The Parish Magazine July and August 2021

The Parish Magazine - July/August 2021 29
around the villages — 2
Dunsden Village Hall seeks another part-time trustee
The Dunsden Village Hall Board of Trustees is seeking a new voluntary
member to help manage the historic Victorian building that originally served
as the village school. The hall is close to the village green and community
orchard and consists of two bright halls, a garden with a terrace and a field
for outdoor events. The centre is a registered charity run by two paid parttime
staff under the direction of the voluntary trustees.
Dunsden Village Hall has it roots in
a long history of local community
service which began in 1829 when
Dunsden’s first school, which was part
of Sonning School, opened in a cottage
in Tagg Lane. It had 30 pupils.
When All Saints Church, Dunsden
was consecrated in 1843, it became
obvious that there was a need to
provide proper education facilities in
the parish, hence the school building
which today is used as the village hall.
TWO HALLS
Much of the funding was provided
by the Palmer family of Holme Park,
Sonning — part of the building today
is called the Palmer Room which was
first used as a Sunday School on 20
December 1846.
By 1869 the school had grown and
the main hall, was added.
After a chequered history recorded
in A short history of Eye & Dunsden
Village Hall and which is based on Brian
Law’s Eye & Dunsden Two Centuries of
Change, published in 2001, the school
was closed in 1977.
Subsequently, Eye & Dunsden
Parish Council bought it for £8,000
and refurbished the near derelict hall
at a cost of £30,000.
COMMUNITY
A separate charitable trust was
set up with the objectives of being:
‘for the use of the inhabitants within the
present boundaries of the said Parish of
Eye and Dunsden in the County of Oxford
without distinction of political religious or
other opinions including use for meetings
lectures and classes and for other forms
of recreation and leisure time occupation
with the object of improving the
conditions of life for the said inhabitants’
The community contributed
generously to a fundraising campaign,
many of them by buying tiles for
the new roof which still bear their
signatures. After much refurbishment
the Parish of Eye & Dunsden proudly
opened its first Village Hall in 1980.
COMMITMENT
In 1987 the Robert Phillimore
family generously gave to the parish
council a field by the hall which is used
for village fetes and outdoor events.
Today the hall is used regularly
by clubs and groups and the entire
building and grounds are popular for
weddings and community functions,
live music and entertainment.
Anyone with commitment and
enthusiasm is welcome to apply for the
voluntary trustee post, especially if
you have experience of:
— Events promotion and management
— Fundraising and grant applications
— Personnel management and
compliance issues
— Property and asset management
— Online promotion including
websites and social media
INFORMAL CHAT
If you would like an informal
chat about the roles available, how
to apply for the trustees position,
or for more information about
Dunsden Village Hall, contact David
Woodward:
chairman@eyedunsden.org
http://www.dunsdenvillagehall.co.uk