It's our Birthday!

Well, it’s one of our birthdays … The Lansdown Hall is 54 years old today!

On 8^th September 1972, The Armstrong Hall (now The Lansdown Hall) was officially opened to the public.

The Armstrong Hall opening ceremony programme - 8th September 1972 (photo credit: Thornbury & District Museum)

The Armstrong Hall was built as an extension to the existing Cossham Hall, an initiative which was driven by the local Parish Council to meet the growing needs of Thornbury. The extension was a huge project, which required an intensive period of fundraising and volunteering hours. As part of this community effort, Frank D Armstrong, Esq, J.P. (who built a soft drinks empire, later acquired by Beecham Group) announced a donation of £13,000 (the biggest private donation to the project). As a result, the new hall was named after Frank – although he had to be heavily persuaded!

L-R: Philip Cooper (architect), Stephen Barnwell (parish council), Frank Armstrong, Mrs Barnwell, Joan Cox (chair of the Armstrong Hall Committee) and Miss Armstrong (representing the Armstrong Trust) at The Armstrong Hall opening ceremony (photo credit: Thornbury & District Museum)

And while this is such an exciting milestone, the history of our venue goes back much further than that ...

The Cossham Hall was erected in 1789 (237 years ago!) as a Wesleyan Preaching House (Chapel) – John Wesley had preached in Thornbury for more than fifty years by this time.

In 1835 the Chapel was extended to create two extra rooms which were mainly used as classrooms for Sunday School and as vestries. The work was carried out by carpenter and builder Jesse Cossham, with some additional help from his eleven-year-old son Handel Cossham. The latter went on to purchase the Chapel in 1888 for the princely sum of £150(!) and set to work to extend the building to make it a more suitable public hall.

Photo credit: Thornbury & District Museum

On 20^th December 1888, Cossham gifted the hall to the people of Thornbury and The Cossham Hall became a charity – much like we are today. From this point in history, an endless list of events, meetings and gatherings have been, and continue to be, held at our venue. Below is a small sample selection (not definitive) of events throughout our history:

Community events

• 1902: A Meat Tea was hosted for nearly 300 parishioners

• 1953: 10 TV sets were provided (thanks to Cranbrook Radio) to allow the community to watch Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation

• Regular baby weighing and infant medical check-ups

• Multiple lectures by The Society of Thornbury Folk (now Thornbury Local History and Archaeology Society)

• Frequent talks, evening classes and exhibitions of all types

• Wedding receptions, baby showers and birthday parties.

Political events

• 1891: An interesting lecture on temperance work in India was held in the Cossham Hall. The speaker William Sproston Caine was a British MP and temperance advocate.

• Frequent political meetings, including a supporter event of candidature Major-General Pilcher. Pilcher was the prospective National Party candidate for the Thornbury Division in the general election in 1918 – the first year that women were able to vote.  

• Monthly and annual Thornbury Parish Council meetings

• Regular public meetings by Thornbury Rural District Council (TRDC) and Local Government Boards of Inquiry.

Theatre & The Arts

• 1900: The British Empire Bazaar (in aid of the funds of the Thornbury Wesleyan Circuit) included talks, concerts, stalls and competitions.

• One 1900s variety concert included many popular BBC artistes, including: Doris Hare, Arthur Chesney, Raymond Monelle, Hubert of Nosmo King and Hubert, and many more.  

• Love from a Stranger – a play produced by Cyril Wood, starring Wilfred Babbage and Joan Henson

• Badger’s Green – also produced by Cyril Wood and starring Bruce Belfrage

• Choir rehearsals and shows, amateur dramatic performances, dances of all types, musical performances and of course we have been home to Thornbury Arts Festival since 1969.  

If only our walls could talk!

This September, we look ahead with excitement for the reopening of The Lansdown Hall … much like back in 1972, it will require an intensive period of fundraising and volunteering hours. However, in the meantime, we are delighted that The Cossham Hall is back to its former glory, serving our community just as Handel Cossham intended.

Here’s to another 237 years!

For a more detailed look at the history of our venue head to Thornbury & District Museum or visit Thornbury Roots.

A huge thank you to Thornbury & District Museum for providing access to their archives and incredible resources.