History of the Village Hall

In 1783 Thomas Lee Thornton, Lord of the Manor, conveyed the building to Trustees to become a poorhouse for the needy, aged or distressed inhabitants of Newnham. Whilst the purpose for the building has now changed the Trust is still the governing body of the building.

The building, maintained by the poor rate, continued as a poor house until 1834. During this period, it was a thatched building with three upstairs windows in the long southern section and a door to the Superintendent's cottage.

In 1834 the inhabitants were transferred to the Daventry workhouse, but the Trustees could not sell the building because the Trust required that any change must be “for the sole benefit and advantage of the inhabitants of Newnham”.

In 1843, the existing rooms were divided into 2/3 cottages and rented out, but in 1877 the southern part was converted into a school room. The upper storey was demolished, new windows inserted, and a porch added. The northern end remained a cottage until 1893 when it became the infant's classroom where it operated until the building was condemned as unfit for school use in 1915.

The Women’s Institute took over the building in 1953 and spent 26 years improving and caring for the Village Hall as it was now known.

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