Village Hall

The New Theydon Bois Village Hall is a modern purpose built hall that was seven years in the planing and was completed in October 2001. It replaces the previous Village Hall built in 1966 that stood on the site of the new hall car park.

Pleasantly situated in the heart of the village of Theydon Bois, on Coppice Row, (the B172) postcode CM16 7ER - opposite the Village Green, it has rooms to suit many uses and a patio and grassed area to the rear. The large car park and the area surrounding the hall is in the process of being landscaped to blend it into it's environment.

Village Hall	Architects Drawing

A large number of people within the village and surrounding areas use the Hall, many are members of Village organizations such as the Theydon Bois Women’s Institute, Art Group, Seniors, Music Society, Singers Group, Wine Society, Debating Society, Horticultural Society and the District Rural Preservation Society etc etc.

Others use the Hall to play Bowls (there is a daytime Club as well as an evening section), Badminton (afternoon and evening clubs). There are also Keep Fit, Yoga and Country Dancing sessions. Weightwatchers use the facilities as do Jo Jingles (a music & movement group for pre school age).

The University of the Third Age holds a number of courses at the Hall as well as a monthly lecture; and the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts have a local group which meets once a month.

The Theydon Bois Drama Society puts on three or four productions each year. Theydon-based committees of Charities such as the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, the NSPCC and the Save the Children Fund are regular users of the Village Hall for fundraising events.

The Village Hall comprises one large function room (the Oak Room) capable of seating 200 people (theatre style); one medium sized room (the Beech Room) for smaller functions, meetings, classes etc. and a small room (the Poplar Room) which can accommodate seminars, classes etc. The Beech & Poplar Rooms can be combined to form a small hall accommodating 80 people . Also available at the rear of the building are two multipurpose rooms one of which (the Hornbeam Room) is let to a Montessori Nursery School during the mornings and some afternoons in school-term time. The Holly Room also at the rear of the building with it's separate entrance is available during the week for small groups of about 20 people. The Hornbeam & Holly Rooms can also be combined to make a larger space available for childrens parties ect.

All these rooms are available to hire and can be reserved. A range of rates apply (Residents of Theydon Bois are able to hire the Village Hall at reduced rates). Contact the Bookings Manager – Mr. John Field
or phone 01992 81 5150 for further details.

Below is a guide to the hall rooms and sessions available. There are in addition Bar Facilities, a Kitchen, Crockery and a Cleaning service, which are extra to the standard hall charges where applicable.

Please note all areas of the village hall are non smoking.

Top

In days gone by, the centre of village life revolved around the Church which acted as provider and mentor for all activities required by its parishioners. It must be remembered that, in earlier times, life was hard and opportunities for recreation limited.

Many people, however, formed groups within the village and met at various locations. There was the Working Mens' Club, The Retreats, a hut at Theydon Lodge, the barn at Thrifts Farm, the room above the telephone exchange - and even an army hut adjacent to St. Mary's. All served a purpose, however a centre was required. It was therefore decided to set up a Village Association, which duly held its inaugural meeting in September, 1943. This was, of course, during the war, when nerves and tempers were somewhat frayed and when the provision of a Village Hall was broached it was the beginning of a long and stormy path before it reached fruition.

A Village Hall Committee was set up and the search for a site commenced. The old Fire Station was pressed into service for a time and eventually premises at the entrance to the Cricket Field, on land owned by Colonel Buxton, became the hub of village activities. Both Colonel Buxton and his sister were most supportive and Keith de Maus and Douglas Gray worked tirelessly.

This hall was used until 1966, when a new Village Hall was built on the Glebe Field, purchased from the Church, which stood as a tribute to those pioneers of the Theydon Bois Village Association, who saw the need and strove hard to fill it. And so we come to the present day. Theydon Bois - and the surrounding area - has grown immeasurably. We are very fortunate in continuing to have a strong sense of community - and the Village Hall is still the hub of village life.

The demands of the present age grow even greater. The old Village Hall served its community faithfully and continued to grow in popularity. But it was beginning to show its age, costing more and more to maintain and with over forty organisations using it regularly, car parking became inadequate.
And so it was that a Committee was set up in 1994 of four representatives from the Village Association and five from the Parish Council to explore the possibilities of enhancing, enlarging or rebuilding. After public meetings, during which vociferous differences of opinion were expressed, Feasibility Studies undertaken and much professional advice sought, it was finally agreed to go for a new build.

The building of a new Village Hall does not just happen and over the past seven years a vast amount of time has been freely and voluntarily given by a large number of people. The Village Association, with the help and support of the Parish Council, has a New Village Hall of which, it is hoped, the village will be justly proud. It has been built to last. It has been built to accommodate a range of different requirements of the numerous societies and associations. It is hoped it will become popular as a pleasant venue for private and public functions and, with the support of all, its future success will be assured.

To see photographs of the construction of the New Hall and pictures of the old Hall Click here.