Cumberworth and Denby Dale Liberal Club
Although no club is stated there are several mentions of Cumberworth
and Denby Dale Liberals in the early 1880s.
The club seems to have appeared under the name of both villages but
would seem to be one and the same. Information
about the club and its exact location is sparse.
First mention of Liberals in Denby Dale was when they were
included in a meeting of the National Reform Union in 1882 which cites the
attendance of the
“Denby Dale Branch of National Reform Union.”
Later
that year a large gathering of Liberals met in the Denby Dale and District
Undenominational Schools for tea and the inaugural meeting of the Denby Dale
Branch of the National Reform Union. It
was reported that 350 people sat down for tea which was served and provided by
the ladies and the first meeting of the branch took place in “the Gas Office”
Denby Dale in February. Manchester Times
18 March 1882Barnsley Chronicle 2 December 1882.
The newly formed Liberal Club held a celebration tea party in
the village in March 1886 which was followed by a public meeting in the
District School, Denby Dale. They were
celebrating the return of H. J. Wilson
as the first M.P. for Holmfirth Division.
John Kaye, JP, of Clayton
West took the chair at the meeting and there was a large attendance despite the
weather being poor. Leeds Mercury 8
March 1886
On Saturday 3rd April 1886 another public tea
meeting was held in the Salem Chapel, Cumberworth, Denby Dale, where members
and friends celebrated the opening of a Liberal
Club in the village. It was reported that there was a good attendance and
“much enthusiasm” displayed at the opening. John Wood of New House, Denby Dale was the chairman and he
explained that the club had been established for about six weeks and already
had 40 members.
The formation of the club was a result of comments made
around the area which it was felt could not go unchallenged. The club had been
formed after a Liberal lecturer was invited to speak in the village in order to
challenge inaccurate messages that they had been hearing at that time. The speech was intended to inform the
villagers with an accurate knowledge of Liberal principles and based on this
then organise resident Liberals to form a Liberal Club. A building was found for the purpose and
fitted out as a club.
James Brownhill of Denby Dale recognised the importance of
the political organisation and
“hailed with pleasure the formation of a Liberal
Club in Cumberworth”.
H. J. Wilson stated in part of his address that he was
impressed by such a large meeting and
“such a good proportion of ladies”.
He
went on to say that he hoped to
“see the ladies on the side of temperance,
peace, education and everything that was good”
that he hoped the rise of the
Primrose League and actions of Tory women would stir up the
“Liberal Ladies to
form similar associations.”
Leeds Mercury
5 April 1886; Barnsley Chronicle 10 April 1886; Sheffield Independent 5 April
1886.
In June of the same year the club placed an advert in the
Leeds Mercury stating that they were looking to buy a “good second hand
billiard table”. Particulars were to be
sent to Levi Kaye at Upper Cumberworth Liberal Club. Leeds
Mercury 10 June 1886
In 1887 J. F. B. Firth attended a large meeting of Liberals
in Denby Dale which was held in the Denby Dale School under the auspices of the
club. Leeds Mercury 5 January 1887.
The annual tea party and meeting of Cumberworth Liberal Club
was held at Salem Chapel, Upper Cumberworth, Denby Dale on Saturday 10 December
1887. H. J. Wilson, MP attended and John
Woods of New House was chairman. Membership of the club had fallen over the
year reducing from 40 to 28. Despite
this fall in membership the meeting was reported as having a good
attendance. The club had bought a
billiard table during the year which had cost £22 of which they had borrowed
£18. Although the club had made £14 from
billiards played during the year this did not offset the debt but had been used
to keep the “club in order”. Various
lectures and papers had been delivered over the course of the year and had been
well attended. Huddersfield Chronicle 17 December 1887
In 1888 a tea party in connection with Denby Dale Liberal
Club was held in Denby Dale School followed by a public meeting. Principal speakers at the meeting were Mr H J
Wilson and My Halley Stewart. The meeting was presided over by John Brownhill. Leeds
Mercury 15 October 1888
Denby Dale Liberal Association met in the District School,
Denby Dale. Sheffield Independent 7
November 1889
