Kirkburton Liberal Club
Kirkburton Liberal Club
The exact date that the Kirkburton Liberal was formed is
unclear but “friendly” games between Liberal Clubs in the area were reported by
the Huddersfield Chronicle in February 1879.
One would presume that these friendly games were billiards as another
report of a billiards match against Penistone Liberal Club was made in March
1891. Huddersfield Chronicle 8 February 1879; Sheffield Independent 11 March
1891.
By 1881 there was an entry in Kelly’s Directory for the club
giving Joe Mellor as its secretary. The
annual meeting was held in the February of that year when a resolution of
confidence in the government was given by the club members to which they got a
reply from William E Gladstone’s office a few days later. Sheffield Independent 10 February 1881
The club appeared to be take a
very active role in the political events in the area and there are reports of
large Liberal demonstrations in the 1880s in which Kirkburton Liberals seem to
have been instrumental.
A Liberal demonstration under the
auspices of Kirkburton Liberal Club was held on a fine autumn day in September
1882. The event was attended by over 6000 people who had travelled from all
around the local area which included Rowley, Lepton, Kirkheaton, Spa Bottom,
Shelley, Skelmanthorpe and Huddersfield. A large number, wearing yellow rosettes,
gathered outside Kirkburton railway station and from there they marched in
procession to music from Kirkburton, Grange Moor and Shelley Brass Bands. The demonstration meeting was held in a field
belonging to Alderman Eccles and it was there that speeches were given by
prominent Liberal members amongst whom were Charles Bradlaugh, M.P., and Alderman Joseph
Woodhead who was the chair of the gathering. Mr Woodhead stated in his
address that it was evident through the great demonstration in front of him
that the people of Kirkburton were prepared to express their opinions openly
and independently. He went on to say
that they were not “lukewarm” on political questions and they adhered strongly
to Liberal principles and a determination to support the Liberal government. He urged them to
“band together with greater
strength for as long as there was a single wrong to be redressed”.
His
resolution was carried unanimously by the crowd. Religious freedom and extension of the
franchise were also subjects that were addressed and all resolutions that day
were agreed unanimously. Huddersfield Daily
Chronicle 11 September 1882; Huddersfield
Chronicle 16 September 1882
Similarly in April 1884 a
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| Sheffield Independent 1884 |
was held in Kirkburton with people from Liberal Clubs and
Associations all around the area taking part. The meeting was in response to
the Conservative challenge that there was a lack of interest in the Reform Bill
with the object of the gathering being pass resolutions in favour of the
Franchise Bill. Liberal clubs and associations from a Cowms,
Denby Dale, Honley, Kirkburton, Kirkheaton, Shelley, Shepley, Skelmanthorpe,
Thurstonland and Wooldale gathered at 2.30 pm near the Kirkburton Liberal Club.
Early on that Saturday afternoon the roads
around Kirkburton were packed with people and a sea of very colourful flags and
banners in yellow and orange came into the little town from all directions. Many had paraded from their home villages such
as Shelley and Honley Liberal Clubs. Once gathered in Kirkburton the crowd formed
a great procession with an estimated 9000 people present. Reports stated that
the
“numbers and enthusiasm recalled to mind the meetings held during the
Chartist agitation”.
The procession, which was around a mile in
length, paraded into town led by the rousing sounds of music from several brass
bands. Crowds of people lined the route
and followed the procession to the grounds of Alderman Eccles home. There a tent had been erected which was
capable of holding 5000 people and this was filled very quickly. One side of
the tent had been left open and those who could not gain access gathered as
close as possible to hear the addresses. The speakers were cheered by the
waiting crowd as they entered and the meeting went on for over three hours. It
was a very orderly occasion and the newspapers reported that
“not a single cry
of opposition was raised from the vast assembly.”
Huddersfield
Chronicle; Scotsman; Sheffield & Rotherham Independent 21
April 1884.
Ralph Creyke, M. P.
for York, was the principal speaker of the day accompanied by many prominent
local men. John Kaye, JP, of Clayton West, chaired the meeting and he was
greeted with cheers from the crowd when he opened the proceedings and praised
the crowd on
“the glorious numbers assembled “
and how it was as if
“Providence
smiled upon them due to the beautiful change in the weather.”
He then went on to talk about the Reform Act
and extending the franchise to more of the population. He said it was time for
a reckoning day and
“as Yorkshiremen they wanted no Tory favours; they wanted
Liberal measures to come from Liberals.”
Huddersfield
Chronicle 26 April 1884
Lectures and political meetings
were held regularly at the club. A lecture on the “Irish question” was held in
the Christian Mission Hall by Mr Wormald
Waring of the National Reform Union. Abraham Booth of High Cross House was
Chairman of the meeting. Sheffield & Rotherham Independent 4 November 1887. Meetings could be of a general political
nature with discussion about a variety of political issues of the day being
debated. These meetings were not always
held in the club premises and on at least one occasion the Dogley Lane Independent
School was used as the venue but wherever they were held the report was usually
of a “very fair” attendance. Sheffield
& Rotherham Independent 30 April 1888.
In 1895 meeting of
delegates for the County Council Elections was held at the Kirkburton Liberal
Club with the President of the Council, Abraham
Booth, chairing the meeting and once again a good attendance was reported.
John Wood was selected again as Liberal Candidate for the Kirkburton Division
of the West Riding at the meeting.
Huddersfield Daily Chronicle 20 February 1895.
Another lecturer was Revd. Whitham, from the National Reform Union,
who spoke on
“The coming battle and the Liberal Outlook.”
This lecture was given in the club premises
and a large audience was once again reported to have attended. Huddersfield Chronicle 4 February 1899
In 1897 the club acquired new
premises at the cost of £850 which were opened by Abraham Booth. Leeds Times
24 April 1897.
At the annual meeting in 1899 the club was showing a healthy
balance of £388 “odd” but they had liabilities to meet which left a working
capital of only £18 5s. There was
reportedly a large audience at the meeting but no membership numbers were
stated. Huddersfield Daily Chronicle 3 February 1899
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| Henry J Wilson |
Henry J. Wilson, MP, addressed a meeting of Kirkburton Liberals in
September 1900 where he received an enthusiastic welcome from a large audience.
He spoke on the forthcoming general election and its possible date urging them
to prepare for the event in advance. He
went on to speak about the current government policies and their failings as he
saw it. From this speech the member’s
resolution condemned the government policy in social, domestic and foreign
affairs. Leeds Mercury 13 September 1900.
Henry Wilson gave several addresses to the club including one in 1901
about the Boer War.
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| Sheffield Daily Telegraph 1901 |
Not only political debates and
lectures were held under the club auspices but also social events.
One such social evening was held
in Club to raise funds for two members of the club who had been incapacitated
and had been unable to work for some time. Around 200 people attended and
dancing and entertainment were enjoyed with music was provided by Mr
Goldthorpe’s Band, Messrs G Green and A Charlesworth acted as M.Cs. In
total £9 was handed over to the families of the men and the event was declared
a success and finished at 11.30pm. Huddersfield Chronicle 18 February 1899
Abraham Booth, who as can be seen was a prominent member of the club, was created an Alderman
in 1904 and so the club called a meeting in March of that year to select
someone to replace him and represent Kirkburton Division on the West Riding
County Council. The unanimous selection
by the club was Percy Richard Jackson
of Skelmanthorpe, a well-known Liberal in the area. Barnsley Chronicle & Leeds Mercury, March 1904.
The club is still in existence in Kirkburton today.
