The Story of Croft Village Memorial Hall

St Helens Examiner
5th July 1919

CROFT WAR MEMORIAL TABLET
 
Separate Effort For Village Institute
 
A meeting convened by the Rector (Rev. H. I. Wadeson) was held in the schoolroom on Friday night last week to consider some appropriate means of perpetuating the memories of the soldiers of Croft who had sacrificed their lives in their duty to home, King and country.

At the outset the Rector announced that the surplus funds of the Soldiers' Comforts Committee (including a donation of two guineas just to hand from Mr. Hodgson, of Hermitage Green) amounted to about £68, and that committee had decided to allocate this sum towards erecting some form of sacred memorial to the fallen heroes of Croft.
 
A proposition to the effect that the sum referred to
be used to establish a village institute was negatived.
 
After a number of those present had expressed their wishes in the matter, it was decided practically unanimously that a suitable tablet sacred to the memory of the fallen soldiers of the parish be erected in the church. The Rector and churchwardens were requested to procure designs and estimates for the completion of the work.
 
With reference to a village institute, the
Rector stated that the idea was by no means a new one. Certainly, the need for such an institution had long been felt, and he was sure all present would be willing to set to work at once to raise funds to begin, in a small way an experimental scheme.
 
It was thereupon decided to arrange an American tea, to take place early in September, and all present were requested to consider
themselves members of the committee to carry out the details of the effort, and to endeavour to make it a huge success. It was also thought that a jumble sale might be held at the same time, and that the kind services proffered by Mr. T. Brogden (of Leigh) as auctioneer be utilised.

St Helens Examiner
6th September 1919

CROFT - Funds for the Institute
 
On Saturday last a very successful American Tea was held in the
Schoolroom to provide funds for the proposed Memorial Institute. As each visitor was expected to give an article and to purchase an
article, the stalls soon presented a lively appearance, and good business resulted, the nett amount realised being well over 10 guineas.

The main room was tastefully laid out as a cafe chantant, and the patrons were excellently catered for by Mrs. Owen, Misses Southern and Carr, Mrs. Firth and Mrs A. Taylor. The stallholders were: - Mrs. Cawthorne, Mrs. Ingham, Mrs. J. Taylor, Mrs. Walker, and Miss Bate.

There was a bran-tub for the juveniles and good business was done, the whole contents of the tub being speedily cleared. The Misses
Cicely Taylor, Lilian Sankey, Marion Taylor and Isabella Hankinson took charge of this department. The hoop-la stall provided endless
amusement, and at times the business here was fast and furious. Mr. Gramme, Mr. Cawthorne, Mr. Abbey, Mr. Hankinson and other members of the committee took turns in running this show and the nett profit, £7 11s, was considered highly creditable.

Later in the evening the main room was cleared for dancing and
there was a crowded attendance. Mr. Hurdus and Mr. Henshaw were at the piano. Altogether it is estimated that the effort will bring
in over £30 to the Institute Fund.

Temporary premises for the Institute have already been taken and a small beginning will be made on the opening of these premises on September 13th.

St Helens Examiner
11th October 1919

CROFT - Memorial Institute
 
A committee meeting was held in the temporary premises on Tuesday night. Mr. J. Hankinson presided. The Chairman alluded to the tragic death of the Secretary of the Institute, Mr. Jos. Banks, which occurred at the Warrington Infirmary on Saturday last, as the result of an accident sustained earlier that day.
A vote of condolence was passed to his widow and family, and the members requested that a wreath be sent and placed on the coffin as a token of sympathy and esteem for their late colleague. It was decided to take in hand at once arrangements for promoting a concert or entertainment, the proceeds to be given to Mrs. Banks as some recognition of the services which her late husband rendered in promoting the Institute.

Offers of help in the way of talent from the neighbouring towns and district will be gladly appreciated, and all those who desire to help
in this respect are requested to communicate with the Hon. Secretaries, Mr. H. B. Firth, Orford House, Croft; and Mr. G. Berry, Oaklands Farm, Croft.
It may be found convenient to arrange the date of the concert for
Friday, 7th, or Saturday, 8th November.

A number of new members were enrolled, and the committee had to take into consideration the advisability of enlarging the present premises, or, alternatively, the purchase and erection of one of the Government huts now on sale.

St Helens Examiner
8th November 1919

CROFT - Memorial Institute

The temporary premises opened some few months ago having been found too small and ill-adapted for an institute, the committee decided to purchase an army hut, to be erected on some convenient and central site in the village.

The Rev. H. I. Wadeson and Messrs. Cawthorne and Abbey were deputed to attend a sale of huts at Heaton Park, Manchester, some little time ago, and they were fortunate in securing a hut 70 feet by 20 feet, the purchase price being £110.

Arrangements are being made for transporting the building to Croft, and it is hoped to have it re-erected and ready for occupation well before Christmas.
It is proposed to install a full-size billiard table, and this additional attraction will no doubt encourage greater membership and become a regular source of revenue.

St Helens Examiner
14th February 1920

CROFT – New Memorial Institute
Handsome Building Opened By The Bishop Of Warrington
 
Saturday was a red letter day in the annals of Croft. The new institute buildings were formerly opened by the Bishop of Warrington.
The main structure consists of a re-erected Army hut, 70ft. long by 20ft. broad. To the main hall an additional room 20ft. by 16ft. has been added to serve as a refreshment room, kitchen, etc. The main hall will eventually be divided by movable partitions into billiard room, reading room, and a recreation or games room, etc.

The Bishop said it gave him great pleasure to be present on this auspicious occasion. It was highly appropriate that the memorial
should take the form of a village institute, and a singular coincidence that the present building had sheltered during their training many of the soldiers belonging to the regiment with which he had had the honour of being associated.
The Bishop was heartily thanked on the proposition of Mr. John Hankinson (chairman of the Institute Committee), seconded by Mr. F. Grammar. Mr. Joshua Ball proposed "Success to the Institute," and Mr. H. J. Bouchier supported. Mr. Cawthorne replied.

Votes of thanks were passed to the Rector for his untiring efforts on behalf of the institute and to the ladies of the Catering Committee
who had contributed so much to the success of the gathering that day.
After tea an impromptu concert took place in the schoolroom.
The donations promised, along with the proceeds of a tea, dance, etc., amounted to £200.

Memorial Institute Opening Ceremony - Image from 'CROFT The history of a village'

Runcorn Examiner
28th August 1920

CROFT- War Memorial

“Today,” writes Mr. Silas Clough, “the memorial at Croft Church will be dedicated to the fallen boys and those who returned from the late war. It will take place at 3.30p.m. The tablet, with 20 names upon it, is for the fallen, whilst the font cover in oak and the stone-base (the font itself being cleaned) is for thankfulness of the boys who returned home. I myself have received from kind friends in Warrington, Cheshire, Newton, Leigh, Salford, Croft, Culcheth and Kenyon, £73 13s. in cash; whilst Mr. W. P. Rylands gave me the weight and best wire cord, 14ft. long, for the working of the oak font cover. I should like to thank everyone through the paper for their great kindness. The Bishop of Warrington will preach.”

Newton and Earlestown Guardian
29th April 1965

CROFT VILLAGE MEMORIAL HALL
STONE-LAYING
ALTHOUGH building work on the site of the new Croft Village Memorial Hall is still in its early stages, an important ceremony was held there on Monday, when local people assembled to see Mr. Joseph E. Birchall officiate at the official laying of the foundation stone.

The ceremony took place during a small service conducted by the Rector of Croft (Canon H. A. C. Hughes), and among those at the event was the Roman Catholic Dean (the Very Rev. T. McGarvey) of St. Lewis', Croft.
The introduction at the stone laying was by Coun. T. Birchall, chairman of the Village Memorial Hall Committee.
He pointed out that Mr. Joseph E. Birchall was truly representative of the people of Croft, as he was born in the village 81 years ago, and had taken an active interest in village affairs.
Coun. Birchall said Mr. Birchall had been a parish council member
and chairman, was a trustee of Croft Burial Society and a trustee
of the Naylor Trust.

Mr. Birchall then stepped forward to perform the stone laying ceremony. He thanked everyone for the honour they had done him by asking him to lay the foundation stone. He said he had been associated with the Croft Memorial Institute which the new hall would replace, since its early days, and was one of the last surviving members of the first committee.
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He said: "The Memorial Institute has served our village well for 40 years and I trust this new building will give equally good service for many years to come.
"As president of the Croft Memorial Institute I have great pleasure in laying this foundation stone of the Croft Village Memorial Hall."

Workers constructing the new Croft Memorial Hall

Newton and Earlestown Guardian
26th August 1965

Croft's New £12,500 Hall
'a credit to village'

ALTHOUGH the new Croft Village Memorial Hall has not yet been completed, it was described this week as a credit to the village, the architect and the builder.
This was stated by Coun. P. T. F. Birchall, chairman of the hall committee, when he showed a reporter around the premises.

Since workmen of Harry Fairclough Ltd. Building and Civil Engineering contractors of Warrington, moved on to the site on 1st March, after demolishing the old Memorial Institute, good progress has been made.
Added Coun. Birchall "More important is the fact that care has been taken with the work.”

The accommodation at the hall, which on completion will have
cost in the region of £12,500, consists of a large hall,
which has been designed in such a way that one end of it can be
screened off to enable meetings to be held.

At the other end of the hall, is the stage. There is a spacious kitchen, and off the main entrance hall are the cloakroom and toilet facilities.
Heating will be by an oil-fired system, and a small boiler house adjoins the kitchen.

The entrance to the site has been cleared, and is not only impressive, but has been designed with road safety in mind. Cars will enter along one side of the hall, proceed along the drive to the car park at the rear and then when leaving will pass along the other side of the building.

Coun. Birchall said the colour scheme has been chosen along
with the curtaining, and the large hall is to have a maple floor.
The financial arrangements for paying for the project are made, the committee having received confirmation of the Government grant for half the cost.
The Parish Council is responsible for a further quarter of the
cost and the villagers – the organisations, etc. for the remaining quarter.

It is hoped that the opening ceremony will be held in October as the project is ahead of schedule.
Coun. Birchall paid tribute to the excellent co-operation of
everyone concerned, the builders and workmen, the committee
members, local organisations and Canon H. A. C. Hughes and all
those associated with the scheme in any way.

The hall will be used by local organisations and would probably
be let if available, for private functions.
The idea was not to make a big profit on the hall, but just to
raise sufficient to pay the expenses and keep the premises in
good repair, said Coun. Birchall.

Croft Village Memorial Hall, from the roadway

Warrington Guardian
12th November 2014

A MEMORIAL plaque has been unveiled at Croft Village Memorial Hall to honour 20 soldiers who lived in the village before losing their lives in the First World War.
The money for the first hall to be built on this site was raised by the returning soldiers and the residents of Croft. It was initially a tin hut which was replaced by the present brick building in 1965.
 
Croft farmer Alan Sharpe led the campaign for the plaque but sadly died earlier this year.
 
His son, Philip placed a wreath of poppies on Alan's behalf during a ceremony attended by dignitaries, the British Legion, residents and the Memorial Hall committee.

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