The Parish Room/Village Hall

By the time the nineteenth century had drawn to a close the world had changed, and was still rapidly changing – and in ways that could not have been imagined just a mere thirty years before. In those intervening years, motion pictures had been invented and the magic of the cinema was but a decade or two away. Aeroplanes, cars, the wireless, mains water piped to the house, sewerage systems, the telephone, and electricity supplies to houses were all relatively new and still being improved, developed, and spreading. These all were to have an effect on the ordinary person and his/her way of life.

Lives were changing socially as well as technically, however, with most social changes being, perhaps, the result of the technical ones. While trade unions had been or were being formed, the working–man and woman were fighting for the right to vote. Ordinary, everyday, working–class people were getting educated and beginning to look for more from life than just mere existence.

In the decades to come, people would join with like–minded others to form ′Groups′ or ′Clubs′ for anything from rambling to stamp collecting and they would all need somewhere to meet. At the turn of the century many such pastimes were, perhaps, not thought of yet or, at best, in the embryonic stage of thought but there was no doubt that things were changing.

Before the Education Act, of 1902, Hooe School was the only place in the village that was suitable for many of the local parish events and meetings. The size of the schoolrooms and the fact that benches were available for use would have been what made the building so suitable. The Church vestry could be, and had been for many years prior to the building of the school, used by small groups in which to hold meetings but this was of limited size and not suitable for many of the recreational gatherings that were now becoming wanted.

However, with the passing of the Act, the building could now only be used for public elementary education and for local government purposes.

The Church had lost a meeting room and the Reverend Cuthbert Routh, Vicar of St. Oswald′s at that time, offered £40 towards the cost of a corrugated iron building, which would meet the Church′s requirements. Basically, a "Parish Room Committee" was set up and it was suggested that additional accommodation ought to be provided to allow seating for up to two hundred people. It was also agreed that there should be two rooms – a small one generally for Church gatherings, and a larger one for others. The schoolmaster, my grandfather, acted as Secretary to this Committee until the work, together with his normal, every–day job, became too much for him and, then, Mrs. Weston, of Castlehurst, consented to carry on, and, sometime in 1904, initiated a Ladies′ Sewing Party to raise money for the project. Associated with her were Mrs. Brand of "The Grove", Mrs. Dodson of Hooe Post Office, and Mrs. Lemmon, of Holmes′s Farm.

Whether the corrugated iron structure was ever built or not is not recorded but, a time went on, it was decided that a more permanent building was required.

The first consideration was the finding of a suitable area of land on which to erect the new building and that′s when the problems started. The Council was prepared to sell some of its parish property for the purpose but there were rules, laws, and the inevitable paper–work. It would seem that, mainly because of the official ′red tape′ involved, correspondence went back and forth over the next seven years, between various bodies, as Hooe Parish Council tried to get permission to sell the land. A transcription of this correspondence can be seen by clicking on HERE.

It seems that the first letter, in this long series of correspondence, was written sometime in early June 1901, by Richard Hayward, at the time Clerk to the Hooe Parish Council. He wrote to parish council of Heathfield asking for their advice on selling parish property because they had, apparently, previously done just that and he, obviously, had heard of or, already, knew this. While his letter has not survived, the reply from Heathfield has and it′s in the East Sussex Record Office.

Heathfield′s reply is dated 7th June 1901 but a letter he received on 12th June from the Local Government Board refers to one he had sent on the 6th so it seems he had some idea as to what was required to be done.

Like all good civil servant organizations there were. of course, forms to fill in – "apply to the Board for an Order authorizing the sale and should supply the information indicated in the enclosed forms; one of the Forms No. 1 together with the Declaration and Queries, should, when duly filled up and signed, be returned to the Board; the other Form No. 1 being retained by the Parish Council".

It seems that, for some reason, the idea of a village hall was put on hold for the next six years because the next letter, from Richard Hayward, to the Secretary of the Local Government Board is dated 29th January 1907.

It, also, seems that the Council now wanted to present the area of land, for the erection of the Parish Room, as a gift and Lord Brassey was prepared to pay a large proportion of the cost of building the room but rules are rules and the new age was dawning – there were forms and proof of ownership was needed, among many other things.

Richard Hayward′s letter says,

"That this Council recommends the Ratepayers assembled at a Parish meeting to consent to the Parish Council's approval to present such portion of the plot named in the application as may be needed for the erection of a Parish Room."

"I am, therefore, instructed to beg that your Honourable Board will give their sanction to the proposed gift of a site in furtherance of the project, which has the support of the Honourable T. A. Brassey; a large land owner of this district, who is prepared to bear a large part of the cost of building the room and would become one of the trustees of the room and site, in conjunction with the Vicar of the Parish and the Chairman of the Parish Council, for the time being."

That would have been too easy, so the Secretary of the Local Government Board replied,

"I am directed by the Local Government Board to advert to your letter of the 29th ultimo, with reference to the gift proposed to be made by the Hooe Parish Council of a portion of certain property belonging to the Parish as a site for the erection of a Parish Room, and to request that, in the first instance, the Board may be informed how and when the land was acquired by the Parish, in whom it was vested prior to the passing of the Local Government Act, 1894, and to what purpose the income has been applied both before and since the Act."

It wasn′t even the "Secretary" who replied but the "Assistant Secretary" – who probably had an assistant – the Civil Service hasn′t improved much over the years!

The Parish Council realised how useful a Parish Room would be to everybody in the village With the introduction of the Education Act, of 1902, the Council, which had begun to use the schoolroom instead of the vestry, would have seen the advantages, to themselves and their meetings, of a special room designed and built for the use of the parishioners. The "Ladies′ Sewing Party", also, no longer able to use the schoolroom, had been trying, for some time, to get such a room in the parish for their meetings.

"Hooe Reading Room", had been lost to the young men of the village. This had been set up, in the school rooms, in 1897, at the request of several lads who had approached the schoolmaster asking to be allowed to read books and "share the warmth and light of the room with him" and they had promised to behave themselves. Tom Corke was their spokesman and Albert Markwick was the one who supported him but the numbers soon rose to thirty. Books were asked for and obtained for them, later, in–door games were provided. After a time, Mr. John Brand introduced Sandow′s Physical Culture, dumb–bells and bar–bells were bought, and physical training became the thing. The schoolroom had become both a youth club and a community centre but this had been lost.

[Note – Eugene Sandow was very well–known in Victorian times. His real name was Friedrich Wilhelm Muller, born on April 2nd, 1867, died on October 14th, 1925. He was a Prussian and a pioneer of bodybuilding, something the Victorians appreciated and admired. He is, today, often referred to as the "Father of Modern Bodybuilding".].

The closure of the "Reading Room" was not, however, only due to the Education Act, but, there were two outbreaks of diphtheria in 1903, which led to the destruction of many books when the rooms had to be fumigated with sulphur. The cost of redecoration and replacing the books led to caution on the part of the Reading Room Committee and of the Managers. There was also the prospect of this Parish Room being provided and available for their use.

Hooe Parish Council wanted to donate a small area of land which, because of its position within the village seemed ideal for that purpose, but the outcome of the initial correspondence, between the Council and the Local Government Board, seems to have been that they couldn′t give it away – it had to be sold, even though the Council couldn′t, actually, prove ownership. Notwithstanding that, a value was set on the land oft £15, which, it seems was, mainly, up to the "Hooe Ladies Working Party" to find. To this end they organised events such as Whist Drives, in order to raise money.

However, not everyone could agree as to what the purpose of this new "Parish Room" should be; there′s no record as to exactly what the arguments were about; what the different points of view were. There were many discussions but no progress was made and a general dissension prevailed. Although the "Ladies′ Sewing Party" had the free use of the Vicar′s house and garden (with refreshments) for their meetings and sales of work, they resolved that he should have no control of the "Room."

The Hon. T. A. Brassey (afterwards Viscount Hythe) offered to provide a Village Hall for general Parish purposes but, when he learnt of the dissension, he withdrew his offer, so the Chairman of the Parish Council, Mr. Edmund Brand, went to see him and managed to persuade him to give the building to the Parish, as he had originally intended.

A Trust Deed was drafted, but never completed because of the rejection by a Parish Meeting (called by the Parish Council) of a clause, which gave the Vicar a right to use the "Parish Room" for religious services. The Trustees proposed were three –– the Vicar, the Chairman of the Parish Council and the Hon. T. A. Brassey.

The Countess Brassey and her nephew, Mr Egerton, were consulted and the Charity Commission approached.

Charity status was granted but it seems that this must have lapsed for some reason as the Charity Commission to–day has no record of it. Apparently, some of the files relating to these older, obsolete trusts have been destroyed, in line with their office policy.

After approval and agreement, the land, bought for £15, was then conveyed, by Hooe Parish Council, to the Trustees, in 1907, for the erection of the proposed, new "Parish Room".

As a small matter of interest, an article in the Bexhill Observer, dated 11th November 1933, claimed that the site chosen for the Village Hall, had originally been where Hooe stocks had stood, until, that is, an offender who had soent many hours there because of drunkenness got his revenge by setting them on fire – they were never re–built!

Subsequently, a plan of the proposed new building was drawn, by a Mr C. Martin, in July, 1909. He was a Clerk Draughtsman in the Works Department of the East Sussex County Asylum/Mental Hospital and his initials and the date appear on the plans (bottom left of drawing - "C.M. 7.09").

Plan of the Proposed Village Hall (July 1909) The plan is reproduced with the permission of "Hooe Parish Council" and the "East Sussex Record Office" (their reference HE/137/11). Click to enlarge, click again to enlarge again, then use the horizontal and vertical sliders to view the area of the image you want to see in detail.

A fortnight before the official opening of the Parish Room, the Bexhill Chronicle Supplement, on November 9th 1912, reported that the preparations were well under way (see the following transcription).

HOOE PARISH ROOM

On Thursday next there will be a meeting held at the Schoolroom, Hooe, to consider the best means of carrying on the new Parish Room in order that it may fulfil the purpose for which it has been built. Lady Idina Hythe will, it is hoped, open the Room, and the attendance of all interested is invited so that there may be a thoroughly good send–off.

Finally, on November, 23rd, 1912, at 3 o′clock in the afternoon, the "Parish Room" (or the "Village Hall") was opened as reported in the "Supplement" to the "Bexhill Chronicle"

It seems that the new "Room" was first used as a Working Men′s Club Room. and continued as such for seven years, until 1919 when peace was to be celebrated and the parishioners clamoured for it to be open to them.

A Public Meeting was held, in the Hall, on September 30th, 1919, with Mr. Brand as Chairman; this was followed by another meeting on October 8th. A Committee was appointed to give effect to the people′s wishes, his lordship′s advice was sought and his draft Trust Deed followed, except that religious services were as sanctioned by the Committee.

In 1919, Lord Brassey (Viscount Hythe) died and, because no provision had been made for a successor. in the course of time, the Vicar, being also the Chairman of the Hooe Parish Council, became the reputed sole Trustee.

No documentation, if there were any, seems to have survived but sometime around the year 1929, the only Trustees (perhaps still only the Vicar) decided to pass the "ownership" of the Hall over to "Hooe parish Council" – it was a logical decision to make.

There is a reference to the "Village Hall" or "Parish Room" in the minutes of the meetings of the Parish Council that was held on 18th April 1929. The Chairman, the Rev. C. A. Weeks, "informed the Council there was a proposal to add a north wing to the Village Hall, which would necessitate disturbing the tenant of Allotment 23." I have not found any details on such a north wing.

From the "Bexhill Observer", dated 4th May, 1929

"The VILLAGE HALL"

"Mr Marshall Wood, architect of Endwell–road, Bexhill, has forwarded to the Fete Committee his plans for the enlargement of the Village Hall. They provide a room at the south–east corner, one at the south–west corner, the addition of a stage between the two, and separate conveniences for ladies and gentlemen. The estimated cost is £300."

According to the minutes of the Parish Council′s Quarterly Meeting, held on the 17th October, 1929, (Council members present were – C. A. Weeks (Chairman), Councillors Carter, Dodson, Hayes, and Thorpe).

"Councillor Hayes moved: – "That this Parish Council is in favour of taking over the control of the Village Hall. This was seconded by Councillor Thorpe and agreed to"."

Then, at a special meeting held on 7th November 1929 (members present were the Rev. C. A. Weeks (Chairman), Councillors Carter, Dodson, and Hayes. Councillor Thorpe was absent through illness) the minutes record that –

"On a motion by Councillor Hayes, seconded by Councillor Carter, the Council accepted the offer of the Trustees of the Village Hall to grant them the management of the Hall through a Committee appointed by them."

"Councillor Hayes moved and Councillor Carter seconded:–"

"That the Parish Council be the Committee of the Village Hall with co–opted members of such a number as to make the total twelve".

"This was agreed to."

"The Chairman moved, Councillor Hayes seconded, and it was agreed:–"

"That the Clerk to the Parish Council be the Secretary of the Village Hall with authority to let the Hall".

"The Council then appointed a number of persons to serve on the Village Hall Committee subject to their willing to do so."

From the Minutes of the Meeting held on January 16th, 1930 (members present – Councillors Rev C. A. Weeks (Chairman), C. Carter, S. Dodson, S. Hayes, Councillor Thorpe was absent through continued illness.

"Re Village Hall" – "The Council resolved the Chairman should see J. Berthon Sparke, Esq., to learn from him whether he could advise them as to the course to be taken to vest the Hall in the Parish Council with safeguards for the preservation of the principles of the Draft Trust Deed, and what expense would be involved in legally effecting the same.".

Finally, at the meeting held on March 27th, 1930 (members present Councillors C. A. Weeks (Chairman), C. Carter, S. Dodson, F. Hayes.).

"Gift of the Hooe Village Hall – Councillor Dodson moved, Councillor Carter seconded, and the Council resolved:".

"That this Parish Council accept the gift of the Hooe Village Hall for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Parish from the reputed Trustees thereof; and that the Chairman insure that the conveyance is legally executed.".

About a fortnight later, at the meeting held on 10th April 1930 (Present Councillors Rev C. A. Weeks (Chairman), C. Carter, S. Dodson, and F. Hayes), item 7 on the agenda was: –.

"Re Village Hall Enlargement The Clerk was instructed to interview the Sanitary Engineer and Mr Marshall Wood re: plans for a room to be added on the south side."

The following are all extracts from the minutes of meetings that were held between July 1930 and July 1932; the Clerk, referred to, was my grandfather, John James Newport.

Minutes of Meeting held July 17th, 1930

"Present – Councillors Rev C. A. Weeks (Chairman), C. Carter, S. Dodson, F. Hayes, S. Thorpe."

"(4) Re Village Hall Enlargement"

"The Clerk reported that he had interviewed both the Sanitary Engineer and the Architect and from them had learnt the cesspit must be removed before enlargement can be carried out as proposed and that, while the pit must be at least 50 ft. from the building it must be 60 ft. from a well.".

"(7) Re Hooe Village Hall".

"The Chairman read correspondence he had received from the Charity Commissioners".

"The Clerk submitted minutes of Parish Meetings in 1907, which referred to the draft Trust Deed. He was asked to furnish copies of these for the Charity Commissioners."

Minutes of Meeting held 15th January 1931

" Present: – Councillors Rev C. A. Weeks (Chairman), C. Carter, S. Dodson, F. Hayes, S. Thorpe."

"(9) – Re Reports of Hooe Village Hall Committee:"

"The Council agreed to receive reports of the work of the Village Hall Committee."

"(10) – Re Religious Meetings in the Hall"

"On a request by Councillor Thorpe, the Council sanctioned the use of the Hall on Sundays for Religious Meetings at a minimum charge of 2s 6d per evening, the meetings to be from 8 o'clock to 9."

Minutes of Meeting held 26th March, 1931

Present – Councillors Rev C. A. Weeks (Chairman), F. Hayes, S. Thorpe

(5) – Re Village Hall Committee Reports

The Council agreed to the Village Hall Committee should submit a report and Balance Sheet at the Council's first annual meeting.

Minutes of First Annual Meeting after Election held 16th April 1931

Present: – Councillors Rev C. A. weeks (Chairman), T. E. Gander, F. Hayes, S. Thorpe and J. Berthon Sparke.

"(1) Election of Chairman – On a motion by Councillor Sparke, seconded by Councillor Gander, the Rev C. A. Weeks was elected Chairman.

"(2) – After taking the Chair, the Vicar called for other elections, which were as follows: –

Village Hall Committee

The Parish Councillors

The Clerk to the Council

Mrs Bourner, Mrs Freeman, Mrs Russell, Mrs Lennard, Mrs Constant, Mrs B. Smith, Mrs Collins, Mrs Sparke, Mrs Vitler

Having resolved: "That the Parish Council be hereby empowered to co–opt an additional three members of the committee", others were elected as above.

Village Hall Treasurer – Resolved: "That the Treasurer of the Hooe Parish Council be the Treasurer of the Hooe Village Hall Committee."

Minutes of Meeting held 18th January 1932

"Present: – Councillors Rev C. A. Weeks (Chairman), T. Gander, F. Hayes, S. Thorpe, J. Berthon Sparke"

"(5) – Re Village Hall Double Door"

"Resolved Councillor Gander voting against; "That the Hall double door be made to open outwards, at a cost of One Pound."

"(6) Re Enlargement of Hooe Village Hall"

"Councillor Hayes submitted the Hall needed a Cloak Room and he undertook to apply to Mr Maynard, architect, for a plan."

Minutes of Annual Meeting held on Monday, April 11, 1932

Present. – Councillors Rev C. A. Weeks, T. Gander, F. Hayes, J. Berthon Sparke, Esq., & S. Thorpe

(6) – Appointment of Village Hall Committee

"Resolved: – "That the Village Hall Committee the re–appointed en bloc."

"(9) – Re Enlargement of the Village Hall"

"Resolved: – "That the Clerk obtain from the architect a specification of the work for which plans have been approved by the Hailsham Rural District Council and any other necessary information, before tenders are invited.""

Minutes of Meeting held Thursday, 2nd June.

"Present: – Councillors Rev C. A. Weeks (Chairman), T. Gander, F. Hayes, J. Berthon Sparke, Esq., and S. Thorpe."

"(5) Re Addition to the Village Hall"

"Estimates submitted were:–"

"W. Crouch, £116"

"H. Taylor, £136"

"Resolved: "That the Clerk interview the architect (whose estimate was £70) and ask him to name builders who could tender lower prices.""

Minutes of Meeting held 21st July 1932

"Present: – Councillors Rev C. A. Weeks (Chairman), T. Gander, F. Hayes, J. Berthon Sparke, Esq., and S. Thorpe."

"(3) Re Addition to the Village Hall"

"Estimates submitted were:–"

"H. Taylor, £136, W. Crouch,£116"

"R. Larkin, £125, G. Hawkins,£110"

"G. & C. Draper, £80"

"Resolved: – "That the Clerk consult the architect before accepting G. & C. Draper′s price and invite him to superintend the work; also to report to the Chairman the architect's reply.""

According to the Village Hall accounts, on 4th October 1934, electric light was installed in the Hall at a cost of £6 18s 0d.

Again according to the accounts, during the year 1938, they had the Hall redecorated and repaired at a total cost of £34 18s. They also spent £5 9s on the installation of electric light, which begs the question why? Exactly what was done in 1934? On top of that £5 2s 3d was spent on electric heating and £8 5s on wiring.

My grandfather was the Secretary to the "Hooe Village Hall Committee" and Clerk to the "Hooe Parish Council", from about 1931 until his death in 1946 (the result of a tragic road accident). In his book, "The Records of Hooe", a Cloak Room was added to the building in 1932 and it was a "Master Paul Sparke" who carried out the opening ceremony. Paul′s father was Mr J. Berthon Sparke, a "Gentleman", living at "Tanyard House", Hooe Road, Ninfield. Both Mr and Mrs Sparke served as councillors on the Hooe Parish Council.

One of my grandfather′s duties, as Clerk to the Council, was, once a year, to complete and send to the Charity Commission, a "Statement of the Accounts of the Charity called Hooe Village Hall". This form listed payments in and out of the "Village Hall Accounts" during the previous year, giving dates, events, and the names of individuals. Only ten of these completed forms seem to have survived (from 1931 to 1941) but the information they contain, though in no way in–depth, does give us some idea as to what the Hall was used for and who used it. It′s a world before television, before the owning of cars by the general public, a world where people had to make their own entertainment and they did this by forming groups or clubs of like–minded people. Later on, out of interest and to give some idea as to what I mean, I have given some extracts from these forms.

Could the reason, why these "Statement of the Accounts" stop at 1941, be that the Charity ceased or was cancelled? Did they stop or have they just been lost? The war may well have had something to do with it but I have found no record of what happened after 1941 – so far!

Village Hall Committee, Statement of Accounts – 1931–1941

On the front page of the "Statement of the Accounts of the Charity called Hooe Village Hall", there is a list of all the "Trustees and Administrators".

In the years from 1931 to 1941, all members of the Hooe Parish Council are listed as being the Trustees or Administrators on the Village Hall Committee – these are: –

Rev C. A. Weeks, "Highfields", Vicar, listed in 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934

T. F. Gander, "School Farm", Farmer, listed in 1931, 1932

Frank. Hayes, " The Forge", Blacksmith, listed in 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936/1937, 1938, 1939

S. Thorpe, "Rose Cottage" Dairyman, listed in 1931, 1932, 1933

James Berthon Sparke, "Tanyard. House", M.A., J.P., Lawyer & Gentleman, listed in 1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936/1937

J. H. Pescod, "The Retreat", Salesman, listed in 1933

Alfred Robert Hayward, Quiddleswell Mount, Artist, listed in 1934, 1935, 1936/1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941

William James Sargent , Sampson's Cottages, Grocer's Assistant, listed in 1934, 1935, 1936/1937

Harry Clifton, Fuchsia Cottage, Gardener, listed in 1934, 1935, 1936/1937, 1938, 1939, 1940

William Clifford Crouch, Glebe Cottages, Builder, listed in 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941

Ronald Charles Whitfield Hart, Parsonage Farm, Dairy Farmer, listed in 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941

E J. O. Edwards (Rev.), Wartling Vicarage (Later Windmill Hill, Hailsham), Clerk in Holy Orders (later Vicar of Hooe), listed in 1940, 1941

Arthur H. Sargent, Hooe, Market Gardener, listed in 1941

Note! The years in which they served on this Committee are given after their occupation.

Also Note! The accounts for the years 1936 and 1937 were combined on one form because, up until 1935, the accounting period had been taken from January 1st to December 31st, but, in 1936, this was changed to run from April 1st until March 31st.

Extracts from the Village Hall Accounts – Receipts (for the hire of the hall or equipment)

From newspaper articles and the ′Statements of Accounts′, the Hall was, obviously, used for many, and a varied range of, events.

June 20th 1930 – Captain Howard led the Girl Guides Concert – it cost them £1 11s 6d for the hire of the hall.

November 2nd 1930 – a meeting of the Hooe Flower Show Committee was held – at a cost of 8 shillings (8/–)

January 27th 1931 – The Rev. Weeks held a Lantern Lecture – 3 shillings and 6 pence (3/6)

June 20th 1931 – Mrs Weeks, the Vicar′s wife, held a "Jumble Sale" and paid 3 shillings and 6 pence (3/6).

March 15th 1931 – Miss Hayward′s Sewing Party – that cost 1 shilling (1/–)

July 8th 1932 – The County Medical Officer held a Clinic ( a fairly regular event in the 1930s) – 10 shillings (10/–)

November 8th 1933 – "J. Newport Birthday Party" – This was my grandfather, John James Newport and the party was arranged for the a very belated celebration of the 21st birthday of his son Oswald George William Newport who had been on active service for three years, in "Chinese waters", at the time of his real birthday on 18th April 1931. The hire of the hall cost 1 shilling (1/–)

October 10th 1938 – Wedding Reception – Mrs Freeman – 7 shillings and 6 pence (7.6)

The most common usage was for ′Whist Drives′, which were hald for a myriad of worthy causes – the Football Club, the Cricket Club, the Nursing Association, the Brass/ Silver Band, in aid of the ′East Sussex Association for the Blind′, funds to provide a piano for the School, ;Old Folk′s Party′; Church Funds; Women′s Voluntary Service Spitfire Fund, the Royal Surgical Aid Society.

Other events, fairly regularly held in the Hall, were meetings of the Mother′s Union, the Women′s Institute, Band Practice, and Sunday Services.

Extracts from the Village Hall Accounts – Payments (for services rendered)

The Charity Commission′s "Statements of Accounts" give a list of outgoings and the charges, such as:

May 20th 1931 they paid W. Newport (my Uncle Wilf) £1 6s 8d for repairs though these are not detailed.

November 20th 1931 – again, to W. Newport, 10 shillings (10/–) for a new seat – no details.

December 11th 1931 – Fire Insurance, 15 shillings (15/–)

December 24th 1931 – S. Hermitage for piano tuning – £1 1s 0d (£1/1/0). Note this is equal to the value of the old British coin, a ′Guinea′, which was worth 21 shillings. It′s still quoted today for certain expensive items such as racehorses. The name came from the West African region of Guinea from where the gold was mined. It′s still quoted today, though not used, mainly for very expensive items such as racehorses. The price is quoted in Guineas but, actually, paid in pounds sterling. When I was a young man it was still in use for furs and expensive perfumes.

January 18th 1932 – F. Pilbeam for stove repairs – £1 1s 10d (£1/1/10)

October 20th 1932 – S. Dodson for Paraffin – 6 shillings and 3 pence (6/3)

March 1st 1933 – Caretaker for February – 19 shillings (19/–)

July 12th 1933 W. Newport – gate repair – 2 shillings (2/–)

December 4th 1934 – Installation of electric light – £6 18s 0d (£6/18/0). This is the first mention of electricity in the hall.

September 13th 1935 – Electricity – £1 13s 8d (£1/13/6)

The last statement, for 1940, is signed off in 1941, with the outgoing payments being made to, and the incoming receipts coming in from, much the same people and organisations though the prices, as is to be expected, increase as time goes on.

Each link below will take you to a copy of the Village Hall Accounts for the appropriate year. In all cases, left click on the year to view the accounts, left click on the image to enlarge it, then use the horizontal and vertical sliders to view the area of the image you want to see in detail.

Please note that the accounts for 1936 were combined with those of 1937.

1931 - 1932 - 1933 - 1934 - 1935 - 1937 - 1938 - 1939 - 1940 - 1941