Community Hall
St James Hall opened in 1820 and became the home of the town's first school which charged students 10 pennies a week to attend! The hall has continued to serve our community for the last 200 years through social functions, luncheon clubs for the elderly, amateur operatic and dramatic society productions, pantomimes and, in the 1950s and 60s, accommodating classes from Aire View Primary School.
Today it is still well used by around 500 people a week from local community groups including
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1st Silsden Guides, Brownies and Rainbows
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1st Steeton Guides
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1st Silsden Scouts, Cubs and Beavers
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Mothers' Union
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Pied Piper Pre-School
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Charity Coffee Mornings and Evenings
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Churches Together in Silsden
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Silsden Grand de Party events/meetings
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Church Social Events
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Knit Stitch and Natter Group
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Slimming World
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Silsden photographic Group
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Community Events
In 2017 Project 200+ was launched and we embarked on a fund-raising campaign to raise £350,000 to refurbish and modernise the Hall. The design proposals were developed in liaison with our users. Local opinion was canvassed through a project leaflet delivered to each household asking for feedback
The project has been divided into phases that can proceed as funds become available.
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2017 Phase 1: Installation of new heating boilers.
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2019 Phase 2 Installation of bifold doors, extended external paved area, provision of step free access to main entrance. Wi-fi installation.
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2021 Phase 3 New timber floor to the main hall, upgrade the entrance lobby, replan toilet area, fit dementia friendly signage, conversion of the Scout‘s storage room to a new WC facility accessible from within the Church, refurbishment of church vestry.
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2023 Phase 4/5 (planned) Hall Internal fit out and external weatherproofing works needed to complete the overall works.
We would like to thank our many donors for their generosity.
In addition to gifts and donations from parishioners and participants in our community events, we would like to express our grateful thanks to the organisations (listed below) who have enabled the project to progress to the benefit of current and future generations in Silsden.
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Benefact Trust (previously Allchurches Trust)
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Beatrice Laing Trust
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Bradford Community Fund
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Co-Op Local Community Fund
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Craven Trust
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Harry Beverly Tillotson Trust
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Silsden Aid in Sickness
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Sir George Martin Trust
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The Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation
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The National Lottery Community Fund