1924
The Institute opens
The original opening poster records a full day of community activity, from the afternoon opening ceremony and livestock sale to an evening concert and dance.
Since 1924
Our Hall & History
For more than a century, Musgrave Parish Institute has been a place for the parish to meet, celebrate, raise funds and make memories.
Opened Thursday 24 January 1924
The beginning
A village institute for Musgrave
Musgrave Village Institute was built at a cost of £300 by Mr J H Dent of Warcop. The foundations were built on land donated by Mr and Mrs E Pratt of Musgrave Hall and were laid by Mr T Hall of Brough.
The Institute opened on Thursday 24 January 1924. The opening ceremony was performed by Mrs Weston of Endmoor, Kendal, supported by Dr T Grainger and Rev. T H Collinson of Musgrave.
The celebrations continued throughout the day: a Sale of Work, Rope Stall, Rummage Stall and side shows followed the ceremony; at 3.30pm there was a gift sale of livestock — sheep, goats, dogs and poultry — conducted by Mr N Bousfield and Mr E Huck.
In the evening the famous “Pom-Poms” Concert Party from Penrith gave a Grand Concert, assisted by Mrs and Miss Bousfield and Messrs Hopkin and Duck of Hull. A dance followed to music by Mr Wichart’s Orchestra. Admission was 1/6 for gentlemen and 1/- for ladies, with supper available at “reasonable charges”.
The following year saw the addition of a Reading Room and Cloakroom.
From the archive
A century in clippings
Newspaper cuttings and surviving ephemera record how the Institute has changed while remaining at the centre of parish life.
1974
Golden Jubilee
The Institute celebrated its Golden Jubilee on Friday 25 January 1974 with a dance band, buffet supper and licensed bar.
1987
Keeping warm
A new heating system of overhead radiant heaters replaced the old stoves. Eden District Council met a third of the £1,208 cost and Cumbria County Council two thirds, with additional money raised through Institute fundraising.
1994
70th anniversary
The 70th anniversary was marked with music, dancing, supper and a celebration cake, continuing a tradition of community celebrations stretching back to the opening night.
1999
75 years
A special anniversary dance celebrated 75 years. The hall had recently been repainted and the floor varnished by community project workers, while fundraising continued for improved toilet and kitchen facilities.
2004
80th anniversary
The 80th anniversary followed a year of substantial improvements to the kitchen and toilets, including new windows, an accessible toilet and ramps between internal rooms. The cutting also records the familiar programme of ceilidhs, bingo, barbecues, duck races, dances and discos.
2014
The games room reopens
The snooker and games room reopened after a complete refurbishment of both the room and snooker table. Grants, local donations, fundraising and a small team of residents supported the work.
Still at the heart of parish life
More than bricks and timber
Over the years the Institute has gained a supper room, improved toilets and facilities, a refurbished snooker room and upgraded heating — but its purpose has remained remarkably constant.
Across its 102-year history it has hosted countless dances, activities and celebrations, including anniversaries, Jubilees and Coronations, as well as the local Rush Bearing celebration.
Annual fundraising Duck Races and the Village Show go back too many years to count, with occasional breaks along the way. Domino Drives, more recent Whist Drives, Quiz Nights, suppers and party nights have all helped raise the funds needed to maintain this important local building.
The wider landscape
Musgrave in its setting
The Institute’s story is inseparable from the villages, farms and fells around it. This well-used local map survives as another small piece of the parish archive.
