| 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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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| 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. |
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|
| 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. |
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| 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." |
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Project
2000 was Born |
