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The First Doyleston Hall
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TitleThe First Doyleston Hall
DescriptionThe first mention of a hall was in March 1869, when Robert Lochhead chaired a meeting in the Junction Store, which called for a building suitable for a Mechanics Institute and recreational purposes. A subscription list was “fairly” patronised, and Joseph Doyle offered to give a site for the building.
In May 1869, with Robert Lochhead again in the chair, following a meeting of the Doyleston Mutual Improvement Association (DMIA), Joseph Doyle reported that £33 was collected, but the meeting considered “it advisable to take no further steps at present”.
The Press of December 1869 reported that "THE DOYLESTON ANNUAL BALL will be held, as usual, in the DOYLESTON CITY HALL”. This was possibly a euphemism for Creek Lodge.
The January DMIA meeting “agreed that the building committee should use every endeavour…. to complete the new hall” but it wasn’t until July 1870 that tenders were called under John Rennie’s name.
The “Ellesmere Public Hall”, first in Ellesmere, was opened in August 1871, decorated with flags and evergreens. The hall was described as “a substantial wooden structure 36ft x 18ft, standing on land gifted by Joseph Doyle, and situated in that gentleman's township”. The building cost £65 13s 7d-only £14 to raise.
The DMIA, who claimed to have inspired the hall, switched from using Creek Lodge to the new hall. Sir Walter Scott’s Centenary Ball was held with disappointing patronage in mid-August.
In mid-1872 the hall was used to deliver a talk on ‘Life Assurance” which was very successful for the AMP Society. The hairless horse Caoutchouc was a strange exhibit in mid-1873.
Balls, in conjunction with the New Year’s sports meetings were held annually and the Presbyterian Church used it for fundraising.
When, in October 1874, Leeston convinced the Board of Education that a side school at Doyleston was desirable, and the hall could be hired for £3 for 6 months, the Board authorised the committee to advertise for an assistant mistress at £80 per year.
After a sub-committee finally inspected the hall, they found that it was in a very dilapidated state and that there were no water closets (toilets) or playgrounds.
Also, the ground was unfenced, and no part of the hall was lined. In mid-1873 John Rennie had given £5 towards the cost of lining the hall, but this was evidently never carried out.
Controversy erupted in early 1875, when the Provincial Council gave £75 to the DMIA to attach a reading room to the hall, but a new library was built across the road instead.
The uninsured hall was destroyed by fire in April 1894 shortly after the conclusion of a lime light lecture on "Old Canterbury”.
About midnight the building was on fire, and the flames, fanned by a strong north-wester, very rapidly consumed the hall.
The loss was very hard on the Sunday School as all the books, library and organ, etc were destroyed.
Mike Noonan
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date19 September 2019 SourceThe Ellesmere GuardianLocationDoyleston
DescriptionThe first mention of a hall was in March 1869, when Robert Lochhead chaired a meeting in the Junction Store, which called for a building suitable for a Mechanics Institute and recreational purposes. A subscription list was “fairly” patronised, and Joseph Doyle offered to give a site for the building. In May 1869, with Robert Lochhead again in the chair, following a meeting of the Doyleston Mutual Improvement Association (DMIA), Joseph Doyle reported that £33 was collected, but the meeting considered “it advisable to take no further steps at present”.
The Press of December 1869 reported that "THE DOYLESTON ANNUAL BALL will be held, as usual, in the DOYLESTON CITY HALL”. This was possibly a euphemism for Creek Lodge.
The January DMIA meeting “agreed that the building committee should use every endeavour…. to complete the new hall” but it wasn’t until July 1870 that tenders were called under John Rennie’s name.
The “Ellesmere Public Hall”, first in Ellesmere, was opened in August 1871, decorated with flags and evergreens. The hall was described as “a substantial wooden structure 36ft x 18ft, standing on land gifted by Joseph Doyle, and situated in that gentleman's township”. The building cost £65 13s 7d-only £14 to raise.
The DMIA, who claimed to have inspired the hall, switched from using Creek Lodge to the new hall. Sir Walter Scott’s Centenary Ball was held with disappointing patronage in mid-August.
In mid-1872 the hall was used to deliver a talk on ‘Life Assurance” which was very successful for the AMP Society. The hairless horse Caoutchouc was a strange exhibit in mid-1873.
Balls, in conjunction with the New Year’s sports meetings were held annually and the Presbyterian Church used it for fundraising.
When, in October 1874, Leeston convinced the Board of Education that a side school at Doyleston was desirable, and the hall could be hired for £3 for 6 months, the Board authorised the committee to advertise for an assistant mistress at £80 per year.
After a sub-committee finally inspected the hall, they found that it was in a very dilapidated state and that there were no water closets (toilets) or playgrounds.
Also, the ground was unfenced, and no part of the hall was lined. In mid-1873 John Rennie had given £5 towards the cost of lining the hall, but this was evidently never carried out.
Controversy erupted in early 1875, when the Provincial Council gave £75 to the DMIA to attach a reading room to the hall, but a new library was built across the road instead.
The uninsured hall was destroyed by fire in April 1894 shortly after the conclusion of a lime light lecture on "Old Canterbury”.
About midnight the building was on fire, and the flames, fanned by a strong north-wester, very rapidly consumed the hall.
The loss was very hard on the Sunday School as all the books, library and organ, etc were destroyed.
Mike Noonan
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date19 September 2019 SourceThe Ellesmere GuardianLocationDoylestonConnections
CollectionHistory of DoylestonPlaceDoylestonOrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyImageMap of Mr. R. W. Lochhead's Property, Lincoln, 1913
PlaceDoylestonOrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyImageMap of Mr. R. W. Lochhead's Property, Lincoln, 1913Attribution
Researched ByMike NoonanWritten ByMike Noonan
Written ByMike NoonanClick on the image to add
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The First Doyleston Hall (19 September 2019 ). Selwyn Stories, accessed 15/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5270