Schoolroom (village hall)

The Schoolroom is Torver's Village Hall

A bit of history: For those unfamiliar with the Schoolroom and its origins, it was once (obviously) our village school, founded by Reverend Thomas Ellwood. The date of origin is not clear since my records show that it was 'rebuilt' in 1873 and Ellwood came to Torver in 1861. In 1914 an extension was added to the School to include toilets and a small storeroom. The original outside privys are still in place.

School life continued there until 1955 when the pupils were transferred to Coniston. Adult education classes were held at the Schoolroom until 1970 and since then it has been our village hall. A photograph of the last children to be educated at Torver School can be seen on the Torver's Children page.

When the building came up for sale in 1955 the price was set at £500. The Rector at that time, Rev R S Heaton, decided it should become our village hall and put up his own money towards the purchase. This made up a large part of the PCC's £380 contribution with the remaining £120 given by Torver villagers.

The Schoolroom is owned by the St Andrew's and St Luke's Parochial Church Council (see Announcement below) and managed through its Schoolroom sub-committee under the chairmanship of the Parish Priest (vicar), although Rev Tim Harmer retired in July 2016 and has yet to be replaced.

Contacts:

Manager: Linda Inman

Dale Cottage, Tilberthwaite Avenue, Coniston, LA21 8ED. 015394 41777

Treasurer: Hazel Bowness

Colwith Orchard, Little Langdale, Ambleside, LA22 9NU. 015394 31869

Bookings Secretary: Pat Barr

The Crossings Cottage, Torver, Coniston, LA21 8BS 015394 41348

Schoolroom bookings may be found in the Village Calendar

Torver Schoolroom ‘100 Club’

To help raise much needed funds for the Schoolroom and provide a regular income after the renovations are complete a “100 Club” has been formed.

Residents of Torver and surrounding areas, their families, friends, and any other interested people are invited to join.

Each “100 Club” member would be asked to give £25 per year. This would raise £2,500 a year of which one half will be given awayin prizes to the members, leaving £1,250 a year for the Village Hall.

Four times a year there will be a draw at a Social Evening in the hall to which you are all invited. The dates will be announced through the Nobbut Torver email service and in the Parish Newsletter. You will also find them posted on the Torver Website Calendar page.

Half the amount raised by the 100 Club goes in prizes

and the other half to the Old Schoolroom.

How to join the ‘100 club’

Please complete the Membership Application form (attached below) and post it to Mrs H E Bowness at the address on the form.

Or call her on: 07908 156740

The application form is accompanied by a Standing Order form for your bank, or you can set it up online if you do online banking.

For additional forms and a full set of 100 Club rules, please contact Mrs Bowness on the above number.

19th November 2015 - Announcement by Rev. Harmer dated:

The ecclesiastical parish of St Luke’s Torver no longer exists, it has been amalgamated into the larger and new entity of the Parish of St Andrew’s Coniston and St Luke’s Torver. This means that St Luke’s has ceased to be a Parish Church and has become a chapel of ease. The parish church for Torver is now St Andrew’s. The ownership of the Old School Room now rests with the Parochial Church Council of the new parish. So the ownership is still with the local Church and with regard to the Old School Room it means very little change in practice. The old St Luke’s PCC has reformed as a committee of the new PCC to be responsible for the running of the Old School Room. The amalgamation came about because St Luke’s was being run by four very committed hard working ladies and it only needed one or two of them to become unable to continue their commitment and the church would have been in danger of closure. This amalgamation ensures the future of St Luke’s as part of a bigger Church with more financial resources. Sunday services and the consecrated burial ground continue as before. Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 - Diocese of Carlisle

31st March 2016 - The Schoolroom designated an Asset of Community Value. The Document (Also attached below)

This ensures that should the church decide to sell the Schoolroom in the future it would be required to notify the Torver Parish Council and allow six months for the council and villagers to raise a bid. The church would not be obliged to accept such a bid but we would have the opportunity of competing with other bidders to secure our village hall.

To download the 100 Club Membership Application Form click on the down arrow.