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| Kirkbampton
Village Hall - The History of Kirkbampton Village Halls |
| 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
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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
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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
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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 |
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