History
The Wiveton Recreation Room (as it was called originally) was built in 1911 at a cost of ₤132 10s 8d. The majority of the funding came from a fete at Wiveton Hall in August 1910, which raised an amazing ₤58 5shillings (₤58.25) and a special donation by the owners of the hall of nearly ₤40.00.
The original purpose was as a Reading Room for the use and enjoyment of residents in the village of Wiveton. Meetings were to be of an educational or social character. The room was open every evening (for men only) as a Reading Room and newspapers and games were made available.
At the beginning of World War 2 in 1939 the room was still in use by the village and was requisitioned by the Home Guard. There were 2 on duty/2 off duty and 2 beds and blankets were provided for them. There were 4 rifles and on one occasion ammunition was left in a rifle which, when picked up, fired, with the bullet ricocheting off the floor and hitting the wall (we believe the mark can still be seen on the floorboards today!).
Originally the Parish Room had no toilet facilities but in 1950 the Committee was able to buy the land for ₤35.00 and a quotation was obtained of ₤314 to build an extension.
In 1953 a new fireplace was built at a cost of ₤12 15s 4d (₤12.77).
The hire charges in 1966 were 35s for village weddings, 45s for outsiders, 30s for political meetings, 15s for whist drives, 10s for dances, bingo, sales and private parties and 5s for charities and any other meetings, 4s for the fire for an afternoon or evening, 10s for all day and 10s for the radiogram.
In 2002 the committee decided that if the hall was to continue as a viable option to hire out for use by the village then it would need major renovations to bring it up to standard.
Plans were approved by the North Norfolk District Council which included updates to the heating system (keeping the open fireplace and coal fire in the main hall), upgrading the kitchen to be suitable for catering use, electrics, lights, flooring, a shutter, some replacement windows and building work in the kitchen. The wooden floors were retained to maintain the character of the hall. The toilets were upgraded to one accessible toilet with wheelchair ramp access.
Costs were estimated at approximately ₤20,000 and grants were received from North Norfolk District Council (₤3000) and the Norfolk Rural Community Council (₤6794). A bridging loan of ₤5,700 to cover costs in excess of the grants and the hall's own funds was taken out by the Wiveton Parish Council on behalf of the committee. The committee paid this back to the Council as the funds were raised.
Many donations were received from Wiveton villagers and others, and fundraising events took place. The work began in July 2004 and was completed in January 2005 at a final cost of ₤22,494.
In 2007 the committee considered clearing the overgrown land at the back of the hall with a mini digger, removing the soil mound and a tree, and landscaping the site for hall use as a quiet area.
The fundraising continues with quizzes, harvest suppers, Christmas gatherings and beetle drives. The committee is very proud of the hall and what has been achieved by a relatively small community. It hopes that the hall continues to be a focal point and meeting place for the villagers of Wiveton, and for others, and is kept in good condition for future generations to use.
JANET HARCOURT (1926 - 2019)
Janet Harcourt (nee Hudson) who died in January 2019 was a Wivetonian who played a great part in village life and particularly the Village Hall.
Janet's first recorded involvement in the Parish Room was during the Second World War when she would help her father Ernest Hudson to clean the rifles for the Home Guard. She would also sweep the room and air the blankets when she was not away at school. Soon after the War she was co-opted on to the Committee as Secretary, Treasurer and Bookings Clerk.
She was organiser of the annual village Christmas gathering starting in 1986. The first was an evening of poetry recited by local children and a performance by the Blakeney Players. This was followed in subsequent years by a Beetle Drive which is still a popular annual event.
Janet died in January 2019 at the age of 92 after a short illness. The proceeds from the collection at her funeral were generously donated to the Parish Room. She was a characterful part of the village and is sadly missed by all.