Avillage hall is a public building in a rural or suburban community which functions as a community centre without a religious affiliation.
In the United Kingdom, a village hall is a building which is owned by a local government council or independent trustees, and is run for the benefit of the local community. It is estimated that there are over 10,000 such village halls.[1] Most were built in the first decade after World War I (1919-1929) as part of a programme led by the newly-formed National Council of Social Service.[2]
Such a hall is typically used for a variety of public and private functions, such as:
Village halls are generally run by committees, and if not already part of a local government body such as a parish council, then such committees are eligible for charitable status.[3] They may have other names such as a Village Institute or Memorial Hall. In some localities a church hallorcommunity centre provides similar functions.
Typically the hall will contain at least one large room, which may have a stage at one end for drama productions. There is often a kitchen for preparing food and toilets to one side. Larger halls may incorporate further smaller rooms to allow multiple simultaneous activities.[4]
The word neuadd (IPA: /'neiæð/) is used to refer to village halls in Welsh-speaking parts of Wales, as in Neuadd Dyfi, the village hall in Aberdyfi.[5]
In the United States, a village hall is the seat of government for villages. It functions much as a town hallorcity hall.
Action for village halls in England
