Who owns the Hall?
You! The hall was paid for with donations and “belongs” to anyone who lives in Vowchurch or Turnastone. It is held by a charitable trust for “the benefit and enjoyment of the people of Vowchurch and Turnastone.” It is run by a committee of volunteers and and is entirely self-funded receiving no support from any external body. Registered Charity number XXXX
The trustees are as follows:
Deed of Trust:
Contacts (updated 07/02/2025)
Chair of hall Committee Jane Wheatley 07…..
Secretary
Treasurer
Committee meeting minutes
History
The hall was built in memory of the local men who fought and died in WW1 with money raised locally. It remains in the ownership of a charitable trust for the benefit of people of the parish with no external support.
In 1912 the local doctor's wife Mrs Mary McMichael started a fund for the building of a village hall in Vowchurch. A bank account was opened with a deposit of £6 - proceeds from the first whist drive and dance to take place in the parish. By the end of WW1 a sum of £216 had been collected and a suitable site purchased. Fund raising continued apace and building commenced in the summer of 1920 using oak timbers and stone from barns at Lower Welbrook in Peterchurch. The stone slated roof of the hall was completed on Christmas Eve 1921 and ten months later the hall was opened on October 25 1922 by S. Roberts MP.
Committee members celebrate the renovations 2006
From 1942 until 1966 the hall was used daily in term time for the provision of school dinners. Improvements continued to be made to the hall paid for with a series of monthly events - coffee evenings, bingo, fancy dress dances, whist drives and duck races - and a prize draw scheme. From July 1986 a country produce market was held each Saturday. At the turn of the century it was evident that the hall needed considerable repairs and improvements; a fundraising committee was formed and applications for funding made to the National Lottery and DEFRA. Both were successful and work on the £280,000 renovation scheme began in November 2005 under the supervision of architect Trevor Hewett of Hereford. Work included a new roof, new kitchen and toilets, double glazed windows, a new heating system and disabled access. New furnishings were generously provided by the National Grid in recognition of the disturbance caused to the community by the laying of a new gas pipeline.
Since then, well equipped and freshly decorated, the hall has once again been the venue for social meetings, lectures, parties and gatherings after weddings and funerals. The quarterly market resumed with a range of stalls selling bread, apple juice and other local items.