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THE LECONFIELD HALL PETWORTH |
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Book or contact the Hall c/o Arts, Crafts & Fabrics of Petworth Market Square Petworth West Sussex GU28 0AF
Telephone 01798 344334 Opening hours: 10.00 - 4.30 |
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The work to improve the heating and make the controls easier was completed at the end of February. The heaters are now thermostatically controlled, and will switch off when the Hall is warm or when any room is left unoccupied for more than thirty minutes. There are new switches on both floors. This is a considerable improvement on the previous switching which, for the upper room was located in a cupboard at the top of the escape stairs! It is anticipated that the additional heating units upstairs will get the auditorium warm more quickly and that the new system will prove to be more economical as the Hall has recently had to absorb an almost 100% increase in the price of electricity. Please will all users leave the local heating controls and thermostats alone and just use the new on/off switches. Remember to switch off when you leave. |
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The heating work was funded by grants from the Parish Council, the District Council, and the County Council, together with the Hall’s own funds and a substantial private donation from Peter Flatter. Peter has also funded a new concertina screen in the Garland Room, downstairs, which creates a Green Room for performers when the entire hall is being used for concerts. The screen has a minimal impact when open, but when closed, provides, at long last, a private changing area with a separate door. The lack of such a space has long been a problem as the area beside the stage is very limited.
Hiring rates are reviewed each April and linked to the Retail Prices Index. The new rates are on this website and available at Arts Crafts and Fabrics of Petworth. Modest annual increases help to keep the Hall’s income in line with running costs (apart from electricity, that is!) and it is hoped that the impact is not too severe on our hirers, many of whom, like us, are small local charities.
The Parish Council is to site a new bus shelter by the fire escape doors outside the Hall. For many years now the bus stop has been by the front door of the Hall, and it is not a pleasant place to wait in bad weather. It is to be hoped that the new shelter will not become the main refuge for smokers exiled from their shops and offices by government legislation, as bus users could find themselves suffering from passive smoking related diseases rather than chills brought on by the wet and the cold.
The Hall was booked the Wiggonholt Association for a recital by the Ovid Ensemble on 15th March – a concert with the title Unbridled Passion featuring piano quintets by Brahms and Franck. It is the range of events that make a village hall such as ours such a valuable asset. Quite apart from the various sales and traders downstairs, in the weeks before Christmas we had, successively, an Elvis Presley evening, a recital by Dame Felicity Lott (the following night), and a charity fashion show organised by local fashion retailer Therapy. All three events sold out. The Petworth Festival is organising a trio of Jazz concerts in June. Watch out for the Festival brochure or check the What’s On pages of this website.
The Hall Friends’ Scheme, like the Films, is a vital part of our finances. Hiring income alone does not cover the cost of running this two hundred year old Grade II listed two-storey building. We are extremely grateful for the contributions made by Friends, and new Friends are always welcome. Donations range from £10 to £100 or more, and many are made under the Gift Aid scheme. A Friends Party and formal opening of the new heating system is planned for later in the year, and will be an opportunity to say thank you to all the donors who have helped to keep the Leconfield Hall solvent and well maintained.
The Hall Films remain popular, and the recent showing of Atonement was a sell out with one of the biggest audiences yet. There are some more excellent films in the pipeline, so please look out for posters or click the link to Films on this website |
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The new Green Room dividing screen in the Garland Room |
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The Leconfield Hall - Latest news |