George, Webb and Victory


Mickleton - A Miscellany: by Chris Knight


Chapter 16. George, Webb and Victory


There are two venues that can be hired for public and private events in the village; King George’s Hall and Joseph Webb Hall. Both buildings are on Chapel Lane. The former is the larger and can also be described as the Village Hall. The latter is a Church Hall.


King George’s Hall on Chapel Lane is both situated near the centre of the village and a centre for village activities. It was built in 1911 and substantially refurbished in 2004. Presumably it was named in honour of King George V who was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from May 1910 until his death in 1936. The Hall is managed by a committee who are trustees of the King George’s Hall charity. The charity’s activities are recorded as “providing centre for rural community activity furthering social educational and welfare activities for a whole encompassing age range”. A number of groups regularly use the Hall and it can be hired for special events.

There are two areas available; the main hall with seating and tables for 120 people and kitchen facilities, and a Coffee Lounge with seating and tables for 40-50 people with a separate bar and kitchen facilities.


Adjacent to the Methodist Church on Chapel Lane is the Joseph Webb Hall, which is managed and maintained by the Church. The Hall, originally called the "Band of Hope Hall", was built in the 1920s and refurbished in 1974. The hall is now named as a memorial to Joseph Webb Senior who donated the land, and Joseph Webb, his son, who had served the church for many years. It is available for hire and is usually used as the polling station for local and national elections.


There are a number of activities, clubs and societies in the village many of which use the village halls for their own meetings and events. These include The Mickleton Society, Mickleton Gardening Club, Mickleton Theatregoers Club, Mickleton Gardening Club, Mickleton Rural Cinema, The Meon Singers, Mickleton W.I., and Mickleton Community Vineyard, to name but a few.


Sport is perhaps less well catered for in the village. There is a Junior Playing Field on Back Lane, and a sports field (formerly the adults playing field) at the junction of Stratford Road with Long Marston Road, which is the home of Mickleton Rangers Football Club. At the time of writing the Parish Council is working to establish a multi-use sports facility on the new housing development at Oak Grange off Broad Marston Lane and adjacent to the Primary School.


The playing fields were originally established as a War Memorial. In May 1945, the Mickleton Victory Memorial Association Fund was setup to provide a playing field for adults and a playground for children. The Association felt that a War Memorial in this form would be a worthy tribute to those who suffered, and those who might still suffer in the defence of liberty in the war. The cost was funded by subscriptions, donations and money raising events. The first fete held in July 1945 raised £500. The land for the adults playing field was donated by J Webb in the same year and that for the children by Captain W M H Pollen in 1948. An additional £250 was provided by the Playing Fields Association in 1949. Further events and voluntary work then and in subsequent years provided for the establishment and maintenance of the facilities. As an example, there is an item in the Mickleton Community Archive on the schedule for the Association’s Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Show in August 1969, which was held in association with the Annual Fete. The junior play ground is now administered by the Parish Council, whereas the Victory Association continues to be responsible for what is now the sports ground.