Henry Warren Hall

History of the Henry Warren Hall

Nyewood is a hamlet of just under 100 households set on the north side of the beautiful South Downs, within Harting Parish and the South Downs National Park. Nyewood sits astride the B2141, which runs from the A272 at Rogate south towards South Harting.

The original hall was gifted to Nyewood, West Sussex by the widow of Commander Henry Warren, Royal Navy in his memory and for nearly 100 years it served as a welcoming building for all.  Upon starting work on a renovation project in 2012, the Hall was found to be of unsound construction despite having stood for over a hundred years. The cost of making it safe was deemed prohibitive and so it was decided to build a new hall to modern specifications.

The hall is run by a Charitable Trust and when first built, it was in open country but that site has now been surrounded by housing and unfortunately it has not been possible to build the new hall on the original site.

The new hall is on the northern edge of the village and, as this was  a “green field” site, much debate with the South Downs National Park planners was necessary before a final design could be approved.

The building has been completed within budget and without having to bid for scarce local authority or charitable funding.  Some funding for the fittings in the hall (kitchen equipment and furniture) have been received from Chichester District Council and from Harting Parish Council, and in addition, we have had some generous local benefactors who have stepped in to offer financial support for other equipment.  For all of these, the Trustees have been most grateful.

For the past twelve years, Nyewood has been without a community facility as there is neither church, shop nor pub.  However after much discussion and advice, and many setbacks, the new hall is finally ready and the opening ceremony took take place on Saturday 17th December.

Over 100 people of Nyewood and the vicinity, benefactors and friends were present when Mrs Sue Wright (widow of the late Chairman of Trustees) declared the building open for business.

Please  email: hello@henrywarrenhall.org for any enquiries.

Click here to see the Henry Warren Hall website