About Carbrooke Village Hall
The Hall
Set at the very heart of Carbrooke Village, the Hall has been a valuable asset for village life for many years.
First opened back in 1956 to mark the Queen’s Coronation, the Hall began its life as a logging cabin and was then purchased by the first committee members and local farmers for the princely sum of £100. Since that time it has undergone many improvements and changes – the most recent being the brand new toilets and kitchen and the new Heritage Centre which opened last year.
The Hall is managed by a team of Trustees who oversee the charity’s business as well as the day to day running of the Hall
Built in 1956
The Village Hall stands on land that was owned and donated by VE Buscall Esq. and situated centrally in the village, built in 1956, and named to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
The building was bought from either the ministry of Defence or Forestry Commission from a site at Ickburgh and purchased with money raised by various functions and loans of £100 by committee members and local farmers.
Charity registration
We were registered as a Charity in 1960 with a constitution that included a very different set of user groups – including the WI and the British Legion.
Our charity registration number is 303923, and its objects as registered with the Charity Commission are as follows:
A Village Hall for the use of the inhabitants of Carbrooke and the neighbourhood without distinction of sex or of political, religious or other opinions and in particular for use for meetings, lectures and classes and for other forms of recreational leisure time occupation with the said object of improving the conciliations of life for the said occupants.
Our hall and past events
For all ages of the community
The Village Hall has become a vital part of village life for clubs, societies, meetings, private functions and village events and continues as busy as ever for all ages of the community.
Carbrooke Playgroup and Toddlergroup used the village hall as its premises from 1970’s, originally as a parent led group, with the addition of Parent and Toddlers’ during 1980’s, now it offers full nursery care for children aged 2 to school age. In 2019 it relocated to a room in Carbrooke School.
Carbrooke Village Social Club, With the closure of the village pubs, Carbrooke lacked such an amenity for many years, but during 1990’s the Village Club, installed a ‘snug’ and opened a bar to overcome this.
You can find out more about our history by popping into the Heritage Centre or visiting the Carbrooke History website
Vital improvements
As the building aged and maintenance becoming more difficult, an attempt was made to fund a new building. The bid was shortlisted but unfortunately finally unsuccessful.
During 2019, the Village Hall committee won a grant to refurbish the toilets and kitchen, which had become extremely scruffy. The hall was thoroughly overhauled, and redecorated. A disabled toilet was added.
In 2022 the hall secured a lottery grant to convert the attached portacabin to a history and Heritage Centre which opened in 2022.
Improvements to the hall continue. In 2023 it has been rewired and a new digital screen and projector installed. Going forward the committee has more plans for further improvements.
The Hall in brief
The Village Hall Management usually meets once a month at the Village Hall.
The current Village Hall Trustees are:
Ed Buscall (Chairperson)
Rob Poole (Vice Chairperson)
Pam Arrowsmith
Graham Redfern (Parish Council representative)
Gemma Snelling-delf
Sue Hargreaves
Nathan Defew (Millennium Green representative)
If you have any questions or enquiries please get in touch with our team via our contact form or directly. Full details on how to reach us are on our Contact page