Village Hall
VILLAGE HALL ACTIVITIES
Mondays: Partner Whist 1st and 3rd weeks at 2.00 p.m.
American Square Dancing 8.00 p.m.
Tuesdays: Tiddleywinks for Mums and babies under 3 yrs at 9.15 a.m.
Bingo at 8.00 p.m. with raffle.
Wednesdays: Short Mat Bowls - everyone welcome - help given to beginners. Flat shoes must be worn.
2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.
Thursdays: Parish Council meeting every 1st Thursday at 7.30 p.m.
Women's Institute every 2nd Thursday at 8.00 p.m.
Garden Club every 3rd Thursday at 7.30 p.m. (membership required)
Liberty Club every 4th Thursday
Fridays: Watercolour Painting classes for every level from 10.00 a.m to 12 noon.
Saturdays: Sequence Dancing on 1st Saturday of the month starting at 7.30 p.m.
Hall is also available for hire for parties
For further details contact: Lesley Blay on (024) 7654 4531
HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE HALL
A fund to build a Village Hall was started in 1935. £900 was raised locally.
In August 1939 everything was ready for building to start on a Hall costing £2300 – grants of £1400 had been approved.
A lease had been agreed for part of the Recreation Ground in Dyers Lane, where the Children’s Play Area now stands, and this was going to be the site of a Village Hall.
Area marked in green was going to be site of new Village Hall
The Second World War and post-war restrictions prevented any further progress.
Funding evaporated and instead of being able to build a new Village Hall, the Wolston Brandon and Bretford Village Hall Committee had to try to find another solution.
In May 1952, Dr George Campbell, Chairman of the Wolston Brandon and Bretford Village Hall Fund had preliminary discussions with Mr P C Chater, Secretary of the Loyal Equity Lodge No. 2565.
The Loyal Equity Lodge, part of the Independent Order Of Odd Fellows, Manchester Unity Friendly Society, owned the Odd Fellows Hall on Main Street.
The Trustees put the matter before the Lodge and after a lengthy discussion the members authorised them to negotiate the sale of the Odd Fellows Hall. The deciding factor was the use to which it would be put, thereby adding materially to the community life of the village.
In July 1952, the offer to purchase for £2500 had to be rejected because the grants that had been available from the Ministry of Education and from the County Council were withdrawn.
In February 1954 the Trustees of the Loyal Equity Lodge offered the Hall, together with a piece of land at the rear extending to approximately 60 feet, for the sum of £1500.
At a public meeting held on 23rd February 1954 the purchase was approved.
The Odd Fellows Hall interior plan - 1952
Members of the Brandon and Wolston Village Hall Fund committee were:
Dr George Campbell (Chairman) Rosedale, Main Street
Mr Julian Hoare (Secretary) Priory Hill
Mr Bernard Page (Treasurer) Warwick Road
Revd. David Wingate The Vicarage
Mr Thomas Corfield Main Street
Mr H J Haywood Fosse Farm
Mrs Ivy Matthews Brook Street
Miss Constance Teasdale Main Street
Mr Humphrey Addison River Bend, Bretford
Mr A. E. Rollason Avondale Road, Brandon
Mr William Snell Vicarage Farm, Bretford Turn