Kirkbampton Village Hall

1920’s

Just after the 1st World War the villagers of Kirkbampton decided it would be a good idea to provide a place for everyone to meet on a regular basis. Laurel Cottage (next to Laurel  House) was chosen and each day a fire was lit, papers delivered to the cottage, aptly named THE READING ROOMS.
At this time, a Billiard Room was also set up. It was  Mr. Tom Mark’s responsibility as one of the founder  members to attend to the daily caretaking of the building,  although Mrs. Whitfield attended to the opening up each  day and lighting the fire each morning.

1930’s

The Committee  decided that Laurel Cottage could no longer meet the needs  of the Village and funds were raised to purchase a New building (actually Ex Army stock). The building was erected on its  present site 6 Riggs on the Hill, Kirkbampton at a cost  of £2.18s.6d. The conveyance cost 13s 6d. At this time two billiard tables were installed and a Bridge Club was started. Still the fires were lit on a daily basis and  still the daily papers were delivered.
 

1940’s

The Home Guard used the Hall for meetings. Local dances became popular  and visiting RAF personnel who were based at Great Orton Airfield regularly frequented them.
The airfield is no longer used by the RAF and became a site  for 6 wind turbines before, in 2001 entering the world stage as the burial site for over 750,000 sheep carcasses during the Foot and Mouth epidemic. The site is now a nature reserve  but at present is available for public access on certain days.

1950’s

Transport  was more readily available and the bright lights of Carlisle  began attracting the local youths who flocked to the cinema's. Nationally there was a move away from village life and its  work (usually farming) to factories and shops in towns.  At this time support for the Village Hall diminished although the Annual Bonfire and Church Sale continued.
 

1970’s

The Committee  held a meeting and decided that if they were to encourage growth in use of the hall, then a larger committee would be required. It was agreed that £50 per annum would  be raised to cover the annual running of the hall. During this period activities increased. Dances, Church Sales,  Bonfire Night, Film Shows and a Barbecue became regular events. The hall was decorated and new lamp shades purchased, each committee member of the day signed their name on a  lampshade for posterity. Does anyone know the whereabouts of these shades now? At this time Mr. Elstree applied to  the Committee for permission to bottle and sell beer, sadly  his request was turned down by them.
 

1980’s

At this time the Committee were concerned about the life  and viability of the hall. The Hall itself was owned by the Village but the land was rented for a peppercorn rent  from Mr. Holliday. The Government of the day were keen  to encourage local community halls and grants were being  made available for improvements and equipment BUT the number one proviso was the land and building had to be owned by the village. Undaunted, our intrepid committee  of the day negotiated with Mr. Holliday for the purchase  of the land. A Price of £6000.00 was agreed and Mr. Holliday agreed the money could be repaid over a period of six years. Fund raising began in earnest and with the aid of a 50% grant from Allerdale Council the debt to Mr. Holliday was repaid in three years!
Additional fund raising ensured a hall refurbishment.  The hall was extended to make way for a proper kitchen  rather than the previously curtained off area.
During the same period a Village Survey was undertaken.

The survey asked the following questions -
1) What did the villagers want from their  Village Hall?
2) Did the Village Hall meet their requirements?

Improvements to the hall continued, the floor was replaced. Short Mat bowling was introduced. New tables and chairs were purchased.  The kitchen was updated. All grant aided.
 

1990’s

Following  concerns on the condition of the existing building a report was commissioned on the state of the hall which in the surveyors conclusion stated that in his opinion:
"The aged structure (apart from being  totally inadequate for it's purpose), has deteriorated to a potentially dangerous state considering the public  use of the building and I can only recommend the demolition  and rebuilding.
It would be foolish to erect a new building on the very  small site, so I further recommend any new building be  on a new site."
 

PROJECT 2000 WAS BORN