Welcome to Ousden Village Hall
In the heart of Ousden located between Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds in West Suffolk, the village hall is at the centre of our community. With regular classes, clubs and events our village hall is a frequent meeting place for the people of Ousden and surrounding villages.
Our Facilities
We offer a wide range of facilities to support the local community, from a children’s playground to recycling. We also offer the village hall and meeting room for hire. The hall has a fully operational kitchen that can be used for events. Ousden village hall hire also includes tables and chairs.
Local Activities
We host a range of regular activities at the village hall and on the playing fields including Monday nights Bowls, Saturday Dog Training & Yoga on Tuesdays and Fridays. In the summer there are also outdoor yoga sessions & cricket matches. In addition the hall also provides a base for ramblers.
Fundraising Events
The Village Hall hosts fundraising events including our popular Ousden Cafe Stop, Christmas fairs and Summer fetes as well as being the hub for open gardens. These events are held to fund the maintenance of the village hall & playing fields, as well as going towards the costs of the new hall
Our Hall’s History
Ousden Village Hall was originally built in 1915 in Camberwell, it was then erected at Stowlangtoft near Stanton in Suffolk in 1916. It was then used as a billet for military accommodation for sick and wounded troops during the 1914-18 first World War. In 1921 the building was purchased by the late Mr Praed of Ousden Hall and transported here by steam traction engine. Only part of the building was erected on the playing field in Front St as the other section was used as a stable block at Ousden House.
To commemorate the Queen’s Coronation in June 1952, the Village Hall and Playing Field were donated to the village by Cyril Praed.In 1972, the Ousden Community Council was formed to raise funds for the Village Hall as the building was, by then, in very poor condition. With help from voluntary labour, it was refurbished. Then, in 1977, plans were approved for a new extension which was built on the east end of the building. This allowed dances and other functions to take place and the Hall became the hub of the community. Managed by Ousden Village Hall and Playing fields charity no 304932. The committee organises fund raising events to raise money to cover the costs of ongoing maintenance and more recently to raise funds for our new hall.
Events Summer 2024
Ousden Cafe Stop has returned from May to September 2024. Our popular summer cafe will be open on the last Sunday of each Month. Everyone is welcome for teas coffees, soft drinks, cakes & savories. All proceeds are in aid of Ousden Village hall & playing fields charity.
Ousden Open Gardens took place on the 23rd June 2024. Many of the village gardens were open from 11am to 5pm, including the award winning Dip-on-the-Hill garden. Ousden House garden also opened from 2pm-5pm. Refreshments & BBQ were available at the Village Hall.
Ousden Village BBQ Our 2024 village event was a BBQ held on September 7th 2024 at the Village Hall. We hosted live music as well as the BBQ and a bar. We also provided coffees, teas & cake and a raffle. All proceeds raised are in aid of the Ousden Village Hall rebuild project.
