Set in approximately 1 acre of grounds in the charming village of Harlestone Village, the Institute has a rich history dating back to 1883, when it was first proposed to meet the community’s need for a reading room and meeting place. In 1898, the Duchess of Grafton generously donated £80 to the Parish Council, kickstarting the fundraising efforts for the much-needed hall.

 

In 1922, Charles Robert Earl Spencer donated the land on which the hall stands today, along with the area at the back, now serving as the car park, which was more recently gifted by the Althorp Estate. The area of grass at the front of the hall was given by Albert Edward John Spencer in 1923/24. The construction of the hall, documented in past records, totalled £1,700, which is the equivalent of about £130,000 in today's money.​

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On Thursday 20th November 1924, the hall was officially opened by the then Right Honourable Earl Spencer, commemorated with a Grand Bazaar celebration. Serving as a hub of village life then, as it does today, the Institute featured billiard and reading rooms, illuminated by electric lights powered by a petrol generator and heated by a solid fuel boiler. Various community clubs and gatherings, including dances, thrived within its walls.​

 

Throughout the years the hall has benefited from the tireless dedication of the Trustees and volunteers, whose efforts to maintain the hall and improve the facilities have transformed it into a building fit for the 21st century.​

 

We hope that you enjoy using the facility.

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As it is a building over 100 years old, there are limits to structural changes that we have been able to make, and as a result, sadly it is currently not wheelchair friendly. Ladies toilets are on the first floor, and there are steps from the entrance hall to the main hall, and also steps up to the gentleman's toilets. 

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Anyone interested in making use of the hall should familiarise themselves with it first.

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The Institute is managed by a committee in accordance with the terms of the Constitution drawn up when the building was opened. The Constitution dictates how the Institute will be operated, and that a management committee will be elected each year to oversee operational and financial matters, ensuring that the hall is managed for the benefit of the local population..