WHEN cracks appeared in the walls of Shaw Village Hall and one of the walls appeared to be leaning, the hall committee were very worried about what might happen to the building.
After initial concerns about the possibility of subsidence, the problem was traced to problems with the bracing between the walls and the roof, but it was an expensive matter to rectify.
Mike Booth, chair of Shaw Village Hall said, “The way the community rallied around was amazing. People came forward to help with preparing grant applications, providing legal and insurance advice and managing the logistics of having our contractors on site. We are indebted to Riggs Construction for helping to find a cost-effective repair solution that saved 50% on the original quote.
“We are also grateful to Melksham Scaffolding for their financial support to the project. And finally, we could not have done the work without the financial contributions of the Wiltshire Area Board and Melksham Without Parish Council. A huge community effort!”
Shaw Village Hall is now back to full operation. Paddy Hunt, secretary of Shaw Village Hall said, “It is great to have the hall back in use. With its high ceilings and lots of windows for natural light, it makes the perfect setting for parties, celebrations, activities and meetings. Along with the sports field and outdoor exercise facilities, changing rooms with showers, a gated children’s play area, and ample parking, Shall Village Hall is a fantastic community asset.”
* To find out more about Shaw Village Hall visit www.shawvillagehall.com.
![Melksham Times Past
A column about days gone by in Melksham by local historian Lisa Ellis
The Independent Chapel and Women’s Rights in the 1840s
A document I recently transcribed lists the baptisms performed at the Independent Chapel. This record is especially helpful in that, along with baptisms, a lot of them include birth dates - one of the ways I discover which day someone was born.
The following is taken from a Wiltshire Times article published on 9th November 1878 which reports a speech given during the 100-year services and to celebrate their renovations (what we now know to be the Rachel Fowler Centre).
One speaker, Rev. T. Mann, minister in Trowbridge, talked about the Chapel’s origins when he related how Rev. Honywill came to Melksham and how he’d gone on to remain as the minister for the Independent Chapel for almost 60 years. [Honywill and his family lived on King Street in what we now call “Legion House”.]
Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.](https://scontent-lhr6-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/505444438_18038424887647822_3264519508333556874_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=gXZQJoHTNiEQ7kNvwHezuPI&_nc_oc=AdlrJvMDapuork_EjycPOcegNeMnCA37GEIudkxkTeCfTgvB5iijE05ojpwlYCd5gN8&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr6-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=0ZY31jxOGx2M8z1ZqYNvEg&oh=00_AfPY_C0B8EndpVcx78sVp9qVJgtm368WREf36ZX1_jO3mg&oe=6855C74A "Melksham Times Past
A column about days gone by in Melksham by local historian Lisa Ellis
The Independent Chapel and Women’s Rights in the 1840s
A document I recently transcribed lists the baptisms performed at the Independent Chapel. This record is especially helpful in that, along with baptisms, a lot of them include birth dates - one of the ways I discover which day someone was born.
The following is taken from a Wiltshire Times article published on 9th November 1878 which reports a speech given during the 100-year services and to celebrate their renovations (what we now know to be the Rachel Fowler Centre).
One speaker, Rev. T. Mann, minister in Trowbridge, talked about the Chapel’s origins when he related how Rev. Honywill came to Melksham and how he’d gone on to remain as the minister for the Independent Chapel for almost 60 years. [Honywill and his family lived on King Street in what we now call “Legion House”.]
Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.")
