The Victoria Hall

One of the smaller public meeting places in Bourne was the Victoria Hall, built on a site in Spalding Road in 1817. The two-storey building was constructed in red brick with a blue slate roof and was used for a variety of functions including religious and political gatherings, concerts and parties. It was also used for penny readings, particularly during the winter months of 1866-67, and enjoyed such a reputation for cultural meetings that it became known as the Victoria Lecture Room.

During the construction of the railways in the late 19th century, the hall was rented by the Navvy Mission Society as mission rooms where discussions, prayers, religious instruction and meals were provided for the men working on the project. 

A typical event to be held there was reported by the Stamford Mercury on Friday 11th January 1878:

An amusing soirée was given in the Victoria Hall on the evening of the 3rd inst. which resulted in a profit of £5. The first part was entitled "The Rose of Savoy", followed by an interval, during which refreshments were supplied. The second part consisted of a series of tableaux, with explanatory readings: "Lalla Rookh", "The Secret of England's Greatness", "Liberty freeing the Slave", "The Sleeping Beauty", "The Cotter's Saturday Night" and "The Old and New Year". The performers, who were amateurs, acquitted themselves very creditably and the entertainment gave great satisfaction.

The hall was badly damaged by fire on Friday 30th November 1891 when the Stamford Mercury reported:

The Victoria Hall was discovered to be on fire about four o'clock on Monday morning. The residence of Mr William Shipley, blacksmith, adjoins the building and his son alarmed him when finding his room filled with smoke. Mr Shipley promptly ascertained that the fire originated in the lecture room of the Victoria Hall. He at once gave the alarm and Messrs Bloodworth, Worsdale, Skillington and others speedily endeavoured to arrest the progress of the conflagration. The police and the fire brigade, under the command of chief engineer Todd, were promptly upon the spot. The hosepipe was attached to the Bourne Eau near Victoria Bridge, close to the debouchure [outlet] of the Roman Car Dyke and a supply of water was soon playing on the flames. Within about two hours the fire was completely subdued. The outbreak probably originated in a live ember falling from the fire to the boarded floor. Immediately beneath the hearthstone runs a long timber beam which was charred along its entire length. The hall is now utilised as the headquarters of the Navvy Mission and a service had been held there the previous evening. The entire stock of books and other property was completely destroyed. The loss will, however, be quickly replaced by the generosity of the townspeople. The chief danger lay in the fact that the town gas holder was within about 30 yards of the building. The hall is situated in a populous locality and consequently, considerable apprehension prevailed until danger was finally averted. The hall is the property of Miss Spreckley.

In the early years of the 20th century, the hall became the headquarters of the local Labour Party and the Victory Youth Club but it eventually became disused and neglected and the structure was deemed to be dangerous. In April 1967, the building was demolished to improve visibility at the junction with Spalding Road and Willoughby Road. The bricks were salvaged and used as hard core for an access to the garages in Queens Road.

See also    The Railway Navvies     Penny Readings

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