88 Ditisham Village Hall is ‘Open for Business’!


the Dittisham Village Hall, Sally Johnston, the current Chairman Gil Hayward, and project development lead, Tom Leeman, the extensively refurbished village hall was officially opened on Friday 3rd


T September,


after a two year programme of works to improve the facilities of the hall for the wider village. The established core objectives to renovate the roof to make it waterproof, improved heating/insulation, provision of a new toilet/shower and enhanced views to the river from two independently accessed hall was successfully achieved. Invitations to the opening were


delivered to the local community and the event was very well attended. Representatives of the clubs and organisations regularly using the hall provided stands illustrating the varied users, which include Short Mat Bowlers, Move with Grace Pilates Classes, Ballet Classes for all ages, Medau, Belly Dancing and a newly formed Bridge Club. The two independent rooms - ‘The


River Room’ and ‘The School Room’ offer flexible accommodation for groups large and small. The outside decking accessible by both rooms provides stunning views of the River Dart. A perfect setting for private parties, wedding receptions. With WiFi internet access, corporate


event days can be accommodated Historically, the Dittisham Village


Hall was originally the home of the village school. There is a record of “Dame schools” in Dittisham as early as 1818. In 1843, the church bought the site for a school building, designed to accommodate 160 pupils. It had 2 rooms used as classrooms, one with an open fireplace and one with a pot-bellied stove. There were outside lavatories and school dinners arrived in a hot box from Dartmouth. In 1869 the average attendance


hanks to the enthusiasm and commitment to raising funds by past Chairman of


Photos by Carole Hart Fletcher


was 92 and in 1892 was 100. The numbers declined from the end of the 19th


it steadied and indeed increased during the second world war by evacuees from Barnes in Surrey. In 1948 the seniors were


transferred to Dartmouth School, leaving a primary school, which about 50 pupils attended for the next 10 years. However, the numbers fell during the 1960’s to only 20 in 1968. Closure was then inevitable and finally took place at the end of the summer term. The school log records ‘19th


July 1968. Service in


church this afternoon and the school closed with 18 on the roll.’ A sad day! The children were transferred to Dartmouth and Blackawton schools. The Parochial Church Hall later The


Village Hall The then Rector and


Churchwarden took the initiative on behalf of the Parochial Church Council in purchasing the building from the Diocesan Authorities for use as a Church hall, and so saved


the building from being put on the commercial market and probably being lost to village use. At the time of the 150th


century to 60 in 1919, when


Anniversary


of the building in 1993 still more needed to be done, including renewal of the floor of the main hall and insulation of its roof. The school had served the community well in the past and the Management Committee were confident that the village hall would continue to serve the community in the years to come. At an anniversary celebration October 1993, a tapestry,


on 30th


designed and worked by Miss M Gill, assisted by the ladies of the parish was unveiled. This tapestry, recording the first 150 years of the building is on the wall in ‘The School Room’.


To arrange a visit or book the hall : bookings.dvh@gmail.com dittishamparish.co.uk/the-village-hall/


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