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Jubilee Hall |
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he
Mechanics' Institute was established in 1850 by the Rev. G.C.V Harcourt,
the Rector of Rothbury who presented 295 volumes of 'good, sound
literature', and continued
During the
first few years the premises consisted of a small reading room situated at the
end of the Black Bull long room, but in 1864 a new library room was built by
voluntary subscription; Mr. R Farrage being the collector and treasurer of the
fund. At this time provision was also made to house the local hearse and the
Rothbury fire engine (circa 1788) on the ground floor.This
had been
presented to the village in 1788 by Robert Farquar after a disastrous
fire which destroyed a large number of thatched houses. Although later
transferred to
In 1873 there was a substantial rise in the population of Rothbury, mainly due to the number of people who had taken up regular employment in the grounds at Cragside, and the committee considered the advisability of extending the library by adding a reading room. This was carried out under the direction of the Rector Dr. Ainger and proved extremely popular. But the library did not
rest on its laurels and in 1888 there was another addition; that of a lecture
hall and recreation room as a permanent The opening ceremony on 7th September 1888 was chaired by Lord Armstrong, speeches given by Thomas Hodgkin, Colonel Watson and The Rev Medd, whilst the hall was 'declared open' by Lady Armstrong. A short time later The Newcastle Journal dated 12th February 1889 reported: The recreation room - a large apartment on the ground floor beneath the library room where the members can smoke and chat and enjoy themselves in playing various games - was opened for the first time on Friday night last (8 February) and in future on Sunday afternoon the rooms will be open to members from lpm to 5.45pm and from 8pm until lOpm. This, it is expected, will supply a want long felt by Rothbury workmen- particularly those who are at lodgings - and it is hoped that many will avail themselves of the use of these comfortably fitted up rooms where they can spend a quiet hour on a Sunday afternoon in the acquirement of useful knowledge. The Jubilee Hall has had a chequered history, including being burnt down in July 1939 following Saturday evening pictures. There was no fire brigade in the village at that time and the nearest was in Morpeth some 15 miles away. But nothing daunted, the old fire engine (circa. 1788) was brought out of retirement to extinguish the fire. This had been lage in 1788 by Robert Farquar after a disastrous fire which destroyed a large number of thatched houses. Although later transferred to the Jubilee Hall it was originally stored in the Church porch. Now restored to full working order it is back in Rothbury and housed in the garage at Town Foot. However with the demise of the Heritage Centre there is a rumour that it is soon to be moved to the Bailliewick museum in Alnwick. A great shame but at least it will be on public display and well cared for.
Certainly a public meeting had been held in 1885 to discuss its replacement; described in the newspaper as 'wretched old squirt which stands beside the parish hearse'. What an epitaph for so dignified a machine! In 1944 during World
War II the hall was rebuilt at the army's request as a centre for the troops and
changed considerably. It no longer boasted the reading room and the roof was
entirely different. But the pictures were revived and for many years the hall
echoed to the sound of, now, almost forgotten stars. The twice nightly (saving
Sunday) pictures attracted farmhands from miles away, and with the soldiers
billeted in the village, queues up to a hundred yards long would snake through
the village awaiting the second 'house'. The News was always old, and visitors
on holiday were treated to a rerun of Pathe News, already seen in towns a
fortnight earlier. The pictures finished in 1960 and the last film shown was The Ten Commandments. Today the Jubilee Hall has an entertainment license for 250 people and is used for plays, dances and other functions. There is a movement afoot to refurbish it and restore it to its former glory. Further down in the area called "Town Foot" stands the Queen's Head at the corner of Brewery Lane, the brewery itself now long gone and the hotel changed substantially over the years. The older
portion of the Queens Head was erected in 1790 and for the first fifty years of
its existence was known as the Golden Fleece. Jane Snowden was the hostess in
1827 and thereafter it was kept by the Dores family, followed by Mr.
Lawson who restored and enlarged the property. The change in name probably took
place in 1837 in commemoration of Queen Victoria's accession to the throne. In
1877 Mr. Temple rebuilt the old property next door which was then added to the
hotel and made a number of other changes to cater for the ever increasing trade Continue your walk towards the Garage at the east end of the village
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thereafter
to increase the number of books till his death in 1870. 
the
Jubilee Hall it was originally stored in the Church porch. Now restored to full
working order it is back in Rothbury and housed in the garage at Town Foot. 
commemoration of the Queen's Jubilee. Generous donations were given by
locals including Lord Armstrong, whilst the site itself was a gift of the Duke
of Northumberland. An interesting point here is that in the event of the hall
being sold, it is to be offered in the first instance to the current Duke of
Northumberland for £200.
At
least that is the story from one source. Others say that whilst awaiting the
Morpeth Fire Engine, old fire hoses, long since stored in the police station,
and full of holes were used to minimal effect. Although we prefer the former
story we are left with a vague suspicion that it may have been prompted by an
Ealing Comedy film. Or was it the other way round? 