History

A thumbnail history of the Victoria Institute

Early days

The Victoria Institute was founded to celebrate Queen Victoria's Jubilee  The first building was a public hall and reading room, with accommodation for a caretaker, and cost £1050. Sir Thomas Storey opened it on November 28th 1888, with a tea and concert. In 1893 a new Public Library was opened at the Institute. Early events included concerts by the Caton branch of the Girls’ Friendly Society; public lectures ranging from ‘butter making’ to ‘The Battle of Waterloo’ and from 1898 technical classes in shorthand, laundry; singing. A Caton Quadrille Class held a Ball and Soiree till 4am; in 1897 the Caton Floral and Horticultural Society (which is now the Gardening Club) held a Gaslight Show. Early users included the Recreation Committee; the Independent Order of Rechabites; and from 1894 the Parish Council.

Until the end of the Second World War

In 1904 ‘incandescent lighting’ was introduced. The Caton Electric Supply Company connected to the Institute in 1916. In 1919 a fund was opened for the Tea Room and Cloaks extension, costing £873, which was opened in 1928 by Mrs Rathbone of Moor Cottage (Neville House).

In 1931 the County Library was permitted to use the Reading room.  From 1933 the Badminton Club was allowed to use the building. The same year saw the village reject a proposal for the Charity Commission to govern the Institute through an elected committee: in 1939 a revised proposal for a Scheme, but with a Council of Management, mainly drawn from representatives of village organisations, was accepted.

In 1934 the Institute disposed of the tiered seating used for concerts, which had been stored at Low Mill. 1937 was an eventful year for the Institute. The Billiards room and Reading room were made into a single room; the Coop donated 100 books to the Reading Room and a bookcase was fitted. The Gala Committee ran events for a new dance floor in the main hall and in 1938, the Victoria Institute ‘Golden Jubilee’ year, the new stage extension and maple dance floor, costing £505, were opened by Mrs Rathbone and Colonel Theodosius De Vitre of Gresgarth.

During the second world war, the Institute served as a reception centre for evacuees from Salford; an Emergency air raid centre; and for sewing and knitting for the comfort of the troops as well as entertaining them with shows, dominoes and dances. (If you have photos from this period, we would love to see them!)

From the ‘fifties

By 1955 and for the next decade, the Institute was in financial trouble and in need of repairs. In 1956 the Parish Council was allowed to build a bus shelter on Institute land in return for rent of £3 per annum for the next 99 years. A Child Health clinic started using the Billiards room and in 1961 the Institute was used by the Youth Club and Judo club.

By 1967, there were plans for renovations to lower the hall ceiling, re-wire and redecorate and for new kitchen and toilets. Many events raised funds until the work could be done in 1973 costing £6,208.

Pre-school playgroup party 1970

Christmas Fair 1977

Centenary

In 1985 the stage was removed to create a ‘Centenary room’. Heating was extended to the whole building. Double glazing was installed in the hall, billiard room and kitchen with major alterations in the kitchen and extra storage, The improvements, costing £28,000, were supported by local fund raising and grants from Lancashire County   Council and Lancaster City Council.    

  The main hall before refurbishment          The centenary room/ 'old' entrance

Recent developments

A £183,000 grant funded capital project, in 1999, completely refurbished the main hall and billiards room; and built and equipped the new information technology room facing onto the War Memorial Garden.

The billiards room was fitted with a new false ceiling and new lighting and all round display boards. The main hall floor was laid with a damp proof course and a lowered all purpose wooden floor to accommodate sports and dancing; new lighting and false ceiling; decorative arches and dados. The project provided level access throughout the building; freed up corridors by creating a separate entrance for the caretakers flat; a toilet for the disabled; an induction loop system throughout; nappy changing facilities and a public toilet. The IT room was equipped with fifteen computers; printer, fax, scanner and photocopier; and flexible workstations, inspired by UMIST in Manchester and adapted by Keith Akrigg. The project was funded by the National Lottery Charities Board; European Regional Development Fund; Countryside agency; Lancaster City Council, Caton-with-Littledale Parish Council, and Lancashire County Council and a special local appeal.

The Parish Council commissioned a superb celebration clock for the Millennium.

A further capital project was funded in 2004 by Leader plus; Single Regeneration Budget; Lancashire Environment Trust, and Lancaster City Council with grants totalling over £91,000. The project removed the small canopy above the side entrance, facing onto the War Memorial Gardens, and built a spacious and welcoming reception room and resource centre with desk, information displays; visitor seating, looking out over the War Memorial garden and the centre of the village.

The project completely refurbished the ‘Tea Room’, adding a new kitchenette annex and a large storage room by building out to the back boundary of the Institute.  The ceiling was insulated and new French and ceiling velux windows were installed.

Tea room refurbishment progresses       Public meeting after refurbishment

A multi-media projector with broadband connected to the internet and interactive whiteboard were provided for the tea room. The project provided new comfortable, flexible furniture. Extra grant funding has since added black out blinds to all windows.

Local fund raising and a Parish Council Grant enabled the decayed original external woodwork, porch doors and guttering to be replaced in 2006.

Due to grant funding remits, Kitchen and cloaks/ toilets were excluded from previous refurbishments. Please support our efforts to raise further funds!

A rural resource centre

From 2002, following opening just with volunteeers, a two year post of manager in the ICT and Online Centre, was funded by the Countryside Agency and the New Opportunities Fund.

A grant from Awards for All in 2005 provided drop-in mornings with papers and refreshments, 2 laptops and a tablet pc for creating an electronic newsletter; and a sound around system in the Tea Room. At the end of this project, Grants for Growth provided advice and guidance sessions, especially for people seeking work, volunteering opportunities, or job improvement. This has been followed in 2007 by further funding from Lloyds TSB, Grants for Growth Community Futures for development work and IT training.