UPTON VICTORY HALL – A BRIEF HISTORY

 In 1919, the parishioners of Upton wished to create a memorial to those members of the parish who had died in the Great War. To fulfil this wish, using public subscriptions and contributions from local benefactors, a large house in the middle of the village, known as “The Elms”, was bought. As the house had extensive grounds it was decided to create a living memorial embracing various activities including tennis, bowls, croquet, and football, with the building itself housing committee rooms, a small library, a snooker room, and a bridge room. In 1920, the organisation became a Charitable Trust with the objects of the Trust stated as “to permit the land and buildings described to be appropriated and used in perpetuity as a non-denominational and non-political place of recreation and social intercourse under the name of The Upton Victory Hall for the benefit of the inhabitants of Upton”.

The UVH quickly became an important part of village life and was widely known for the excellence of its grounds, as it is to this day. Through the passage of time, the old house became expensive to maintain and it was sold and replaced by the shops which are there today. Behind the shops, in Salacre Lane, a newly built hall was opened in 1964 providing similar facilities to previously with the important addition of a badminton hall. Over the years other parcels of land have been sold, the most notable being the football field in Rake Lane. Money raised has been used to improve or develop the UVH facilities, an example of this being the expansion of the UVH buildings when, in 1971, the present Tennis/Bowls pavilion was built. This proved to be a popular move providing extra social and letting space, as well as a small bar!

Whilst the original stated intention was for the Hall to be for the benefit of parishioners, as the demography of Upton and Wirral has changed so have the requirements of the Hall. Members are now drawn from a wide area and it is their support, as well as parishioners’, which ensures the ongoing success of the unique Upton Victory Hall.