SA Hall

Memorials - Samlesbury - War Memorial Hall

Cuerdale Lane, Samlesbury, PR5 0UY
Ordnance Survey Grid Reference - SD 60096 29974
IWM War Memorials Register - 3389
War Memorials Online - Not on site

Samlesbury War Memorial Hall is a thriving community hub that hosts celebrations, exhibitions, dances and community events. The following narrative about the history of the hall is from the War Memorial Hall official website.

The hall was originally conceived as a facility for men returning from the First World War and there is a minute of a meeting dated 19th November 1919 which reads "That this great meeting of the inhabitants and ex-servicemen of Samlesbury warmly supports the work of the Village Clubs association, and urges on the people of this district the necessity for establishing without delay a club and the building of a War Memorial Hall where there will be no class distinction, but where all can meet for common recreation, improvement and social intercourse and to be managed by the people themselves. It is further agreed that the canvas which has already been so well begun should be proceeded with, with renewed vigour". During the early 1920’s the nature of the Hall was the subject of much discussion and the committee charged with building the hall were greatly encouraged by the gift by Oswald Henry Philip Turville–Petrie of a piece of land in Cuerdale Lane. They set about continuing the canvas and raising the necessary funds from members of the local community to complete the project.

After several years the necessary funds were in place, a design was agreed and the construction was begun and completed in 1928. The building was classical in style constructed in facing brick with stone dressings and consisted of a large committee room capable of being divided with a folding timber screen. On the rest of the site a bowling green and tennis courts were developed. The hall remained in this form, (with the addition of a wooden hut linked to the main building) during the thirties, forties and early fifties.

In 1958 the wooden hut was burned to the ground and it was decided to build an extension to provide a kitchen, toilets and a much larger room suitable for a range of public meetings of a business, social and recreational nature.

When the extension (a more utilitarian building in common brick and block work with cement-rendering) was completed the hall remained unaltered and in regular use for the next twenty years, after which time it was in need of upgrading. In the last ten years the hall has been significantly improved with the installation of a suspended ceiling and double glazing and the renovation of the sprung floor in the large meeting room. The grounds are being gradually improved. There are now security barriers at the side of the hall. A car parking area has been developed and there are new exit and entrance arrangements and new signage.

The memorial plaque is attached to the left wall of the main entrance porch. It contains the names of 13 men who died in the Great War and a further name of a man who perished in WW2. The plaque is main of plastic, the original brass plaque having been stolen in an incident in 2006. The names are arranged by rank and full name.
The plaque has been the subject of two thefts in recent years. The original bronze plaque which had adorned the site for 83 years was stolen in 2006 and replaced with a plastic version based on a similar design. This second memorial was reported as stolen in the 10 January 2014 digital edition of the Lancashire Evening Post.

SAMLESBURY WAR MEMORIAL SCHEME. In connection with the war memorial hall scheme at Samlesbury, a commodious hut, which is to serve the purpose of an annexe to the hall, was opened in the presence of a large assembly on Saturday afternoon. The site for the hall - over an acre of land given by Colonel T. Petres - is a short distance from the Five-Barred Gate, the total approximate cost is between £1,200 and £1,500, and towards this a sum of £700 has already been subscribed. It is hoped that all will be in readiness to commence the actual work of erecting the hall - a 40ft. by 20ft. building - early in the spring. The hut, opened on Saturday, is 60ft. by 20ft., and will seat between 250 and 300 persons. It has cost about £200, and will be used for educational, social, and recreational purposes, the hall, when built, being reserved for special events.
Mrs. A. W. Baxter, of Stanley Grange, declared the hut open.
Mr. W. Hubberstey, who presided, said they had for long needed some place in Samlesbury where they could meet for mutual help, advancement, and pleasant social intercourse, and the present scheme would provide them with just the facilities they required. (Applause.)
Mrs. Baxter, in reply to a vote of thanks, hoped in the near future to have a bowling green and a tennis lawn. LANCASHIRE DAILY POST - Monday 28 November 1921

1914 1918

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND
IN MEMORY OF THE FOLLOWING
MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE GREAT WAR

SGT.
SGT.
PTE.
PTE.
PTE.
PTE.
PTE.
PTE.
PTE.
PTE.
PTE.
PTE.
PTE.
F.O.

WILLIAM J. DALEY.
EDWARD JENNINGS.
BENJAMIN BELL.
JOAN COAR.
JOHN EAVES.
GEORGE FAIRCLOUGH.
JAMES HOWE.
JOHN KNIGHT.
HERBERT MASON.
MYLES NEWTON.
FRED TAYLOR.
WILLIAM TURNER.
PETER YATES.
JOHN E. HEATH. R.A.F. 1939-1945

LEST WE FORGET

Charles O'Donnell
Please email the project with any amendments or corrections
Edited 26 May 2018