Rowen Memorial Hall commemorates the local people who fought in the First World War. The original Memorial Hall in the middle of the village was an old army hut from Kinmel Army Camp, and it served as the village hall from about 1924 until 1980. In the early 1970s the community decided to replace the old Hall, but the existing Hall site was too small and there was no space for car parking.

The Memorial Hall was rebuilt on a new site in 1980, following many years of fund-raising, with whist drives, coffee mornings, sponsored events and donations, led by John England, Is y Coed; Isoline Gee, Gilfach; Chris Siertsema, Conwy Valley Nurseries; Jacqui Jones (nee Thomas), Cartrefle and Cottage; David Richard Williams, Valley View; Dudley Bedford, Gwynant and others. Peter McFadden became Hall Treasurer in 1978, following the retirement of Dudley Bedford. Chris Siertsema became Hall Chairman when Miss Gee died in 1977. Miss Gee bequeathed to the Hall a parcel of land at Craflwyn and a legacy of £2000. The land was exchanged for a more suitable piece of land near Llannerch y Felin, belonging to farmer John Davies, Cefn y Cae.

The very complicated land transfer was undertaken by Janet Evans of Howell Jones Solicitors, Llanrwst. The new site was adjacent to the playing field and it had access onto the existing public car park.

The new Memorial Hall was designed by Kenneth Mortimer Hart, Penrhiw, Rowen and built in 1980 by Frank Tyldesley and Co, Llandudno at a cost of £50,000. Chris Siertsema was Hall Chairman at the time. We were applying for grant aid to build the Hall at a time of very high price inflation. We sold the old Hall site to a builder for £9000, and we vacated the Hall in September 1980. The new Memorial Hall opened in December 1980 with a whist drive with 27 tables or 108 people.

The new Hall was officially opened by John England in 1981.

David R. Williams started a 20 plus year term as Hall Chairman in 1983. We made continuous improvements to the Hall including gas heating, fire alarm and emergency lighting, double-glazing, disabled access and toilet, new storeroom, new tables and chairs, new curtains etc, by local fund-raising efforts, and with grant aid from WREN, (Waste Recycling Group) and others,

In 1993, Eric and Mary Knowles, Tan y Capel, started the very successful Village Gardens Open to raise funds to replace the Hall curtains. The Open Days continue to provide funds to improve the Hall.

Shirley Foxwell became Hall Chairman in 2004, and has introduced many improvements: new kitchen, new lighting, central heating and better access.

The Hall has become busier and busier. New activities include community lunches and ballroom dancing. Rowen Art Group has held their Annual Exhibition in the Memorial Halls, old and new, for well over 50 years. The Country Dancing Group started in the mid 1970s in the old Hall and they continue to meet on Tuesday evenings.

Peter McFadden, Tel: 01492 650851. peter@honeyfair.freeserve.co.uk

Trustee and Treasurer

"Ynys Goch"

Ty'n y Groes

Conwy LL32 8UH.

Updated April 2011