A village hall is a public building in a rural or suburban community which functions as a community centre without a religious affiliation.

United Kingdom

Bedhampton Social Hall, United Kingdom
St Bees Village Hall Cumbria, UK. Built 1882.

In the United Kingdom, a village hall is a building which is owned by a local government council or independent trustees, and is run for the benefit of the local community. It is estimated that there are over 10,000 such village halls.[1] Most were built in the first decade after World War I (1919-1929) as part of a programme led by the newly-formed National Council of Social Service.[2]

Such a hall is typically used for a variety of public and private functions, such as:

Village halls are generally run by committees, and if not already part of a local government body such as a parish council, then such committees are eligible for charitable status.[3] They may have other names such as a Village Institute or Memorial Hall. In some localities a church hall or community centre provides similar functions.

Typically the hall will contain at least one large room, which may have a stage at one end for drama productions. There is often a kitchen for preparing food and toilets to one side. Larger halls may incorporate further smaller rooms to allow multiple simultaneous activities.[4]

Wales

The word neuadd (IPA: /'neiæð/) is used to refer to village halls in Welsh-speaking parts of Wales, as in Neuadd Dyfi, the village hall in Aberdyfi.[5]

United States

La Grange, Illinois Village Hall

In the United States, a village hall is the seat of government for villages. It functions much as a town hall or city hall.

See also

Action for village halls in England

References

  1. ↑ ACT website Jan 2019
  2. ↑ "Village Halls History". 100 Rural Years. Action with Communities in Rural England. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  3. ↑ Use of Church Halls for Village Hall and Other Charitable Purposes Archived 2012-10-03 at the Wayback Machine, Charity Commission, United Kingdom, July 2001.
  4. ↑ Sport England Design Guidance Note - https://sportengland-production-files.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/village-and-community-halls.pdf?VersionId=NwtRYNuZMMWC5n9LvP_lB4RZ5DNeVUL7
  5. ↑ "Neuadd Dyfi". Retrieved 2 November 2009.
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