The Legacy of Village Halls with Louise Beaton: Halls for All

Louise Beaton returns to discuss her new book "Halls for All," co-authored with David Clark, chronicling the 500-year evolution of village halls from exclusive reading rooms to vital community hubs.• Village halls evolved from reading rooms and mechanics institutes that often excluded women until after WWI• Women's Institutes became a driving force for more inclusive community spaces after the First World War• Sir Henry Roo played a pivotal role in the 1920s, working with government to repurpose army huts as memorial halls• COVID created challenges for some halls as organizations disbanded, but opportunities for others through community cafes and pop-up pubs• Three key lessons for the future: continued need for ACRE advisory services, importance of long-term capital funding, and better regulatory frameworks• Village halls collectively contribute approximately £178 million annually to the rural economy• The book features remarkable stories of determination, including halls that fought government for rebuilding during WWII• HRH Princess Royal contributed the foreword, recognising volunteers who often go unacknowledgedThe book "Halls for All" is published on March 15th, available from all good bookshops (£16.99) or directly from Amberley Publishers (£15.29 plus postage). Some ACRE Network members will be selling copies at county events during National Village Halls Week.