“On the evening of Saturday, 6th December 1884, the Anthony Hall, built by the Dowager Lady de Rothschild, was formally opened by her daughter, Mrs Cyril Flower, in the presence of a very large audience composed of friends and parishioners. Mr Cyril Flower, M.P., was in the chair and there were also present the Dowager Lady de Rothschild, Baron Frederick de Rothschild and the Hon. Mrs Eliot Yorke. After an excellent opening address from the Chairman, the Aston Clinton Temperance Choir, under Miss Molique’s conductorship, rendered a part of Mendelssohn’s “Hymn of Praise” most creditably, after which Mrs Cyril Flower formally declared the Hall open.”
Thus was the opening described in the Parish magazine in January 1885 by the Rector. Lady de Rothschild had had the Hall built in memory of her late husband Sir Anthony. Her daughters, Mrs Cyril Flower and the Hon. Mrs Eliot Yorke (later to become Lady Battersea) were there with Lord Rothschild.
Although the Hall had been given to the village it was run by the Rothschilds as part of their Aston Clinton Estate up to 1932 when the Rectors of both Aston Clinton and Buckland were appointed Trustees to serve with Mr Anthony Gustav de Rothschild and Mr Redhead, a partner in the Aylesbury firm of Horwood & James, Solicitors who acted for the Rothschild Estates in the area. Mr Lowe (the boys’ school headmaster) Mr Burnham (the village baker) and Mr Sharp from the Post Office) were all appointed Foundation Members of the committee.
The minute book dating from that time, it can be seen that the Secretary was paid a handsome honorarium of eight guineas per annum. The Treasurer was only paid two guineas!
Although the hall was endowed by the Rothschilds, to help keep the charges for hiring it to a minimum the value of the income soon diminished and it is clear from the minute book that balancing the payment of the overheads with a policy of keeping hiring costs down for the benefit of the village was a constant struggle.
In the late 1930’s and into the years of the Second World War there were arguments in the Committee as to how much the Caretaker (Mr Baker) should be paid. In November 1939 it was decided to pay him 12/6 per week (62½p). He was not happy and it was quickly increased to £1 in February 1940 by which time the school was using the hall all day. The increase in fuel consumption (coal) was such that Mr Baker demanded more for shifting the coal from the farmer’s premises nearby. More arguments developed as to how much was reasonable and half a crown (12½p) was agreed. However, it would appear that he was still not happy as he abruptly resigned in May 1942 and Mr Gomm took on the job at £1 per week and an annual bonus of £20.
It was only in 1941 that the Hall was connected to the main sewers at a cost of £135- 8s- 6d!
In 1954, a bold and decisive step was taken when the Trustees bought the adjoining land (now the Car Park) from Mrs Rae-Smith. Mr. Anthony de Rothschild generously donated £250 towards the cost.
Electric strip lights and electric heating were installed in the 1950’s. Although the hall was used more and more in the 1960’s, it remained in a rather care worn and slightly run down condition. Money was tight but the Trustees managed to replace the kitchen and build new toilets. But increased use brought in more money and a large grant from the Parish Council (following the sale of the old recreation ground to the County Council for the site of the new school) meant that the leaking roof could be completely replaced and a much needed face lift to the outside and the decoration of the inside of the hall was undertaken in the 1970’s.
Over the last 40 years great changes in the appointment of Trustees and the structure of the Management Committee have meant that all the Trustees have had a genuine interest in the welfare of the Hall and are prepared to pitch in and help when things need doing. The Management Committee has likewise only been made up of village residents, who believe that the Hall has been and should remain the centre of the village’s social life. The Secretary’s Bookings diary has never been as full. A phased programme of refurbishment is continuing and the Committee is looking forward to a bright future.
