Ashbury Village Hall
Click on a heading in the table below to be directed to the relevant text:
| Background |
| Village Hall Committee |
| Village Hall Specifications |
| Regular activities and bookings |
| Booking enquiries and charges |
| Booking Diary |
| Forthcoming events |
| Reports on recent events |
Ashbury Village Hall enjoys a central location in Chapel Lane, close to the War Memorial. It was built in 1864 to accommodate The National School, a charity school for children of the poor. Following construction of a new Ashbury with Compton Beauchamp C of E (Voluntary Aided) Primary School in 1960, the old National School was used as a Village Hall. This arrangement was formalised on the 
death of the Countess of Craven, in 1961, when she bequeathed this building in her will for the use of the people of Ashbury. On inspection the building was found to have fallen into disrepair. Fund raising was a constant problem but loans secured from Oxfordshire Rural Community Council, Department of Education and Social Service eventually enabled the repairs to proceed. In 1975 a new ceiling was installed at a cost of around £400 and the main hall floor was repaired in 1983 at a cost of £1100. Interestingly, these works uncovered the original school cane. Ashbury Parish Council subsequently paid for modernisation of the ladies cloakroom. In 1984 an oversight was discovered with regard to the late Countess of Craven’s will. To everyone’s astonishment it transpired that the Head Master’s house, next to the Village Hall was part of the bequest to Ashbury Village. Since house prices were high at that time it was agreed that the house should be put onto the market. The funds thus raised were invested in a Trust which generates a modest monthly income to help maintain the fabric of the Hall. In 1989 for example, the vestibule was refurbished at a cost of £2,000. Today, the business and upkeep of the Hall are overseen by a local Committee. The Hall is used on a regular basis by a number of Village groups and it also hosts several community functions each year.
The Committee welcomes enquiries from other potential users of the Hall.The specifications, booking details and hire charges are set out below.
| Member | Responsibility | Tel. | |
| Graham Clarke | Chairman | 710305 | gandj.clarke@virgin.net |
| Maggie Simons | Secretary | 710801 | MaggieSimons@bluebottle.com |
| James Ruggiero |
Treasurer & Junior Club |
710780 | jamesruggiero@thinkpositive.co.uk |
| Roger Baker | Building Maintenance | 710358 | |
| Peggy Burns | 710288 | ||
| Philip Charters | 710431 | ||
| Lynn & Kevin Clarke | Hall Bookings | 710326 | |
| Leonie Knott | PCC Rep | 710333 | |
| Peggy Leon | PC Rep | 710273 | |
| Diana Lovegrove | 710328 | ||
| Diane McLaren | 710759 | ||
| Jenny Millard | 710352 | ||
| Anne Morgan | Toddler Group | ||
| Chris Shutie | |||
| Margaret Smith | 710800 | ||
| Reg Smith | Senior Citizens | 710341 | |
| Amanda Togher | Toddler Group | 710309 |
The Village Hall comprises a stone vestibule which leads into a large hall measuring 21metres by 5metres that can accommodate 100 people seated theatre style and which has a raised dias at one end. A smaller self-contained meeting room measuring 3metres square, leads off the main hall and can seat up to 10 people. The building is heated and has both kitchen facilities and conveniences on site. The main hall can be flexibly set up for meetings, performances, gardening shows, jumble sales and indoor games as well as private and public functions. A loop system is fitted in both rooms for the hard of hearing and the flooring of the main hall and stage was completely refurbished in September 08. There are 120 chairs, 12 trestle tables and 6 desk-like tables available for use.
|
Monday Daytime |
Toddlers Group |
|
Monday Evening |
Gardening Club - three to four times per year Parish Council - every two months Village Hall Committee - every three months |
|
Thursday Evening |
Indoor Bowls Club |
|
Friday Evening |
Junior Club - every other week |
Enquiries about booking the Hall should be directed to Kevin Clarke (710326).
Charges are as follows:
| Free evenings | £7.00 per evening for those living in surrounding villages £10.00 per evening for those living outside village |
| Fund raising/parties | £15.00 (mid-day to midnight) |
| Children’s Parties | £15.00 for those living in surrounding villages £20.00 for those living outside village |
| Private Parties | £25.00 for those living in surrounding villages £40.00 for those living outside village |
Click here to open the diary in a new page and view which dates are free and which are reserved.
Forthcoming Events
VALENTINE DANCE - 7th FEBRUARY 2009 AT ASHBURY VILLAGE HALL
Ashbury Village Hall Committee is pleased to announce this forthcoming event. The dance will feature David James, singer guitarist and star of local and national radio. More details will be announced soon, so put February 7th in your diary!
SCARLET RIBBONS
On the 16th of October the Oxfordshire Travelling Theatre Company entertained us in the Village Hall with a production entitled Scarlet Ribbons, a musical wrapped around Nat King Cole and his songs. 75 attendees from several villages in the area supported the afternoon show which was a great success and the actors were extremely professional. Although the event was not designed as a fundraiser, and the tickets were priced to break even, the larger than expected attendance and the generous donations on the day meant that £110 was raised to support the Village Hall Restoration Fund. The Hall Committee wishes to thank Peggy Leon for the arrangements and Margaret Smith and Diane McLaren for baking some wonderful cakes, many of which were “doggy bagged” by very appreciative attendees for "seconds" when returning home.
MURDER MYSTERY AT THE MANOR
Below is a pictorial record of this event which took place on 6th September 2008:
Maggie Simons receives a bouquet for her organisation efforts