Village information and news

BRIEF HISTORY OF BRAYBROOKE VILLAGE HALL

Our village hall was built in 1835 as a National School, with the two storey east end (part of which was later demolished) being accommodation for the master/mistress. In records of 1903 it was noted that there were 60 registered pupils with an average attendance of 40. In 1907 it was decided by Northants County Council that a new school and head teacher’s house should be built in Wests Street (now School Lane) and it was to here that the school transferred in 1909.

For the following 46 years, which included the First and Second World Wars, the Hall was used as a general community centre and for the informal education of the older than school age members of the village (usually  lads!) Another important role between 1940/45 was being the place of education for up to 40 children who had been evacuated to homes in the Braybrooke area.

The Education Authority continued to let the private accommodation at the east end of the hall until 1955 when the entire property was bought by the Parish Council for a token sum.

For the next 40 years, under the management of the Parish Council the building continued to be used for village social purposes.

In 1994 a new Village Hall Committee was formed and a new form of management was examined and formally agreed. Expertise and final approval of a Constitution was sought and given by the Charity Commissioners. The Parish Council was appointed the Custodian Trustee of the Charity and the Management Committee as Trustees. That 1996 Constitution (The Braybrooke Village Hall Trust Deed) remains in place.

The Management Committee is made up of a Representative from each of the relevant organisations listed in the Constitution and three elected Officers. There is also the opportunity for a maximum of 2 other people being co-opted as members of the Management Committee. The Committee continues to comply with the annual requirements of the Charity Commission.

In March 2004 a proposal for a major refurbishment of the Hall was put forward. During the following 5 years, through grants and village fund-raising events, a total of £90,000 was raised, and spent, so that by April 2009 the restoration was complete. The Management Committee continues to work hard to ensure that the high standards of the hall are maintained and the Village Hall is secured for the future.