The History of St. Aidan's Hall

1799

The ‘Back Hall’ of St Aidan’s Hall was the first building to be erected in the alleyway behind 48 Church Street and pre-dates 1799. In 1799, a property which was located next to the ‘Back Hall’ was purchased by the Haggerston family and two French priests were resident from 1799 – 1810, holding Mass in the ‘Back Hall’ which became a Catholic Chapel. (Source: Taking Stock, Catholic Churches of England and Wales, taking-stock.org.uk)

1812

A new church was built behind the Catholic Church, at the end of the alleyway, which is now the Peace Church, to accommodate an AntiBurgher congregation. Known as the Church Street Church, it later became the Church Street Presbyterian Church. (Source: ‘Churches of Berwick upon Tweed’, Berwick Archive Office.)

1829

Due to a larger congregation, a new Catholic Church was built in Ravensdowne and the present Catholic Chapel (now St Aidan’s Back Hall) became a Catholic school. (Source: Taking Stock, Catholic Churches of England and Wales, taking-stock.org.uk)

1829 -1860

A Church Hall was erected by the Church Street Church, although no exact date is known. This is currently the building which adjoins St Aidan’s Hall and is a now a dwelling house (46F &46G Church Street). Sometime in this period, the trustees of the church were compelled to purchase all of the property in the alley leading up to the church to prevent it falling into the hands of a company who wished to erect stables on the site, which "would have very materially interfered with the comfort of the congregation and the prosperity of the church". (Source: Kirk Session Minute book, 28th May 1867 – 19th April 1891. Berwick Archives Office, Illustrated Berwick Journal 6th August 1885.)

1884

The Catholic School moved to the newly built St Cuthberts School in Walkergate, now the Parish Centre. The old Catholic school building off Church Street was then rented out by the Catholic Church and there is evidence of it being used as a tailor’s shop. (Source: Taking Stock, Catholic Churches of England and Wales, taking-stock.org.uk, Conveyancing documents pre-1924.)

1885

After much deliberation whether to turn the existing Church Hall into 2 dwelling houses, it was decided to sell the building. The Church Street Church sold the Church Hall to the Oddfellows for the sum of £250 and plans were underway to build a larger hall. Some of the property in the alleyway leading to the church was in such a dilapidated state that it made the approach to the church unsightly. It was therefore decided to rebuild entirely two of the dwelling houses within the alley, as well as the premises fronting Church Street. This was at the cost of £800: much of this money was raised from holding a Japanese fair / bazaar in the Corn Exchange over two days. (Source: Kirk Session Minute book, 28th May 1867 – 19th April 1891. Berwick Archives Office, Illustrated Berwick Journal 6th August 1885.)

1886

A new larger church hall was completed which adjoins the Oddfellows’ Hall, at the cost of £200. The masonry was entrusted to Messrs John Irvine & Son, the plumbing work to Messrs Wilson & Son and the roofing to Mr Peter Young. This new hall, known as ‘The George Young Memorial Hall’, is now the Main Hall in St Aidan’s Hall. A new building was erected on Church Street at the front of the alley, with a church style façade to the shop front and upper storey and an archway over the entrance to the alleyway. A stone motif of the Presbyterian Church is still visible today above the upper storey of this building. Two new houses within the alley were also completed. On 17th November a sale of Japanese work, (articles unsold from the fair of the previous year at the Corn Exchange) was held in the new Memorial Hall. The proceeds were used for furnishing the hall and the purchase of a musical instrument. (Source: Kirk Session Minute book, 28th May 1867 – 19th April 1891, Berwick Archives Office and a plaque above the door to St Aidan’s Hall. taking-stock.org.uk, Illustrated Berwick Journal 6th August 1885.)

1917

The Church Street Church, now The Church Street Presbyterian, resolved to unite with Chapel Street United Free Church to form a new Church, St Aidan’s Presbyterian Church of England. (Source: ‘Churches of Berwick upon Tweed’, Berwic Archive Office.)

1924

St Aidan’s Presbyterian Church purchased the old Catholic School building with a small yard in front, from The Reverend William Moss Smythe of 64 Ravensdowne, on behalf of the Catholic Church for £100. Up until the time of the sale the building had been leased to John Colin Campbell. Building work commenced to join this building to the existing George Young Memorial Hall by the installation of 2 connecting corridors. New toilet facilities were also added. The building was now known as St Aidan’s Hall and was used as the Church Hall up until its closure in 1979. (Source: Conveyancing documents of 1924.)

1947

St Aidan’s Presbyterian Church purchased the dwelling house adjacent to St Aidan’s Back Hall, by now in a dilapidated state, for the sum of £15. This was the dwelling previously occupied in 1799 by the Catholic priests. The house had been condemned by the Borough Council in the late 1930’s because of its poor state and they requested its demolition, however this wasn’t done until the 1950’s.

1956

The house mentioned above is demolished at the expense of the Berwick Brewery, the owners of the pub in Church Street, in exchange for the land it stood on, as the brewery wished to make extensive alterations to the pub. This was on the proviso that a 10 feet wide strip of land adjoining the hall be retained and to allow access through the alleyway on the pub’s premises by means of a fire escape from the hall. (Source: Conveyancing documents of 1956)

1971

The Church ceased to be known as St Aidan’s Presbyterian Church of England and was now known as St Aidan’s United Reform Church. (Source: Conveyancing documents of 1979.)

1979

The Church and St Aidan’s Hall were sold. The Church was purchased by Brian Douglas and St. Aidan’s Hall was purchased by The Grand Priory of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem (St John Ambulance) for the sum of £2,750. (Source: Conveyancing documents 1979.)

1995

St John Ambulance vacate St Aidan’s Hall and it is earmarked for demolition. An application for new housing on the site is submitted to the Borough Council. However, a charitable trust is established, St Aidan’s Hall (Berwick) Trust, and, with an anonymous donation, the Hall is purchased from St John’s Ambulance for £5000. The purchase is on condition that the Hall be held in trust for the benefit and use of the inhabitants of Berwick upon Tweed and the neighbourhood. (Source: Conveyancing documents 1995 and St Aidan’s Hall website, staidanshallberwick.org.uk)

2025

St. Aidan’s Hall (Berwick) Trust, previously an unincorporated charity, becomes a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Registration No. 1212474)

St Aidan’s Hall continues as a great community asset, actively used by the community, facilitating space for many diverse groups such as Pilates, Tai Chi, U3A, carpet bowls, art groups, exhibitions, films, shows, talks by guest speakers, birthday parties, dancing etc. The hall is available for hire; details can be found here.