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The Street, Hempstead, Holt, NR25 6TL
Registered Charity No. 211776

Bookings contact: Richard Roy - 01263 715851 richardjohnroy@gmail.com

The village hall was bought as a sectionised prefabricated building supplied by Boulton & Paul of Norwich and was erected in 1926. The Hall originally enjoyed a 99 year lease from Captain Mee of Hempstead Lodge and his trustees.
In 2021 the lease was bought out before its expiry by the Village Hall Trustees, who now hold the freehold.

2nd May 1950: Estimates for the installation of electric light were obtained from Mr Randall, North Walsham;
Mr Cooke, Holt and the Eastern Electricity Board.
31st May 1950: The estimate for the installation of electric light in the Hall was accepted from Mr L Clarke of Holt Sept 1950: The accounts show a charge of £17.00 for ‘electric light wiring’.

1975: The usage of the hall had dwindled so far that abandonment was suggested. The building was sound, though the roof leaked and the buckets [toilets!] smelt.

1976: The building was rewired and electric heaters replaced the coke fed stove. The roof had been repaired and flush toilets installed

August 1980: Newsletter item reports that “Despite the horrific weather, the Village Hall now has half a new roof as planned. More money must be raised before the other half can be attacked." The team include John Coe, Jack Parfitt, Alfred Roberts, Cyril King, Stan Sewell and David Durst.
An Auction is planned for October in aid of church and hall funds .
April Cheque stub for April indicates J Coe was paid £10.00 for ‘roof work’ and another in July shows £208 was spent on ‘roof material’.

Sept 1982: An estimate was received from Jewson for the supply of 24 gauge galvanized sheets (used for cladding the hall) at a cost of £287. A supply was ordered on the 1st October, and delivered at the beginning of December. The final invoiced cost was £370.62.

January 1983: A pencil note indicates that a different profile was delivered to that ordered. Jewson agreed to collect excess. A Credit of £87.27 was received. An invoice for 2 x dressed chickens purchased from Mr R. Picken (£9.75) is endorsed “gratuities to J. Coe & J. Parfitt for Hall roof work”.

1988: The rotten windows were replaced - £454.00

Silver Jubilee celebrations for King George V and Queen Mary - May 1935

Alfred Roy holding the baby and Sarah Roy on the right - December 1935

Nativity play - December 1935

The ceremony of the planting of a red chestnut tree from Scotland to commemorate the Coronation at Hempstead took place on Tuesday. Mr. J. H. Hagen (chairman of the local Coronation Commitee) holds the tree while Mrs. J. Watson-Cook (committee secretary) covers the roots with soil. The Rev. Charles Toft, of Cley, then blessed the tree.
Eastern Daily Press - 1953

Tea party on the grass below the Village Hall to welcome
the Bishop of Norwich, Peter Knott - 1995
front centre - Corinne Youngs; man in purple - the Right Reverend Peter Knott
man in blue shirt behind the Bishop - Ian Keymer
lady at back holding baby - Jo Sanders

The Bishop of Norwich, Peter Nott, spent a year from 1995-1996 travelling around the diocese to mark the 900 years of the diocese of Norwich. - the Bishop's Pilgrimage.

left - right: J Green, L Doy, G Doy, F Power, Roger Doy
The Village Hall Committee Minutes record that the village hall was repainted in readiness for the May 1953 Coronation festivities for a sum of £69 8s 2½d

Village Hall painting - 2001