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The Greet Memorial Hall

Picture36
The Greet Memorial Hall

In the 1870’s Rebecca Smith nee Saunders, widow of John Smith was running a farm with her son Robert and Basil Deed’s bulletins suggest this is when the barn was purchased by Dora Greet.  This is unlikely because the Greets were not living in the area at that time and William was still alive. 

It is more likely that Dora purchased the barn, which dates from around 1830, after William’s death. Dora installed the stage on which she produced plays and was provided with scenery and equipment by Sir Ben Greet, who owned the Lyric Theatre in London, and who, on a notable occasion acted on the Warborough stage in The Rivals.

Berks & Oxon Advertiser 13th November 1925

                                                       WARBOROUGH

“JANE” – Performances of this amusing, farcical comedy are to be given by “The Warborough Barnstormers” in the Greet Memorial Barn on December 1st, 2nd and 3rd, commencing at 7.30 p.m. The proceeds will be devoted to the cost of the Electric Light fittings for Warborough Parish Church. The parishioners are very fortunate in having Mrs. Greet, a lady who takes such an interest in all things appertaining to the welfare of the village. “The Warborough Barnstormers” have, on other occasions, proved themselves a very talented company, and we are confident that their efforts will be well rewarded this time.

Mrs Greet offered the building to the Parish and an extract from the Parish Council minutes once hung in the Greet Hall, it read …

“At a Parish Meeting held at Warborough on Tuesday, the 18th of November 1930, the following resolution was carried unanimously: –

          This meeting of Local Government Electors of the Parish of Warborough strongly recommends that the Parish Council should accept the generous gift to the Parish of the Greet Memorial Barn, with its entire equipment, as a valuable, and welcome addition to its social life and activities, and it desires the Parish Council to convey on its behalf to Mrs Greet its deep and sincere appreciation of her many acts of kindness and generosity which she has so freely given for the benefit of the Parish.

Portraits of William & Dora Greet hang in the hall.

Researched by Lynda Raynor, July 2023