Our Story: A Century of Community
Dalton Village Hall has been a cornerstone of local life since 1921. Its origins trace back to a quiet Sunday stroll, when a Mr. Forster passed the abandoned Dalton corn mill and imagined it could possibly serve as a meeting-place for social activities. With the support of landlord Mr. Collingwood, and a team of dedicated volunteers led by Mr. Fred Hall, the transformation began and a group of Trustees was formed to own and run the Village Hall.
Local tradespeople and farmers pitched in — joiner John Spearman brought his apprentices, and materials were hauled in by horse and cart. Donations came from all corners of society, large and small. The mill’s machinery was removed, new floors laid, and the building fully restored. Named the “Collingwood Institute” in honour of its generous landlord, it opened with a lively social evening in autumn 1921.
The Institute quickly became a thriving hub, welcoming visitors from Dalton, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Dissington, Birney Hill, Medburn, Throckley, Westerhope, and Ponteland. But by the late 1950s, the space could no longer meet the growing demand. Plans for a new hall were set in motion, funded by years of community fundraising and donations.
In 1963, a land exchange with the Church Commissioners secured a new site at North Dissington. Architect Mr. Ridley designed the new building, and construction began with a successful tender of £5,691. The new hall officially opened on 12th September 1964, and was renamed “Dalton Village Hall”.
Today, the hall stands near the remnants of a historic sawmill, believed to be the site of the former miller’s cottages. Visitors can still spot the old wheel-pit and stone-encircled outlet of the tail race beneath the footpath. The leat that once powered the mill flowed from the River Pont, past Dissington Hall, to an ornamental pond, which served as a reservoir — the retaining wall of this pond has since collapsed. A metal plaque, at the top of the bank near the river, commemorates a 1989 Conservation Award for the Eachwick Anglers’ restoration of a game fish habitat.
Dalton Village Hall continues to thrive as a space for celebration, connection, and community spirit — just as it was first imagined over a century ago.