Shortly after the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, a letter was written by Lord Sandwich, the chairman of the County Education Committee, to the mayors of Huntingdon, Godmanchester and St. Ives and to the chairmen of the Old Fletton, Ramsey and St. Neots Urban Councils. It suggested that there should be something done to symbolise the act of welcome to the men and women returning from the Forces and that there should also be a more permanent expression of appreciation and commemoration.
This resulted in a public meeting that was held on the 18 July 1945 at which the project for the establishment of a Commemoration Hall was born.
The Objectives.
To provide a permanent expression of appreciation and commemoration and to symbolise the act of welcome home to men and women returning from the Forces at the end of the war in 1945.
To provide facilities for recreation and social and physical training.
The Activities.
The Huntingdon Commemoration Hall Fund Committee was created and from the outset much effort went into fund raising for the project. £3220 was raised in the first year. Specifications for the building were drawn up and quotes obtained for its construction. In April 1947, a quote had been received from Chesterton & Co. for a structure to be built using pre-cast frames in concrete.
On the 21 May 1947, a plot of land in Nursery Road was bought for £750 to be the site of the new Commemoration Hall. It had a frontage of 280’, a depth of 175’ and an area of approximately 1.24 acres.
On the 29 September 1951 Quotes from R Hall & Co. Paddock Wood, Kent and J Thorn & Sons Ltd., Bexleyheath were received for a building 60’ x 20’ x 8’.
After 5 or 6 years, the public was beginning to wonder what progress had been made on the Commemoration Hall project. This was exemplified by a Letter to the Editor of the Hunts Post on the 11 October 1951 from a Mr. Mitchley that was entitled “Need of Hall”.
Meanwhile the quote for another considered solution was received on the 8 November 1951. This was for the transfer of a Nissen Hut from Alconbury at a cost of around £1,165. Another costing received was for the Phase 1 build of £14,500 for a building with dimensions of 105’ x 45’ x 20’ together with an artists impression of the finished structure.
By 1955, ten years on, hopes for a new hall were diminishing because fund raising was not keeping up with inflation. This was publicised in the press, on the 20 January 55, by this clipping from the Hunts Post.
In the mean time, the site that had been acquired in Nursery Road had been let as a way of raising more income for the Fund.
So, by this time, an alternative scheme came into being. The idea was to find a suitable building that already existed and that could be used to fit the requirements of a Commemoration Hall. The Huntingdon Literary and Scientific Institute at 39 High Street, Huntingdon had been falling into disuse and looked as though it might be suitable. On the 24 April 56 a valuation of it was carried out. The consensus was that it could serve as the Commemoration Hall so on 27 August 56 the Huntingdon Literary and Scientific Institute was bought by auction for £2705. During the previous week, an agreement had been reached to dispose of the land in Nursery Road.
On the 16 November 56 the land in Nursery Road was agreed to be sold by auction with possible planning permission for residential building. On 19 June 57 there was a proposal for the Nursery Road site to be used for the building of a clinic and on 21 March 58 the site was sold to Huntingdon Council for £2450.
A financial report dated 11 May 58 showed that the Huntingdon Commemoration Hall Fund was £6850.10.1d. At the beginning of this year, five tenders were issued for the alterations to the Huntingdon Literary and Scientific Institute to convert it into use as the Commemoration Hall. The work required was eventually let on the 13 May 58 to Bull & Sons of St.Neots at a cost of £13,448. The work was completed by the 3 December 58 and left the Huntingdon Commemoration Fund with a deficit of £8,098.
The final meeting of the Huntingdon Commemoration Hall Fund Committee was held at the Old Bridge Hotel at 7.30pm on the 13 December 59. It appears that after this final meeting fund raising carried on, as the Victory Commemoration Fund, towards repaying the deficit and meeting the running costs of the new Commemoration Hall.
