Our History
There have been three Halls on the current site.
The first
Before 1920, the community (mainly comprising of farmers) met in little meeting rooms on local farms. But when a former Army Hut (from 1914-18 War) became available it was purchased for £100 and transferred from Raikeswood Camp by horse and cart to Tosside (18 miles). A second-hand maple dance floor was installed along with the infamous coke stove which folk had to dance around!
The first Tosside Institute, as it was called, served the community for 50 years.
The second
In 1960 the old wooden building needed replacing and land adjacent to the site was sold in order to raise the capital to purchase second-hand concrete panels from post-war prefabs. Once again the community came together to construct this replacement Institute. The maple floor was re-instated and the old coke stove was replaced with overhead electric heaters. A Store room was added later and the hall continued as a meeting place for the community for a further 33 years.
Opened 19 June 2004
The third
In 2000, a series of events prompted the community to try and raise the funds to create a modern community centre. A four year campaign (interrupted by Foot and Mouth disease) raised sufficient funds to start work on the 3rd November 2003. Help came from numerous sources. Over £17,000 from a community of less than 300 and some 14 agencies gave grants with major funding from European Union and the Community Fund.
When you visit the hall today you might not be aware of how much our communities past has been woven into this modern structure. Our meeting room has the original maple floor and the external stone came from Northfields, a small hill farm, which had to be vacated when the valley and village of Dalehead was flooded to create Stocks Reservoir in 1932.
Our Community
Call in to The Old Vicarage Tearoom and you are in for a real culinary delight!
Open every day, except Thursdays, from 10.30 am (Mon,Tues,Wed) and 09.30 am (Fri,Sat,Sun).
T 07809 489282
E emmy@tossidetearoom.org
To the north of the Community Hall is the magnificent Gisburn Forest (largest forest in Lancashire). Offering miles of way marked paths and some of the most challenging mountain bike trails. The Forest Hub Cafe is a great place to start your adventures!
