in 1921, in commemoration of the Great War, from old First Aid Huts housed in Alnwick, Northumberland, prior to, and during the period 1914 - 1918. The Hall was opened by Lord and Lady Armstrong. This year sees the centenary of the Hall and we await coronavirus improvements before trying to hold some form of celebration. Currently only used as an ‘Outreach’ Post Office during the pandemic, we hope to return to some normality in the future, to continue to provide a centre for the residents of two rural parishes.
New Hartley Memorial Hall
Northumberland
mainly providing free food to those in need and limited activities. Hoping to broaden the delivery to include hot meals and support the needs of the community
Newton and Bywell Community Hall
Northumberland
The Newton and Bywell Community Hall is located on the edge of Newton Village. Situated on the north side of the Tyne Valley, the village and Hall have sweeping southerly views over the Tyne Valley. Originally the Newton Women’s Institute Hall it was first used by the Women’s Institute in 1930. In 2003 the Hall was embraced by the wider community and the Newton and Bywell Community Hall Trust was formed and the Hall was rebuilt, re-opening in 2007. Throughout its history the Hall has been supported by the hard work and generosity of the local community without whose dedication it would not exist. The Hall is used for many different purposes. It houses a community library, is used for a variety of different classes from upholstery to pilates, is available to host a myriad of social functions including fund raising events, community social events and private parties, and of course is still used to host the meetings of the Newton and Bywell Women’s Institute . During lock down improvement works have been undertaken to the Hall and everyone is looking forward to it re-opening and welcoming visitors old and new.
Ninebanks Church and Community Hall
Northumberland
Our Hall is located in a small, rural village in South West Northumberland in the heart of the North Pennines and was built in 1934. A local farmer donated a piece of land to extend the Reading Room that had been built in the 1800s for the lead miners. The building was funded by local people with subscriptions and fundraising events including whist drives, bring and buys, barn dances and sports days. The Hall is where all the local events happen: bingo nights, ceilidhs, harvest suppers, keep fit classes and social evenings to mention a few. It is the venue for birthday parties and wakes, the polling station and a public meeting place. In addition to the main hall, the building has a kitchen and small meeting room that we are hoping to refurbish in the near future to bring the kitchen facilities into the 21st Century and to make the meeting room a warm and cosy place for people to get together. We are being guided and supported in this project by CAN (Community Action Northumberland). We are looking forward to re-opening after the pandemic, re-starting activities and to meeting friends and neighbours again.
Ovingham Reading Room
Northumberland
Ovingham is a small village in the Tyne Valley, and the Reading Room is a major focus of community life, used by all ages in regular organised activities as well as special events and private bookings. It has a welcoming atmosphere, and modern facilities which make it accessible to everyone, whilst also being a historic building.
The Reading Room was funded through a generous donation of land and money from the vicar of the time, and through community efforts. It was first opened in 1894 for use by men only, for playing billiards and chatting, as well as reading (there were no public libraries then).
Like many other village buildings, it was used to billet soldiers after the evacuation of Dunkirk.
Following some years of only occasional use, the Reading Room was extended, refurbished and reopened in 1971. In 1984, land donated by Frank Atkinson enabled us to extend the building again to give us an additional room (the Blackett Room), which is used for small-scale events and meetings.
The Reading Room committee has also been central to the revival of Ovingham’s traditional Goose Fair.
Let’s hope that the Reading Room will continue to be well-used and enjoyed during its next century.
Rede Tyne Coquet
Northumberland
The centre is run by volunteers and three part time employees plus a volunteer Groundsman. The RTC is a huge asset to our very rural community.
We have a sports hall, outside courts, bar and lounge, a sports field and a 24/7 gym. Annual events include an annual music festival and a Christmas party.
Our charitable objective is ‘to provide for the inhabitants of the Rede, The North Tyne and Coquet valleys and the neighbourhood in the interests of social welfare, facilities for recreation and leisure time occupation, for the purpose of relaxation and with the object of improving conditions of life for the said inhabitants’.
Riding Mill Village Halls
Northumberland
Riding Mill Village Hall continues to be the village hub. Books, homemade jam and eggs are available outside and prescriptions continue to be collected and delivered by volunteers weekly. We are looking forward to being open again and can’t wait welcome all our patrons backs.
RTC Sports
Northumberland
Despite the challenges that Covid-19 has presented, we have been able to deliver online youth clubs to young people across our region. As part of this, we have organised virtual stargazing evenings, Zoom groups and one-to-ones. Feedback has been really supportive, and young people and their families have told us how much they look forward to the sessions and seeing everybody.
Seahouses Hostel Hall
Northumberland
Seahouses Hostel is a charity providing self catering residential accommodation for children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Hall has been used by many over the years; not only those staying at the Hostel but also as a hub for community activities and village life. Some have used it for family celebrations, continued parish and ecumenical meetings, church coffee mornings, children’s’ holiday clubs, craft workshops, drama groups, school projects, local group activities and much, much more... Although currently closed due to the pandemic, we are confident that the Hall will continue to thrive and be an integral part of community life once more, when “normal service resumes”!
St Aidan’s Hall Berwick-upon-Tweed
Northumberland
St Aidan’s Hall is a stone building situated in the centre of the town of Berwick upon Tweed. The site was originally a Roman Catholic school in the 1700s and then passed to the Presbyterian church next door. When the church closed a number of local groups rented the hall for their activities. In 1995 the building was put up for sale and the regular users decided to try and raise the funds to purchase the building. The money was raised and a charitable trust, St Aidan’s Hall (Berwick) Trust was set up to provide a hall which could be used by the local community. The Hall is run by a committee of Trustees and is available for the benefit of all members of the local community. There are no paid members of staff, all are volunteers.
The building plays a vital role in supporting local organisations and is much valued. Until Covid intervened more than 300 people were using the building on a weekly basis with every age group represented. These organisations and new ones are now returning again to enjoy the facilities. We have been fortunate in obtaining both lottery grants and government grants and these have been put to good use to tackle refurbishment projects such as new flooring and a new kitchen.
There are groups for all ages and include long running activities such as dancers, carpet bowls and U3A. New groups have started and once again St Aidan’s is thriving. It is also available for private hire by local residents for parties and celebrations and exhibitions of local art work etc.
St Mary Magdalene Church Hall, Prudhoe
Northumberland
Prudhoe Hall was built in 1903 by public subscription under the direction of the mining community in the then village of Prudhoe and the Foundation Stone was laid on 7th Sept. 1903 by the Lord Bishop of Newcastle - The Right Rev. Arthur Thomas Lloyd who was bishop from 1903 – 1907. Later during the 20 century the Hall was given to the local Anglican church of St Mary Magdalene to be used and maintained for the benefit of the community. During the 2nd World War it was used as a telephone exchange and had an extension built in 1970 building on a brand new kitchen area.
Very recently, we installed a free Wi Fi for the benefit of all users. Unfortunately this was just up and running when the Covid 19 pandemic arrived in 2020 and the hall was in complete lockdown. It subsequently reopened in tier 2 with very limited use and then another lockdown in tier 4 which is the current situation since December 2020. However, prior to 2020 we had plans in place to extend and revamp the whole kitchen area and were able to secure funding from a number of sources and, because of Covid regulations , were able to complete the kitchen refurbishment without inconveniencing any of the users. Now in 2021 we are ready to be a host to all the usual hall users and additionally able to offer, top of the range catering facilities, for those needing a venue for serving food after weddings, funerals and other celebrations. In the past we have been a community meeting place for lots of organisations, including Women’s Institute, guides and Brownies, Weight Watchers, U3A, Over 50’s Forum, Mother’s Union Tai Chi, Bravo drama for young children, Artventurs for very young babies and toddlers, Social Eyes for the hard of sight, Dog Training classes as well as our ongoing church activities – Young Church, Parents and Toddlers and the regular coffee mornings on Thursday, Saturdays and Sundays and even began cooking clases Even though we are regularly very busy we still have time to hire out for birthday parties and charity fundraising events. We are all looking forward to life returning to normal and this hall being the central hub in the community again. Joan Russell – Hall Secretary
Stakeford and Bomarsund Sport and Social Welfare Centre (The Welfare)
Northumberland
Providing opportunities for the young, those who are older and all in-between to engage in sport and healthy activity, and to meet and enjoy the company of others. The Welfare provides accommodation and is the host of many local groups and their activities.
Stamfordham Village Hall
Northumberland
Built at the end of the 1870s and opened as the village school in March 1880, Stamfordham Village Hall has been at the centre of village life for over 130 years. In 1974 it closed as a school and was bought from Northumberland County Council and since then has been run as part of the Stamfordham Playing Field & Village Hall Charity. The hall has been used in so many ways since then. There are regular users such as Mums and Toddlers, Karate, Bowls, Art Club, Young Farmers and Yoga, special events such as Wedding Receptions, Christening Parties, Funeral Wakes, Birthday Parties, Burn’s Night Suppers, Ceilidhs and Theatre Productions, used as a Polling Station, made into headquarters for Cycling Events and so on. The Post Office visits once a week which is a lifeline for anyone without a car as our nearest shop, offering Post Office facilities, is over 6 miles away. In 2019 a community cafe was opened for a couple of hours each week and so provided a warm and safe space for local residents to meet for cake and a cuppa and the all important social gossip. Passers by call in from time to time and always receive a warm welcome. During the 2020/21 lockdowns, caused by the Covid 19 pandemic, the hall was used as a local food bank and distribution centre. As the lockdowns continued it became a community kitchen, run by volunteers, providing a hot 2 course meal once each week to local families who found themselves victims of the economic circumstances. When the word got out about how good the meals were this was extended to other residents who were willing to make a donation towards the cost of the meals. The run-down basket ball court adjoining the Village Hall has been completely re-vamped since receiving a generous grant from LEADER and re-opened during the lockdown in 2020 to provide a Multi Use Games Area for local people. It has turned out to be very popular across all age groups with Stamfordham Primary School also making use of it for games sessions. The Village Hall is in the heart of the village and the Trustees will strive to continue to improve the facilities there in order to provide a diverse range of uses for local residents and also to make it an attractive venue for those outside our community to hire for special events, thereby contributing to the income needed to maintain such a much loved community building.
Stocksfield Community Centre
Northumberland
A Brief History of Stocksfield Community Centre
Stocksfield Community Centre was opened in 1902 as a ‘Parish Hall and Institute’. In 1901 a small group of local landowners formed the Stocksfield Parish Hall & Institute Limited which by the time of the official opening by the local MP had sold 2,300 shares to 127 individuals; an early example of ‘crowdfunding’! In those early days the ‘Institute’ was very much part of the Mechanics Institutes movement with an emphasis on providing education to working men. It had a Reading Room and Library as well as a large hall and stage and in 1906 hosted the 66th Annual Conference of The Northern Union of Mechanics Institutes.
Stocksfield Institute continued to be owned and managed for the community until 1941 when it was requisitioned for use by the War Department as a base for the Army. Records show a number of regiments based there during training.
Swarland Village Hall
Northumberland
Swarland Village Hall sits in the heart of our village community and was provided by Commander Clare G Vyner in 1939 as a major amenity for the then Swarland Settlement. Built by Fountains Abbey Settlers’ Society it has a chequered history, and, as it stands today, is only part of the original complex: the building was divided into two parts when it was sold off in the late 1940s. Just the north wing was purchased by villagers as a result of keen fundraising and a determination to keep some of the Hall as a much-needed amenity for the whole village. As a unique timber-framed building it was listed Grade II in 1988 and although this has its challenges in terms of upkeep, our Hall continues to provide a space for several clubs, exercises classes and social events. Future plans include our new website going live and, thanks to government grant aid, redecoration of the main hall and much needed improvements to the main entrance area. Our unique Hall remains a much valued part of our village community and a credit to the determination and imagination of the many volunteer committee members and trustees for over 80 years.
The Breamish Hall
Northumberland
The Breamish Hall hosts a wide range of regular activities for all ages through the year as well as one off events. We are looking forward to opening again once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
The Craster Memorial Hall
Northumberland
The Craster Memorial Hall
Originally known as “The Reading Room”, the foundation of the Craster Memorial Hall was laid in 1887, and the Hall was inaugurated 2 years later in 1889. Given by the Craster family and built in the garden of the church, which itself was started in 1867 as a Sunday School, it was part of the drive to improve the educational opportunities of a deeply rural fishing and farming community. At a time without radio or television, when ready access to the news of the day was very limited, it provided the men of the village (and it was very much a male preserve!) with the facility to read the papers and play billiards on the enormous table that dominated the room. Extended and renamed after the First World War it became the Craster Memorial Hall, and was very much a centre of village life. Even today it is still referred to by some of the oldest inhabitants as the Reading Room.
Having recently undergone a major refit to make it more relevant to the 21st Century, made possible in part by a major fund raising campaign, it remains a focus of community activity for a population the structure and demands of which, in common with very many rural communities, have changed dramatically. It is the “go to” venue for clubs, committees and social occasions, for which its new kitchen and communications systems make it so well suited. The enthusiastic and hard working committee are also responsible for the village playground, which is a very popular attraction for the quarter of a million or so visitors to the village annually.
www.crastercommunity.org.uk/Local Groups/Memorial Hall
The Hearth Centre
Northumberland
The Hearth Community Hall is situated within The Hearth Arts Centre, home to 8 artists’ studios and a family-run café. The Hearth Centre, occupying the church hall and manse, opened as a charity in 2004 with support from Horsley Village Church, and The Hall is used for art and yoga classes, craft groups, history talks, concerts, art fairs, community events and more. The Hall has been closed during Lockdown but our regular hirers are looking forward to resuming their classes once we re-open, and we look forward to becoming a lively, thriving community hub once more.
The Hindmarsh Hall, Alnmouth
Northumberland
Our hall has served the village for over 250 years: first as a granary when Alnmouth was a grain-exporting port, then as a chapel for 20 years from 1859, then as the Town Hall, and from 1937 as our village hall after it was bought by the Hindmarsh Family and gifted to the village. It is the centre of village life and hosts a huge range of events and activities from major village celebrations like the annual 3-day Arts Festival through to children’s parties, weddings, anniversaries, workshops, craft fairs and as a meeting place for all village organisations. With an annual footfall of over 14000 (in a village of about 400 inhabitants) it is one of the busiest halls in rural Northumberland. Currently undergoing a major restoration which will be completed in June 2021, we look forward to our hall serving the village and wider community for another 250 years.
The Old School, Ovingham
Northumberland
Built in 1815, this was the village school until the mid 1960s. It was then transferred to Ovingham Scout Group and used for all the uniformed organisations. After major refurbishment in the 1990s, as well as scouts and guides it used by a range of community organisations including an out of school club, bridge club, exercise groups and for functions.
Ulgham Women’s Institute
Northumberland
The WI Hall is in the heart of the village. It is a wooden building, similar in style to many Memorial Halls. The wooden interior gives it a warm and welcoming feel, which is also helped by the extensive insulation in the walls and ceiling together with a good heating system. There is nowhere else to have meetings, parties, events etc. The hall was built in 1928 and has been extensively refurbished to keep it up to date. There is ramp access for wheel chairs and there is a disabled toilet for men and for women. There is a fitted kitchen and adjoining area used for catering preparation. The WI caters for visiting WI groups, birthday, wedding and anniversary parties. Individuals also hire the hall for many occasions. The hall is used by the Parish Council, Bowls Club, Salsacise, Gardening Club, Rendezvous (a pop-in cafe for local residents to catch up with each other), Film Club and Little Owls (a play group for little ones and their carers). The hall is also used as a Polling Station. The WI and church use the hall for fund-raising dances, fairs and coffee mornings, plus the occasional quiz. We have good audio visual equipment that is used by the Film Club and visiting speakers to any of the other clubs.
Wall Village Hall
Northumberland
Having a main hall (seating 120 max) with a small stage and piano, together with a kitchen, our Hall plays host to local clubs and societies such as the Village Society, Carpet Bowls, Pilates and the WI. We are available as a venue for Wedding receptions, Kids Parties, Funeral Wakes and any other celebrations in between.
Warkworth War Memorial Hall
Northumberland
Built in 1866, it was bought by public subscription in 1920 and serves as the village hall for the people of Warkworth and surrounding areas providing a vital facility for a variety of communal activities. The Hall hosts Coffee Mornings, Concerts, Ceilidhs, Community Cinema and Drama Productions. It is home to local clubs/societies - W.I., History Society, Art Group, Choir, Drama Group, Flower Club and the British Legion. Regular classes are held in Dance Fitness, Pilates and Yoga. In addition to these regular events it is available for receptions, children’s parties and other ad hoc events for the local community. It is a meeting venue for the Parish Council and is used as a Polling Station. It is available as a Rest Centre in case of local emergencies.
Whitley Chapel Parish Hall
Northumberland
Whitley Chapel Parish Hall has been the centre of Hexhamshire life for generations, hosting community groups, dances, classes, weddings, parties – the list is endless.
It was built by public subscription in 1932 as a memorial to Shire men who lost their lives in World War One, at a cost of £837/5/7. It was then enlarged and improved in early 2000.
The Parish Hall provides excellent facilities for a diverse range of user groups of all ages and interests, from the Young Farmers to the Womens’ Institute, the Bowls Club and the school. It is also well used by private individuals for birthday parties, weddings, family events and funeral teas, and is regularly used for dances, concerts, stage productions and other club and charity fund raising events
Wingates Village Institute
Northumberland
We are a small village hall in rural Northumberland, we have tried to continue some of our regular activities online this year. We play bridge online every Tuesday with video and audio, and have done this since first lockdown, some of the main social contact some of us have had. Our reading group actually has more people attending on line, as people who have left the area can join in again. We have held several quizzes via zoom through the year, including Burns night with music, poetry and Scottish quiz. We had already done some major hall improvements in 2019, and are now working on the outside space of the hall developing garden, path and patio area. We have held our first socially distanced Highlights rural touring event and looking forward to having some more Highlights events.
WYLAM INSTITUTE COMMUNITY HALL
Northumberland
The Institute is a large Victorian building opened in 1896 which makes it 125 years old this year. It has six meeting rooms, a main hall with a stage and an office. The size of the building allows us to accommodate 30 regular user groups - they range in age from the very young to the elderly and cover a huge number of activities, everything from babies cooking to chair based Pilates. Also we have regular bookings for private parties, fundraising and cultural events and wedding receptions. In fact two wedding receptions were cancelled in 2020. Our paid staff have been furloughed on and off for many months during the pandemic and, together with keeping up with the government guidelines, this has been a steep learning curve for our trustees. Having to close the building for long periods has left a large hole in our community and we can’t wait to get back to normality.
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