History
In 1897 Grange Urban District Council purchased a plot of land at the point where Main Street became Station Street from James Jopson. This plot contained Laurel House (an old lodging house) and a bakery, gardens and grocer’s shop which jutted out into the road. These were all demolished, making space for the Hall to be built with a slightly curved front.
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The Public Hall was formally opened by Alderman J. W. Little, the Mayor of Barrow-in-Furness. The inaugural lecture was given by Miss Mary Wakefield; a talk entitled “North Country Songs”. She abandoned the talk half-way through because of the effect of paint fumes. The talk was given a few days later free of charge.
When first opened, the Hall could seat between 400 and 500 people. Today the capacity is reduced to a much safer maximum of 288 people. Building work done in the early 20th century added an impressive new stage and dressing room facilities.
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The 1901 edition of Grange Red Book reported that Mr. H. Porritt, a member of Grange Town Council, decorated the new Council Chamber ‘in elaborate style’. The Town Council still meets in the chamber today and the room is available for hire!
The Victoria Hall Today
The Victoria Hall is owned and operated as a community venue by Grange Town Council. The Town Council website and a list of it's responsibilities can be found here:
Grange-over-Sands Town Council - Home
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The Victoria Hall operates as a venue for local and touring acts, classes, lectures, art, cinema, theatre and more! It is also home to the Town Council who meet monthly to speak with the public.​
"...one cannot help being struck with the beauty, excellence, and general air of comfort prevailing through the building"
“Pocket Guide to Grange” from 1917
Gallery
Please enjoy this gallery of historic images from in and around the Victoria Hall.
Useful Links
Frequently Asked Questions
Who runs the Victoria Hall? The Victoria Hall is owned by Grange Town Council and run by its staff.
What does Grange Town Council Do? Grange Town Council manages and maintains The Victoria Hall, public toilets in Grange, the allotments, the recreation ground on the prom, the War Memorial and organises Music in the Park concerts. For other services including planning, council tax, bins, potholes and more, contact Westmorland & Furness directly. www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
When is the Hall open? The Hall is open to the public 10-3pm Wednesdays and Thursdays. The Hall is available to be booked by hirers for classes and events any day of the week from early until late.
Where can I get blue recycling bags and boxes? Westmorland & Furness Council are in charge of ordering and distributing new recycling containers. The Victoria Hall is a pick-up hub for for blue bags and boxes, which are free for Grange residents to pick up during our opening hours (10-3 Wed & Thurs). Please note - currently we have only blue BAGS in stock. Staff at the Victoria Hall cannot order blue bins directly; we are reliant on W&F Council to order and send new materials to us. For more information, contact W&F Council direct on their website (use link above).
Does The Victoria Hall have a box office? Currently, we do not operate a box office as most of our events are organised by external groups. We are working hard to expand our offerings though, so check back soon for more updates!
How do I book the Hall? We'd love to have you! Have a look at our rooms for hire and see what's best for you and your class/event. When you have a good idea of what you're looking for, use the 'Contact' tab to get in touch via e-mail, or give us a call on 01539 532375 to discuss your plans. We'll do our very best to get you the booking you need!