The Parish Hall, just over the road from St Mary’s Church, Callow, was originally the village school. When the school closed in 1953, a group of local farmers spearheaded a series of fundraising events so it could be bought for the benefit of the parish to be used as a meeting place. It is the only community facility in the whole Callow Haywood Group Parish, which includes Callow, Dewsall, Haywood, most of Grafton and half of Twyford.
The Parish Hall can accommodate about 60 people with collapsible tables and comfortable folding chairs. We have parking for 10-12 cars; heating; a modern kitchen with oven, cutlery, crockery, glassware and utensils; three toilets (one disabled); fire extinguisher; outside space for seating, a defibrillator located outside for public use, and a projector and large screen, generously donated in 2023.
The Parish Hall doesn’t need to make a profit but costs about £1500 a year to run (taking into account insurance, electricity, heating, long-term maintenance, etc). The Covid years were incredibly challenging and the hall only survived thanks to emergency government grants. But now it’s down to everyone in the parish to use it and thus help ensure the future of this wonderful and unique community asset. If we don’t, it may have to close. But the more we all turn up and enjoy events in the Parish Hall, then the widely separated farms, homes and settlements of our beautiful rural parish will continue to have a meeting place and the hall can cover its costs, and perhaps even build up a reserve against future maintenance bills, or donate to local charitable causes.
Please complete the form below to tell us how you would like to see the Parish Hall used.