WEST MONKTON VILLAGE HALL, MONKTON HEATHFIELD

The Hall site is located centrally within the village of Monkton Heathfield, in the parish of West Monkton, and is on the A3259 approximately 3 miles from the centre of Taunton. The A3259 links the A38 between Walford Cross and Bathpool, near the Monkton Elms Garden Centre, to the Priorswood area of Taunton.

From Taunton follow the signs to Monkton Heathfield, and from the A38 coming from the direction of Bridgwater follow the signs for Minehead. The Hall is easily accessed from the M5 motorway from junctions 24 or 25.

The hall was founded in the 1940s as a memorial to the men of the parish who fell in the  two world wars and was originally known as the Victory Village Hall and was a war time Pre-fabricated hut. The hut was situated within the same plot of land in the centre of the village of Monkton Heathfield as is the present hall. The Victory Village Hall was officially opened in February 1952. In 1977 it was decided to mark the occasion of the HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee by replacing the hut with a modern brick built village hall. After a great deal of fundraising, which included many original ideas and hard work, especially in running a roadside café which took advantage of the regular stream of holiday traffic which existed before the M5 was built, a new hall was opened in 1979.

The Hall Services

The hall building includes the rooms as shown in the layout left

The hall facilities are as follows:-

Kitchen   (Room Size 4.9m  x  4.9m)

The kitchen equipment is listed below.

Gas range cooker with 8 hobs

Electric hot water boiler

3 x electric kettles

4 x stainless steel catering trolley

2m hatch to main hall

Fridge

Cupboards housing 150 settings of crockery and cutlery.

Easy clean tiled floor

Access from the main hall, from the corridor and the outside.

The hall now has a hearing loop system installed in the main hall and committee room.

Main Hall  (Available floor area 18m  x  9.5m).

This is a large area with a maple wood sprung floor which makes for a pleasant light and comfortable feel. It is very good for indoor recreational activities such as dancing, gymnastics, and children’s play.

The hall has a high ceiling which is a great advantage for badminton and for lighting during stage plays. At one end of the main hall there is a permanent stage (approximately 10.4m x 3.6m) complete with lighting and curtains. Plenty of natural light is available through the large windows which include fire escape access doors.

The hall floor has white lining to mark out for badminton.

Some 38 x 6 foot tables are available for use in the hall stored beneath the stage on flat trolleys. There are also some 200 reasonably comfortable plastic link chairs available for seating and these are stored at the far end of the hall.

12 small square tables are also available for use and are stored in the main hall.

The main hall has a maximum permissable capacity for :-

290 people closely seated

280 people dancing

120 people seated at tables

150 people dancing and seated at tables.

Committee Room known as the Ruth Schofield Room  (Floor area 7m  x  6m)

This room is carpeted and is used for meetings and small functions such as day centres and art and craft classes.

Tables and chairs are available for use in this room and are taken from the main hall stock.

Boiler Room

This room houses the central heating and hot water boiler, a janitors sink, a cupboard with all the cleaning materials in it, and stored items such as matting and a wheelchair.

Toilet Facilities.

There are separate male and female toilets. The female toilets have 3 cubicles and sanitary disposal facilities. A toilet frame is available for the use of disabled and infirm ladies. Wash-hand basins with hot water and hand driers are provided

The male toilets include urinals and a cubicle which includes an arm rest for disabled and infirm people. Wash-hand basins with hot water and hand driers are provided.

Current Users :  Playschool, Womens Institute, Day Centre, Camera Club, Brownies, Boating club, Beavers, Tailoring, Badminton Club, Karate Club, Model Railways, Golden Chain, Bingo Evenings and various Dances, Shows, Sales/Markets, Meetings/Conferences. Shows include Dog, Cat, Orchid, Produce and Boat.

The hall facilities are often booked for private parties and weddings

General

The hall is gas centrally heated with radiators in each of the main rooms.

Access to the hall and the main rooms is possible using wheelchairs and where necessary ramps have been fitted. A wheelchair is available for disabled or infirm people for movement within the hall, or in and out from transport,  and is stored for visitors use in the boiler room.

There is a large car park to the side of the hall which will take 50 cars. There is also a lawn area quite often used for summer events with side shows etc.

The Hall has recently been awarded ‘Hallmark Two’.  These awards are issued by the Community Council for Somerset and are for Village and Community Halls.

Hire Charges from 1^st May 2007 (reviewed annually)

Hourly rates for hirers outside the parish of West Monkton.

Main Hall                                                                     £12.15

Parties including Weddings                                             £26.00

Dances.                                                                     £26.00

Childrens Parties                                                          £15.50

Committee Room (Ruth Schofield Room)                           £  4.30

Small Parties                                                               £  8.75

If preparation time is required then there will be an extra charge of £4.00 per hour

There is also an additional charge for the use of the Kitchen and its facilities ranging from £3.10 for small group teas to £26.00 for full cooked meals

When music is used £13.40 will be payable to cover the Performing Right Society Charges.

The above rates are discounted for Hirers who live inside the Parish of West Monkton.

For Bookings please telephone Tina Follett on 01823 412615

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