Story of the Water Lane Hall
Water Lane Hall, built in 1915 as a Sunday school, was originally the Congregational Church Hall and later became the United Reformed Church hall, belonging to the church opposite on Water Lane. It was known for many years as The Institute. The church hall has always been lively with activity, and hired by a multitude of different local groups.
Read Emily Cole’s detailed history of the building (below).
This independent report, commissioned by Bishop’s Stortford Civic Federation, reveals the origins, architecture, landscape setting and social history of the hall. It sets out the features that create its identity and character, and how it has formed an integral part of the historic character of Water Lane and the Meads.
The hall and its history report Final Feb 22 Download
The hall was threatened with demolition in the emerging plans for Causeway car park and Charringtons House on Old River Lane. Plans from 2021 showed the hall wiped out to rejig Waitrose car park. The Friends of Water Lane Hall (FoWLH) was set up to fight the wipe out and keep the hall live.
A landmark was the application by the Civic Federation for designation of the building as an Asset of Community Value – this was based on its continuous community life over decades. This was confirmed in 2022. It strengthened the planning policy to protect community facilities.
Designation of the ACV was followed by a carefully worked out community bid for the site – which the council sat on for a long time, but crucially, did not reject out of hand. It was backed up by a public appeal for pledges to purchase the property.
The Friends of Water Lane Hall vigorously objected the the planning application made in late 2022 for the Old River Lane development, which included a watered-down arts centre, still intended to exterminate South Mill Arts. Not only did FoWLH object to the sea of tarmac replacing Water Lane Hall, it pointed out errors and inconsistencies in the overblown and hasty planning application, showed that Waitrose had not been consulted and that it would cause traffic paralysis. This application was withdrawn.
After the 2023 election, the new EHC administration looked at all aspects of the development area afresh. It talked to people about the hall, and negotiated changes to the Old River Lane development – now excluding the hall. The hall was saved from demolition. The council agreed to get a comprehensive building survey and to thoroughly review options for the way forward. It held public consultation events about ways forward.
Friends of Water Lane Hall pointed out that the aspiration for an arts centre could be simply translated to conversion of the existing building. We made the case that the re-use of the hall for creativity would complement the new development as well as the North Street area.
The work of the last two – three years has been to develop a concept for converting the existing building to optimise use of the existing spaces, including enclosing the undercroft for a new welcoming entrance. A huge amount of effort has been made to talk to groups, performers and businesses about how they could use the hall and how the building could be programmed and managed. A detailed business case has been prepared.
Early in 2026, the council launched an online and on street survey asking for people’s preferences on either, community ownership; develop with local business for retail; selling the building on the open market; demolishing to make way for other uses. Over 600 online and 200 on street resulted in 80% in favour of transferring ownership to the FoWLH.
A formal letter of offer, with stringent conditions followed on 11 March 2026.
How Water Lane Hall fits within the town
North Street culture and business area
North Street and Water Lane is the most diverse business area in the whole town. As well as having a very strong historic character, these streets have activity from morning to night-time. Linking into this glorious network of culture and business by retaining Water Lane Hall is a big part of what the ORL scheme should seek to achieve.
Variety of business, relaxation and culture
The businesses here include banks, finance, law and charities. This includes the businesses tucked within White Swan Court and Sworders Yard. The specialist retailers include interiors stores, fashion hire, musical instruments and flowers. The eating and drinking spots include high quality independent and chain restaurants.
Events and gatherings
The area draws large numbers of people to events – The Horn at the Half Moon, the Charis centre, the United Reformed Church (URC) as well as the hall itself over many years. The De Rosa Music school attracts people to classes; the Charis centre attracts the Women’s Institute and concerts, and St Michael’s and St Joseph’s Churches are part of this dynamism.
Lovely shops
This is all held in place by secure shopping anchors – Florence Walk, Bridge Street shopping, long-established Coopers, Waitrose. Northgate End parking serves this area well and enables day-long comings and goings.
Mixed use exemplified
Water Lane Hall is part of the distinctive mixture of businesses on Water Lane – a music school, shopping, churches, legal and property services, beauticians, counselling services and pub. We talk of wanting mixed use in lively neighbourhoods – this is mixed use. Very importantly, cultural life and pubs are a good mutually supportive arrangement – this diverse area is animated by the Star pub and the Half Moon pub.
The hall is the fulcrum between Old River Lane and North Street
Facing both east and west, the hall is the single active link between the anticipated Old River Lane development, adjacent to the only public footpath connection.