William Blake Memorial Hall
Committee’s Progress on
Fund raising for Roof Refurbishment
Further to our previous news on the Roof Refurbishment, we have at last some good news. It has taken us an enormous amount of dedication and work, with architects’ drawings, planning discussions as well liaising with contractors. The residents of Market Square were invited to look at the drawings and their comments have all been favourable. We are very grateful for their letters submitted to the SSDC backing our plans. Planning permission has just been given. All this means that at last work can commence the first week of August. The scaffolding for the roof will be erected, the frames for the upper windows are being made to measure etc. So we are now quite excited to see it all happening. However at this stage, it is envisaged that the top floor windows only will be replaced, due to the late start. If weather permitting it is possible to continue with the lower section, this will be a bonus. Otherwise it will have to be postponed until next spring. The regular users of the Blake Hall are being advised that normal attendance will continue. The Hall will only close if some unexpected problem makes it unsafe to use. We will keep you informed.
Fund Raising Events:
We are happy to see our Monthly Events for fund raising are popular due to the high quality and versatility of the Speakers. We also had an extra special event on Saturday 11th July when Miriam Cooper gave us an excellent and realistic representation of a convict’s family in Richmond, Tasmania. So as not to miss any, please make a note in your diary for the next few months’ talks on the second Thursday of each month, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets £5 at the door includes a glass of wine and nibbles.
Thursday October 8th: Discovery
of Wreck HMS Wager
A talk by Shirley Critchley is one of the team led by
Chris Holt, leader of the Diving Team, (Scientific Exploration Society’s
Expedition to Chile, December 2006) who discovered the wreck. HMS
Wager was part of British Squadron of Warships. It was sunk off
Chile in May 1741, and the survival of a number of her officers and crew
is one of the great sagas of the sea.
Thursday November 12th: Demonstration
of Christmas Flower Arrangements
Angie Blackwell’s demonstrations are always
popular as she entertains as well as showing us the art of flower
arrangement. She also gives talks at Dillington House. Angie
is kindly donating one of her arrangements so that
it can be raffled to raise funds.
Friday November 27th: 10am
- 12 noon (Extra Event – Workshop)
Angie Blackwell from Cottage Flowers of Ilminster
will be running a ' Christmas Door Wreath Floral Workshop'. Participants
will learn how to make a Christmas door wreath to take home with
them. The wreath, greenery, wire and ribbon will be provided but
own decorations may be used. The workshop will end with a demonstration
of how to make a table advent ring arrangement. Coffee and
cake will be provided.
Friday December 11th: Malcolm Lake “Christmas entertainment”!!
Also the first Sunday of every month we have a regular local produce market
For information on Events contact: Diane Langford 01460 249107.
Our present regular users of the Blake Hall are:
Weekly:
Monday afternoons The
Sixty Club
Tuesday afternoons Line
Dancing
Tuesday evenings Brownies
Wednesday afternoons S.P.
Bridge Club
Wednesday evenings Line
dancing
Thursdays till 3pm Art
Group
Saturday mornings Ballet
Group
Monthly, each First Sunday morning
10am to 1pm on : 1st
Feb, 1st March, 5th April etc.
Local Produce Market – with coffee/tea and cake for refreshments
Regular stalls: Local cheeses, pork meat cuts and sausages,
lamb cuts and sausages, cider, honey, eggs, chutneys, home made cakes,
vegetables, plants and many more enticing goodies.
First Monday evening: Parish
Council Meeting
Second Monday evening: Women’s
Institute
Second Thursday evening: Blake
Hall Fund Raising Event
THE WILLIAM BLAKE MEMORIAL HALL
A Short History
The village hall building known as the William Blake Memorial Hall was built in 1911 in Ham Hill stone. It incorporated the Old Market House and replaced The Old Fire Engine House and two old cottages that were bought by the sons of William Blake, a prominent local landowner, for the new facility.
In modern terms it was effectively a redevelopment of what was already in place. The Old Market House, which was built in 1843, was a single storey building with open arcades for use as a market.
The new ‘fire engine house’ was accommodated in the new William Blake Memorial Hall and the horse drawn fire engine continued to be housed there until 1951 when Somerset County Council decided it was surplus to requirements.
At the apex of the roof is a bell turret housing the fire bell, used to sound the alarm to summon the firemen when the fire engine was called out.
On the outside of the building is a stone carving of the Coat of Arms of the Blake family and a date stone of 1911.
The main hall is upstairs and below is a range of rooms designed and used originally as a Liberal Club.
In its history the hall has also been a centre for evacuees during the Second World War, a dance hall, a cinema, a library and a schools meal service.
The William Blake Memorial Hall is a dominant building right in the centre of the village of South Petherton in Somerset, England.
As such it is also the centre of many of the activities that go to make up village life, continuing to be the venue for many varied activities.
The William Blake Memorial Hall is situated in the centre of South Petherton, where St James Street meets Market Square. In South Petherton it is normally just referred to as the ‘Blake Hall’. On the ground floor is the popular South Petherton Sports and Social Club, with the ‘Village Hall’ facilities on the first floor. A stair lift is available for those who might find the stairs to be a little difficult.
There are many groups that meet regularly in the Blake Hall including Art Group, Brownies, Keep Fit, Line Dancing, Over Sixty Club, Tea Dancing and WI. The Blake Hall is also available for private bookings.
The Blake Hall has a capacity for 200 seated closely, 85 seated at tables, 170 dancing, 102 dancing and seated at tables.
The Facilities:
1. Main Hall - 10 x 10.5 metres
2. A stage - 7.5 x 3.3 metres
3. A kitchen with an oven, hob and fridge
4. Recently refurbished toilet facilities, including disabled
5. A bar area and full Public Entertainment Licence
6. Amplified Public Address System
7. A separate Committee Room, suitable for meetings for up to twelve people.
The Cost:
Main Hall, including use of kitchen facilities - £9 per hour
Committee Room - £4.50 per hour
(Special rates available for regular bookings)
To Book:
Contact Lucy Davey, the bookings secretary on 0773 8661673 or 01935 822830
(or if she is not available Janet Churchill, the Blake Hall Secretary,
on 01460 249070)
The Officers are:
Chairman - Mrs Jenny Derbyshire 01460-240330
Secretary - Mrs Janet Churchill 01460-249070
Treasurer - Mrs Sharon Blake 01460 242124
Bookings Secretary - Mrs Lucy Davey 0773 8661673 or 01935-822830
The Blake Hall is a registered charity managed by the William Blake Memorial Hall Management Committee, which comprises of two representatives from the Parish Council and representatives from the Art Group, the Over Sixty Club and the WI.