Norton-in-Hales Jubilee Hall

The recently refurbished Jubilee Hall has been the home to an enthusiastic group of Ballroom Dancers throughout the winter months, who have been developing their skills in the waltz, foxtrot and cha cha to name but a few! Pictured here are many of those who have been acquiring new skills, which they will no doubt be developing further after the summer break.

Refurbishment of Jubilee Hall almost complete (Posted 31st Mar 08)
New double glazed windows and entrance door have been installed. Also, we have a new heating system and extractor fans fitted, as well as a new stage carpet, stage and window curtains and the main floor has been re-sanded and polished.

We are very grateful to Shropshire County Council, the Muller Trust, the Harlequins Drama Group and the Parish Council for their generous contributions towards the work. We are also grateful to Sneyd Carpets for the donation of a new stage carpet. Between them, they have contributed over £9,000 towards the £13,400 that the refurbishment has cost.

Favourable comments have been received and hopefully this will encourage more use of the Jubilee Hall.

Contact
Should you be interested in hiring the hall for a function, please contact Liddy Hall on 01630 656476.

The hall today
Today the village hall looks very different. Renamed the Jubilee Hall, it is of brick construction with a fully fitted kitchen, stage, cloakroom, wc’s and storeroom, and was opened on 1st September 1979 by Mrs Makin.

It is used by a variety of village groups including Toddlers, Norton Harlequins, The School, the Parish Council but mainly the people of the village and surrounding area.

More images - click to view a selection of images. Image1 Image2 Image3 Image4 Image5.

A brief history
On April 26th 1926 a public meeting was held in Norton-in-Hales school to consider the question of whether the village should have a Village Hall. The meeting was unanimous that a hall ‘was desirable’ and after much discussion ‘steps were taken to erect a Hall’.

In order that work begin immediately, interest free loans were offered by Captain Radford Norcop £100, Mrs J Meadows - £50 and Mr J Meadows - £50.

Sites were viewed and their owners interviewed however nothing was decided until Captain Radford Norcop offered a site ‘on the Drayton Road near his Gardener’s Cottage’.

The specification was for a Hall 50 feet x 24 feet with ‘a small room at one end’. However it was then ascertained that the cost would be ‘at least £300 and no less’.

The Secretary, Mr J Meadows, informed the meeting that he had been over ‘to Park Hall Camp, which was being dismantled, and it was possible to get a corrugated iron hut 60 feet x 21 feet for £45.00 plus £7.00 for dismantling and £10.00 for transportation to the site’.

On the 6th November 1926 at 3.30pm, less than 7 months after the preliminary meeting, Norton-in-Hales Village Hall was ‘formally declared open by Lady Stamer.’ Also on the platform were ‘Captain Radford Norcop and Mrs Radford Norcop, Presidents, Sir Lovelace, Mrs & Mrs J Meadows, Mr C Chadwick and the rector, Rev. D Roberts. Tea was served afterwards and realised the sum of £3 11s 6p’.

If you are interested in the history of the hall, please contact Terry Palmer on 01630 658084 or e-mail via the Norton Harlequins web page.

Terry Palmer
Chairman Norton-in-Hales Jubilee Hall
September 2004.