History of St Lawrence Village Hall

Perched on high ground at the foot of the hill that leads to the Old Church, St Lawrence Village Hall is an attractive old Victorian schoolhouse, with a bell turret and a handsome weather vane depicting the gridiron of St Lawrence. Used as a school for less than 10 years, then used by the council, and later a village hall.

Designed by architect Mr Edward Harvey, it was constructed in 1898 from stone excavated from the same spot. The land was conveyed by the Pelham Estate, on the proviso that the new building would be a school and serve no other purpose.

This new Church of England purpose-built school, with 36 local children, replaced the original village classroom - at the property now called ‘Selwyns’ on Seven Sisters Road - which had become too cramped for the growing population of St Lawrence.

The new schoolhouse had one large hall, which could be divided by a moveable partition to form two classrooms. Each had a fireplace and a door to the main passageway, with separate cloakrooms for boys and girls. Between them was a room for the schoolmistress.

Although the school was officially opened on 26th October 1898, by Sir Richard Webster MP, the children were not actually transferred until 8th February the following year.

A school inspection 3 months later reported that the new school had every modern convenience, despite the fact it had no lighting, mains water nor drainage, and the only washing facility was a pump at the bottom of the garden near the primitive toilets.

The largest number of children on the register was 51 in 1902, and there were fears of overcrowding.  Yet, 6 years later, the school was permanently closed as the number of children in St Lawrence suddenly started to dwindle.

The death of local millionaire, William Spindler, in 1899, and then his wife in 1906, caused significant redundancies. The Coastguard Station at Woody Bay closed. Large mansions, with their many servants, were being split up into smaller residences or converted into hotels.

With fewer and fewer children in the village, the school closed in 1908, and the remaining pupils transferred to schools in Niton, Whitwell, and Ventnor.

Due to the clause in the original conveyance, which limited the use of the building to only that of a school, the building reverted to the Pelham Estate. Major C.H. Anderson Pelham maintained the building and paid the caretaker and running costs and allowed the building to be used for meetings and some village activities until 1922.

But then, as a result of rising taxation, Major Pelham started to sell off his assets in the neighbourhood. A Mr James Gibb came to the rescue in 1926 and saved the building for the community.

A trust was set up and the building became the village hall. A Trust Deed dated 20th December 1926 governs the actions of all future trustees to this day, set in law.

The hall underwent major improvements in 1927. Electric lighting was installed and the entire building was extended by 13 feet to create a stage with an exit into a lean-to rear porch. Toilets were installed, with a new pump to serve them (although mains water was not installed until 1960). The room used by the school mistress was converted into a kitchen.

A social club started up and the hall saw many uses for the next few years, from WI coffee mornings to concerts; even troops used it several evenings a week during WWII. But the war put a stop to most activities.

By the end of the war, many wealthy families had left; their homes turned into hotels. Donations dried up. Things were looking dire and something had to be done. A committee was set up in 1945 to organise fund raising activities, and a caretaker and gardener were taken on.

The St Lawrence Social Club was formed in 1950. Whist drives started, and table tennis. Someone loaned a billiard table and snooker was played. Darts were played on the stage. There was a beetle drive, carol singing and Scottish Dancing.

But funds were still short, and the future of the hall in doubt. Hire costs were raised. A fete was held. A grant was obtained. Eventually funds allowed for electric heaters to be installed in 1959. The two coal fireplaces were finally dispensed with. Probably much to the relief of the lady caretaker, who had to attend the coal fires and find firewood from the woods!

Water was connected to the mains that same year. The old pump can still be seen at the rear of the hall.

The WI was thriving, holding many classes each week. Table Tennis was now in a league. Scottish Dancing was very popular. The hall was let to the Brownies and the Guides. By 1965/6 the hall was used most days.

However, there have been numerous financial ups and downs over the years, with the future of the hall put into doubt. But with the dedication, perseverance, and sheer grit of the village, the hall has kept going.

Despite the many improvements done, the hall will always require upkeep. It is the use of the hall by locals and groups that keep things ticking along.

St Lawrence Village Hall belongs to the village. Not to the church or the local authority. It is the hub of the community. This is YOUR hall. The continuation of the Trust depends entirely on your support. The Trustees have a duty to continue the Trust for the benefit of the neighbourhood, for just so long as it is supported by the residents.

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Primary source: "A History of St Lawrence Village Hall and School - The Centenary 1898 - 1998", Lainé E & Payne S