The Colwall Ale House is a beautiful 16th century hall situated next to the churchyard of St James The Great in Colwall Herefordshire, close to the Malvern Hills.

It continues to be used by the community after nearly 500 years and is available for hire by the public. It is used by many groups for club meetings, talks, yoga classes, annual dinners, birthday and anniversary parties, children's parties and wedding receptions.

History

The Ale House was built in the early 1530s during the reign of Henry VIII. The date has been confirmed by dendrochronology, which involves taking samples of the original timber and comparing them to historic records of tree growth.

The building was originally used to sell ale to raise funds for the Church. A gathering at the Church Ale House would have been the equivalent of a modern day village fete. However, the Bishop felt too much ale was being consumed and this led to the Ale House being sold by the Church in 1614 when it then became an alms house for the poor of the Parish. It was last inhabited in the 1930s and then fell into disrepair. When Carl Attwood became Rector it was being used as a garden shed. He set about raising the necessary funds to restore it, which was no mean task, and this was completed in 1989 when the Ale House again became the Church Hall.

Facilities

• seats 60 at tables and about 90 theatre-style

• fully-equipped kitchen with domestic-style cooker, water heater, microwave and refrigerator

• cutlery and crockery for 60+

• wine glasses for 90+

• 5 large trestle tables, 60 chairs, a serving table and a hostess trolley

• overhead heating

• two toilets with washbasins, one with wheelchair access

Music concerts at the Ale House are held by many local music groups including some excellent folk groups managed by Pindrop Events.

To enquire about hiring the Ale House for your event please contact Jane Fanshawe on 01684 540596 or alehouse booking.gmail.com