The Past
Barnston Village Hall was built in the early 1960's following 13 years of hard fundraising and building. But the design and dream of the village first started in 1937 but then came the war and it was almost given up. Thanks are due to two builders who came to the village and offered to build the hall if help was given.
The pictures show the hall in construction, which was originally built as a main hall with a lean-to on each end. The main entrance is in the centre of the picture to the left.
The hall was built comprising a Kitchen, Ladies and Gents Toilets and a Large Hall for a cost of £2500 including connecting of the sewage and water.
The Grand Opening
With Mr Hallam and John Salmon as Chairman the hall was opened by Mrs Gritths from Dunmow Rural Council (now Uttlesford District Council) in 1961 when most of the village was in attendance. A wireless radio was presented to the retiring headmistress of Barnston Church School Mrs Hallam by Miss Joyce a former pupil.
Village Asset
The Village hall provides a great asset to the village of Barnston providing a secure, dry and warm meeting space for social and educational events, which helps to improve the quality of life for the villagers. So this is very much your hall run by your village we receive no regular funding for the hall, therefore it is run as a charity and we have to compete for funding to improve the hall and its grounds. The only regular funding we receive is through hall hirers and the small amount of donations. This is why we are always looking for new committee members to join us and improve the hall. We have big ideas for the future the village hall but without your support, both money and time, it is hard to raise the funds that are needed.
The Future
We recently refurbished the Kitchen, Bar Area, and Toilets including the addition of a Disabled Toilet. The improvements of the village hall over the last few years now means it has been modernised and brought up to date. In December 2018, a new energy efficient boiler was fitted improving our heating and hot water system. During 2020 we have carried out a major refurbishment of the main hall, the walls have been newly plastered and painted giving it a fresh modern look. We have also lowered the ceiling to improve insulation and new installed LED lights, not only reduce our carbon footprint but help keep our running costs down.
