History
In 1900 philanthropy was the fashion. It was beginning to be appreciated that the poor were not to blame for their condition.
Ormesby was lucky. There was a good supply of residents with money. The brewer Ernest Lacon gave a plot of land and a subscription list brought the finance to build a Working Man's Institute, it's chief purpose was to provide an attractive alternative to the local public house.
The building took place in 1910. The architect for it was Sir William Eades who also designed the banqueting hall at Sandringham House for King Edward VII. There were two large fireplaces, billiard tables and outside bowling green. However there was also a swear-box to catch any man 'using foul language' and women were strictly barred.
All too soon it was 1914 and the call to arms. The Institute became neglected and the bowling green grew weedy. Both were restored when peace came and in 1921 the newly formed branch of the Women's Institute , with difficulty, obtained permisssion to use the hall for a monthly meeting. The early minutes record dissatisfaction with the chore of fetching coal for the fires.
Again it was war time. The hall was requisitioned. The Women's Institute had to move to the new church hall. By peacetime the Village Institute was in a sorry state. However a fund had been established, the Patriotic Fund. This was to cause great controversy, as such ideas often do, as to what had been the intentions for the money. Finally charitable status was sought and the aims clearly set down. Firstly to restore the Institute as a memorial to the fallen of both world wars and secondly to start a fund for the provision of a playing field. The village, being accustomed to patronage, were looking for someone to donate the land. When the grandson of the original benefactor died prematurely the best hope was gone.
However, a new factor was abroad, the television set. Usage of the Institute by men fell off. Some dedicated men encouraged the use of the hall by the lads in the evenings, but even this finally ceased. Still the bowling club continued.
By now there was a new presence in the village, Toc H. They had already started an embryo Garden Club and shortly afterwards one member, a newcomer to the village, saw a man carrying a bag of bowls suddenly bend down and push through a high overgrown privet hedge. He followed from curiosity and found not only a bowling green but an old neglected building. His wife said later that cobwebs went from wall to wall. A committee was formed. At first, remembering the unfulfilled object of the Patriotic Fund there was an ambitious plan to acquire all the land from the Institute east as far as the church. This would have meant that the Bowls Club would have to become part of the project and this they refused to do, clinging to their status as heirs to the original Working Men's Institute.
So the amended plan was to concentrate on the hall itself. There was no official money this time for restoration, but donations supplied the finance for professional services and a band of volunteers mended, painted and cleaned.
On Friday October 27th 1967 the new Village Centre opened. The conversion had taken 9 months. 250 people attended. The aims of the new venture were to improve the quality of village life, provide a building for cultural and recreational activities and to promote and encourage activities which would enhance village life. 200 people became members immediately. There was a potential intake of 90 for the Youth Club. There were plans for a Musical Society, a Drama Group, a Chess Club and a weekly meeting for the retired. Of this group only the Gardening club remains. The Youth Club, in spite of devoted effort, closed some time ago. An annual Art Exhibition remains and grew from the Art Club, now in it's 20th year.
An unusual source of funds in the early 70's was as an outshop for a Yarmouth electronics firm who were desperate for labour. a range of strong cupboards is their legacy. Soon after they left the first Playgroup was started and with a change of organiser continued. Bingo and Dancing classes were weekly residents.
However, the biggest change has been the change of heart of the Bowls Club who finally threw off their obsession with the past and moved to the Sports Field were they have a bigger green. This left the ground free for the Playgroup to use and on summer evenings a Croquet Club was formed.
The management Committee tries to keep to the aims of that renewal as is always ready to give a helping hand to a new venture. The building is aged with poor later additions, but there were plans for a substantial extension incorporating many improvements and extra facilities.
THIS WAS WRITTEN BY PEGGY GOSSE IN 2001.
A lot has happened since this was written, with various management committees running the centre, we have had Covid and many of the clubs that used to use the centre have not returned. There is a new management committee who are trying their best to get the Village Centre up to standard and used by more people, this has been difficult as money hasn't been spent on essential maintenance, in the past few years but we are trying to bring new life into the Centre. One of the projects is the Garden Caf'e which is open every Friday. We hope for many good things in the next few years and to be part of the community again.
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