Hightown Liberal Club
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| The Hightown 2018 |
Hightown Liberal Club is an active social meeting place in the area, but nowadays with no political allegiance. It is now called “The Hightown”, a public free house, and although the foundation stone of the current building says 1914 the club has been in existence much longer. The club has a bowling green to the rear.
It is unclear on what date Hightown Liberal Club had been formed but it was extended in 1887. The addition of a new reading room to replace the “small, inadequate” newsroom followed the impetus given to local politics in the area after the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. Apparently the effect of this had been very significant in the Liversedge area, with two Liberal Clubs having been opened in a short. Hightown had obtained additional accommodation adjoining the existing club and they utilised this to provide reading and discussion rooms. The club had a debating society and it was the intention to hold regular debates on political and social questions of the day. These debates were to be prefaced by lectures and essays from prominent “Liberal gentlemen” from the local area.
The new reading room was opened by Joseph Woodhead, M.P. and commenced with tea in the club followed by a public meeting in Hightown Board School. The opening was seen as being at a “very opportune time “reported in The Leeds Mercury.
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| Leeds Mercury |
There were several speakers at the meeting including Joseph Woodhead and Josiah Rhodes, who is also connected to Heckmondwike Liberal Club and congratulated members on the new room at Hightown.
Thomas F Firth, President of the Divisional Liberal Association suggested that a subject for discussion by the Hightown Liberal Club Debating Society should be “bi-metalism” as although it was not a party subject it was a subject which since
“1873 had been at the root of our whole political system”.
Leeds Mercury 21 November 1887
The current building was built in 1914 and was badly damaged by fire in 2008 when an arsonist set fire to the premises. The Huddersfield Examiner reported that the man had smashed a window at the club to gain entry in the early hours of the morning but was spotted by an off duty policeman. The man then sprayed petrol into the club and set it on fire but the vapours ignited and set fire to his clothing. Although he was suffering from burns to his hands and arms he ran off and managed to escape the police. They subsequently called out the police helicopter to aid their search. Fire crews arrived from surrounding stations and took control of the fire. The lounge area was completely destroyed and the upstairs living quarter, which were uninhabited, were damaged by smoke.
Huddersfield Examiner 26 June 2008
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| After the fire, 2009 |
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| 2018 |
