ASHBY ST MARY
PARISH COUNCIL

Ashby and Thurton Village Hall​

 

Mid 1950's The area encompassing part of the present playing field and what is now Park Close (7acres) was offered to Thurton Parish Council for a few £100's by the Beachamp Estate, Langley.  It is believed that Thurton had hoped for a nominal sum.  This land was subsequently bought privately and a house was erected on Ashby Road, opposite the school.

 

The remainder of the land was then re-sold to H G Lomax Builders, who obtained building permission for the whole site.  Building of Park Close commenced 1962.

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1960/61.  Ashby St Mary and Thurton Playing Field Fund Raising Committee was formed to raise money for a playing field for both villages.  As funds began to build up, the committee began searching, to no avail, for a suitable piece of land.

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1964.  There was a depression in building.  Thus in June 1964, 3.5 acres was purchased from HG Lomax for £1700.  This area was fenced and seeded.  An outside toilet block was built and donated by Trevor Harvey a local builder who was emigrating to Australia.  The next project was to raise further monies for a Village Hall.  This was built and opened in 1969.

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In the early 1970's the adjacent marsh was purchased to extend the playing field.  The dyke was filled in with imported soil and the dyke was diverted in order to enlarge the playing field.  The marsh extension was professionally drained.

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1979. The Hall was extended with a large kitchen/entrance hall/committee room and inside toilets.

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