The Friends of Hampstead Town Hall evolved from a campaign by the local community in response to the London Borough of Camden's proposals to dispose of the site in 1994.

Why the Hall matters  - A short history

Hampstead Town Hall began life as the Vestry Hall of Hampstead Parish. It was built in 1878 with money raised by public subscription by the people of Hampstead. In 1910, after the  re-organisation of local government, it was officially renamed the Town Hall.

For more than a century it was the focus of thriving civic and community activity in Hampstead, with concerts, meetings and exhibitions. Early on there was a Hampstead Parliamentary Debating Society, the Hampstead Historical and Antiquarian Society; the Freemasons, established in Hampstead as far back as 1767, the  Hampstead Popular Concerts,  with concerts given by leading artists including Brahms's favourite violinist,  Joachim, and the Heath Protection Society, the only organisation still functioning today, now known as the Heath and Hampstead Society.

In more recent times there was an annual Asian Arts Festival, art exhibitions (including works by Hockney, Kitaj, Weight, Berger, etc.) tea dances (many older members of the community remember these with affection), performances by the Hampstead Choral Society, and what was described as "the largest sale of natural history specimens the world has ever seen", ranging from fleas to stuffed elephants and camels!

It was a popular place for marriages and among the many famous names registered in the Town Hall records is T.S. Eliot who was married there. Its facade was also featured in the film "Four weddings and a funeral".

The battle to save it – a community campaign

In 1964 Hampstead lost its borough status and became part of the New Super-Borough of Camden. The LCC became the GLC.  

Although the building continued to be used for borough wide services such as registration of births and deaths, highway maintenance and the Council's Finance Department, Camden's  policy was to centralize all council services to the south of the Borough and as part of this strategy the Hall was neglected and run down.

After several attempts to dispose of it over the years, in 1994 Camden finally declared the Hall "surplus to requirements" and closed it, causing local outrage.

The community organised a battle to save the building. The Belsize Conservation Area Advisory Committee and the South End Green Association mounted a successful campaign to get the building listed Grade II by the Department of Heritage, now DCMS, as "a fine early example of a London Vestry Hall", and the Belsize Conservation Area was extended to include the Town Hall.  Its interior contains many original details including cornices, fireplaces, clocks, patterned floor tiles and the Imperial staircase with its elaborate cast iron balusters. There are also two war memorials: to the Boer War and the First World War.

The Working Party swings into action

Several local residents' groups led by the Heath and Hampstead Society, got together and formed a working party to co-ordinate the campaign to save Hall and find a new use for it. There were representatives from the South End Green Association, the Belsize Residents Association, the Hampstead Conservation Area Advisory Committee, the Belsize Conservation Area Advisory Committee, Redington Frognal Association, the Vale of Health Association and Netherhall Neighbourhood Association

With the help and support of local councillors they got the Town Hall re-opened specially for a public meeting on January 9th 1995.  Over 200 people attended and it was clear that they wanted the Town Hall to remain in public ownership and to be used for the community and for a local presence for Council services. Camden Council responded positively and agreed to meet the representatives of the working party to discuss a way forward.

The partnership with Interchange

Interchange Trust, then based in Kentish Town and in need of new premises, was invited to become partners in a project to save the Hall, which could become a new home for Interchange and provide facilities for the local community. A partnership was established and a successful bid for funding was made to the Lottery board in 1996 with the support of Camden Council. A grant of over £6 million was made jointly by the Arts Council and Heritage Lottery Boards  and a new trust, The Hamden Trust, was set up to hold the lease of the Town Hall and receive the Lottery grants and other funding for the project.

The working party became the Friends of Hampstead Town Hall with the task of raising £70,000 of the matching funding required under the terms of the Lottery Boards.   In addition they secured other donations and help in kind worth over a quarter of a million pounds for the project, including pro bono work by the law firm Nabarro Nathanson,  art works by Laura Marks and Sir Anthony Caro, and a grant for hearing loops.  

Actors and musicians who have donated their services for Friends fundraising events included Peter Barkworth,  Michael Palin,  Lee Montague,  The Endellion String Quartet;  Paco Pena, John Williams and Carlos Bonell, with Henry Kelly and  pianist, Stephen Kovacevitch.

The freehold of the hall is still owned by Camden Council on behalf of the Hampstead community, whom The Friends represent, thus preserving an important democratic principle. Part of the commitment to the Lottery Boards is that Hampstead Town Hall is open to the local community and the public at large as well as for the activities of Interchange.   

The Friends’ role is:

1.  To act as guardian and representative of Hampstead community interests:

• To preserve Hampstead Town Hall as an historic building
• To protect Hampstead community interests expressed by the membership and the wider community
• To protect  Hampstead Town Hall’s special identity
• To protect & enhance Hampstead Town Hall’s historic architecture and  public presentation
• To ensure continuity in the event of management change

2.   To  support The Hamden and Interchange Trusts

3.   To facilitate community based activities:                           

• Encouragement of full community and revenue generating use of the building.
• Support the establishment, with others as necessary, of Hampstead Town Hall as a cultural centre with a wide ranging programme of activities.  
• Encouragement of the London Borough of Camden and other public bodies to   participate in the use of the building.

4.   To fundraise:

• To initiate fundraising for specific projects

Louise Pennington Legh
Valerie Reuben
Kathryn Stubbs

Committee members are also members of, or have contacts with the following local groups: The Belsize Residents Association, The Heath and Hampstead Society, the Belsize Conservation Area Advisory Committee; the Hampstead Conservation Area Advisory Committee;  U3A; Netherhall Neighbourhood Association; Redington Frognal Association; the Vale of Health Association and South End Green Association.

For more information about the Friends please contact:

The Secretary
22 Lyndhurst Gardens,
London NW3 5NN

corinnegibbons@hotmail.com

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• ATL | Association of Teachers & Lecturers
• Auric Car Leasing
• BASF
• BFLS
• BFP Wholesale
• Business in the Community
• Camden Swiss Cottage Swimming
• CILIP
• Dance United
• Ealing Centre for Independant Living
• Early Years and Sure Start Service | Camden
• Engineering UK 
• Groundwork UK
• Harmony House | Dagenham
• Healthy Planet
• Islington Community Housing Co-Op
• John Cammack | InterChange Associate
• Kinesis Studios
• David Yates of Luke Evans 
• Michael Mallows | InterChange Associate
• Mosaic | the power of positive thinking
• Nextstep - London 
• NLDC
• Northern Ballet
• Panos London
• Puss in Boots Nursery
• SAMM
• Sarum Hall School
• St Alex Limited
• St Mary's Community Complex | Eltham  
• Stokes Bakery
• TUC | Trades Union Congress
• Tavistock and Portman | NHS Foundation Trust
• Wellbeing Escapes 

• to give local residents, local organisations and users the opportunity to inform the development of services and the ethos of Hampstead Town Hall Centre 
• to give the InterChange Trust a vehicle to communicate about its work, publicise its services and take soundings from local people
• to advise the InterChange Board of Directors on residents' and users' views on current and future services, projects and developments

There are currently no new vacancies at InterChange.

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Address

Hampstead Town Hall
213 Haverstock Hill
London NW3 4QP (click here for a map)

Telephone Numbers

Main Reception: 020 7692 5800
Fax: 020 7692 5801

Events and Bookings: 020 7692 5809

WAC Performing Arts & Media College: 020 7692 5888

Training & Development Service: 020 7692 5866

Email Addresses

General Enquiries: info@interchange.org.uk

Event Bookings: bookings@interchange.org.uk

WAC Performing Arts & Media College: info@wac.co.uk

Training & Development Service: training@interchange.org.uk

Chief Executive: chiefexecutive@interchange.org.uk

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Opening hours:

• Interchange opening hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am to 9pm.
• Weekend general hours are 9am to 9pm although we are not always open weekends. Please check with reception.
• For bookings outside of normal core hours an additional charge of £150 is applied.

The Premises are not available for hire between the hours of 12 midnight and 8.30am.’ The Hirer ‘must keep to the period of hire specified in the Event Contract and ‘The Hirer’ must indemnify Interchange against any claim, loss or costs arising from not vacating’ The Premises’ at the agreed time.

Room Hires:

The maximum room capacity permitted may reduce dependent on your additional requirements in the room.
All room hires must be paid for prior to use. The Hirer will be required to pay the total fee due 30 days prior to any hire or event. An additional indemnity deposit of £200 against damage is required or £500 if alcohol or food is being consumed on the premises, and is to be paid 30 days prior to the hire or event by The Hirer.
 
Capacity:

• Main Hall: 200
• Council Chamber: 100
• Small Hall: 100

 
Hire Periods:

• All bookings must include set up and breakdown time.
• A full day is an 8-hour period, usually 9am to 5pm.
• A half day is a 4-hour period 9am - 1pm, 1pm - 5pm or 5pm - 9pm.
• Additional hours are added at the hourly rate.
• Minimum hire period on all rooms is 3 hours except the Main Hall which is  4-hours minimum.

If any damage is made to’ The Premises’ and or its fixtures and fittings during the course of an event or its preparation, the costs of making good the damage is to be paid by ‘The Hirer’ and the indemnity deposit will not be refunded. ‘The Hirer’ must not store, or allow to accumulate, rubbish or unused materials in any part of ‘The Premises’ or

1. (i) Give performances involving danger to the public.
2. (ii) Bring any explosive, toxic, hazardous or highly flammable substance on to ‘The Premises’ without our prior written consent.
3. (iii) Use stroboscopic lighting, smoke, vapour or water vapours, lasers, cylinders for the storage of air or other gasses or liquids under pressure without our written consent.
4. (iv) No naked flame is allowed unless prior written consent is given by Interchange’s Event management team. ‘The Hirer’ should apply for written consent to use real flame at least 30 days before ‘The Event giving full details of the proposed use of real flame and the date and time of use.
5. (v) No one may give any demonstration, performance or exhibition of hypnotism or bring drugs or banned substances on to ‘The Premises’.
6. (vi) No poster or announcement advertising the purpose for which ‘The Premises’ have been engaged shall be produced until it has been approved in writing by Interchange’s ‘ Events Management Team’ and no announcement is to be made before receipt of full payment for the booking unless with the prior consent of the’ Events Management Team’.
7. (vii) Interchange and its agents have sole and exclusive rights to operate a licensed bar facility and to sell alcohol on ’The Premises’.

‘The Hirer’ and other persons attending must comply with all licensing and other regulations relating to the event.
No other commercial catering service may use ‘The Premises’ without prior written agreement from Interchange’s Event Management Team. Smoking is not permitted in any part of ‘The Premises’.

Parking is available to Blue Badge holders only. In general we have no special parking facilities other than disabled. Parking at the side of the building is for loading / unloading and Blue Badge holders only. All vehicles must display an Interchange parking permit and are left at the owner’s risk. Interchange accepts no responsibility in respect of any vehicle or for any loss or damage to any vehicle or its contents.

Children and young people under 18 years:

The centre is subject to the provisions of the Children Act 1989. Events for or with children present (0-18) should be planned with Interchange Events Management Team. ‘The Hirer’ must ensure that children and young people are adequately supervised at all times by appropriate adults and adhere to providing the following minimum adult to children ratios: :Under 2’s 1:3 children : 2 years 1:4   3-8 years      1:6   9-11 years  1:10 -15  11-18 years  1:15 -20.  At events or functions where alcohol is to be served, arrangements for safe and secure storage before during and after the events must be discussed and agreed with Interchanges Event Management Team.

Please download our full terms and conditions below for further information.

Call Karen on 020 7692 5882

Or email training@interchange.org.uk

Or write to InterChange Training and Development at:

Hampstead Town Hall Centre
213 Haverstock Hill
London NW3 4QP