The History
Nettlebed's Village Hall was commissioned as a working man's club back in 1911 by Robert Fleming (grandfather to author Ian Fleming), and was designed by C. E. Mallows, F.R.I.B.A.
It was built in 1912, and its' official opening was in February 1913 at a dinner given by Robert Fleming for everyone in the village.
It provided the venue for a wide range of village activities, including quiz shows, musical evenings, plays, dances, gymnastics, rifle shooting, leisure classes and a cinematograph (kinema). There was also, of course, a bar. It was only in the middle of the 20th century that the rules were changed, allowing women into the bar other than on Christmas Eve.
The original cost was £4,500.00, which compares favourably with similar buildings constructed at the time. This low cost reinforces the architects' claim to use "the best available local talent" to produce a hall "built by Nettlebed men". Many of the materials used came from the Fleming estates.
The west wing originally provided a skittle alley, and parallel to the large hall, running the length of the building at the rear, was a rifle range, lit by a series of skylights.
The large hall was originally double-storied with an open timbered soaring roof and great arched rafters. This created the effect of a great mediaeval hall or gothic church, with a row of windows at a high level, providing natural light. It featured a stage at one end with changing rooms behind and a gallery at the other end, which is now closed. A secondary lower ceiling has been installed for practical purposes and the timbered vaulted ceiling can no longer be seen.
There have been many internal changes made to the building over its' existance, it is still, however, a remarkable building.
