Beaumont Parish Hall – A Short History
In 1947 there was a growing desire for a parish hall. Several like minds got together to form a group dedicated to finding a suitable location for this new hall. One of the preferences was to obtain part of the glebe that linked the school grounds with the rectory. The 3 acres or so available was let for grazing, probably to Tom Baty from Eden Farm. The steering group were totally amazed when the whole field was made available, and at a reasonable price of £347.00.
John Graham who lived in Ewhurst, the house opposite the station entrance in Kirkandrews-on-Eden, who is grandfather of John Wright, ex Kirkandrews and Hosket Hill, volunteered to find a suitable wooden building from the many that were available at the various air fields and other military establishments in the region. He visited sites such as Silloth, Gretna, Kirkbride etc and decided on one at Heathall near Dumfries. John was probably around 70 years of age in 1947 was still working for Anderson Sawmills in Carlisle. Many older chaps carried on working after retirement age, because of the dearth of workers, immediately after World War 2. He obviously was a good judge of wood, and recommended the Dumfries one, because it was built with cedar, and it certainly has stood the test of time, since it is in very good condition 60 years on. He transported himself to all these locations by bicycle, since he claimed that to go by public transport would have been difficult, since when he got off the bus or train, he would have had no idea how to find the local military site. John became the first secretary of the new Hall Management Committee.
When the wooden building was being erected, it was decided to build a toilet block, in brick, at the front of the hall, the thinking was that when sufficient monies were available, a new hall constructed in brick would be built in front of the toilet block, the toilet block then being demoted to the back of the hall. That day has still to come! The actual erection of the wooden hall and the building of the brick toilet block were carried out by Herbert Reeve, a joiner from Burgh by Sands who had worked for Border Engineering (Housing) and later branched out on his own, and lived in Beaumont. The wooden building was probably transported from Heathhall to Kirkandrews by Pearsons, hauliers from Great Orton.
On the first Management Committee were:
1. William Shield who lived in Manor House, Kirkandrews-on-Eden, and was Barclays local Bank Manager. It was him who arranged for Barclays to become the sole trustees for the hall. Willie’s son Leonard was killed in World War 2, his name appears on the Beaumont war memorial
2. Harry Ribbins, a cockney who never totally lost his home accent, lived in the long low house that used to stand on the right-hand side of Hosket Hill road, now demolished and replaced by a much larger modern one. Harry was ‘dog man’ to Mr Robson who was a butcher on the site in Fisher Street Carlisle occupied today by Cranstons, he was appointed as the first treasurer of the Management Committee.
3. Thomas Peel, who farmed where Bob Nicholson’s workshop now is in Kirkandrews
4. John Graham who worked for Anderson Sawmills, and has been described earlier.
5. John Carr, who farmed Eden Bank Farm, Beaumont, moved there from Kirkby Thore. He was the first Chairman of the Hall Committee. John was very interested in Cumberland & Westmorland wrestling, as well as hound trailing. His connections within those two sports helped the Hall Committee to run successful events later.
6. William Wood who farmed with his in-laws at Beaumont, the farm is currently owned by Campbell Reid.
7. Robert Shirvinton who farmed in Grinsdale. His farm was immediately on the right, on entering the village, and is no longer a farm, modern housing having been built on the site of the farmyard.
8. Mark Graham who lived in the row of houses on the left-hand side of the Sandsfield road out of Beaumont, worked as a delivery man for the railway company.
9. George Edgar lived in an old house, now demolished, in what was known as Blacksmiths Yard in Beaumont.
10. Walter Bell provided most of the information for this report. He was a young chap about 18 years old living at Cobblehall Farm when he joined the Hall committee.
From right to left:
Mrs Percival (K.O.E.) Norah Carr (Beaumont)
Mrs Peel (K.O.E.) Betty Story (K.O.E.)
Sally Pattinson (Beaumont) Mary Reeve (Beaumont)
Mrs Baty (K.O.E.) Mrs Milner (Beaumont)
Betty Martin (Monkhill) Olive Graham (Beaumont)
Sally Simpson (Beaumont)
Photographs of events in the village pre-hall
