Our history
A hall for the village, for more than fifty years.
The Village Hall on Claypit Lane was built in 1967. A trust followed in 1969. The charity was registered the year after.
A hall for Bournheath
The building on Claypit Lane was built in 1967.
On 4 May 1969 a Trust Deed put Bournheath Village Community Centre on a formal footing. The charity, number 523101, was registered on 27 July 1970. Its purpose is still the simple one written down then: the purposes of a community centre, for Bournheath.
Village life
A 2012 account of the hall lists playgroups, bridge clubs, band practice and dog training among the regular users. The names have changed. Classes, coffee mornings, art, parties and private bookings still fill the week.
Parish Council still meets here, as it has since 1993, along with other civic and community meetings.
The building has changed.
By 2012 the hall had already been through a lot of renovation. That year the management committee was looking at insulation. In 2013 they were seeking quotations for an accessible toilet, better use of the smaller room, and more insulation work.
Today there is a main hall of about 12m by 10.9m, an adjoining side room, a refurbished kitchen and servery, and accessible facilities. Parking sits at the door. The recreation ground next door is a public space, not part of the Centre.
Timeline
1967
The Village Hall was built.
1969
A Trust Deed established Bournheath Village Community Centre on 4 May.
1970
The Centre was registered as charity 523101 on 27 July.
1993
Bournheath Parish Council was formed, and still meets at the hall.
2012
A major renovation was already complete. Regular users included playgroups, bridge clubs, bands and dog training.
2013
Improvements were planned for the accessible toilet, the smaller room and further insulation.
Today
The hall is still in weekly use - classes, events, parties and meetings.
Help us tell the story
Photographs, programmes, posters, old papers or memories of the hall, especially from the 1960s and 1970s, would fill gaps we cannot close from the public record.
Email bournheathvillage@yahoo.co.uk