War Memorial Institute
Rotherfield War Memorial Institute or "Institute" as it is affectionately known is situated in the centre of the village at the top of North Street, next to the village stores. The building was erected in 1804 as a Baptist Chapel, during the reign of George III. At the time, William Pitt was Prime Minister of England and Napoleon was Emperor of France.
By 1905 it was owned by one John Booker who was a grocer and draper and was used as a furniture and china store. A Mr George Burt then bought it from Mr Booker for the sum of £450. Mr Burt then converted it to become the Village Club and was leased to the village for the sum of 1d per year on a thousand year lease. One Lord Henry Neville officially opened it to the public on the 6th October 1905
On the 8th April 1919 Mr Burt died. Because of legal problems the validity of the lease was questioned and declared void by reason of the same never having been enrolled pursuant to the Mortmain and Charitable users acts.
On the 29th November 1920 Mrs Emily Burt, the widow of the late Mr George Burt conveyed the Institute to a Mr F Hulbert, who, the very next day, 30th November 1920 presented it back to the village by deed of gift to the Rev A F Thornhill and others. To be managed by a committee of seven trustees and seven representative members of the many clubs and organisations in the village that use the Institute as a meeting place
In 1919 the War Relief Committee appealed to the village with the view to having some sort of permanent Memorial to the men and women who gave their lives in the First World War so that we may live in peace. It was decided to rename the village club " The Rotherfield War Memorial Institute " and it houses the village war memorial
And that is how it stands today, and what a fine history.
Bookings
The Institute now attracts on average 2.7 bookings per day
The Royal British Legion meet there
The Pre School playgroup use it daily
The Mother and Toddler use it weekly
The Youth Club use it weekly
The Table Tennis club play their league match in the upper hall
St Denys' Sunday school meets every Sunday
The local library is housed in the Institute and is open twice a week
Many of the other village organisations use it from time to time
Hiring Fees
The building is early Victorian and consists of three main function rooms: 1 small ground-floor room, suitable for meetings and small receptions of up to 40 people, 1 medium-sized ground-floor room suitable for up to 60 people, and 1 large first-floor room suitable for 100 people. Additionally there is a small kitchen.
Small Room - £2.50 per hour
Medium Room - £2.50 per hour
First-floor Room - £4.00 per hour
All day until 18:00 - £30.00
All day until 23:45 - £40.00
Whole building until 18:00 £45.00
Whole building until 23:45 £65.00
To book the Institute ring (01892) 852137 or for further information ring (01892) 852447
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