Memorial Hall

 

This building was erected to perpetuate the names of the men of Halton with Aughton who lost their lives in the “Great War” of 1914 – 1918, and to commemorate all those from the parish who served in that war, the building being officially named the “Halton War Memorial Institute”.

At a ceremony held on the 24th October 1923, the institute was declared open by Mrs. Sharpe of Halton Hall, who unveiled the carved oak tablet which bears the names of those who fell in the war and also those who served. Mrs Sharpe being the widow of Edmund Sharpe who gave the land upon which the building stands. The opening ceremony was presided over by Norval Helme, a partner in the firm of James Helme & Co. of Halton Mills, which was estimated at around £2,000. In his address, Sir Norval said “he felt the building would give opportunities as a center of village life”.

When opened, the institute had three rooms each measuring 25ft x 16ft, one of which was the billiards room containing the very fine billiard table, another was a games room for table tennis and darts etc. and a third was a reading room, these last two rooms were separated by a folding partition which allowed them to open up into one room which could be used for functions.

Whilst the ownership of the building was vested in the Trustees, the running of the institute was by an elected committee, and members were required to pay a periodic fee which entitled them to use the facilities. There was, however, a charge for the use of the billiard table. The building was also hired out for such things as whist drives and private functions.

With the outbreak of the Second World War the institute was called upon to play its part in the war effort; it was used as reception center for evacuees; gas masks were assembled there; the games room was let to the Lunesdale Rural District Council for use as the local air raid wardens post, and several war time needs were catered for, in addition to which, all members of the forces were made Honorary members and admitted free.

Come the end of the Second World War, the names of the those who fell in that conflict were added to the memorial table and the institute returned to its peacetime role with teams being entered for the local billiards, and darts leagues.

By the mid 1950’s due to dwindling membership and consequent lack of income, proposals were made to set up a licensed club and this led to the establishment of the present social club which since that time has had the use of the institute, the ownership of the building, however, has remained vested in the trustees.