Worplesdon Memorial Hall

Worplesdon Memorial Hall and Sports Ground

An ideal venue for all kinds of social activities, public or private

[ The Hall | Charges and How to Book | Sports Ground and Tennis Courts |
History and Management | Some Current Users of the Hall ]

Worplesdon Memorial Hall is situated on Perry Hill, part of the main A322 road which runs through Worplesdon village in Surrey. It's about three miles north of the centre of Guildford and two miles from Worplesdon Station. The sports ground and caretaker's cottage are alongside the main hall.

With its central position in the village, easy access from Guildford and adequate parking, the hall is an ideal venue for all kinds of social activities, public or private, including weddings.

To see exactly where we are, click here for a zoomable map.

Our postal address is: Worplesdon Memorial Hall, Perry Hill, Worplesdon, Guildford, Surrey GU3 3RF.

Sidney Sime Gallery

On the first floor of the Hall there is a small gallery devoted to the fascinating and highly characteristic work of Sidney Sime (1867-1941), the famous artist, illustrator and caricaturist. Sime owned a cottage at Worplesdon and spent much of his time here during the latter part of his life.

For more about the gallery, Sime and his work, see our Sidney Sime pages. The gallery is also featured on the BBC's Your Paintings website. Anyone wishing to view the collection should contact the caretaker.

The Hall The main hall has a large room with a stage, suitable for badminton, drama and dance classes as well as meetings and parties. An ample stock of chairs and tables is available. There is a newly fitted kitchen and serving area as well as toilets and washing facilities. There is also a small hall with access to the kitchen via the main hall, as well as two further committee rooms. These rooms cater for 10-20 persons with tea/coffee making facilities and are suitable for small classes or meetings. All facilities are subject to regular health and safety checks. There is good access to the hall for the disabled, which is facilitated by the availability of parking next to the hall entrance. The toilets have disabled facilities and it is intended to install a loop hearing system when funds are available. As well as private events, a wide variety of local organizations take advantage of our facilities, as can be seen from a list of users over the last year or two.

The main hall is frequently used for wedding receptions		The main hall laid out for a charity Race Night. The function included a sit-down hot meal, a bar in the adjacent smaller hall and a large screen on stage to show the races.

The main entrance of the hall	The conference room (18.5 ft x 14 ft)	The committee room (14 ft x 13 ft)
Charges and How to Book Hire charges are competitive and there are special concessions for residents of Worplesdon. Bookings are taken by the caretaker, Mr Bernard Callanan, who lives in the cottage alongside the Hall and is happy to provide any further information on request. He may be contacted on 01483 232117, by e-mail at worpmemhall@hotmail.com or by post at Memorial Hall Cottage, Perry Hill, Worplesdon, Guildford, Surrey GU3 3RF. Back to top
The Sports Ground and Tennis Courts The grounds adjoining the hall support many local sporting activities: There is a long standing tradition of cricket - Worplesdon and Burpham Cricket Club can trace its formation back to 1890 and its Worplesdon predecessor first began to use the site in 1912. Worpleson Phoenix Football Club plays regular league matches at weekends and occasional games during the week. Worplesdon Tennis Club was formed in 1991 using the two existing public courts and has since added two more for Club use. A new Club House was opened in 2005. The Club has a thriving membership of adults and juniors - players of all abilities are welcome. The two public tennis courts, which are owned by the Parish Council, are available to hire at £4.50 per hour (free to children under 16 years during state school holidays). To make a booking, please phone the caretaker, Mr Bernard Callanan, on 01483 232117. Several badminton clubs rent the main hall during the day and some evenings. A new sports pavilion serving the Cricket, Football and Tennis Clubs was opened in 2008. All clubs are delighted to welcome new members and enquiries can be made through the caretaker or via club web sites. Back to top
History and Management The Hall was built in 1922 in memory of the local men killed in World War 1. The land had been donated to Worplesdon Parish Council for this purpose by Sir James L Walker, a local landowner, in 1919. A portrait of Sir James can be seen in the hall. He lived in Worplesdon Place at the centre of an estate which included property on both sides of the A322. The house is now the Worplesdon Place Hotel, almost opposite the hall. The management of the Memorial Hall and recreation grounds is in the hands of seven trustees, four donor and three Parish Council trustees. The Parish Council is not responsible for the control of the management of the property although it holds the land and hall in fee simple. The chairman of the trustees is Mr Terry Cater (who is a Parish Council trustee) and the treasurer is Mr Peter Elsing (a donor trustee). Mrs Mary Broughton, Mr Tony Heather and Mr Tim Hunt are the other donor trustees, while Mrs Sandra Morgan and Mr Roger Welch are the other trustees representing the Parish Council. Mrs Stella Harris is the Honorary Secretary. The trustees are committed to provide the residents of Worplesdon with recreational and social facilities. They give of their time and efforts to maintain the objectives of the Hall Trust as set out in the original Deed of 1919 and are always seeking to improve and expand the facilities for the benefit all users. Back to top

Some Current Users of the Hall
Worplesdon Ballroom and Latin Dance Club We meet every Thursday from 8:00 until 10:30pm for ballroom and Latin dancing. There is a session from 8:30 till 9pm where we have a lesson from a qualified teacher to learn a new routine which changes after 3 weeks. However, there is no teaching on the first Thursday of the month, which is reserved for practising. We make a small charge, at present £3 per person, but this includes tea or coffee halfway through the evening. We are unable to take beginners and it is also difficult to take people who do not have a dancing partner. We are at present looking for members. For more information, please contact David on 01483 420609.	Worplesdon Pre-school Worplesdon Pre-school uses the hall in the mornings during term time and has an enclosed outdoor play area together with a sensory garden and vegetable plot.
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