Juniper Green Village Hall

This page sumarises what is known about the Juniper Green Village Hall. Thanks are due mainly to the Juniper Green 300 website which has not been updated since 2007 and C&B News.

1900: The Volunteers’ Hall built by the War Department as a Drill Hall. Photo shows volunteers marching from the Drill Hall down Baberton Avenue around the time of the Boer War.

1910: Volunteers disbanded and Hall purchased from Army Council for benefit of the local residents for £375.

1913: Hall widely used by local residents, e.g. baths could be taken in the Hall (80% of the houses in the Village did not have a bath at this time) and were open to the public.

1935: Electricity was installed by St Cuthbert’s Co-operative Association.

1939-45: Men’s Club abandoned because of lack of numbers but was re-instated in 1948, every night from 6.30 pm – 10.30 pm and 2 pm – 5 pm on Saturdays for billiards, whist and snooker. Upper room of the hall used as a workshop for British Legion.

1957: The Hall and caretaker’s house were badly in need of repair. Juniper Green Association formed and funds raised for the repairs.

1966: Dance classes (ballet) began led by Miss Ann Bangham.

1971: Education Department of Edinburgh Corporation takes over management of the Hall.

1973: Agreement between Village Hall Committee and Lothian Regional Council to jointly manage the Hall.

1976: (from C&B News 10th edition, November) Juniper Green Village Association (which operated the hall) told by Building Control Department alterations costing £4,500 needed to be done to the Hall “to make it comply with regulations for holding a public licence”. These included “improvements to the lavatories and building alterations to ensure fire safety”, meaning that the hall could no longer hold events open to the general public, such as concerts and plays.  However, they could still run “entertainments” for the Association’s own members, and it seemed a full programme was in the works—including a Burns Supper in January 1977.  

2007: The original Drill Hall rifle range for the practice of target shooting was situated in the basement of the hall still in use by the Rifle Club.

2014: Community Garden established on the site of the demolished caretaker’s house. An article from C&B News at the time.

2016: £70,000 investment programme to replace windows. Council makes emergency (temporary) closure of the village hall when fault in gable wall found by structural engineers. Barbara Badger was treasurer of the management committee and Anne Bangham was still running Juniper Green School of ­Dancing age 70. The hall was being used by around 20 regular groups.