A potted history of the hall

How we got here

Built by the villages, for the villages

The hall exists because the people of Aston Tirrold and Aston Upthorpe decided it should. The site was bought by public subscription, the building itself was a gift, and every improvement since has been paid for by grants, bequests and village fundraising.

1. 1944–45

   Following a public meeting in November 1944, the site is bought by public subscription in 1945 as part of Winston Churchill's postwar village hall programme. A trust deed defines the responsibilities and constitution of the hall's management committee.

2. 1950

   The hall and its lands are vested with the Official Trustee of Charity Lands, now known as the Official Custodian for Charities.

3. 1950s–60s

   A Nissen hut serves as the first hall while the villages raise funds for a permanent building.

4. 1963–64

   Paulise Lugg, founder of the Stockwells Players (now the Blewbury Players), donates the current building. Designed by architect George Zugic, it is opened by local MP Airey Neave in September 1964.

5. 1976

   The annual £150 donation from the Paulise Lugg Endowment Trust, set up after her death, is converted to a single £2,500 fund which the committee invests for maintenance. It remains in the hall's reserve account today.

6. 1997–2001

   A Millennium project adds a furniture store room, an access toilet and ramp, and a replacement shingle roof, funded by the National Lottery, SODC's Community Fund, both parish councils, and a generous bequest from Barbara Engledue, a long-serving committee member. Robin Sewell, long-time Aston Upthorpe resident and an original Stockwell Player, re-opens the hall in September 2001.

7. 2006

   The kitchen is extended internally and a staircase built to the loft store room, funded by SODC, OCC, the parish councils, and hall reserves.

8. 2010

   Joining with the Astons Online BT project, the hall gains a digital projector, drop-down screen, large wall-mounted TV, induction loop, WiFi and data power points, funded by SODC, BT, the parish councils, and hall reserves.

9. 2026

   The management committee resolves in January to convert to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The new charity is registered by the Charity Commission on 9th February 2026, and all assets and liabilities transfer on 1st March 2026.

Our aim is to continually improve the hall and its facilities for the enjoyment of all users.