Our Management Committee

Who is Who

–  CHAIR:   Steven Philips

–  SECRETARY:   Michael Roome

–  TREASURER:  Alan Anderson

–  BOOKINGS SECRETARY:  Vivien Fawkes

–  PARISH COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES:  David Elms, Christina Metcalfe and Hayley Lewis

–  OTHER MEMBERS:  Wendy Anderson, Debbie McDonald, Sylvia Baldry, Paula Lee and Catherine Sira

Location

Our Village Hall is located between Wickford and Billericay in the picturesque village of Downham and is situated next to the village pond.

The Village Hall History

The Hall was an old army hut used to house the W.I. and has been their meeting place for more than sixty years.

In 1987 finding the upkeep of the aging hall too heavy a burden, the ownership was transferred to the Parish Council, thus ensuring that a village hall would remain on the site in perpetuity.

The Village Hall Extension

Main Hall: 11.6 m x 7.5 m

Side Extension: 4 m x 5.8 m

Ceiling Height Throughout: 2.84 m

A project to update and extend the hall was undertaken and following Chelmsford County Council planning approval in March 2014 the ‘’extension’’ project was commenced in April 2016.

The project was funded by means of a variety of grants, loans, donations and fund raising events organised by the Management Committee.

The project was completed at the end of 2018 and the Hall, which has been extended to the rear and right hand side, now boasts a stage, new flooring, additional disabled toilet facilities and a full redecoration throughout. A new sound system has also been installed as well as an air conditioning and air filtration system.

WI Meetings

Meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month and usually a speaker comes along and gives talks on many varied subjects.

We welcome visitors but do ask that you contact us prior to the meeting on 01268 574115 for further details.

A bit of History

The Downham Women’s Institute was formed in 1920.

After several years of meetings taking place in various locations, two old Army huts were acquired and erected on a piece of land owned by a local resident. When the land was put up for sale, the WI was not in a position to purchase it and two local women kindly purchased the land and donated it to the WI.

In 1940 the Army took over the Hall and once again the WI was relegated to meetings in members’ houses.

They finally managed to get the Hall back in October 1943 and were then faced with some damage for which the War dept. paid them the grand sum of £60.10.

With the upkeep becoming too much of a burden and not being in a position to finance major repairs, the Hall was sold to the South Hanningfield Parish Council in 1987.

Following this the old Hall was demolished and a new one built after a massive fund raising effort by the villagers.

The WI is allowed to use the Hall in perpetuity in return for assisting the Management Committee and South Hanningfield Council to maintain the Hall to high standards.

Membership has grown throughout the years and the WI has been involved in many activities within the village and surrounding areas.