Westgate Hall, Canterbury
Encyclopedia
Westgate Hall is a hundred-year-old community hall and dance hall
in a Conservation area
of Canterbury
, Kent
, notable for being the subject of extended public controversy since October 2009, when the City of Canterbury
budget 2010−2011 threatened to have the building demolished.
sole dance hall
. In 1874 on the site of the present hall there was Welby Square and a large, laid-out garden stretching back to St Peter's Lane where the gardener's cottage remains today. It was called Masters’ Exotic Nursery: an exotic garden with two springs giving
chalybeate
and mineral water
and a very tall Lombardy poplar
16 ft (4.9 m) in girth at base. It can be seen on the 1874 map below. The nursery, which stretched northward from Welby Square, belonged to the Masters family and occupied 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) of land. The gardens were dismantled and sold in 1896, and the last owner of the nursery was George Mount. The square was replaced by Westgate Lane; West Gate Hall and a car park are now on the site of the garden.
1899 maps do not yet show the hall in Welby Square, but a panorama photo taken in 1900 does show it, so the hall was probably built between 1899 and 1900. It is not known for what purpose it was built, but St Peter's Mission Hall is mentioned as being in Welby square in the early days of the hall. It was used as a drill hall
for the Territorials during World War I
, and survived the 1944 bombing of Canterbury in World War II
. It appears in a cityscape photograph taken in 1900. The hall was originally built expensively with a fancy tiled roof and large windows at each end, with a stained-glass panel in the top window at the Westgate Hall Lane end.Photo: Barrett collection The Victorian building next door was later knocked through between the wars and the foyer given Art Deco
fittings. The 1944 and 1955 photos on the right show that, although the front was rendered and painted, it had exposed brick arches, exposed tiles on buttresses, small window-panes with probable painted (not leaded) glass in the top window, and mixed-textured and probably multi-coloured late-Victorian glass panes in the ground-floor windows. The 1944 pictures show that the foyer was not yet created in what was originally a Victorian
building. This building is now in a Conservation area
, and a project exists to record all drill halls before they are lost to redevelopment.
meeting place before its winding-up and amalgamation into the Territorial Force
in 1908. The hall was 4th Batallion, the Buffs' (A or B Company) drill hall from its inception as a Territorial battalion in 1908, and they were still there in 1913.Information from the University of Kent
An old photo shows army recruits marching outside the hall in 1915, when it was described as a drill hall. In 1915 the Drill Hall
was the base for the 4th and 5th Battalions of the Buffs and the REK (Royal East Kent) Mounted Rifles
. In 1937 The Territorial Drill Hall was still the base for the 4th Battalion of the Buffs and the Duke of Connaught's Own Yeomanry RA385
: a territorial artillery
unit. Residents would see battalions marching through the building from one end to the other. The hall was used as a hospital during World War II
. A photograph exists of Field Marshal Montgomery
visiting the hall in 1948, after which the Buffs moved to the Leros. At some point after 1937 it was called the Territorial Drill Hall. It was called the Drill Hall between World War II
and the 1970s.Series of files held at Canterbury Cathedral archives on the Markets & Parks Committee from circa 1950-1975 ref. CCA-CC-A/SC/1290/1-5: the hall is mentioned in these The hall was taken over by the Council in the early 1970s.
s used by the Mothers’ Union in 1927. Probably during its early years until 1914, and since the early 1970s, it has been a community centre
. Along with the Beehive, the hall was the background to the beginning of the current Canterbury music scene. The first regular music group to play here was the Wilde Flowers.
It is now a dance hall
with sprung floor
used by the people of Canterbury
and by students from the University of Kent
and Canterbury Christ Church University
. It has a bar open eleven hours a week, is used for events and fairs, for ballroom dancing
and as a conference venue
, and accommodates hundreds of people. Local clubs and societies use the hall. The University of Kent
uses the hall for the collection of robes on graduation days. This is also a venue for serious events such as Holocaust Memorial Day
. The Council
itself uses the Westgate Hall to count votes, and sports events such as 2007 Tour de France
finish stages at the hall. Blood donor
sessions are held here, besides Weight Watchers
, gigs
and wedding receptions. National Childbirth Trust
hold their nearly-new sales in the hall twice a year. The Canterbury Postcard and Collectors Fair is held there every two months, and the Canterbury Antiques and Collectors fair takes place there on most of the Saturdays when the hall is not used for anything else.
was under threat of closure as of 2009, pending a decision by Canterbury City Council
on that day. This caused widespread controversy and a pressure group was formed to ensure survival of the hall. In the event the Council voted in favour of this proposal, however the Westgate Community Trust is working with the local community to save the hall. The Westgate Community Trust reported that the Council confirmed that the hall would remain open until June 2011. In July 2011, the Council prepared to discuss plans by the Westgate Community Trust and the Corinthian Curzon cinema company to lease the hall for the benefit of the community. In the event, on 27 July, the Council approved use by Curzon Cinema and voted to grant a 100-year lease to the Trust, subject to conditions.
Dance hall
Dance hall in its general meaning is a hall for dancing. From the earliest years of the twentieth century until the early 1960s, the dance hall was the popular forerunner of the discothèque or nightclub...
in a Conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
of Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, notable for being the subject of extended public controversy since October 2009, when the City of Canterbury
City of Canterbury
The City of Canterbury is a local government district with city status in Kent, England. The main settlement in the district is Canterbury, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury.-History:...
budget 2010−2011 threatened to have the building demolished.
History
Building
This is Canterbury'sCanterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
sole dance hall
Dance hall
Dance hall in its general meaning is a hall for dancing. From the earliest years of the twentieth century until the early 1960s, the dance hall was the popular forerunner of the discothèque or nightclub...
. In 1874 on the site of the present hall there was Welby Square and a large, laid-out garden stretching back to St Peter's Lane where the gardener's cottage remains today. It was called Masters’ Exotic Nursery: an exotic garden with two springs giving
chalybeate
Chalybeate
Chalybeate waters, also known as ferruginous waters, are mineral spring waters containing salts of iron.-Name:The word "chalybeate" is derived from the Latin word for steel, "chalybs", which follows from the Greek word "khalups"...
and mineral water
Mineral water
Mineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value, generally obtained from a naturally occurring mineral spring or source. Dissolved substances in the water may include various salts and sulfur compounds...
and a very tall Lombardy poplar
Black Poplar
Populus nigra, the black poplar, is a species of cottonwood poplar, the type species of section Aigeiros of the genus Populus, native to Europe, southwest and central Asia, and northwest Africa....
16 ft (4.9 m) in girth at base. It can be seen on the 1874 map below. The nursery, which stretched northward from Welby Square, belonged to the Masters family and occupied 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) of land. The gardens were dismantled and sold in 1896, and the last owner of the nursery was George Mount. The square was replaced by Westgate Lane; West Gate Hall and a car park are now on the site of the garden.
1899 maps do not yet show the hall in Welby Square, but a panorama photo taken in 1900 does show it, so the hall was probably built between 1899 and 1900. It is not known for what purpose it was built, but St Peter's Mission Hall is mentioned as being in Welby square in the early days of the hall. It was used as a drill hall
Drill hall
A drill hall is a place such as a building or a hangar where soldiers practice and perform military drill. In the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, the term was also used for the whole headquarters building of a military reserve unit, which usually incorporated such a hall...
for the Territorials during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and survived the 1944 bombing of Canterbury in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It appears in a cityscape photograph taken in 1900. The hall was originally built expensively with a fancy tiled roof and large windows at each end, with a stained-glass panel in the top window at the Westgate Hall Lane end.Photo: Barrett collection The Victorian building next door was later knocked through between the wars and the foyer given Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
fittings. The 1944 and 1955 photos on the right show that, although the front was rendered and painted, it had exposed brick arches, exposed tiles on buttresses, small window-panes with probable painted (not leaded) glass in the top window, and mixed-textured and probably multi-coloured late-Victorian glass panes in the ground-floor windows. The 1944 pictures show that the foyer was not yet created in what was originally a Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
building. This building is now in a Conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
, and a project exists to record all drill halls before they are lost to redevelopment.
Windows
All the windows are now boarded over, rendered and painted. It is not known whether they still exist behind the boarding, but the 1944 photograph with scouts shows small panes of glass of varying rippled textures. Most panes were pastel coloured glass and some were clear: evidence for this is that some panes show the interior brightly, and some show it more darkly. Pastel glass in the duller colours was cheapest, and combinations of green, yellow and pink were most commonly used. Due to process of manufacture and replacement, panes of the same colour were of varying shades. Where the colours and shadows of outside objects showed through, and as the sun's rays moved, the tints of the glass appeared to change. One of the 1944 photographs shows that the top front window may have had a painted religious glass panel which had survived from its time as St Peter's Mission.Restoration
Some of the roof joists need to be replaced. When restored, the windows will need to be double-glazed with safety glass and thoroughly soundproofed in response to local requirement. Original or reconstructed sympathetic window panes could be sandwiched between such soundproofing and double glazing. Disabled access to female toilets must be made available. Ventilation fans with soundproofing will be required according to building regulations and to prevent the large end doors and entrance hall door being opened for ventilation during events, causing unnecessary noise pollution.Army use
It was probably the local Rifle Volunteers'Volunteer Force (Great Britain)
The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a popular movement in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated with the British Army after the Childers Reforms in 1881, before forming part of the...
meeting place before its winding-up and amalgamation into the Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
in 1908. The hall was 4th Batallion, the Buffs' (A or B Company) drill hall from its inception as a Territorial battalion in 1908, and they were still there in 1913.Information from the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
An old photo shows army recruits marching outside the hall in 1915, when it was described as a drill hall. In 1915 the Drill Hall
Drill hall
A drill hall is a place such as a building or a hangar where soldiers practice and perform military drill. In the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, the term was also used for the whole headquarters building of a military reserve unit, which usually incorporated such a hall...
was the base for the 4th and 5th Battalions of the Buffs and the REK (Royal East Kent) Mounted Rifles
Royal East Kent Yeomanry
The Royal East Kent Yeomanry were formed in 1794, originally as a series of independent troops based in the important towns of Kent, England.In the latter part of the 19th century they frequently provided escorts for the Queen and members of the Royal Family, and as a result, in 1856 the East Kent...
. In 1937 The Territorial Drill Hall was still the base for the 4th Battalion of the Buffs and the Duke of Connaught's Own Yeomanry RA385
Royal East Kent Yeomanry
The Royal East Kent Yeomanry were formed in 1794, originally as a series of independent troops based in the important towns of Kent, England.In the latter part of the 19th century they frequently provided escorts for the Queen and members of the Royal Family, and as a result, in 1856 the East Kent...
: a territorial artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
unit. Residents would see battalions marching through the building from one end to the other. The hall was used as a hospital during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A photograph exists of Field Marshal Montgomery
Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC , nicknamed "Monty" and the "Spartan General" was a British Army officer. He saw action in the First World War, when he was seriously wounded, and during the Second World War he commanded the 8th Army from...
visiting the hall in 1948, after which the Buffs moved to the Leros. At some point after 1937 it was called the Territorial Drill Hall. It was called the Drill Hall between World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the 1970s.Series of files held at Canterbury Cathedral archives on the Markets & Parks Committee from circa 1950-1975 ref. CCA-CC-A/SC/1290/1-5: the hall is mentioned in these The hall was taken over by the Council in the early 1970s.
Community use
It may have been called St Peter's Mission Hall as early as 1903, as there was a hall of that name in Welby Square, but no drill hall is mentioned in trade directories. It was one of the conference hallConference hall
A conference hall or conference room is a room provided for singular events such as business conferences and meetings. It is commonly found at large hotels and convention centers though many other establishments, including even hospitals, have one. Sometimes other rooms are modified for large...
s used by the Mothers’ Union in 1927. Probably during its early years until 1914, and since the early 1970s, it has been a community centre
Community centre
Community centres or community centers or jumping recreation centers are public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may sometimes be open for the whole community or for a specialised group within...
. Along with the Beehive, the hall was the background to the beginning of the current Canterbury music scene. The first regular music group to play here was the Wilde Flowers.
It is now a dance hall
Dance hall
Dance hall in its general meaning is a hall for dancing. From the earliest years of the twentieth century until the early 1960s, the dance hall was the popular forerunner of the discothèque or nightclub...
with sprung floor
Sprung floor
A sprung floor is a floor that absorbs shocks, giving it a softer feel. Such floors are considered the best available for dance and indoor sports and physical education....
used by the people of Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
and by students from the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
and Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University is a university in Canterbury, Kent, England. Founded as a Church of England college for teaching training it has grown to full university status and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2012. The focus of its work is in the education of people going into...
. It has a bar open eleven hours a week, is used for events and fairs, for ballroom dancing
Ballroom dance
Ballroom dance refers to a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television....
and as a conference venue
Conference hall
A conference hall or conference room is a room provided for singular events such as business conferences and meetings. It is commonly found at large hotels and convention centers though many other establishments, including even hospitals, have one. Sometimes other rooms are modified for large...
, and accommodates hundreds of people. Local clubs and societies use the hall. The University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
uses the hall for the collection of robes on graduation days. This is also a venue for serious events such as Holocaust Memorial Day
Holocaust Memorial Day (UK)
Holocaust Memorial Day is a national event in the United Kingdom dedicated to the remembrance of the victims of The Holocaust. It was first held in January 2001 and has been on the same date every year since...
. The Council
City of Canterbury
The City of Canterbury is a local government district with city status in Kent, England. The main settlement in the district is Canterbury, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury.-History:...
itself uses the Westgate Hall to count votes, and sports events such as 2007 Tour de France
2007 Tour de France
The 2007 Tour de France, the 94th running of the race, took place from 7 July to 29 July 2007. The Tour began with a prologue in London, and ended with the traditional finish in Paris. Along the way, the route also passed through Belgium and Spain...
finish stages at the hall. Blood donor
Blood donation
A blood donation occurs when a person voluntarily has blood drawn and used for transfusions or made into medications by a process called fractionation....
sessions are held here, besides Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers is an international company that offers various dieting products and services to assist weight loss and maintenance. Founded in 1963 by Brooklyn homemaker Jean Nidetch, it operates in about 30 countries around the world, generally under names that are local translations of “Weight...
, gigs
Gig (musical performance)
Gig is slang for a musical engagement in which musicians are hired. Originally coined in the 1920s by jazz musicians, the term, short for the word "engagement", now refers to any aspect of performing such as assisting with performance and attending musical performance...
and wedding receptions. National Childbirth Trust
National Childbirth Trust
The National Childbirth Trust is a UK-based charity with registered charity number 801395.The National Childbirth Trust is the leading charity offering information and support in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood.-History:...
hold their nearly-new sales in the hall twice a year. The Canterbury Postcard and Collectors Fair is held there every two months, and the Canterbury Antiques and Collectors fair takes place there on most of the Saturdays when the hall is not used for anything else.
Reminiscences of the hall
"Canterbury was lucky then in that it had a number of halls suitable for public dances . . . I used to go to several dances: in the Drill Hall in St. Peter’s Lane, and the Oddfellows Hall in Orange Street; the Forresters’ Hall in High Street. Entrance fee was about a shilling, I think. The Drill Hall used to be non-stop. We had a band at each end and it was from 8 to 1 am in the morning. One and sixpence. Strict tempo, waltz, valeta, quick-step. If you went on the floor and you weren’t complying with the music the M.C.Master of CeremoniesA Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
would ask you to leave the floor. There was a place for refreshments and a bar upstairs. You could take a girl to a dance, buy refreshments, buy a packet of cigarettes and a tube of Parma Violet Cashews and have change the next morning out of ten shillings." Howard, born 1903.
Projected closure
The hallDance hall
Dance hall in its general meaning is a hall for dancing. From the earliest years of the twentieth century until the early 1960s, the dance hall was the popular forerunner of the discothèque or nightclub...
was under threat of closure as of 2009, pending a decision by Canterbury City Council
City of Canterbury
The City of Canterbury is a local government district with city status in Kent, England. The main settlement in the district is Canterbury, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury.-History:...
on that day. This caused widespread controversy and a pressure group was formed to ensure survival of the hall. In the event the Council voted in favour of this proposal, however the Westgate Community Trust is working with the local community to save the hall. The Westgate Community Trust reported that the Council confirmed that the hall would remain open until June 2011. In July 2011, the Council prepared to discuss plans by the Westgate Community Trust and the Corinthian Curzon cinema company to lease the hall for the benefit of the community. In the event, on 27 July, the Council approved use by Curzon Cinema and voted to grant a 100-year lease to the Trust, subject to conditions.
See also
- Herne Bay Museum
- Roman MuseumRoman MuseumFor the National Museum of Wales see National Roman Legionary MuseumThe Roman Museum in Canterbury, Kent, houses a Roman pavement which is a scheduled monument, in the remains of a Roman courtyard house which itself is a grade I listed building. The pavement was discovered after World War II...
- Westgate, CanterburyWestgate, CanterburyThe Westgate is a medieval gatehouse in Canterbury, Kent, England. This 60-foot-high western gate of the city wall is the largest surviving city gate in England. Built of Kentish ragstone around 1379, it is the last survivor of Canterbury's seven medieval gates, still well-preserved and one of the...
- Whitstable Museum and GalleryWhitstable Museum and GalleryWhitstable Museum and Gallery is a heritage centre in Whitstable, Kent, and is notable for its displays showing the history of the local oyster trade started by the Romans and of historical diving equipment. It is open on weekdays throughout the year, and on Sundays in summer...
Further research
- Archives at the Centre for Kentish StudiesCentre for Kentish StudiesThe Centre for Kentish Studies is a local United Kingdom National Archive at County Hall, Maidstone, Kent.-External links:* * *...
at MaidstoneMaidstoneMaidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural... - British Library Newspaper library at ColindaleColindale-Transport:*Colindale tube station, on the Northern Line Edgware branch, is situated on the north side of the east-west Colindale Lane.-Development:...
- Archives entitled "City Boxes in Basement 1787-1958" under listing of "Buildings correspondence, City Council 'Property" at Canterbury CathedralCanterbury CathedralCanterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
archives - Files under "General Purpose Committee 1881 - 1912" CCA-CC-BB/131F at Canterbury CathedralCanterbury CathedralCanterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
archives - Series of files held at Canterbury CathedralCanterbury CathedralCanterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
archives on the "Markets & Parks Committee from circa 1950-1975" ref. CCA-CC-A/SC/1290/1-5
External links
- Westgate Community Trust (Canterbury)
- Westgate Hall
- Canterbury City Council webpage for Westgate Hall
- The Westgate Community Trust (Canterbury): Community Force page
- Canterbury City Council Overview and Scrutiny committee: Entertainment economy scrutiny review, draft final report, September 2009 (unavailable)
- Canterbury City Council Overview and Scrutiny committee: Entertainment economy scrutiny review 2009-10
- Facebook: Save the Westgate Hall
- Social Centre Network UK
- Drill hall project: Westgate Hall page with photos
- Drill hall project: Generic redevelopment document