Welcome to Norton Friends Meeting webpage.
50 The Green,
Norton,
Stockton on Tees,
TS20 1DU.
(what3words: sofa.entertainer.code)
Email contact- Helen: hdwmanagementservices@gmail.com
Emergency mobile: 07941 338169
Meeting House
Norton Friends Meeting is a lovely historic 16th Century meeting house on Norton Village green and is very much part of the community there. Quakerism is a way of life rooted in a transforming experience of the Divine. From this we seek to live out our principles of truth, peace, simplicity and equality, recognising that of God in everyone.
Meeting for Worship each Sundays at 10.30am. Anyone is welcome to attend without prior notice.
Projects
Friend of Norton Quakers and local Community Champion Helen Deehan brings the Norton Quaker Meeting House Graveyard to Life.
The Next-door Nature Norton project is on the back of the National Wildlife Trust Next-door Nature campaign. Finding spaces to help inspire communities to increase nature in their own spaces and in the process create new nature spaces in our communities.
The project is a collaboration between Norton Quakers, Teeswildlife, BMBF and Helen Deehan with funding secured from the Tees Valley Nature Partnership & BMBF to cover materials.
With a no dig option due to the grounds being an ancient burial ground plus a large space to tackle, the project was broken into 4 zones. The first phase saw the creation of a new log bed. The cedar logs being a hard wood will give the new space time to bed in but giving plants important structure. The logs encourage insects and fungo, all beneficial to the biodiversity of the grounds.
20 tonnes of soil was moved into the log beds which will be used to plant hedging and flowers which support inspects, pollinators and local birds.
New hedging is planted is below.
An array of plants are now being planted. Local children have also come on community days to help grow sunflowers which will be part of phase 2!
Latin name | English name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Crataegus Monogyna | Hawthorn | One of the best native hedging plants for British Wildlife |
Prunus Spinosa | Blackthorn | A native shrub with autumn sloes, adored by hungry birds |
Acer Campestre | Field Maple | Attracts insects that are a good source of food for birds. |
Alnus glutinosa | Alder | Host to a large number of insect species that are excellent food for nesting birds. |
Rosa Canina | Dog Rose | Seasonal colour provided by red autumn leaves and berries as well as white summer flowers. |
Prunus Padus | Bird Cherry | Fragrant flowers and good autumn colour. |
Room hire
Two spaces are available for rent, Monday to Saturday 9am to 10pm.
- Main meeting room: The dimensions of the room are approximately 15m x 10 m. Seats around 40 comfortably, depending on layout.
- Social room: The dimensions of the room are approximately 10m x 6m. Seats around 20.
Facilties overview:
- Wifi throughout.
- Tables and chairs available for use in both rooms
- Kitchen for drinks making is included in all hire. (Bring your own supplies)
- Accessible building throughout including toilets and baby changing facility.-
ROOM | Rate per hour | Rate per session/Day |
|---|---|---|
Main Meeting Room | £12.00 | £30 for 3 hours/£70 for day (6h +) |
Social Room | £8.50 | £22 for 3 hours/£50 for day (6h+) |
Booking information & procedure:
- Please first check and read the hire policy
- Check the diary link here for general availability
- To arrange viewing or to reserve dates, please contact the booking clerk, Helen Whittington - hdwmanagementservices@gmail.com
Documents for download:
Hirer policy -TCAM Hirer Policy
Hirer information pack -Hirer Information pack
Booking form -Booking form (docx - editable) or -Booking form (PDF)
Notes:
- Email to provisionally reserve the day/times you need. This is held for up to 2 weeks.
- Read through the hirer information pack (PDF) and sign acceptance on the completed booking form.
- There is a choice of formats to use above - either docx version (word) to fill out online, save, and return by email or PDF to print and scan/email or post back.
- Insurance: Ensure you have read and understood the clause in the hirers pack and sign accordingly.
- You'll be notified once the booking is confirmed. Our policy for cancellation or changes without charge is usually 7 days notice by email.
- The booking clerk will arrange a short one off safety and building induction before your first session (normally just 10 mins ahead of set up). This is mandatory for all groups leaders as a condition of hire.
- Any other information or advice you need, please just email Helen as above.
- As the meeting house is primarily a place of worship, Quaker events will always take precedence. It is very rare that we need to cancel an agreed booking; an alternative room, day, time will generally be agreed with as much notice as possible.