The History of the Village Hall

Chidham Village Hall is a registered charity, (Number 1037050), and is available for hire for meetings, events and private parties. The hall consists of two floors; the lower includes a kitchen area and toilets; the upper with a raised stage, (with back staircase to the ground floor). The ground floor can also be partitioned with large, multi-sectioned folding door. Each floor can be booked separately, if required. The Village Hall has a good size car park at the rear of the building.

Chidham Village Hall is a former disused Malt House, which was rented as a village hall in 1925. At that time, the first Village Hall Committee was set up to manage the affairs of the Hall. At the end of that year, the Chidham Women’s Institute was set up and in 1927; they took over the tenancy of the Hall, paying a monthly rent of 10 shillings to Westbourne Rural District Council. Later that year, Trustees became the owners of the Hall, the W.I. being one of them. By 1932 the W.I. had raised £263 towards the cost of purchasing the Hall, which was then for sale for £397.18s.3d, however, it was decided that the Hall should be in the hands of a committee representative of village interests with special privileges for the W.I.

Before the Second World War, the Village Hall was the venue for a number of plays, including a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Even professional actors such as Madam Ava Lauderdale and her talented company put on a different play every night for one week. As well as plays there were concerts, Christmas pantomimes and Whist Drives. Even a branch of the County Library was set up in the Village Hall, which was run by members of the W.I. before being finally replaced by the mobile library service.

Today the Hall is still maintained by a small group of volunteers who comprise the Village Hall Management Committee. It remains a registered charity for the benefit of the people of Chidham.