Village Hall Trust

The Kimmeridge Village Hall Trust was set up in 1961 by the village of Kimmeridge and the then owner of the Smedmore estate, Major John Mansel, in order for the village to carry out its activities as a community in a relatively simple wooden ex- army hut.

The land on which this building stood was also gifted by the Smedmore Estate to the Village Hall Trust. The original building is now due to be condemned as it is becoming structurally unsound and therefore is not fit for purpose. In 2008 The Village Hall Trust and The Museum of Jurassic Marine Life Trust agreed to collaborate on this unique and exciting project that will fulfill the needs of this rural community and keep The Etches Collection in the geographical and geological area in which it was found.

The Smedmore Estate still owns 80% of Kimmeridge. Their philanthropic rental policy ensures that rents are kept low for people who live and work in the area. In this way the village still preserves its vibrancy and feeling of community spirit.  This is in contrast with many villages in Dorset where weekend homes and holiday lets are gradually becoming more widespread.

The Estate, under the current stewardship of Dr Philip Mansel, has made a generous decision to swap the land on which the present village hall stands to the new site which is more suitable for the construction of this building. This has enabled the vision and hope held by Steve Etches and the village of Kimmeridge to keep the fossil collection in a purpose built museum in the village and to have a new communal space and education room.

Their wish for a holistic approach to this project has therefore now become a realistic one.