NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING WEDNESDAY 30 September2026
If you have any questions or concerns please speak to a Committee Member prior to this meeting. A full list of all Committee Members is posted on our INFORMATION page.
YOU SPOKE THE COMMITTEE LISTENED
OPENING TIMES REVIEW
At the committee meeting held on 29 April after listening to members representations it was agreed to amend Saturday and Sunday opening times to start at 12 midday. This will take effect from Saturday 9 May.
THE HEMNALL SOCIAL CLUB
RESULT OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON
WEDNESDAY 15TH APRIL 2026
at 8PM.
The Agenda was as follows:
(a) PRESENTATION OFSECRETARY's REPORT FOR 2025
(b) PRESENTATION OF TREASURER's ACCOUNTS FOR 2025
(c) ELECTION OF SECRETARY
John Duffell was elected unopposed
(d) ELECTION OF TREASURER
Dennis Timbers was elected unoposed
(e) ELECTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Peter Murray
Paul Gardener
Colin Mould
Yvonne Goldsworthy
Stephanie Chamberlain
David Brown
Andy Thomas (Membership Sec.)
Paul Chamberlain (Chairman)
All were elected unopposed
As in previous years Membership attendance was poor for this meeting
BLUE PLAQUE UNVEILING CEREMONY FRIDAY 10 APRIL
A blue plaque marking the part the one-time owner of the Copped Hall Estate, Ernest Wythes, played in the establishment of what is now Hemnall Social Club in Epping has been unveiled by Epping Town Council.
The club was formed in 1894 as the Epping Literary & Mechanics Institute. It was first based in a hut in the William Cottis & Sons Foundry, which is now the site of Epping Leisure Centre.
As membership increased, a larger building was required and in 1905, secretary Herbert Gatward wrote to Mr J Carson, a City of London wool merchant who lived in Theydon Bois.
Mr Carson owned a piece of land on the corner of Hemnall Street and Clarks Lane, formerly the site of the Epping & Theydon Garnon School.
It had fallen into disuse in 1861 when the new National School was built in St John’s Road.
In his letter he explained the reasons for moving.
In June 1906 Mr Gatward wrote to Institute president E A Ball with details of the proposed Hemnall Street site, including a rough floor plan, showing the minimum accommodation required in a new building.
The site could be purchased for £500, and the cost of erecting a building would be £1,400. The Institute would be able to pay for the site with subscriptions from members, but not the cost of the building.
Eventually it was decided to ask local philanthropist Ernest Wythes,
the owner of the Copped Hall Estate, to loan the money to the Institute at a low rate of interest.
To their delight Mr Wythes offered to pay for the building himself, leaving the committee with just £500 to find for the land.
In November 1907, a tender from Epping builder James Whiffin & Sons was accepted, and work on the new building began.
The architect was local man F G Hart.
The bricks were manufactured at the Cottis brickworks next to Epping railway station.
The new building was officially opened on Wednesday, July 22 1908.
According to newspaper reports of the time a "large gathering of all classes" witnessed the ceremony which took place in the large reading room.
Today this is part of the main lounge, the area in which the stage is situated.
The chair was occupied by Institute President E A Ball, flanked by Ernest and Aline Wythes.
Also on the platform were Vice-Presidents Colonel Lockwood MP, Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, F. Dent and Rev'd Allwork, Treasurer Hugh Sworder, and the building's architect, Mr F E Hart.
A plaque commemorating the opening can be seen in the club today.
The blue plaque - on the front of the building - was unveiled by Epping Town Mayor councillor Janet Whitehouse, and Alan Cox, architect with the Copped Hall Trust.
Story and Picture courtesy of David Jackman Everything Epping Forest
BAR PRICE RISES
Following a number of increases from suppliers over recent months, we will be raising the price of all drinks by 20p.
We do of course regret having to do this, but we have no alternative. We need to maintain a profit margin if the Club is to remain in business.
Like many others businesses in the hospitality trade, increasing costs and falling attendance levels have had a huge effect, particularly in the last year. This increase is one of a number of measures that will need to be implemented to enable the Club to survive. This will include reviewing the opening hours.
The biggest issue that we are facing is the dwindling numbers of people actually using the Club. We can only do so much to try and improve the Club’s fortunes by saving money where we can. What we really need is the support of the members. Without that, we quite simply won’t be able to continue. The more people that come through the door and use the bar, the better our chances of survival.
It's an old cliché that we have used before, but now it’s more true than ever – USE IT OR LOSE IT!
