Community-run event brings local craftspeople together as villagers set out to reinvigorate hall life
SHAW, MELKSHAM — Shaw Village Hall will throw open its doors on 6th of September from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm for the Shaw Village Hall Makers’ Market, a free afternoon of handmade goods, local crafts and homemade cake, and the first event of its kind to be held at the hall.
The market forms part of the current hall’s 50th anniversary celebrations and marks the start of a wider push by the volunteer committee to bring the building back to the centre of village life. Around 12 independent makers and small producers from Shaw, Melksham and the surrounding villages will fill the hall with everything from crochet goods and dried bouquets to art, giving visitors the chance to meet the people behind the products and pick up something genuinely local — including, organisers suggest, a head start on Christmas shopping!
“It has been years since we last ran an event on this scale, and it felt like the right moment to change that,” said Michael Booth, Chairman at Shaw Village Hall. “This hall has served the village for half a century, and we want the next fifty to be just as busy. A makers’ market felt like the perfect way to begin; it brings people through the door, it puts money into the pockets of local craftspeople, and it gives locals a reason to spend an afternoon together.”
Alongside the stalls, there will be a children’s activity area, with the village play park just across the green, and hot and cold refreshments served throughout the afternoon, including cakes, brownies and other home-baked treats available to buy for a small charge.
All profits from refreshments will be reinvested directly into the hall, funding improvements and further community events through the year.
“Village halls only survive if people use them,” added Michael. “Every cup of tea and every slice of cake goes straight back into the building. Come along, support your local makers, and help us get the community buzzing again.”
Entry is free, and there is no need to book. Parking is available in the hall car park and on surrounding streets.
