The Past
On 2 October 1925 Frederick Grainger submitted notice to Chippenham Rural District Council of his intention to submit plans to erect a Village Hall.
These plans were for the relocation of a WW1 Field Hospital from Salisbury Plain. The drawings show a single roomed hall with an open fireplace and 2 external lavatories. There was no provision for a water supply or drainage. The system of closet was simply stated as “bucket”.
Walter Pickford, the owner of Thornend Farm, gave the village a small part of his land (to the east of Station Road, just south of the Lye Common allotments) upon which the hall could be built.
This build was completed within 3 months and the village celebrated the grand opening on 17 December 1925. The opening ceremony was followed by a fundraising auction sale of donated produce, a concert of singing and then dancing until midnight. The new village hall clearly meant a lot to them then as it does to us today.
This news was reported in the North Wilts Herald on 24 December 1925
Article in right hand column (text reproduced below)
CHRISTIAN MALFORD’S PRIDE
Opening of the Village
Hall
HARD WORK REWARDED
The Village Hall at Christian Malford was formally opened on Thursday evening by Col. Lewis who congratulated the village on providing such a boon.
The subsequent meeting was presided over by Mr. A. Pitman (chairman of the committee), who was supported on the platform by Capt. Cazalet, M.P., Col. Lewis. Col. Brassey. Canon Stephens, Mr. W. Pickford and Mr. G. A. Hughes (the energetic hon. Sec.)
Mr. Hughes gave a brief outline of the work of the in arranging entertainments, fetes, &c., to raise the necessary funds, and also explained the rules under which it is intended to tun the hall.
Capt. Cazalet. after congratulating the committee on their achievement, said he was very sorry that Mr. A. J. Boswick, through previous engagement, was unable to be present. He would have very much liked him to have been with them, for, although they might hold different opinions on certain matters, that was no reason why they should not be the best of personal friends. The hall was not for any creed or sect but was for the good of all alike.
Col. Brassey congratulated the village on the enthusiasm they had shown, not only in work, but by their subscriptions. He reminded the members that the cost of upkeep would be always going on. and they must maintain their subscriptions in the summer, as the winter would be heavier. He considered the building good enough a Town Hall, and very much regretted they had no such place in his own village.
Help Appreciated
Canon Stephens said he was very proud of the achievement of the village. He thanked Col. Lewis for his kindness in performing the opening ceremony; and also Capt. Cazalet and Col. Brassey for their presence and for their kind donations towards the funds. They were under a debt of gratitude to Mr Hughes for the great amount of work he had done as hon. secretary, to Mr. Grainger for the excellent building he had erected, to Mr. W. Teagle for kindly coming to conduct the auction sale, and, last but not least. to Mr. Pickford for giving the site. He voiced the sincere regret of the whole village that Mrs. Pickford, through her serious illness, was unable to be present. All knew what a great worker she had been for the social life of the village, and sincerely hoped she would soon he restored to good health.
The auction sale was then proceeded with, a great variety articles, fruit, vegetables, and poultry having been given by friends from Chippenham, Bradenstoke, &c., as well as by the villagers. These were quickly disposed of by Mr. Teagle.
A very pleasing concert followed, the following artistes being in good voice: -- Messrs G. Martin and Boulter and Messrs. Hughes, F. Stephens, Flay, Hurford and C. Long. Miss Cooper was the accompanist. Dancing, with Mr. Flay M.C.. was afterwards indulged in until midnight, and this brought to a close an eventful day.
The evening's proceedings were the means of augmenting the funds by £25.
A whist drive and dance will take place on New Year's Eve.
Three years later, in 1928 Walter Pickford formally conveyed the land and hall thereon to the village confirming his gift. He then gifted some more land in 1946, to enable the hall to be slightly extended to the southern boundary to include a cloakroom and toilets (where the now kitchen is located). This extension involved the removal of the fireplace and presumably the installation of the gas fires which remain in use today. To the north boundary a small piece of additional land was also given.
In 1960 it was found that these gifts had been void and a new conveyance Deed was prepared by Herbert Pickford, Walter’s son, who had inherited Thornend Farm from his father. This Deed contained at the first schedule the Constitution for the Christian Malford Village Hall and formally created the charity. The land was then vested in the Official Custodian for Charities to hold on Trust for the village.
In 1989 further land to the east of the hall was purchased from Herbert Pickford. This additional land was also vested in the Official Custodian for Charities.
This land was acquired to build a new toilet block and convert the cloakroom and toilets into a kitchen. After a period of fundraising this was completed in 1993. The store building was added at a later date.
