Registered Charity No. 250908
The Memorial Hall
Previously the Toll Booth, standing where the Hall now stands from 1695
A Potted History
Don’t worry, this won’t be a history lesson! It’s just a potted history of the Hall and the Wednesday Market…
The Memorial Hall itself was previously known as the Tollbooth, standing where the Hall now stands from 1695. Kirkbymoorside was granted a Market Charter in 1254 by King Henry III. After a dreadful fire in 1871 the Hall needed re-building. Originally there were three floors but after the fire it was decided not to replace the top floor. At this time it was still known as the Toll Booth but because of heavy death duties payable by the Feversham / Duncombe family, the Tollbooth building, along with the Wednesday Market Charter and the annual Fair Rights, were sold and transferred to the Trustees of the Kirkbymoorside War Memorial Hall. So, the Tollbooth was no more and became known as the Kirkbymoorside War Memorial Hall.
After World War I, returning soldiers used what is now called the Dugout as a meeting place. The names of the fallen from World War I and World War II are commemorated on plaques in the Hall.
The Memorial Hall and the Wednesday Market were intrinsically linked then and remain so to the present day. So, whether you are one of our loyal market traders or you buy something from one of the stalls, your contribution goes towards at the upkeep of the Hall and likewise, when you hire a room at the Hall for an exercise class, for a dance class, for a party, for a wake etc. your hire fee goes towards the upkeep of the Hall.
