LOCAL residents are being urged to have their say about the future of Melksham’s much-loved Assembly Hall. The town council’s survey, about how to rebrand the hall is currently running, until Monday 19th December.
The council says it wants ‘to understand what local people and hall users, including community groups, think about the hall, and how Melksham Town Council can improve the hall to better meet the needs of the community.’
A rebrand of the hall has been on the town council’s agenda for several months. At a meeting held in March, councillors discussed possibly renaming the space with the strap line ‘The Assembly – the Place where Melksham meets’, and for more community events to take place such as parent toddler groups, film clubs, record fairs, bingo, real ale nights and more.
The Assembly Hall, based in the Market Place has been a central part of Melksham’s town centre for many years. Originally a yard and market area from 1847, it was part of the footprint of the New Melksham Hall (now Town Hall), which was a cheese market. In 1907, the town needed a Drill Hall as volunteers and territorials had to move from their premises in Church Street. Public subscription raised funds for the structure.
Following the Second World War, the town’s Drill Hall was decommissioned from Army use and given to the town for use by its people. Mr George Ward opened the new Assembly Hall in 1946 following major additions including the entrance lobby, stage, and toilet facilities.
The first public performances after World War II took place in the Assembly Hall in 1947. In 1954, new flooring and an amplification system was introduced; then in 1955, further major renovations took place including a bar, kitchen alterations, new stage curtains and an extension at the front. Further renovations have taken place in the following decades.
Over the years, the Assembly Hall has been used by community groups for meetings and functions. Along with performances over the years by the likes of Alan Carr, Noel Edmonds, Tony Blackburn and Des O’Connor, the hall has hosted shows, wrestling nights, balls, parties, medium events and film showings. More recently, the Assembly Hall hosted a charity fundraiser for Melksham Free Dining, The Monster Ball and tribute acts such as Majesty, a tribute to Queen, and a Dire Straights’ tribute show.
Urging the community to have their say about the space, town clerk of Melksham Town Council, Linda Roberts said, “We urge and encourage everyone in Melksham to take part in this survey. The council is keen to take on everyone’s views about the Assembly Hall.”
The survey can be accessed online and via a paper form; there are also two types of survey, one for individuals and one for community groups.
To fill out the online survey visit https://survey.zohopublic.eu/zs/GPB8nk If you would like a paper copy email. assemblyhall@melkshamtown.co.uk
* Historical information from The Well House Collection, history of Melksham Assembly Hall, by Lisa Ellis.
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