1930s village hall, South Street (EHER 46155)

Village hall built in 1932 by Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo, with later 20th century alterations. The internal layout remains much as it was but there are few remaining original fittings. The village hall was the second of three halls built by Mackmurdo, the drawings for which survive in the William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow.

The designer of the village hall, Arthur Mackmurdo, is better known as the architect of the Savoy Hotel. Mackmurdo was a resident of Wickham Bishops, just North of Maldon, where other buildings of his design can be found. It was built in the 1930s with bequest money from Ernest Gale, a local farmer and auctioneer, and extended in around 1975. <1> NRHE data transfer: After retiring Mackmurdo wrote successfully on socio-economics and in 1929 established the Essex Rural Community Council (ERCC) which aimed, amongst other things, to better community life. The foundation of the ERCC prompted Mackmurdo to build three village halls at Great Totham (EHER 82268), Bradwell, and Southminster (EHER 81162). Drawings of the halls survive in the William Morris archive; Bradwell hall was constructed mostly as Mackmurdo intended, but has later alterations which prevent it from fulfilling the criteria for listing. <2> NRHE summary description: Village hall built in 1932 by Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo, with later 20th century alterations. The internal layout remains much as it was but there are few remaining original fittings. The village hall was the second of three halls built by Mackmurdo, the drawings for which survive in the William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow.