Barnard Castle Witham Hall
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The Town |
The HallThe Witham Hall is named after Henry Witham of Lartington. He was a benevolent and generous person and withdrew to Edinburgh where he became a distinguished geologist pioneering the study of fossils under the microscope. In 1832 on the death of his mother Henry and his family returned to Lartington and he founded the Barnard Castle Mechanics Institute and assisted in the provision of a Dispensary Society. He died in 1844 and in 1854 the Witham Hall was built by public subscription as a testimonial to him to house Barnard Castle Mechanics Institute and the Dispensary Society. The architect was ‘Green of Newcastle.’ In the beginning the Hall was managed by Trustees, with two other separate management committees for the Mechanics’ Institute and Dispensary. This was complex and ultimately unworkable. Declining income prevented the Trustees from repairing the building. In the early 1980s, the hall was repaired with help from the local authorities, while use was managed first by the YMCA and then by a Witham Hall Community Association, with financial assistance from Durham County Council. The historic organisations still existed. In the late 1990s, all parties merged into one organisation, called The Witham, while ownership of the Hall building passed to the Charity Commission. The Witham is now a registered charity, with individual and group membership.The size and layout of the Witham Hall makes it an ideal choice for private and business functions. The hall is available for hire for: • Meetings/Seminars Regular activities ongoing at the hall include concerts, talks, art exhibitions, sales and fayres. FeaturesRooms: This large building contains a number of rooms:Main Hall (ground floor): This room is suitable for dances, theatrical performances, large meetings, exhibitions and sales of work. It is 57’ x 38’ and has windows with blackout and some stage lighting. Maximum seating capacity is 150 Castle Gallery (ground floor): This room is available on a weekly basis for exhibitions. The room is 27’ x 13’ with a hanging space of 600 square feet. Seating capacity up to 30. Snack Bar (ground floor): This room is suitable for small meetings and education classes. Seating capacity up to 30. Kitchen (ground floor): This is suitable only for the preparation of hot and cold drinks and any other catering has to be externally sourced by arrangement with the Administrator. The Witham Room (first floor):This room is ideal for business or private meetings/workshops and small scale performances. The room is 34’ x 27’ and has curtains for blackout and will have a drop down projection screen. Seating capacity up to 50 people theatre style or 24 in conference style. Hall Street Meeting Room (first floor): This is available as a meeting room or as temporary office space. This room is 28’ x 18’ and has a seating capacity of up to 20. Heating: Available throughout hall Facilities: The hall has a large stage suitable for productions and concerts and the sprung wooden floor in the main hall, the best in the North East, make it an ideal venue for dances. Equipment: The hall has adequate chairs and tables and there is ample crockery and cutlery available. There is also a variety of sports and play equipment. Stage lighting and a PA system are also available. Parking: No designated car park. Parking is available on the main street or at the town car park. There is access for all to the main hall from Hall Street for drop off but parking is not permitted here. Hire Charges: Contact the hall directly Registered Charity Number: 1076111 ContactThe Administrator - 01833 631107 Email: thewitham3@tiscali.co.uk |
Facilities
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What's On at Barnard Castle Witham Hall
| Coming Up | Contact | Notes | |
| On Saturday the 13th of March 2010 | |||
| 10:00 to 15:30 |
Craft Fair |
Chris Best 01833 631107 or email thewitham3@tiscali.co.uk |
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| On Saturday the 13th of March 2010 | |||
| 19:00 |
Barnard Castle Brass Band 150th Anniversary Concert Classic brass band tunes from all eras. Bar available. |
Chris Best 01833 631107 or email thewitham3@tiscali.co.uk |
Adults £5.00, Children £2.50 |
| On Sunday the 14th of March 2010 | |||
| 14:00 |
Witham Cinema: Kes |
Chris Best 01833 631107 or email thewitham3@tiscali.co.uk |
Tickets £2.50 up to £5.00 |
| On Friday the 19th of March 2010 | |||
| 19:30 |
Witham Cinema: Let the Right One In |
Chris Best 01833 631107 or email thewitham3@tiscali.co.uk |
Tickets £2.50 up to £5.00 |
| On Friday the 26th of March 2010 | |||
| 19:30 |
Witham Cinema: Julie and Julia |
Chris Best 01833 631107 or email thewitham3@tiscali.co.uk |
Tickets £2.50 up to £5.00 |
| On Saturday the 27th of March 2010 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Yorkshire Craft Fair |
Chris Best 01833 631107 or email thewitham3@tiscali.co.uk |
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| On Wednesday the 14th of April 2010 | |||
| 20:00 |
Highlights Rural Touring Scheme presents When The Shops Shut - C Scape Dance Company When the shops are shut for good, when the shutters come down for the last time, when the final homes are bought up, what happens to communities then? Cscape’s new show uses the company’s unique style of physical storytelling to tell the tales of villages and the people who live in them. Evocative, charming and funny, When the Shops Shut brings the characters found in these communities to life in a vivid blend of dance, theatre, film, poetry and music. “From start to finish Cscape are poetry for the eyes...and should not be missed.” Western Morning News There is a company workshop open to the publicto take part in during the morning of 14th April. Telephone Chris on 01833 631107 for details |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
Part of the A Night Less Ordinary initiative - free theatre tickets for under 26's |
| On Thursday the 22nd of April 2010 until 28 April 2010 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Glass Engraving Exhibition Exhibition of hand engraved glass and crystal by Mickleton engraver Lawrence Staley. Demonstrations of engraving, the opportunity to purchase a wide range of recently engraved pieces and also to order an engraving of your choice on their extensive selection of blank pieces. Free admission |
Joan Staley 01833 640545 |
www.teesdaleglassengravers.co.uk |
| Weekly | Contact | Notes | |
| Mondays | |||
| 13:30 to 15:30 |
Carpet Bowls |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
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| Mondays | |||
| 15:45 to 19:15 |
Ballet Classes |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
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| Mondays | |||
| 19:00 to 22:00 |
Castle Players |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
From September 2008 |
| Mondays | |||
| 20:00 to 22:00 |
Badminton |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
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| Tuesdays | |||
| 09:30 to 11:30 |
Parent and Toddler Group |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
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| Tuesdays | |||
| 12:00 to 13:00 |
Pilates |
Russell Turner 07951 782657 |
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| Tuesdays | |||
| 14:00 to 16:00 |
Craft and Chat |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
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| Tuesdays | |||
| 16:00 to 21:00 |
Ballet/Dance Classes Junior to Adult |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
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| Tuesdays | |||
| 19:30 to 21:00 |
Yoga |
Helen Tait 01325 466478 |
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| Wednesdays | |||
| 15:45 to 18:45 |
Ballet Classes |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
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| Wednesdays | |||
| 16:00 to 21:00 |
Turrets - Junior Drama Group 9 - 16 year olds |
Jill Cole 01833 631838 |
From September 2008 |
| Wednesdays | |||
| 20:00 to 22:00 |
Black Sheep Morris Dancers |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
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| Thursdays | |||
| 10:00 to 12:00 |
Art Forum |
Geoff Hewitt 01833 650174 |
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| Thursdays | |||
| 10:00 to 11:00 |
Keep Fit to Music |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
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| Thursdays | |||
| 16:00 to 21:00 |
Turrets - Junior Drama Group 9 - 16 year olds |
Jill Cole 01833 631838 |
From September 2008 |
| Fridays | |||
| 14:00 to 16:00 |
Community Tea Dance |
Maurice Forster 01833 638962 |
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| Fridays | |||
| 14:00 to 16:00 |
Craft Group |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
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| Saturdays | |||
| 10:00 to 11:30 |
Turrets - Junior Drama Group 10 and 11 year olds |
Jill Cole 01833 631838 |
From September 2008 |
| Fortnightly | Contact | Notes | |
| Every other Thursday | |||
| 14:00 to 16:00 |
Afternoon Club |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
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| Monthly (last of a month) | Contact | Notes | |
| The last Wednesday of every month | |||
| 11:00 to 14:00 |
4 C's Refreshments A friendly cafe - proceeds go to charity. |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
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LOCATION
Directions
The Witham Hall is situated in Horsemarket in the centre of Barnard Castle.Hall Postcode: DL12 8LY






