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Village Hall

St. Bees Village Hall, more affectionately known as "Hodgett's Club, is an imposing sandstone building in Finkle Street, and was built in about 1882 by Alfred Hodgett of Abbots Court, to serve as the St. Bees Liberal Club. The Liberal cause was strong in St. Bees, and the club thrived, but after the First World War, interest declined, and it was bought by the Parish Council using money from the Pagan Trust, to serve as a village institute.

Left - The Village Hall is the imposing building in the centre.

The Pagan Trust had been set up by the Rev'd Pagan, a clergyman of advanced socialist ideas who in the 1890's gave Town Head Farm to the Parish Council under covenant as a catalyst for rather eccentric land reform. Pagan had died in 1917 and this released the Council from the Utopian terms of his gift. The farm was sold to repay the capital to his widow, and the Council was left with a considerable sum from its astute investment of the rents, which paid for the Club.

The club had a reading room and a billiard room downstairs, and a dance hall with a stage upstairs. A resident caretaker lived in the house at the back. It was used by the St. Bees Unemployed Club during the Depression, and later to brighten the gloom, commercial cinemas used Hodgett's to bring the glitter of Hollywood to Finkle Street. The "Hippodrome" of Workington and the "Ritz" of Millom showed films on general release, but by 1948 the lure of Whitehaven cinemas seems to have killed the enterprise.

With the coming of television there was no longer any demand for a Village Institute with a billiard table and a reading room, and usage declined, so in 1960 the British Legion took over the running of Hodgett's from the Parish Council. The complicated question of ownership was cleared up at this time. The Parish Council ceased to have direct involvement, and a board of trustees known as the "Pagan Trust" was set up which owned the Building. But by 1967 the Legion was finding it difficult to manage, and the trustees considered disposing of the building for housing. Fortunately the newly-founded Over-60s Club and the St. Bees freemasons came to the rescue and took up the tenancy. Hodgetts was saved!

They soon refurbished the building and converted the two bottom rooms into one hall to avoid the use of the stairs for large functions. The hall is centrally located in the village, and has recently had considerable repairs to bring the fabric up to standard. There is a large ground floor hall that has recently been re-decorated, re-floored and has a bar, and a stage with a sound system. The toilets have been re-furbished and new heating has been installed.

Facilities

The Hall is centrally located in the village in Finkle Street, and has recently had considerable repairs to bring the fabric up to standard.

There is a large ground floor hall that has recently been re-decorated and re-floored.

There is a licensed bar, and a stage with a sound system.

The toilets have been re-furbished and new heating has been installed. Rentals are by the hour and are very moderate.

Bookings

Contact Fred Steele, Tel (01946) 823805

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