By Patrick McDonough
The village hall on Trent Lane has been at the heart of village life for over 90 years and yet there are many people living in Burton Joyce and Bulcote who have never been inside.
The hall was originally built through the efforts of the local Women’s Institute who had been fundraising for several years in order to purchase a hut for their meetings.
When they had accumulated £300 – about £14,000 at today’s value – they approached local landowner Roger Hearnshaw for permission to erect their hut on a piece of his land.
Mr Hearnshaw refused but said that if they continued to raise funds he would donate a piece of land together with £100 so that they could build a hall to be used by the whole community.
In November 1925, the hall was opened at a cost of about £3,000, which is around £175,000 at today’s prices.
At the outbreak of WW2, many children were evacuated to the village. The village hall became a primary and junior school and remained as such until the early 1960s.
If you are one of those villagers who have never been inside, the thriving monthly community market is an ideal opportunity to take a look.
They are held on the second Saturday morning in each month with the next scheduled for 14th July and 11th August.
The hall hosts choir and brass band concerts, plays and a pantomime, quizzes. There is an art group, zumba and pilates classes, ballroom dancing, as well as dozens of groups organised by the Burton Joyce and District U3A.
So, come on down to the village hall – there’s sure to be something there for you.