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: thewitham@tiscali.co.uk |
Facilities
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What's On at Barnard Castle Witham Hall
| Coming Up | Contact | Notes | |
| On Thursday the 24th of July 2008 until 30 July 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Castle Gallery Exhibition: 4 Dimensions |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
Free admission |
| On Thursday the 31st of July 2008 until 06 August 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Castle Gallery Exhibition: Trevor Woods |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
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| On Saturday the 02nd of August 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Table Top Sale |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
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| On Saturday the 09th of August 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Craft Fair |
01325 354964 (evening) |
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| On Thursday the 14th of August 2008 until 20 August 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Castle Gallery Exhibition: Christine Mason |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
Free admission |
| On Saturday the 23rd of August 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Yorkshire Craft Fair |
01423 545377 |
Visit the website at www.yorkshirefairs.co.uk |
| On Thursday the 28th of August 2008 until 03 September 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Castle Gallery Exhibition: Jeff Beaumont |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
Free admission |
| On Thursday the 04th of September 2008 until 10 September 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Castle Gallery Exhibition: Copley Painters for Pleasure |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
Free admission |
| On Saturday the 06th of September 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Table Top Sale |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
|
| On Sunday the 07th of September 2008 | |||
| 19:00 |
Barnard Castle Rich Heritage - talk by Denise Charlton |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
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| On Thursday the 11th of September 2008 until 17 September 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Castle Gallery Exhibition: Barry Lawson |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
Free admission |
| On Saturday the 13th of September 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Craft Fair |
01325 354964 (evening) |
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| On Thursday the 25th of September 2008 until 01 October 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Castle Gallery Exhibition: Lee Hutchinson |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
Free admission |
| On Saturday the 27th of September 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Yorkshire Craft Fair |
01423 545377 |
Visit the website at www.yorkshirefairs.co.uk |
| On Thursday the 02nd of October 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Castle Gallery Exhibition: Quartz |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
Free admission |
| On Saturday the 04th of October 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Table Top Sale |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
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| On Thursday the 09th of October 2008 until 22 October 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Teesdale Glass Engraving Exhibition |
Joan Staley 01833 640545 |
Visit the website at www.teesdaleglassengravers.co.uk |
| On Saturday the 11th of October 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Craft Fair |
01325 354964 (evening) |
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| On Saturday the 18th of October 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 14:00 |
Friends of Richardson Hospital Autumn Bazaar Traditional autumn bazaar with annual prize draw, tombola, home produce, books, bric-a-brac, games and refreshments. |
Iris Hillery 01833 690860 |
All proceeds benefit the Richardson Community Hospital |
| On Thursday the 23rd of October 2008 until 29 October 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Castle Gallery Exhibition: Barnard Castle and Teesdale Arts Society |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
Free admission |
| On Saturday the 25th of October 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Yorkshire Craft Fair |
01423 545377 |
Visit the website at www.yorkshirefairs.co.uk |
| On Thursday the 30th of October 2008 until 05 November 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Castle Gallery Exhibition: Judy Brown |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
Free admission |
| On Thursday the 06th of November 2008 until 19 November 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Castle Gallery Exhibition: John Pickering |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
Free admission |
| On Thursday the 20th of November 2008 until 26 November 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Castle Gallery Exhibition: Mr and Mrs Whitely |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
Free admission |
| On Sunday the 23rd of November 2008 | |||
| 19:00 |
Talks Programme: Hay Time Learn from John O'Reilly about the Hay Time project being run by the North Pennines AONB Partnership. |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
£3.50 members, £4.00 non members including refreshments |
| On Thursday the 27th of November 2008 until 03 December 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Castle Gallery Exhibition: Jill Hirst |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
Free admission |
| On Thursday the 04th of December 2008 until 10 December 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Castle Gallery Exhibition: Ray Landon and Geoff Hewitt |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
Free admission |
| On Thursday the 11th of December 2008 until 17 December 2008 | |||
| 10:00 to 16:00 |
Castle Gallery Exhibition: Megan Childs |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
Free admission |
| 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 |
|
| Tuesdays | |||
| 12:00 to 13:00 |
Pilates |
Russell Turner 07951 782657 |
|
| Tuesdays | |||
| 14:00 to 16:00 |
Craft and Chat |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
|
| 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 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 |
Tony Craig 01833 690098 |
Not on from mid July - beginning September |
| Fridays | |||
| 14:00 to 16:00 |
Craft Group |
Chris Best 01833 631107 |
|
| 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





