It was in 1893 when the Grantown branches of the YMCA and TWCA decided to build a suitable hall for the various meetings of both associations. by 1896 the fund had only reached £800 and it was decided to broaden the appeal and persuade the people of Grantown to make it the town's permanent memorial of the Diamond Jubilee - a scheme that met the approval of the townspeople and Queen Victoria's "most cordial approvial". The foundation stone was laid on the Diamond Jubilee day of June 22 1897. A well received workshop was held in the fiddler's cafe in the YM community centre commonly known as 'The Institute'.