Gaydon Parish Council
COMMUNITY
The Village Shop
Gaydon originally had a village shop near to the post box in the village. This was owned by a father and his two daughters. Sadly in the mid 1980’s the shop was forced to close and homes were built on the land instead. Residents were forced to travel a 6 mile round trip to Kineton as the next nearest village. This simply wasn’t possible for those residents who had no transport at all or who had mobility issues.
In February 2008 a public meeting was held in the village hall. Over 60 residents attended and supported the idea of opening a community village shop to be run by volunteers. The barn was offered by the Landlord of the Malt Shovel Inn and a committee was formed. The project took two years of fund raising and grant applications but eventually Gaydon Village Store opened in May 2010. The store aims to meet the needs of all residents of Gaydon and those who pass through the village. Our stock list has been developed over time and all items are carefully selected.
The Malt Shovel
The Malt Shovel is the local pub, serving food and real ales with an impressive, cosy local with a typical British pub menu and a front terrace with flower-filled hanging baskets. A favourite with the locals and alike.
St Giles Church, Gaydon
St Giles, Gaydon, was rebuilt in 1852 from local Hornton stone. Part of the churchyard is managed as a wildlife area.
Our services try to provide for all. Sunday services include modern-language and Prayer Book Communion services, and a monthly 'Prayer and Praise' service.
People take part in the services, reading and leading the intercessions. We are fortunate to have a very good organist.
The Gaydon Voices singing group is open to all, often contributing to services and providing musical entertainment in the villages. It is proving an effective way of welcoming people into the church family.
A monthly Saturday coffee morning enables people to meet and catch up and raises some funds.
We have a Christmas Market, in recent years combined with a Gift Day, and a harvest supper or alternative event. These are well supported by the village and raise money for the church and charities. Newcomers to the village are visited with a welcome, an information leaflet and invitation to the church. The whole village is invited to join us for a summer barbecue.
The Village Hall
Gaydon Village Hall was originally proposed in 1885 by Mr Bolton King. He suggested that a Public Hall be built for concerts, lectures, etc. with a Coffee Room which might also be used for reading, smoking and the like. And so it was built and apart from the original thatched roof has been both 'modernised' in the 60's and then restored back to its original 'arts and crafts' style in the year 2000. The original reading room is now used by the PC as an office and the later addition of the bar and kitchen happily remain.
From 1938 the Hall was owned by Mrs Willis (formerly Dunne) and vested in a trust with herself and Oliver and Edward Bolton King. In 1938 Mrs Willis generously offered to give the hall to the village of Gaydon. This took some years to come to fruition, and after some amusing letter exchanges, it was finally owned by the Village:
House of Commons
London. S.W. 1.
23rd July, 1965
Dear Mr Lush,
Thank you for your letter of 21st July, about this wretched Gaydon Village Hall business.
I have discharged an urgent rocket at the Department of Education, and hope to be able to have a progress report for you soon.
Yours sincerely
Angus Maude
G.W.M. Lush, Esq
Chairman
Southam Rural District Council
Mr Lush's reply in December confirms Gaydon's ownership:
Angus Maude, Esq., M.P.
House of Commons
Dear Mr. Maude,
I am pleased to be able to tell you that at last we have reached finality in the dreary business of the Assignment of Gaydon Village Hall.
I have at this moment a photostat of the legal document by which the Hall becomes the property of the Village.
Your "rocket" undoubtedly did a great deal to wake them up at the Ministry of Education and we are all very grateful.
Yours sincerely
G.W.M. Lush