Extracted verbatim from the late Edgar Storer’s “ The parish and Parish Council of Blackwell Parish”
At the end of the 1914-18 war, the residents of Newton decided they required a meeting place separate from the Newton Chapel schoolroom which had been the only place previously. The Church Council also showed an interest.
Arising out of the usual enquiries, the Duke of Devonshire in 1918 gave a plot of land on what was allotments in Main Street for the erection of a building, providing it was built within two years.
The Bishop of Southwell, Blackwell then being in Southwell Diocese, suggested an ex-Army canteen building at Clipstone Camp for which the military required £120. It was examined by Cat. Elliott of what was then known as The Church Army, and they decided to accept it.
The foundation was laid and it was collected and erected in 1919 at a total cost of £268.00. It was opened as a Social club on the 18th October 1920. It was also used by the Church as a Sunday School (See Below)
In 1929 it was considered it was far from satisfactory. The Parish magazine of November 1929 records the concern of the Church Council on the condition of the building and advised it was thought better to erect a brick structure.
The Vicar suggested it would be a good idea if a voluntary collection was arranged to provide the funds to build one.
In September issue it was stated, in spite of the very bad financial position of people at that time, £1000.00 had been raised. A new building was designed by Mr L Heath, a surveyor with Blackwell Colliery Co. and Mr Barnes, a Newton Master Builder agreed to erect the building in October 1930 for that sum and to complete it before Christmas. ( A lesson for today’s builders!)
The opening was arranged for 17th December. It was opened on that day by Rev R E Birtwhistle, the Rural Dean, the Bishop of Derby being prevented from attending due to fog. It was administered by the Church and used primarily for their puposes until about 1940 whenit became more of a Community Centre.
The Church in the 1980s found difficulty in maintaining it and in 1989 approached the Parish Council on the possibility of a large contribution. Later negotiation provided the Parish Council purchased the building to renovate and retain for community use, as an alternative to being sold for other purposes.
Extensive alterations and part rebuilding was carried out at a total cost of about £160,000.
Towards that cost, grants were made by:
Bolsover District Council £40,000
Derbyshire County Council £33,340
Rural Development Commission £20,000
The remaining cost for equipment to fit it out was all borne by the Parish Council at a further cost of approx. £10,000.
It was finally opened on 6th May 1994 by the Chairman of the Council, Mr Alan Cooke, in the presence of invited guests from the local authorities and contributing agencies, and local groups who had formerly used the old building.