Michelmersh Silver Band
Purchase of Timsbury WI Hall

A new chapter in the long history of Michelmersh Silver Band began earlier this month when the band finally completed the purchase of the old Timsbury Women’s Institute Hall on the Stockbridge Road. The completion marked the end of 6 long years of negotiation and was celebrated by band members with a champagne toast at the first rehearsal held in ‘their’ hall.

Having heard rumours in 2002, that the Timsbury branch of the WI was considering winding-up because of falling membership, Band Secretary Claire Topp wrote a letter to the ladies expressing the band’s interest in the building, should it become available.

‘It was’, says Claire, ‘a very delicate situation. With the majority of the WI members at Timsbury being very elderly, life-long members, we were very anxious not to pre-empt their decision to fold, or to upset them in any way. We were however, desperate for larger rehearsal facilities and equally keen to stay within the bounds of our ‘home’ villages of Michelmersh and Timsbury. The WI Hall presented us with a golden opportunity to fulfil both of these ambitions.

Unfortunately the purchase was not straightforward, involving as it did the Trustees of the Hall, Timsbury WI, the WI National Federation and The Charities Commission. In the ensuing years, the band rented the Hall for rehearsals, putting a huge strain on its limited funds whilst providing the space it needed, having completely outgrown the old Band Hut in Manor Farm Lane, Michelmersh. The purchase was made possible by an interest-free loan of the purchase price by a band member.

Michelmersh Band is in the enviable position of owning the land on which the existing Band Hut stands. From the 1920s, rehearsals had been held in a First World War army hut purchased for £12 by Tom Topp, a founder member. When the land this hut stood on changed ownership, the band was forced to re-locate to the site of the current hut across the road on land owned by Sir Thomas Sopwith’s Compton Manor Estate. Having rented the original land from the estate for a peppercorn rent [we believe of less than £5 a year!], the freehold was eventually purchased for a nominal sum. In 1984, the old Michelmersh Village Hall having been demolished as the new Jubilee Hall was opened in Timsbury, the band was able to purchase the frontage to the Band Hut from the Parish Council, to provide parking facilities. Gone were the days when band members all lived in the village and walked to rehearsals! The future sale of the freehold of the Manor Farm Lane site will allow the repayment of the loan to purchase the WI Hall.

Timsbury WI Hall has its own fair share of history to report. The original WI Hall, again a wooden hut, stood on land gifted to the ‘women of Timsbury’ across the road from the current site. In another parallel with the band hut history, a move across the road was enforced in the 1920s and the current red-brick building was opened. During the Second World War the building was commandeered for use by Canadian servicemen. Graffiti scratched into the brickwork of the porch by the Canadian soldiers, vividly records their occupation 1943. After the war the building was rented out for village events, dances and private functions including weddings. Keith Morgan, a band member for over 60 years, and his wife Jo held their wedding reception there in the 1960s.

The passage of time has left the interior of the Hall in need of serious renovation and up-grading. Re-wiring throughout and providing new toilet facilities will be a priority, but plans also include improving the acoustics for brass band rehearsal and changing the current kitchen and store room to provide a music library, committee room and refreshment area. Providing safe access and exterior lighting is also planned as a priority.
‘Although we plan changes to the interior of the building, we are very anxious to preserve the external appearance, and in particular the porch and wartime graffiti. We are delighted to be in a position to retain the Hall as a village amenity to save it from possible demolition and development, and very aware of the responsibility that brings’, says Claire Topp. ‘We hope to be able to secure grant support and sponsorship to help pay for the renovations but will obviously need to do some serious fund-raising too’. 

As the champagne flowed to celebrate the purchase, Band Chairman Adam Smith presented Secretary Claire Topp and Treasurer Richard Boler with gifts to thank them for their hard work on the project.