Heckmondwike Conservative Club

Prior to any report of a Conservative Club in Heckmondwike a meeting of  local Conservatives was held in 1886 in the town to make a presentation of and album and an address to John E Gladstone, nephew of William E Gladstone.  John Gladstone had contested the Spen Valley seat for the Conservatives in the general election.   Tea was served in the Co Operative Hall and then a large public meeting followed in the Salvation Army Barracks.  There were 2000 people of

 “enthusiastic character” 

present who cheered when John Gladstone stood to speak. Frederick Ellis, President of the Conservative Association, and Sir Frederick Milner were also present and spoke at the meeting.   Sir Frederick also got an 

“enthusiastic reception”.   

Leeds Mercury 30 April 1886

The Heckmondwike Conservative Club situated on Beck Lane Heckmondwike, was opened in October 1887 by Mr C B Stuart-Wortley, MP, Under Secretary of State for the Home Department.  There was just a small number of spectators at the opening but a meeting was held in the evening in the Salvation Army Barracks.  It was reported that the hall could hold several thousand people and had been crowded the previous week when Mr Joseph Woodhead and Mr H. H. Asquith addressed a meeting there. However on the occasion of the opening it the Leeds Mercury reported that 

“it was sparsely filled”  

although it goes on to say that there were between 7 and 8 hundred people there with more coming as the evening went on.   Many prominent Conservative from the area attended including Frederick Ellis who chaired the meeting and Sir Charles Firth.  Bradford Daily Telegraph 26 October 1887

York Herald 1880

In 1889 it was reported in the York Herald 9 Sept, 1889, that Milton Sheridan Sharpe and A. Macaulay represented the Heckmondwike Club at a 

“Great Unionist Demonstration” 

in Denton Park near Ilkley, where they gave an address to the crowds.   Milton Sheridan Sharpe was the President of the club and a local businessmen.  Mr Macaulay was the treasurer.

Yorkshire Evening Post 1 Dec 1892

As reported in the Yorkshire Evening post, Milton Sharpe presided over the annual meeting of the club in 1892, where there was a good attendance recorded. Membership that year stood at 210 and the finances were reportedly better than the previous year, so the club would appear to be doing well at this point. Milton Sharpe was re-elected as President of the club.  Yorkshire Evening Post 1 December 1892

In 1912 a billiards exhibition match was held at the club.

At the annual meeting in 1929 membership stood at 164 which was an increases of 10 on the previous year. The club had a healthy balance of £695.  Leeds Mercury 26 January 1929

Yorkshire Post 1930

The club were reported as having had a successful year at their annual meeting in February 1930.   Although they had spent some money on decorating the club premises they continued to have a good balance of £712 9s 11d. There is no mention of the number of members in the annual report for the year.   Yorkshire Post 1 February 1930

In 1939 the club experienced a burglary with 2 young men aged 18 & 19 stealing money, whisky and other items from the club.  They pleaded guilty and were both given three years in Borstal for their crime.  Leeds Mercury 28 March 1939

A report in the Leeds Mercury in 1939 suggests that Conservatism in Heckmondwike may have been on the wane.  The President of the club Councillor P Fletcher said of Heckmondwike Conservatives that they showed no 

“outward active signs of interest in politics”.   

He said that in his own experience he had found that they were not interested in listening to political speeches, they would rather read them in the newspapers and argue about then afterwards!  The club had lost money that year and spent a sum of £62 on alterations to the club.  However there was still a balance of £400.  Leeds Mercury 3 February 1939.

Entries for the club in Kellys Directory from 1893 up until 1936 showed the club address as Beck Street and Kaye Street in Heckmondwike.

The club no longer exists and its premises are now a private house.  It is unknown at this stage when it closed.

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