Our History
The beginning: 1906-07
In the early 1900s Frances Sarah Williams was renting a property in Painswick while visiting her daughter and son-in-law, who happened to be the vicar of Painswick. She was very wealthy, having been left a lot of money by her first husband, who was part of the Lea & Perrins dynasty, and made a habit of donating to worthy causes. She noted that Painswick lacked anywhere that could happily accommodate large numbers of people, and decided to buy a plot of land in the middle of the village, and give it to the community, along with a lump sum to build a hall and community rooms. Frances laid the foundation stone in December 1906 and opened the Painswick Institute and Working Men's Club in September 1907, to great fanfare.

Frances Sarah Williams' vision
Architect W. Curtis Green, Grays Inn Square London
Builder Messers Burdock & Son Painswick
Clerk of Works J. Cutter Croydon
Fore Man Mason S. Mills
The entire cost of the building including furniture is to be borne by Mrs Williams. When the building is complete it is to be handed over to Trustees for the benefit of the Town of Painswick forever.
The five Trustees are to be –
W. Dyson Perrins Malvern
A. Hyett Esq Painswick House
The Rev W. H. Seddon Vicar & son in law to Mrs Williams
Edward Reed Esq The Rookery
Bicknell Yew Tree House
In addition the Parish Council will appoint two trustees"
