📜 TIMELINE OF GEORGE EDWARDS HALL
16th September 1903 – The Parish Council received a letter from Mr. E. Ffoulkes Jones, on behalf of the Trustees of the late Mrs. Edwards, Trevor House, stating that £1,000 had been bequeathed for the erection of a Public Hall at Cefn. A Committee was appointed to liaise with the Trustees (Messrs. Hunt & Parry) to discuss the matter.
1st March 1905 – The Hall Committee’s report to the Parish Council had been delayed due to difficulties in realising securities, owing to the depression in American Railway Shares. They were also awaiting a decision from the Court of Chancery on whether a committee separate from the Local Authority could carry out the Trust’s conditions. The Council adopted key recommendations:
✅ Purchase of land on Well Street
✅ Formation of a management committee
✅ Maximum cost of the Hall set at £1,500; minimum at £1,400
✅ No local rate to be levied
A public appeal for subscriptions towards the Hall’s construction was launched.
7th June 1906 – Trustees declined to deal with a private committee, insisting only the Parish Council, as the local authority, could oversee the project. They also required the Council to provide the balance of funds and levy a maintenance rate if needed.
7th November 1906 – The Charity Commissioners requested details regarding the Hall’s endowment. The Council confirmed a decision to levy a maintenance rate when necessary.
23rd September 1907 – The Council applied for the bequest, guaranteeing to indemnify Trustees against potential legal action by legatees. They also approved the land purchase.
10th June 1909 – Solicitors confirmed readiness to release the legacy funds, provided they were used exclusively for the Hall’s erection. The Council agreed.
30th June 1909 – The Parish Council received £590, 5 shillings, and 3 pence from the legacy.
17th March 1910 – Tenders were invited for the Hall’s construction.
9th June 1910 – Mr. W. F. Humphreys’ tender of £1,297 was accepted.
7th October 1910 – The Parish Council received a legal threat from Longueville & Co. of Oswestry regarding Ancient Lights (rights to light).
22nd October 1910 – The Clerk was served with a writ initiated by Mr. John Farmer.
18th September 1911 – The George Edwards Hall was officially opened 🎉.
The Hall was designed by Architect Mr. Burditt Allinson, whose plans were selected via competition. The total cost, including equipment, was £2,066, 13 shillings, and 6 pence. However, due to legal proceedings, the project concluded with approximately £1,400 in debt.
The Committee, who personally guaranteed this debt, decided to operate a cinema to raise funds. The venture succeeded, and by 1920, the debt was cleared 💰.
🎬 Cinema Days at George Edwards Hall
The Hall, erected in memory of George Edwards, opened as a theatre with a 26-foot proscenium and 18-foot stage depth, including two dressing rooms. It seated 600 patrons.
In 1919, John Stanley Jones leased the building, opening it as a cinema on 15th February 1919. The first film shown was “Heart of the Lion”, followed by “The Crystal Gazer” starring Fanny Ward. A local pianist provided live background music 🎹.
An A.W.H. sound system was later installed to transition into the sound era.
By 1938, the Hall Committee managed the cinema, offering two nightly shows with admission prices from 4d to 1 shilling.
In 1951, new lessee Mr. A. Jacobs of Rhyl, who also ran the Palace Cinema in Cefn, renamed the venue The People’s Cinema, maintaining two nightly shows from 5:30 PM. Prices rose to between 7d and 1/6d. The seating capacity was reduced to 550 patrons, and an R.C.A. Photophone sound system replaced the earlier setup.
Before 1960, with declining audiences and preference for the Palace Cinema, Jacobs closed The People’s Cinema.
The Hall reverted to its original purpose, hosting concerts, pantomimes, and community events 🎭. It remains a vital community venue today, with ongoing plans to modernise its appearance.
❤️ Honouring George Edwards
The Hall stands as a lasting tribute to George Edwards, whose legacy has brought the community together for over a century.
Since its official opening in 1911, the Hall has been under the stewardship of Cefn Community Council, initially managed through a lease agreement.
In the 1970s, the Council fully took over the Hall’s management, making it the heart of community life.
In 1978, the Hall was extended to better serve local needs, with the official opening of the new facilities carried out by Councillor Caenog Jones ✂️.
To this day, the Hall remains a proud centre for events, entertainment, and gatherings for the people of Cefn and beyond 🌟.