Fencehouses Miners' Welfare Hall

Early 1912 saw the announcement in the press that a decision had been taken to erect a miners' hall in Fencehouses close to the station. This followed the success of the welfare hall which was opened in 1909 at Sixth Pit. As well as the hall itself, the building would also incorporate two houses for the two checkweighmen of the colliery. These houses were to become known as North House and South House and would be located on either side of the main hall.

January 19, 1912

Fence Houses.

Proposed Miners’ Hall

The members of the New Lambton lodge have, after lengthy consideration, decided to have a hall in which to hold their lodge and other meetings. Land has been procured between the Lady Ann Pit and Fence Houses Station and plans have been passed by the Houghton Council. In addition to a large hall, there are to be built two houses for the miners’ checkweighmen. It is expected that an early start will be made with the building.

Construction of the hall progressed quickly. It was built by members of the Lambton D Pit Lodge of the Durham Miners' Association who were assisted by the Lambton and Hetton Collieries Company. The hall was opened on Saturday 3rd May, 1913. The opening was reported in the local press in some detail:

05 May 1913

New Miners’ Hall Opened by Hon J.A. Joicey

Relations Between Owners and Men

On Saturday afternoon a new miners’ hall, built close to Fence Houses station by the members of the Lambton D Pit Lodge of the Durham Miners' Association, assisted by the Lambton and Hetton Collieries Company, was formally opened. The hall provides seating accommodation for 850 persons and has numerous ante-rooms, while at each side, and forming part of the building, is a house for each of the two checkweighmen. The cost of the building and the amount of the Company's contribution were withheld from the Press by the lodge. The work was carried out by colliery workmen. The Hon. J. Arthur Joicey, a son of Lord Joicey, and a director of the Lambton and Hetton Collieries Company, performed the formal opening ceremony and said he was glad to have an opportunity of coming among them, as that was the first time he had been called upon to open anything. Although coal-owners were sometimes abused, he did not think they were as black as they were painted (laughter.) They had very many interests in common with the men and tried to do what they could for the latter. He would not say they were altogether philanthropists. They had their interests apart from those of the men, but really they all wanted to do the best they could for the comfort of their men, whose surroundings were now better than they used to be. He was afraid that in the past the houses were not all always up the mark, but at the Lambton collieries they had done a great deal to try to improve the residences of the miners. He formally declared the hall open. A meeting was then held indoors and Mr. Joicey said he regretted he had not had the pleasure of meeting an old friend of his father's - Mr John Wilson M.P., their secretary (applause). He was sure they would all regret to hear Mr. Wilson was seriously ill. That gentleman was not a young man, but he had given his whole life for the benefit of the Durham miners, and they could only hope be would be spared to be once more among them and that his old age would be free from suffering. Mr Wilson was 75 years of age, and could not expect to do a great deal more work. Mr. Wilson had always shown a conciliatory spirit and he (Mr Joicey) was one of those who believed that the Durham coal trade could only be carried on successfully by conciliation. Neither masters nor men could have all their own way, though some people seemed to think they could. Strikes could not possibly do any good. After they occurred both sides realised that they had got no good out of them. He hoped they would be able to keep a healthy spirit in their collieries. A letter was read from Dr J. Wilson M.P., regretting his inability to attend owing to illness. Mr Austin Kirkup, agent to the Company, said this was the third-hall opening he had attended as an official of the Lambton Company and he took it as a compliment that members of the official staff should be invited to such gatherings. At one of the openings, Mr. Wilson was present and at the other the late Mr J. Johnson, both of whom had done tremendous service for the miners. He was glad they had with them that day Mr. S. Galbraith, whom he sometimes called the philosopher of the Durham Miners' Association. They had an ideal site, and he hoped the hall would be very useful from a social point of view, and that, in addition to the miners, their wives and daughters would enjoy it. Ald S. Galbraith congratulated the miners of Durham on having been granted an increase in wages of 6¼ per cent. It was not as much as the officials of the Association asked for, but without going into the selling price of coal, he might say they had still got the benefit of an odd figure. It was pointed out by the owners that, but for the abnormal number of men lying idle, they might have been able to give more and he did urge that men who could legitimately attend to their work should do so, for the benefit of themselves and their wives and families. Mr T. Trotter, as agent of the Association, also spoke.

Following its opening, the hall became a central hub for the community and was used for many purposes. For example, the Burnmoor District and Nursing Association met there; M.P.s addressed their constituents there; various concerts were held there; the Miners' Lodges met there; during world war 1, army recruitment took place there; coroners' inquests were held there; many organisations held their whist drives and dances there; public meetings were held there; benefit concerts were given there; returning war heroes were welcomed back and honoured there; wedding receptions were held there; inquests into accidents were heard there; shows, plays, drama productions, choir performances and operettas were given there; relief funds were raised there for many causes; school concerts were given there; Morton Grange Parish Council held its meetings there; club social events were held there; political party meetings were held there; annual tea and concerts for the elderly were held there; a hobbies and arts exhibition was held there (1925 and 1927); Burnmoor Cricket Club met there; Chilton Moor Cricket Club met there; Fencehouses Ratepayers Association held their meetings there; retirement dinners and presentations were held there; Fence Houses Women’s Section of the Socialist party met there; Chilton Moor branch of the Mothers’ Union met there. The list goes on and on. If you would like more information on any of these organisations or to search for names, please send an email to the webmaster via the email address on the Home page of this website.

By 1923, the hall was in need of decoration. Note the address to which applications are invited to be sent:

06 September 1923

Tenders

To Painters

The Management Committee of Lambton Miners’ Hall, Fence Houses, are prepared to receive Tenders from painters of experience for the painting and decorating of this Hall. Specifications of the work to be done may be seen, and permission to inspect the hall obtained, on application to George Garland, North House, Fence Houses, on and after Tuesday, Sept. 11, 1923, and written offers endorsed “Painting Hall” must reached the undersigned not later than Tuesday, Sept. 25, 1923. The Committee reserve the right not to accept the Lowest or any Tender. George Garland, Secretary.

The decoration of the hall was completed by November of the same year as well as its mortgage cleared.

19 November 1923

Fence Houses

The Miners’ Hall

The Lambton Miners’ Hall, which has been redecorated and painted, was formally re-opened on Saturday, the president, Mr S. Spears, presiding over a good attendance. Mr T. Trotter, the treasurer of the Durham Miners’ Association handed over the deeds of the hall and adjoining houses to Mr G. Garland, checkweighman, and secretary of the local lodge, the latter body having cleared off the mortgage on the hall. He complimented the miners on doing so and hoped it would be an example other lodges would copy.