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Chalke Valley Stores

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Our History

The creation of Chalke Valley Stores and its associated Cafe were sown in 2011 when it became known that the long-standing and very popular Broad Chalke Village Shop and Post Office would close during the summer of 2013.

Later in 2011, the need for a new village shop and Post Office was identified by a large majority of respondents to a community survey conducted during the preparation of a Village Plan for Broad Chalke, as fundamental to the retention of a thriving rural community in the Western Chalke Valley.

In June 2012, a start up committee of suitably experienced local residents was formed to examine potential locations and the feasibility of creating a new village shop and post office.

United Reformed Church Bowerchalke
United Reformed Church Chapel
The Building

United Reformed Church

The United Reformed Church in Broad Chalke, a fine building strategically sited in the centre of the village on the main Valley road from Salisbury had spare capacity and was in an ideal location. In 2006, due to declining congregations, the United Reformed Church (URC)  generously offered up their building for wider community uses to create a community centre. The project was funded largely by reorganisation of chapel assets, a major contribution by the URC Wessex Trust and a significant contribution by All Saints Parish Church, Broad Chalke.  The Victorian pews were removed and a mezzanine floor was added to create a highly adaptable space for a range of community activities while retaining its use for worship. The new mezzanine floor provided office space and an open area for local archives and small meetings.

By 2012, the Broad Chalke URC congregation had dwindled to the stage where it could no longer provide for the upkeep of the chapel building. It was recognised that in the absence of regular income from a commercial concern and/or a growing and prosperous congregation, a further stage of development would be needed to ensure the chapel’s long term viability. Its suitability for use as the new village shop and Post Office alongside its other uses quickly became obvious.

Importantly, all this could be done in a way that enabled, the URC to continue to use the chapel’s worship area for church services.

CVCH

Chalke Valley Community Hub Ltd

In early 2013, the start-up committee created Chalke Valley Community Hub Limited (‘CVCH’), a registered the society under what is now the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.  The financial support CVCH received enabled it not only to fit-out and stock the Stores and Cafe and to enable other spaces to be used by the community, but also to do so with suitable capital reserves. Chalke Valley Stores opened for business on 3rd June, 2013, and shortly afterwards it was formally opened by the late Sir Terry Pratchett, a local resident. Less than a year later, Chalke Valley Stores was voted winner of the Daily Telegraph/Countryside Alliance competition for the Best Village Shop and Post Office in the UK.

Since then, The Hub has become a facility for the whole of the Chalke Valley, and not just for the village of Broad Chalke.  As well as becoming a much used and appreciated community facility, the shop and cafe attract customers from much further afield whether travelling by car, bicycle, on foot or even horseback, particularly in the summer months.

Sir Terry Pratchett Opening Ceremony

Sir Terry Pratchett

Open for Business – 3rd June, 2013