Village Hall

oldclubcomp In 1917 the Davies Memorial Hall was opened. This is the present village hall and beforethis date the "Men's Club" had met in the Church Farm. Occasional feasts like Harvest Supers were held in the Church Farm Barn. A Bury Free Press report says the Herringswell Boy Scouts made their first public appearance in 1917 alongside a thriving Football Quyoit and Cricket Club.

In 1946 the Herringswell Village Trust was formed. The hall was donated to Herringswell Parishioners for social and recreational use, the land having been swapped for the Herringswell Poors' Fen land.

The Village Hall Trustees are about to begin a complete renovation of the Village Hall to make it a pleasant and useful centre of the village for everyone to use. Grants are being obtained and this work may well continue throughout 2008. The Hall will still be available during that time.

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Photos taken June 2007

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The Village Hall Committee are compiling information from residents on the Village Hall. We hope you will complete the questionnaire, a copy of which can be downloaded here or you can complete it on-line here.

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Cllr Bill Bishop visits Herringswell on 11 March 2008 to 'open' new doors

Article from Newmarket Journal 13 March 2008

Village hall gets new lease of life

Cllr Bill Bishop and Gloria Hicks officially dedicate the hall's new doors

A VILLAGE hall, which is more than 90 years old, is being given a new lease of life.

Residents of Herringswell are determined that their hall, which was originally built during the First World War in 1917, should be restored as it is village's only remaining community facility following the closure of its pub and post office.

A village hall committee has been formed and on Tuesday members welcomed county councillor Bill Bishop who has donated £1,000 from his locality budget to help pay for new doors for the hall.

The committee has also received financial support from ward county councillor Lisa Chambers and Forest Heath Council, which will cover a third of the cost of the refurbishment project, providing local fundraisers can raise the rest.

Gloria Hicks, chairman of the village hall committee, which also numbers Rebecca Watts as treasurer, Liz Marchington, secretary, Chris Wallis and David Ebbs, said: "A charitable trust was formed to run the hall in 1946 and in the 1970s it had an extension built but soon after it was taken over and became the Live and Let Live – a private members' drinking club."

But the club ran into financial difficulties and the hall was handed back to the parish council in October last year

"We are committed to getting the hall back on its feet and up and running as a community venue," said Mrs Hicks. "Forest Heath has been very helpful and has paid for a new boiler and we are now approaching local businesses asking them to contribute to the project, which is likely to cost at least £60,000."

Liz Marchington, chairman of Herringswell Parish council said: "The village hall committee is committed to the renovation of this fantastic facility and the parish council is delighted that Cllr Bishop has been so supportive of our village hall and has been able to financially support us in this way.

"Although the village hall committee still has a lot of fundraising to do, it can begin to see a light at the end of the tunnel and already it is getting indications of support from socially responsible local businesses that see the value of such a facility in a rural community"

The full article contains 376 words and appears in newmarket journal newspaper.

Last Updated: 13 March 2008 10:54 AM

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Quiz night: The first Herringswell Quiz night was held on Saturday, 23 June 2007 - it was a great success - view photographs

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