Bolster Moor Liberal Club
Bolster Moor Liberal
Club, Golcar.
The Bolster
Moor Liberal Club was inaugurated in November 1974. Bolster Moor at that time was an outlying
district of Golcar which was very thinly populated. However the inauguration of the club opened
with a tea party which reportedly was attended by a large number of people
despite the area’s small population. The tea party was held in the Clough Head
Meeting house followed by a meeting in the Clough Head New School Room. The reports states that the room
“was filled
to overflowing.”
W. H. Leatham of
Wakefield presided and Mr Bolton the club secretary read the club report to the
crowd. Henry Frederick Beaumont attended the meeting and it had been his
election that had caused the idea of the club to be formed.
The aim of the club
was to propagate political opinions with the
“view of strengthening the hands
of professed Liberals as well as diffusing knowledge of their principles among
the young men of the neighbourhood.”
A reading
room had been formed using one of the school classrooms a few months
previously. This had then been transformed into a Liberal Club when the members
decided to take a stand in politics.
About 50 working men had given their names as members and a house had
then been obtained to use as a club.
However they soon realised that the alterations, improvements and
furniture needed would require considerable outlay. The members quickly formed a working
committee and by their unstinting efforts the house was transformed into a functional
club building. It was divided into rooms, decorated to make it comfortable and
attractive and furnished. It was then ready to begin its aim of providing
political education to its members and to be able to provide action in the
promotion of Liberal principles and ideas in National and local affairs. The
club had honorary members who paid 10s annually and subscribing members who
paid a 1s entry fee and 4d per fortnight in the winter months with 3d per
fortnight in the summer. The management
committee consisted of a president, two vice presidents, treasurer, two secretaries
and twelve members elected by ballot at the annual meeting. The reading room was supplied with newspapers
and periodicals and was well used by the members. There were smoking and
conversation rooms where members could talk or play games such as chess and
draughts. On no account was any gambling
allowed. By the day of its inauguration the membership had risen to 77 and they
were hopeful that this would continue to increase. The club aimed to be able to
supply a Library at some point in the future when funds allowed.
When W H
Leatham addressed the meeting he said that he
“the establishment of these clubs
was necessary to counteract the influence of the Conservatives.”
Wright Mellor also addressed the meeting and
advocated the
“establishing of Liberal Clubs in every town, village and place.”
Huddersfield Chronicle 25 November 1874.
There is
little other information available about the club other than a meeting held at
the club premises in March 1877 to form a Vicar’s Rate Association. This was celebrated with a tea held in the
club rooms and presided over by John Bower Robinson of Marsden. Halifax
Courier 10 March 1877
