The Hall and Surroundings
THE PRESENT.
Shalfleet Village Hall is owned by the Church.
It is managed by a sub-committee of the Shalfleet Parochial Church Council.
There are currently 5 members of the sub-committee.
Current Bookings Secretary is Michael Beavis.
Phone number is 07541 856934.
Website is www.shalfleetvillagehall.org.uk
The Bookings calendar on the website shows all current activity.
The hall is used by many organisations and individuals.
Some examples:- Adult Welfare group, Afternoon Tea group, AGMs, Anniversaries, Baby Showers, Birthday Parties, Choir Practice, Church meetings, Church Services (in extreme cold weather), Concerts, Conferences, Charity Groups, Craft Fayres, Craft group, Dance Classes, Exhibitions, Family Parties, Lunch Club, Meditation Group, Mother & Toddler group, Music Group, Parish Council Meetings, Pilates Classes, Polling Station, Retreats, Shows, Special Interest Groups, Social Functions, Talks, Training Groups, Village Meetings, Village Fete, Yoga Classes, Wedding Preparation classes, Wedding Receptions, Women’s Institute.
FACILITIES.
The hall is located in field, behind St.Michael’s Church, in a quiet rural setting. There is plenty of parking outside the hall. Access is from Church Lane opposite the New Inn pub. (Look for the church brown sign.) When hiring the hall the field is also available in the dryer summer months and can be used for games & bouncy castles etc. There is wheelchair friendly access to the hall and a large accessible toilet as well.
The kitchen is well stocked with china, cutlery and glasses. It also includes a cooker, microwave, urn, dishwasher, fridge & freezer.
THE PAST.
The hall building first appears on a map of 1774, when it was almost certainly a barn. It could have been built well before this date. It served as an agricultural building right up until 1935. The 1774 map was an estate-map commissioned by the lay rector, James Wilkinson. It shows other out-buildings and a house. In 1837 the Wilkinsons sold the estate to the Simeon family.
In 1932 when the Simeon estate was auctioned, “Rashley’s Field” (on which the building is situated) was withdrawn from the sale and bought by Mrs Way of Dodpits, on behalf of the church. A new vicarage was built in one corner, and various other buildings demolished – only the barn remained. In 1935 Mrs Edith Kindersley of Hamstead Grange offered to fund the conversion of the barn to a “Church Room.” John Seely, a well-known architect, (later 2nd Lord Mottistone) was engaged. Shalfleet Village Hall is an unmistakable example of the “Arts and Crafts” style, which he also used when restoring Mottistone Manor. The Village Hall and the field are currently owned by the Diocese of Portsmouth of the Church of England. Shalfleet PCC manage the Village Hall through one of its sub-committees.
By early in the 21st century the Hall was dilapidated and in need of repair and refurbishment. With grants from the West Wight Landscape Partnership and the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership, the Hall Management Committee acting for the Shalfleet PCC completed in 2011 a renovation sympathetic to and worthy of the building’s setting and history, with the aim that the Hall should be used as a facility for the whole community. In light of this new aim, the incumbent changed the Hall’s name from Shalfleet Church Hall to Shalfleet Village Hall. The Shalfleet PCC Hall Sub-Committee seeks to manage both the Village Hall and the surrounding field for the benefit of all.
The hall is remarkable not only for its age and character, but for its very significant setting. The field in which it stands has been a farm meadow for centuries, probably grazed or cut for hay. Having escaped the use of artificial fertiliser, it is defined as Unimproved Grassland. It supports a high number of grasses and flowers which thrive in natural grassland, and a high species diversity. Since 1940, 97% of such areas in the UK have been agriculturally improved or lost. Our meadow, one of the few local areas of unimproved grassland outside Newtown National Nature Reserve, supports a rich variety of grasses and is an important habitat.
The south-west corner, formerly part of the garden of the old vicarage, contains various fruit trees. The copse beside Church Lane has a dense understorey. It is undisturbed for wildlife, and elms will regenerate there, with fallen timber piled to give shelter to insects, frogs, toads and small mammals.
Adjacent to the meadow are the burial ground and graveyard – both Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation – and, within the churchyard, the Grade 1 listed Norman Church of St Michael the Archangel. The Hall and field are on glebe land owned by the Portsmouth diocese and are within a Conservation Area.
THE FUTURE.
The Village Hall is an important asset to the village and the life of its inhabitants.
It is run entirely by Shalfleet volunteers, so it needs to be welcomed and embraced by the village in order to attract volunteers.
The Village Hall is financially self supporting from its extensive bookings and does have the backing of Shalfleet Church.
The recent addition of Burt’s Close has attracted more younger residents and has triggered the setting up of a mother & toddler stay and play group. This group meets in the Hall on Friday mornings and is open to anyone (not just Shalfleet Residents).
We are actively seeking financial support from WightFibre to install Wifi.
History of the Hall
The building first appears on a map of 1774, when it was almost certainly a barn. It could have been built well before this date. It served as an agricultural building right up until 1935. The map in question was an estate-map commissioned by the lay rector, James Wilkinson. It shows other out-buildings and a house. In 1837 the Wilkinsons sold the estate to the Simeon family.
In 1932 when the Simeon estate was auctioned, “Rashley’s Field” (on which the building is situated) was withdrawn from the sale and bought by Mrs Way of Dodpits, on behalf of the church. A new vicarage was built in one corner, and various other buildings demolished – only the barn remained. In 1935 Mrs Edith Kindersley of Hamstead Grange offered to fund the conversion of the barn to a “Church Room.” John Seely, a well-known architect, (later 2nd Lord Mottistone) was engaged. Shalfleet Hall is an unmistakable example of the “Arts and Crafts” style, which he also used when restoring Mottistone Manor. The Village Hall and the Meadow are currently owned by the Diocese of Portsmouth of the Church of England. Shalfleet PCC manage the Village Hall through one of its sub-committees.
By early in the 21st century the Hall was dilapidated and in need of repair and refurbishment. With grants from the West Wight Landscape Partnership and the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership, the Hall Management Committee acting for the Shalfleet PCC completed in 2011 a renovation sympathetic to and worthy of the building’s setting and history, with the aim that the Hall should be used as a facility for the whole community. In light of this new aim, the incumbent changed the Hall’s name from Shalfleet Church Hall to Shalfleet Village Hall. The Shalfleet PCC Hall Sub-Committee comprises representatives from the church PCC and volunteers from the village, and seeks to manage both the Village Hall and the surrounding field appropriately, for the benefit of all.
History of the Meadow
The hall is remarkable not only for its age and character, but for its very significant setting. The meadow in which it stands has been a farm meadow for centuries, probably grazed or cut for hay. Having escaped the use of artificial fertiliser, it is defined as Unimproved Grassland. It supports a high number of grasses and flowers which thrive in natural grassland, and a high species diversity. Since 1940, 97% of such areas in the UK have been agriculturally improved or lost. Our meadow, one of the few local areas of unimproved grassland outside Newtown National Nature Reserve, supports a rich variety of grasses and is an important habitat.
In line with the approved management of such areas, the spring meadow is cut annually for a hay crop in mid June, when most flowers have set seed.
The south-west corner, formerly part of the garden of the old vicarage, contains various fruit trees.
The copse beside Church Lane has a dense understorey. It is undisturbed for wildlife, and elms will regenerate there, with fallen timber piled to give shelter to insects, toads and small mammals.
There is a mown or strimmed path round the perimeter of the field to give access to the orchard and prevent trampling of the hay. Any seeds and plants that are introduced will be gathered from the meadow or hedgerows, ensuring they are native and appropriate to the locality.
Adjacent to the meadow are the burial ground and graveyard – both Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation – and, within the churchyard, the Grade 1 listed Norman Church of St Michael the Archangel. The Hall and Meadow are on glebe land owned by the Portsmouth diocese and are within a Conservation Area.