The New Druitt

The New Druitt Community Centre has been designed as a landmark building for the benefit of all residents of Christchurch - from individuals dropping in for coffee or information, to local organisations needing a place to meet. Having been carefully designed to blend into the woodland setting of Druitt Gardens, unlike the existing Druitt Hall, the intention is to create a 'hub' for organisations and activities, which will be open most of the day and evening. Given the extensive facilities it will hopefully be used by many community groups across the age spectrum, and be a place where the different generations can interact with each other in an informal and attractive setting.

The ethos behind the fundraising campaign is to include all of the residents of Christchurch from the very youngest to the oldest. Accordingly we will be planning many events targeting different sections of our community over the next 18 months. These will range from formal dinners to Family Fun Days and much more in between. If you have any creative ideas for fundraising events we would love to hear from you.

The New Druitt Community Centre will be a landmark building in the very heart of Christchurch and a fitting gateway to a newly restored Druitt Gardens. As the town centre community centre with a hall, meeting rooms and café space it will be an important focus for community celebration, bringing people together learning and support serving every generation. It will be available for a wide range of community organisations and activities.

Who’s behind the Fund?

The Christchurch Community Partnership, a charitable network organisation involving statutory, business, voluntary organisations and lay people, is already engaged in many community issues. The Christchurch Community Partnership chose this project for particular focus to demonstrate and celebrate the goodwill and generosity of the people of Christchurch and the power generated when diverse groups of people work together towards a common purpose.

The New Druitt Fund is your opportunity to join this exciting venture and through your generosity and support we aim to raise one million pounds that will provide the necessary funding to complete the project. All the money raised will go towards completion of the building and making it a worthy addition both in appearance and function to this beautiful and ancient Borough of Christchurch.

Dr Bob Gilbertson                  Chair of the Christchurch Community Partnership.

Interview with Reverend Sandra Prudom, Chair of the Steering Group –
Click here to view

View latest Plans –These are pdfs

View Drawing1

View Drawing2

View Drawing3

View Drawing4

View Drawing5

Druitt Hall History

Druitt Hall was built by what was then Hampshire Old Peoples’ Welfare and Housing Society (subsequently known as Christchurch Old Peoples’ Welfare and Housing Society, and now Christchurch Housing Society) in 1953 to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth ll.  The builders were Bryant & Trowbridge, whose MD was Stanley Kermode who had founded the Society in 1946.  The construction – at the time cutting-edge – was of a prefabricated design invented by Stanley Kermode to speedily provide mainly public-use buildings to meet the needs of communities after the War.

The Hall was built within a period of only ten weeks from concept to completion! Hampshire County Council, the then stewards of the Druitt Gardens leased the land to the Society, and the costs of the building (£3000) were raised by a loan from Christchurch Borough Council secured against some of the Society’s properties.  The loan was repaid within a period of seven years.

In 1955 the Society received a legacy from the late Alderman T H Markham expressly to be used for “additional comforts and amenities for those old people who use the Druitt Hall”.  In early 1958 an extension to the Hall (“about 30ft by 16ft”) was added at a cost of less than £800, named The Thomas Markham Room. Records indicate it was a much needed additional space and like the main hall was in almost constant use.

Sadly the Thomas Markham Room was completely destroyed by arson on 11th August 2003.

The Hall was provided as an ‘Old Peoples’ Club and Welfare Centre’, and brought together many voluntary organisations including the Society itself, The Blind Association, The British Red Cross Society, The Townswomen’s Guild, and the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service amongst others.  In addition to its fellowship, social and welfare activities, the Hall also acted as a Lunch Club – a function it only ceased in 2005, after providing some 600,000 meals!

In many ways the Hall was a pioneer of the multi-use community hall concept, as it was made available at very low rates to hire to numerous local organisations and individuals for regular and one-off bookings.

Today it continues to be owned and managed by Christchurch Housing Society, and continues to provide an admittedly somewhat dated but useful venue for many organisations and activities.

Whilst after some 55 years Christchurch Housing Society will be sad to lose their presence within the town centre, they are delighted that so many people have come together to work harmoniously to produce plans for a building which today’s residents need and deserve.