A short history of Little Burstead Village Hall

 

The land situated between The Elms and Crome Cottage on Laindon Common Road (approx.) was gifted to the Village by Mrs Florance Johnson, who lived in Hope House, Little Burstead. The transaction was signed and amongst others witnessed by her housemaid Annie Davidson on 27th August 1926.

 

The Rector Charles Lennard Payne became part of the original group of trustees. Eventually with the help of Villagers from Little Burstead and Great Burstead a gentleman named Frederick Weedon, with others, built the hall soon after the land was given. Bill Polly and his father raised funds for the project. Their descendants still live in the Village to this day, one of whom remains a trustee of the charity. 

 

The hall had to be a registered charity and self funding. Provision was made for the Women's Institute. A quote from the conveyance document item 11: “Women's Institute shall have 12 meetings a year at no charge giving notice 6 months in advance of dates required but shall pay such reasonable charges for lighting and firing as the committee may decide”. Mrs Johnson was a committed member of the WI and to this day the WI still meet regularly once a month.

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Throughout the 20th century, the Hall was a hub of social life. There used to be dances there and it was where all villagers met to socialise as nobody had cars in those days and the village consisted of farm workers as well as the gentry.

Over the years there have been many changes to the hall, with a large extension, able now to offer excellent disable facilities, keeping up with all necessary new regulations.

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