1. SOUTH WOODFORD MEMORIAL HALL
Woodford Memorial Hall was built on the grounds of Woodford Hall,
a substantial Georgian Mansion set back from the High Road which
had been built in 1771. The Hall had been the home to several rich
and influential people to include William Morris who lived there as a
child between 1840 and 1847. Prior to the hall being pulled down in
the late 1800s it was used as a Convalescent home for women and
children and was supported by Catherine Gladstone the wife of the
then Prime Minster William Gladstone who had been instrumental in
raising the money to purchase the house in 1869 for this purpose.
2. Woodford Memorial Hall was built in 1902 with the majority of the
money being donated by John Roberts.it was built in memory of his
brother Thomas Roberts. John Roberts was a well known
philanthropist (this means a person who looks out for the welfare of
others and gives generous donations of money to good causes)
within the Woodford Community. From the very beginning of his
involvement in the project he was determined that the Hall would be
built with the purpose of serving the community and from the
Minutes of the Trustees meeting dated 7th
February 1900 you can
see that the people of Woodford also assisted to raise funds for the
building which was to be for their benefit.
The building itself was built in the style of Arts and Craft Architecture
which was an influential movement of the late 19th century which
attempted to re-establish the skills of craftsmanship which was
threatened by mass production and industrialisation.
No sooner had the first part of the Hall been built and opened than
John Roberts began pressing for the back of the Hall to be built.
3. Over the years it has been used for the following:
Public Meetings
Billiard room
Lectures
Drama Groups
A concert venue
The Church Lad’s Parade
The Boy’s Club
A Gymnasium Club
Tenis courts
Badminton
Dance Clubs
Music Festivals
Roller skating clubs
Tae kwando
karate
Pre school playgroup (that has been there for nearly 50 years!!!)
The 9th
woodford brownies (that I attend)
and 1st
woodford guides
Wedding Parties
Celebration Parties
Antiques Fares
