Built in 1936 by public subscription, the land was given to the local church by the Duke of Portland on the proviso that it should be a facility open to all the residents of the village. The benefactors helped in its design, and used a London architect who recreated the style of a Sussex barn, with a high pitched roof and liberal use of substantial pine timbers in the roof.
The hall is now owned by Sutton-cum-Lound Parish Council and leased to the Sutton-cum-Lound Village Hall Charity.
The following is an extract from the Gainsborough and Worksop Press of June 3rd 1936 reporting on the event.
Duchess of Portland at Sutton
Opening of New Church Hall
A large crowd assembled at Sutton on Wednesday to welcome the Duchess of Portland who opened the new Church Hall and then performed the opening ceremony of a Sale of Work, held on the Vicarage lawn. The Duchess was met at the Hall gate by the Vicar of Sutton-cum-Lound (Rev. C. C. Fogerty), and then proceeded to the Hall door where she was introduced to the architect (Mr. Lowrey) and the builder (Mr. Marklew of the firm of Marklew and Bell, Retford). She was presented with a gold key by the architect and having turned the lock was the first to step into the Hall.
Accompanied by the Vicar the Rural Dean (Rev. Canon A. Parkinson), Mr, W. N. Marshall and Mr. W. Hayward, the Duchess mounted the platform in the Hall and the public were admitted. Among those present were Lady Whitaker (Bab-worth Hall) the Hon. Mrs. Huntsman (Lound Hall}, Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Pegler and Miss Pegler (Highfields, Lound), Mrs. Darley (Ranby) and Rev. R. F. Wilkinson (Rector of Ordsall). An apology for absence was received from the Bishop of Southwell (Dr. Moseley).
The Vicar paid a welcome to the Duchess saying that they were proud and happy that her Grace had consented to open their Hall and Sale of Work. The Duke of Portland, who is patron of the living, had given the land on which the Hall was built, more land for a bowling green and a donation of £25. Mr. and Mrs. Pegler made a promise that when £400 was raised they would give another £200, and when they saw how keen the villagers were to achieve their object, they not only produced the £200, but engaged a first-class architect in Mr. Lowrey who was not only an architect but also an artist and had taken the greatest care to give them the best value for money. The Hon. Mrs. Huntsman had given £20, Mrs. Hopkinson £20 and Mrs. Wood £2. 2s. and a considerable sum had also been raised through whist drives and socials organised by the Ladies’ Working Party lead by Mrs. Ellis, and by Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Hayward and Mrs. Watson, who had held private parties. The curtains for the stage had been given by Mr. and Mrs. Bright, the electric clock by the family of the late Mr. Peacock and the piano by Mr.Stockdale. The men had rendered valuable assistance in levelling the ground and Mr. Ellis had worked energetically to prepare for that day.
The total cost of the scheme had been £740, of which they had had to borrow only £250, free of interest from the diocesan fund. He hoped that after Wednesday’s effort the Church Council would be able to sleep more peaceably. If £150 were raised their fondest dreams would be realised.
The Duchess of Portland said it gave her the greatest pleasure to be given the opportunity to open this truly magnificent Church Hall built as it was in the style of an old Sussex barn with solid oak doors, a large platform, two dressing rooms and well lighted and well constructed. The need for a hall had long been pressing and urgent, but now they had a splendid place for all meetings and it was her hope that a club would be started for boys and girls and that branches of the Scout and Guide movements would be founded.
She knew only too well how difficult it was to find the necessary money for many purposes, and she also knew that where there was a will there was a way, and that if they put their shoulders to the wheel money could be obtained and a debt liquidated.
She was pleased to hear that at the sale of work there was an exhibition of needlework done by pupils at Sutton-cum-Lound school, with which 35 prizes and 37 certificates, with a total in prize money of £41 had been won since 1933. With the money won a library was being started. In connection with this work she would especially like to mention the name of Miss Woolfitt.
It would be a privilege for them to use the hall and the greater the privilege the greater the responsibility. On that score she implored them to do their utmost to show their gratitude to those who had planned, worked for the building and seen the completion of the hall.
Canon Parkinson who proposed a vote of thanks to the Duchess, said that he had a strong feeling that the great purpose of the hall was to cement friendship between the various people of the parish. The Duke and Duchess of Portland were magnificent in the way they fostered a spirit of friendship and the Duchess’s speech and her presence that day stood for that one word – friendship.
Mr. W. N. Marshall seconded, and a bouquet was presented to the Duchess by Miss Marie Hayward.
In reply the Duchess said that she had built a hall for the people of her village in Caithness, and it had made a great difference to their lives, and she was sure that the people of Sutton were going to be ten times happier than they had been before.
The Duchess and party then crossed to the Vicarage and visited the various stalls which been erected in a marquee on the lawn.
Stalls were held by the following –
Ladies Working Party – Mrs. J. Ellis, Mrs, W. N. Marshall, Mrs. W. Hayward.
Gents. Stall – Mr. W. N. Marshall, Mr. F. E. Pegler and Mr. W. Hayward.
Fancy Stall – Hon. Mrs. Huntsman and Miss Goodfellow.
Children’s Corner – Mrs. F. E, Pegler.
Exhibits of Needlecraft – Mr. E. Low. Miss M Woolfitt and Miss M. Weston.
Pound stall – Mrs. Wood (Lound), Mrs. W. Wingrove (Barnby Moor) and Mrs. H. Auckland.
Games – Mrs. W. Hurst and Master Bob Hurst.
Bran Tub – Mrs. Clark.
Unfortunately owing to the heavy downpour of rain, various games such as bowling for a pig, could not be played but indoor recreation was provided by a whist drive and dance in the new hall. Nineteen and a half tables were occupied for whist for which Mr. J. Butler was M.C. Mr W. N. Marshall to whom a vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. W. Hayward, presented prizes to the following:………….Tomlinson 2 Mrs. R. Dent……….Crossland. Men L Mr. E. Fenton 2. Mr. J. W. Dixon 3 Mrs. E. Dixon………………………gent).
Boothby’s band played for dancing and spot prizes were won by Mr. J. Fenton and Miss E. Smith and Mr. and Mrs. F. Hall. A balloon dance was won by Mr. and Mrs. Bell.