Before ‘The Great War’, the building we know as ‘The Village Hall’ did not exist. Where the car park is today stood a ‘Recreation Room’ (also known as the ‘Men’s Reading Room’) which had been in existence from around 1870 until it was demolished in the late 60s or early 70s. It was where the men of the village could go to play darts, billiards or, simply, to read and congregate.

After the War in 1922 Captain Baillie-Hamilton donated the land and it was indentured to the ‘Women’s Institute’, where the present hall was erected, and sport court sits in order to create a building called ‘The Institute’.

The hall as it was then was an ‘ex-military’ hut and it was approximately 2/3rds the size it is now.

It was gifted in a deed dated 1923 by Indenture:

‘This Indenture made the twenty sixth day of April One thousand nine hundred and twenty three BETWEEN CAPTAIN THE HONOURABLE HENRY ROBERT BAILEE-HAMILTON-ARDEN of Arderne Hall Eaton near Tarporley in the County of Chester (hereinafter called “the Donor”) of the first part THE DONOR THE REVEREND CANON WALTER OCTAVIUS MARSH HUGHES of the rectory Tarporley aforesaid Clerk in Holy Orders and REBECCA TOWNSHEND PRESTWICH wife of Richard Henry Prestwich of Tirley Garth Willington near Tarporley aforesaid Merchant (hereinafter called “the Trustees” which expression shall where the context permits include the survivors and survivor of them and other the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of these presents) of the second part and THE HONOURABLE GRISELL ARDEN-BAILLIE-HAMILTON of Arderne Hall aforesaid Spinster (commonly known and hereinafter called “Lady Grisell Baillie Hamilton) of the third part WHEREAS the Donor is seised in fee simple in possession free from incumbrances as part of the Arderne Estates of the plot of land hereinafter described and he has agreed to convey the same to the Trustees in manner and upon the Trusts hereinafter appearing…’

It became the home of Utkinton Womens’ Institute as Trustees and stayed much as it was for many years until around 1954 when it was extended by about a third to its present size.

In 1996 a revised indenture was put in place. Across the years it has been home to an Amateur Dramatic Society, a grass tennis court, Youth Clubs, many events and through all of that has sailed, in a stately form, Utkinton Women’s Institute, who remain the Trustees today.

Across the past 30 years the Hall has seen many changes – a new roof, the walls reclad, a new floor, kitchen, heating and the multi-sport court.

We have some good friends and trustees who work to maintain and support the facility and if you would like to get involved, please get in touch with any member of the Management Committee.