A Short History

LANGTOFT VILLAGE HALL
 A Short Storey

Compiled by Peter Coles, Sarah Castley & Yvonne McCulloch

The 2011 Village Hall Committee would like to express their thanks to Peter Coles for the research and compilation of the historical information below. Also our grateful thanks go to Sarah Castley and Yvonne McCulloch for providing additional material.  Sarah and Yvonne have been involved with the Hall for many decades and have preserved the Halls history.
Please visit the photo album section on this website and take a walk down memory lane.

The History of Langtoft Village Hall

The Hall appears to have been built in 1910 as a meeting place for the ‘Langtoft Conservative Working Men’s Club who would have been affiliated to the Association of Conservative Clubs (ACC).

Since its formation in 1894, the ACC survived with the objective to assist and encourage the formation of Clubs, to support the principles and aims of The Conservative Party and to assist in the management of Conservative Clubs. Clubs could either be named Conservative, Constitutional, Salisbury, Beaconsfield or Unionist, or any combination of these titles, but these Clubs had one thing in common which was to share similar objectives in promoting Conservatism and providing social sporting venues for their members.

True to this fashion, Langtoft Village Hall bears the title ‘Constitutional Club’ above the original front entrance.

In 1906, though the passing of various reforms, Britain was in a position where two-thirds of the male population could vote. Those who could not included men who did not own property or pay at least £10 / year in rent, servants who lived with their employers, criminals and lunatics. Women would have to wait a further 22 years before the majority of them were able to vote.

The General election of 1906 is considered to be one of the most significant elections in British History. It saw the Conservatives suffer an electoral disaster when their seats in the commons were reduced to 133 whilst the Liberals who held only 184 seats in the 1900 parliament took 400 seats. It would be another 14 years before a Conservative Prime Minister lead the Commons.

From 1906 to the elections of 1910, the Conservatives sought to regain support for their policies and to build up their membership.

In 1910, the position of President of the South Lincolnshire Conservative Association was held by Gilbert Heathcote 1st Earl of Ancaster of Grimsthorpe Castle and in January of that year his son Major Claud Willoughby was elected MP for the Stamford constituency which included Langtoft.
Other prominent Conservative supporters at that time included Lord Kesteven of Casewick Hall and Mr T.W. Atkinson of Greatford Manor (he also Hacconby Hall). All were active in the Conservative Association and all would play a major part in the creation of the Langtoft Constitutional Club.

In February 1910, at a meeting of the South Lincolnshire Conservative Association in the Angel Hotel Bourne and attended by Lord Kesteven and T.W. Atkinson amongst others, Major Willoughby gave the following address as reported in the Stamford Mercury.

“Major Willoughby, upon his rising to respond was met by a rousing ovation. He expressed his pleasure at the reception which had been given him and wished to sincerely thank the Association for the valuable help which was accorded him at the election – help which made for the success of the Conservative party. (Cheers). He urged them not to relax their efforts for the Unionist cause, and he hoped in all the villages throughout the division that Associations would be formed so that meetings could be frequently held to discuss the political questions of the day, and with the primary objective of furthering the interests of the Conservative party. (Applause). He referred to the possibility of another election in the near future and exhorted them to keep their organisations in readiness. (Cheers).

Another prominent Conservative supporter at that time was Lord Kesteven of Casewick Hall wo also seems to have played a major part in the construction and formation of the Langtoft Constitutional Club.

Lord Kesteven, as well as being a prominent Conservative supporter, would also appear to have associations with the people of Langtoft as judged by this report in the Stamford Mercury of July 1910.

“School Children at Casewick – The children of Langtoft and the surrounding schools were most kindly entertained by Lord Kesteven at Casewick Hall on Saturday 9th inst. The weather was splendid, and the children (about 600) thoroughly enjoyed the various amusements arranged for them. Tea was provided for teachers and children. The Langtoft teachers showed their appreciation of his Lordships kindness by decorating the wagons so kindly lent by the farmers to convey the children of Casewick”.

Lord Kesteven, who had taken a prominent part in the political campaign in Lincolnshire, made a somewhat sensational statement at Thurlby in the Stamford Division on Thursday night. He was announced to speak at the meeting but said he could no do so, as Major Willoughby, the Unionist candidate, supported by the Chairman of the Stamford Conservative Association (Mr Arthur Dean) had stated that his speeches were not helping the party, one reason given that they were ‘frivolous’ and made the audience laugh, but his lordship replied that some of the other speeches nearly made him cry. Another reason was that the Labourers’ did not like his speeches. Lord Kesteven added that he should go to other constituencies, his work being closed in that division.

However, at some point in 1910 work started on land owned by the Earl of Ancaster, to construct the Constitutional Club in Langtoft. The date at which is was finished and formerly opened is unknown, however, a report in the Lincolnshire Free Press of July 1911, shows a photograph of the completed hall together with a report of a Garden Fete hosted by Lord Kesteven at Casewick Hall I aid of the New Constitutional Club.

LANGTOFT CONSERVATIVE CLUB

Bazaar and Garden Fete at Casewick House


All highways seemed to lead to Casewick House, the seat of Lord Kesteven, on Thursday last, on the occasion of the bazaar and garden fete organized for the purpose of liquidating the debt upon the newly erected Constitutional Club of Langtoft. The weather was excessively hot. Many hundreds of people from the surrounding villages attended and visitors were present from Stamford, Bourne, Grantham and Spalding. Casewick House and its beautiful grounds afford excellent convenience for a garden fete. For such a hot day there was also beautiful shelter, the numerous trees being taken full advantage of, and the open lawns were more or less a deserted pace for the first few hours until the temperature of the sun had somewhat decreased. After tea the lawns contiguous to the House were an animated and pleasurable scene. The verdict of all was that it was an unqualified success despite counter attractions in the vicinity.


The bazaar was held in the marquee, and business was commenced immediately after two o’clock. The bazaar was not on an elaborate scale but nevertheless there was an excellent choice of articles. The fancy work stall was presided over by Hon. Sophia Trollope, Miss Nesta Trollope, Miss Violet Tryon and Miss A Swallow and the other stallholders included Mrs Tindal Atkinson, Mrs Baldwin, Mrs W. Thurlby and Mrs Elliott.


There were several attractions that met with ready patronage by the public. The Wellow Glee Singers gave a well-sustained programme which was highly appreciated; houp-la was all the rage; the antics of some persons when mounting the hobby horse caused much hilarity; there was bowling for pigs and dicks and other attractions.


Lord Kesteven’s museum was well worth a visit and much interest was evidenced at the trophies and curios therein. His Lordship personally conducted the press representatives round the museum.


An energetic Committee had been formed to carry out the arrangements for the fete. Mr Edward Swallow of Casewick was the honorary secretary and treasurer and he proved to be the right man in the right place.  Lord Kesteven and Mr T.C. Trollope did their share of the work in making it a great success and the committee included the following from the Langtoft district:- Messrs F. Gibbons, J Franks, G.A. Peasgood, J.T Plowright, A. Plowright, A. Wass, W.Starkie, W. Smith, T. Wass, W. Harding, E. Whitfield, A. Witherington, H. Atter, W. Franks, G. Hall, R. Bennington, W. Cragg, G Cragg, H. Ingram, W. Warne, G. Wass, W. Porter, C. Day, E. Scampion, G. Ingram and Mr T.C. Baldwin (Casewick).


Teas were served al fresco on the south lawn amid pretty surroundings, and the arrangements were carried out by the house staff.  The band of the Lincolnshire Yeomanry was engaged under the conductorship of Mr S.J. Davy of Lincoln.  Sweet music was discoursed and much appreciated.  Daylight fireworks were discharged and there was a pyrotechnic display in the evening, Messrs Brock and Co's fireworks being used.  These were quite an attraction.


Words can hardly describe the magnificent illuminations in the evening, and these and other decorations were done under the personal supervision of Lord Kesteven.  The multi-coloured lights looked beautiful and were to be found in almost every nook and cranny.  Along the waters edge they were also effectively and discriminatingly displayed, and the hunderds of lights made a truly grand spectacle.

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