HVH- History

Hanslope Village Hall began life as Hanslope 'Top School' in the area of the Village known, due to its proximity to St James the Great, as Church End
It was built around 1840, financed by Squire Edward Watts of Hanslope Park

Children had been previously educated in the Vicarage House funded by the Pierrepoint Charity. The Hanslope Feoffee Charity funded the school from 1877, until it was handed over to the Hanslope School Board

In 1908 it was merged with another school and the building was managed by the Hanslope Sunday School Endowment

Church End 'Top School', interior and exterior, around 1925

Around 1872 a second school was built at Green End, known as the 'Bottom School'
In 1935 the Top School building was transferred to the Sunday School Endowment and a Trust established.

When the pupils moved to the newly-built Primary School in the 1960s, the Top School then ceased to exist as a school and the building became known as 'The Church Institute' and served as the Parish Hall

At that point the building was in a very poor state of repair and after much negotiation and discussions The Hanslope Village Hall Trust Charity was established in 1979 which leased the building for forty years from the Hanslope Sunday School Trust

With the aid of a grant and with a major fundraising effort the building was enlarged. The main hall was doubled in size; a toilet block was added and a modern kitchen created

THEN

and

NOW

The Large Hall looking towards the kitchen in the 1970s, and as it is today

The Hall is now twice the size, central heating has been added, a new floor fitted and the colour scheme far lighter and brighter

The door to the kitchen is in the far corner, the door to the toilet block to the right

The Large Hall looking towards the main entrance in the 1970s, and today

Photographed from the same position - it shows the extra space created from the new build on the left

The kitchen area in the 1970s and today.

The sinks are in virtually the same position

The window behind the 1970s view, at that time looking directly outside, is filled in and is covered by the notice board in the new corridor

The lone toilet in the 1970s

Amazingly this was located directly next to the kitchen!
(Which is on the left of this photo)

Today there are separate ladies, gents and disabled toilets in their own block

Toilets - today

The completely refurbished building was officially opened in 1982, by actor Brian Wilde
Amongst his best known roles are Mr Barrowclough in Porridge, and 'Foggy' Dewhurst in Last of the Summer Wine