Village Hall

Little Gransden Village Hall in 2010

Land that the Village Hall occupies was originally the site of a collection of temporary buildings that were erected for WAAF accommodation during World War II. The WAAFs were stationed at Gransden Lodge Airfield, from which aircraft of the Royal Canadian Pathfinder and 405 Bomber Squadrons were flown from 1942 to 1945.

In 1954 the villagers of Little Gransden raised £1471 for the purchase of the property,fencing & refurbishment of the building. The property was purchased from Herbert Christmas for the sum of £325 by the Trustees of Little Gransden Village Hall on 12 January 1955, and set up to be run as a charity (No.300404).

In 1959 the old WAAF communal building was replaced by the present Village Hall which was an Atcost agricultural building with cavity brick walls and Crittal metal windows.

Planning approval was given in 1974 for the stage to be added to the hall. Peter Walker was instrumental in organising this extension. Peter Walker organised dances and bands that used to play in the Village Hall. These events attracted around 400 people on a Saturday night.

2001-2006: General refurbishments, including double glazing, insulated suspended ceiling, and convector heating installed (grants from Awards for All and others).

2011: The concrete driveway to the paddock area was laid, automatic curtains were fitted, and the Gents toilets were refurbished (grants from Awards for All).

2012: Insulation and a new ceiling were installed over the stage area to reduce heating costs and draughts.

2013: Refurbishment of kitchen and committee room, with improved insulation on exterior walls and ceiling of these rooms (grant from Amey-Cespa Community Fund).

2016: Replacement of the asbestos roof by Kingspan insulated metal roof (grant from Amey Community Fund).

2017: Solar PV system installed (grant from Postcode Local Trust).

The Village Hall improvements and grant funding were project managed by John Hawkins (2001-2011) and Trevor Brown (2013-2017), both residents of Little Gransden. Bryan Righton and George Boss should also be mentioned as people who worked with John Hawkins to bring the village hall from a cold and run down bulding in the late 1990s to the improvements and refurbishments in 2001 to 2006.

2018: The Hall is used on a regular weekly basis for exercise and Yoga classes, a baby and toddler group, a Girlguiding group, a badminton club, for fortnightly coffee mornings, a carpet bowls club, a Pilates group, and two Youth Clubs for different ages.

Community events such as church bazaars, annual Horticultural Show, annual Christmas dinner for Little Gransden pensioners, quiz nights, dances, dog shows, amateur and professional theatre performances, and concerts. The hall is also used for wedding receptions and private parties.