History
`At last we have a Parish Hall, the want of which has been felt for many years.' With these words the Vicar of Olveston the Rev J E Vernon began his description, in the Parish Magazine, of the opening of the Parish Hall in Tockington by her Grace the Duchess of Beaufort on October 31st 1901. The Duchess was presented with a bouquet of violets and lillies of the valley by Capt Henry Pomeroy and Mrs Salmon's infant daughter - whom many of us in later life would recognise as Robin Bush's mother.
Admission to the opening ceremony was by tickets priced at 2s 6d, but despite the cost (the average wage for a working man was about £1 per week) the Hall was full which meant an audience of about 300. The Vicar addressed the assembled throng with a potted history of the Hall's evolution and construction. Four plots of land had been offered, one of which was in Haw Lane, but the final choice of plot belonging to Col Henry Salmon was made largely because of its central location.
The necessary funds were almost wholly provided by public subscriptions and the proceeds from a number of special events. The design and supervision of the Hall's construct ion was provided by Mr Rylands of The Down House at Old Down. The building was carried out by Mr Pitcher and his son (the great great grandfather of Gavin Pritcher). Their team of builders won high praise for the quality of its work and for beating the completion date by one month.
After the Duches had been thanked for opening the Hall the proceedings closed with a recital by the Bristol Cathedral Quartet. In the evening a Dance was held which was 'largely attended'.
Accounts rendered at November 1st 1901 indicated that the Hall with its outbuildings cost £549 to build; fixtures and fittings cost a further £81 - including 12 long seats, 240 chairs, paraffin suspended lighting and bucket toilets.
The seating was reckoned to accommodate 320 people (today the fire regulations limit total attendance to 150). The figure of 320 sounds high but it must be remembered that the only venues for entertainment and bazaars, etc, before the building of the Parish Hall were the National School Hall and the Friends Meeting House.
The Hall soon became the venue for village flower shows, lectures, concerts, dances and evening classes on first aid. The long running annual Sale of Work organised by Miss Parry in aid of Bristol Children's hospital moved to the Hall after a 17 year run at the Friends Meeting House.
The Small Room - sometimes referred to as the Committee Room - was opened as Reading and Recreation Room for men and youths over the age of 14. Smoking was allowed.
King George V's coronation was marked with the erection of a memorial external light over the original front entrance. Through the 1950s the hall interior was decorated with stuffed animal heads shot by the 'Salmon' family during their safaris. Flushed toilets were added in the mid 1960s with installation of mains sewerage system - plus a new entrance door with lobby.
Silver Jubilee 1977 was marked with the erection of an additional side room named the Jubilee Room. Other improvements over the years include :the Parish Council purchased adjacent land for car parking and recreational use; the introduction of a new kitchen in the 1980s and the expansion of the stage for the parish players.
During the last 100 years the Parish Hall has served as a Community facility financed almost wholly by lettings plus personal donnations and the odd Council grant.
Long may it continue!