Lindley Liberal Club
Lindley Liberal Club
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| Lindley Liberal Club |
The Lindley
Liberal Association was formed in rooms
in Thornhill Street, in May 1872 with its name being changed to Lindley
Liberal Club in 1875. Although the
foundation stone on the current club building reads 1887 a report in the
Huddersfield Chronicle of March 1876 shows the club holding its
However it would seem that
simultaneous inaugurations of Liberal Clubs, of which Lindley was one, across
Huddersfield took place in the Armoury, Ramsden Street in January 1874. The
inaugural proceedings began with a
to which over 900 sat
down. By the time the meeting was due to commence at 7pm the large hall was
filled to capacity with a good natured crowd.
Edward Aldam Leatham along
with many prominent local Liberals were present and addressed the gathering.
The chairman C Mills welcomed the
clubs and said that there was not enough data to say exactly what the Liberal
membership was at that time in Huddersfield but could state the membership for
some of the individual clubs present. Lindley Club was said to have 80 members
at that date. It would seem that this would make the Lindley Liberal Club one of the oldest in the
district.
“inaugural
meeting”.
“substantial tea”
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| Mechanics Hall, Lindley, now Lindley Library. |
The inaugural
meeting held by the club in 1876 took place in the Mechanics Hall and was
preceded by a dinner. It was stated that the audience on the day was not
large. The meeting was chaired by Joseph Brooke of Reinwood and the
Lindley Liberal Club Glee Party entertained with a selection of music with John
Cowgill amusing the audience with comic recitations. When Joseph
Brooke addressed the gathering he said that the occasion was to celebrate
the opening of additional rooms at the club which suggests that the club had
been in existence prior to this event.
He went on to say that they needed better accommodation due to the rise
in numbers at the club. He felt that
time might see the need for further alterations and added that they had proved
their critic’s wrong who had said that the sale of
“stimulants” i.e. alcohol
“would prove injurious to the sobriety and morality of the members."
The Lindley Club had 208 members at that
point and the sales of alcohol and cigars only amounted to less than 2s per
week. The main aim of the club was to
“enlighten its members on the principles of the Liberal party and to strengthen
their hands in municipal and parliamentary elections.”
Councillor Charles Glendinning also spoke at the meeting
congratulating their success and reiterated the club aims by stating that clubs
such as Lindley
“were to be places of occasional resort for improving political
knowledge.”
Some months
prior to the inaugural event the club had held a dance at the Mechanics
Institute, where 40 members and
“40 others, wives and sweethearts”
enjoyed the
evening. Music and refreshments were served all evening and the event finished
at 12.30 in
“the most amicable style.”
The club
held regular entertainments in the Mechanics
Hall, the first of the season in September 1976 included, as might have been expected, the Liberal Club Glee Party together with the
Shelley Handbell Ringers and a reader, reciter Mr Greener of Huddersfield. The
evening was reported to have
“passed off in capital style.”
They seem to have been well planned and very popular occasions.
Women were not permitted to be members of the club but were often involved in organisation of social events, particularly the catering and fund raising. However in 1876 the members of the club invited ladies from the area who were
to a tea meeting in the Mechanics Hall where a free
would be served to the ladies.
Any of the men who wished to attend could do so on the payment of
1s. The report in the local press stated
After tea a public meeting was held in the hall with the President of the club Edward Martin in the chair. The meeting was well attended and addresses were made by various prominent local Liberals. The club glee party once again provided entertainment throughout the evening.
“free and
independent electors”
“knife and fork”
“the lady politicians readily responded to the invitation and heartily enjoyed
the repast provided.”
After tea a public meeting was held in the hall with the President of the club Edward Martin in the chair. The meeting was well attended and addresses were made by various prominent local Liberals. The club glee party once again provided entertainment throughout the evening.
The Lindley Liberal Club Glee Singers
also performed at other local events such as the Whit Tuesday tea held by the
local branch of the Ancient Order of Foresters in 1877.
By this time, 1877, membership had risen and the club boasted 278
members and a healthy balance sheet! Huddersfield
Chronicle 10 January 1874, 8 January, 25 March, 30 September & 23 December
1876; 26 May & 8 September 1877
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| Mechanics Hall. geograph- 4747548 by John Slater |
The club
used the Mechanics Institute to hold large meetings and Edward Aldam Leatham , MP spoke at one in January 1878. He
addressed the members of the club on the subject of
Similar meetings were held to discuss and debate government policies. Yorkshire Post 11 January 1878; Huddersfield Chronicle 18 October 1879
“Party Organisation, the
Disestablishment of the Church and the Eastern Question”.
Similar meetings were held to discuss and debate government policies. Yorkshire Post 11 January 1878; Huddersfield Chronicle 18 October 1879
The club
sought to
Unfortunately the event had to be postponed
due to the speaker J. R. Haigh being unable to attend. Huddersfield
Chronicle 21 January 1881.
“enlighten”
its membership by holding regular lectures and
discussions on political subjects. One such lecture planned to be held in
January 1881, took the topic
“The British and Colonial Confederation”.
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Occupation Road, Lindley. 1910
Kirklees Image Archives
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By 1887 the
membership had risen to 215 and the club premises were no longer adequate for
club requirements and so they resolved to erect a new building. Legal deeds of
the Lindley Liberal Club show that a centrally located corner site measuring
approximately 780 acres, known as “The Acres” was selected for the
purpose. That position we now know as
the junction of Occupation Road where the club is adjacent to the famous
Lindley Clock Tower which was built around 1900.
A management company was set up for the purpose of managing the project and named the
Plans were drawn up by A. J. Taylor, a local architect and the cost of the project was estimated to be £2000. The plans showed that it would be built in what was known as
It was to have a reading room measuring 18feet by 14 feet and a billiard room measuring 35 feet by 20 feet on the ground floor. On the upper floor there was to be a large assembly room, 35 feet by 34 feet with an open timber roof. Also on the upper floor would be a committee or private billiard room, 28 feet by 15 feet.
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Lindley Clock Tower, 1910.
Kirklees Image Archive.
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A management company was set up for the purpose of managing the project and named the
Lindley Liberal Club Building Company.
On 21st July 1887 they purchased the land from a local
grocer, Thomas Hey, who sold it to them £195. This land did not include what subsequently
became a bowling green nor any spare land nearby. Signatories for the Lindley
Liberal Club Building Company were chairman, Frederick William Sykes, Secretary, Henry Kilner, and trustees Arthur Walker and Joel Crosland.  |
| Original Floor Plan |
Plans were drawn up by A. J. Taylor, a local architect and the cost of the project was estimated to be £2000. The plans showed that it would be built in what was known as
“English Gothic Style.”
It was to have a reading room measuring 18feet by 14 feet and a billiard room measuring 35 feet by 20 feet on the ground floor. On the upper floor there was to be a large assembly room, 35 feet by 34 feet with an open timber roof. Also on the upper floor would be a committee or private billiard room, 28 feet by 15 feet.
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| Thomas Wayman, MP |
Building commenced almost immediately and the
cornerstones were laid the following month on the 6th August. On the day of the stone laying ceremony club
members and friends gathered to form a procession behind the Lindley Brass
band. They walked from the existing club
premises, through the streets to the site, where the ceremony was witnessed by
upwards of two thousand people. Among the procession were William Summers MP for Huddersfield and Thomas Wayman, MP for Elland,
with Alfred Walker, club president. It was hoped that the larger building would boost
membership and encourage new members to join.
Frederick William Sykes was to lay
the foundation stone and he was presented with a trowel by Joel Crosland and a
mallet by Joe Moore to commemorate the occasion. Arthur
Walker placed a box with unknown contents in the cavity beneath the stone
and the Sykes laid the stone.
When Thomas
Wayman addressed the crowd he congratulated the members of the club and
wished them success with the new building.
He went on to say that he hoped their club would have
“good character
and that they should have no excessive drinking in it, and no gambling, and
that they would not keep it open until untimely hours!”
He believed that it should be a place of
“mutual improvement” and would have the effect of “improving the growth of
Liberalism.”
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| MP for Huddersfied |
When William Summers stood to speak he was received with cheers. In his message he stated that he hoped the
new club would
“not only be a centre for innocent amusement and recreation but
also a means of further enlightening the Lindley portion of the constituency.”
The club
then needed to raise the required funds for the project through a variety of
means including the sale of £1 shares and fund raising events. In March 1888 W. Summers opened a bazaar in the large room of new building in aid
of
The bazaar was held over three days with the ladies holding sewing clubs prior to the day to make items for stalls. There were “plain and
fancy stalls”, a flower stall, a bran tub and “refreshments stalls” all of
which were run by the women connected with the club members as was usual at the time. However the young men of the club also ran a stall.
“the fund for liquidating the debt on the new premises.”
The
“spacious” new club building was formally opened in “splendid weather” on
Wednesday 26th June 1889 by Sir
George Otto Trevelyan, Bart, MP for Bridgeton, Glasgow.
Huddersfield Chronicle reported the building as presenting
A picture taken around 1910 gives us some idea of what it looked like at the time with open space all around. It must have looked quite imposing in the setting, although the clock tower was built some years after the club around 1900.
After his address he proceeded to formally declare the club open. The club was named the Lindley Liberal Club until 1891 when the club was registered with the friendly societies as Lindley Liberal Working Men’s Club.
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| Sir George Otto Trevelyan |
Huddersfield Chronicle reported the building as presenting
“a most pretentious appearance.”
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| Lindley Liberal Club and Clock Tower C1910. Kirklees Image Archive |
“the club was one of the most
complete and perfect building for its purpose that he had ever seen in any part
of the country.”
After his address he proceeded to formally declare the club open. The club was named the Lindley Liberal Club until 1891 when the club was registered with the friendly societies as Lindley Liberal Working Men’s Club.
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| Huddersfield Chronicle 23 March 1888 |
However the
new building was not popular with everyone.
The Huddersfield Chronicle received a letter signed by a
which supported the building of a single line railway to Lindley but criticised the new club building on 20 March 1888.
“Liberal
Unionist”
which supported the building of a single line railway to Lindley but criticised the new club building on 20 March 1888.
“As regards
the Liberal Club at Lindley, I may say that whoever approaches this erection on
the Occupation Road must be struck by its incongruous appearance, the elevation
being entirely out of harmony with the situation. I fancy our worthy surveyor
was thinking of his income tax, or perhaps the failure of an experimental trip
to Lindley with a waggon of coal on the tram lines, when he passed the plans
for this edifice.
Yours Truly, A Liberal
Unionist.”
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| Huddersfield Chronicle 24 March 1888 |
“Your correspondent, “a Liberal
Unionist” whilst ostensibly, advocating a ludicrous and impractical scheme for
a single line railway to Lindley, indulges in a spiteful dig at the architect
and the directors of the Lindley Liberal Club, and a sneer at the borough
surveyor as being the means of producing such a building as the new Liberal Club.
I think the correspondent of such
evident “light and learning” and with such advanced ideas on railway
engineering and architecture should not be ashamed to sign his name and attach
his address to such an epistle.
Liberal Unionist cannot expect much
weight to be attached to his opinions if he is content to remain hidden under a
“nom de plume.””
Leeds Mercury 8 August 1887, 23 March 1888; Leeds Times 24 March 1888; Huddersfield Chronicle 23 & 24 March 1888; 27 June 1889
The club continued to use the
Mechanics Hall on occasion for meetings and in April 1890 William Summers presided over a large Liberal meeting in the hall. Aldermen Glendinning and Joseph Brooke,
amongst others, joined Summers on the platform.
The club continued to be successful
and the report from the club secretary, Fred
Sykes, at the annual meeting in 1890 showed 365 fee paying members on its
books. Huddersfield Chronicle 3 April 13
September 1890
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| William Ewart Gladstone and John Bright |
At the monthly club committee meeting
in June 1891 two oil paintings were received for the club rooms. Ben Haigh of Quarmby had presented
portraits of W. E. Gladstone and John Bright to the club. That same year the club once again reported a
successful year with an increase in membership of 35 over the previous year to
318. The chairman, Joseph Smith,
congratulated the club members
“upon the successful working of the club during
the past year.”
Huddersfield Chronicle 5 June, 12 September 1891
Winter lectures aimed to get more
people into the club to learn about and discuss political issues of the time
and Liberal principles. Membership had fallen in 1892 and the president E. B. Woodhead urged
with an aim to improve membership.
“a better
attendance at these lectures”
with an aim to improve membership.
One of the lectures in the series was
given by George Thomson, President
of the Huddersfield Chamber of Commerce. He spoke on the subject of Industrial
Economics entitled
“The New Economy – a Practical Demonstration.”
A good audience rather than large was
reported at the event. George Thomson returned to the club the following
December to give another lecture, this time on
“A Trip to the World’s Fair.”
However this proved to be much more popular as it was reported that there was a very good attendance including
“a considerable
number of ladies.”
There appears to have been a large
number of ladies involved in the Liberal cause by 1893 as they had formed the
Lindley Branch of the Women’s Liberal Association by that date. They also held a series of lectures in their
own right with female speakers. Miss
Southall of Birmingham spoke in the large room of the club to a good
attendance and was well received and applauded. Joseph Crosland the Liberal Club president chaired the lecture.
The winter lectures continued over
the next few years and in 1894 G. C.
Orrah, the then club president, urged younger members of the club to attend
the lectures that season. Lectures that season included W. H. Dyson giving an “interesting” lecture on
reportedly to an attentive but “moderate audience.”
Another was given by Samuel Bull, MA on the subject
this time the report gave no comment on the audience.
“Laurence Oliphant”
reportedly to an attentive but “moderate audience.”
Another was given by Samuel Bull, MA on the subject
“Oil in the lamps”
this time the report gave no comment on the audience.
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| Alison Garland |
Alison Garland,
a suffragist and Liberal politician visited the club to deliver a lecture to
members in December 1896. She was a lecturer
for the Bi-metallic League and her lecture, held in the large assembly room of
the club, was on
The meeting was chaired by Councillor Allen Gee, a founder member of the
Lindley Club. There was not a large
audience but those that did attend showed a “deep interest” in Miss Garlands
arguments in favour of Bi-metallism, which was a system of allowing the use of
two metals, usually gold and silver, to be used in currency as legal tender.
She took questions from the audience at the end of her talk and went to
considerable length to ensure that her arguments were understood.
“Bi-metallism.”
In February 1895 the club held a
social in the large club room.
were engaged to entertain and performed several
Several solo singers also performed. The club president G. C. Orrah made a presentation to the “club-keeper” Mr Illingworth
to thanks him on behalf of all the members in appreciation of all his hard work
over the years. He received a
from the members and they then toasted his very good health as he had not been well for several months.
“The
Primrose Hill Glee Party”
were engaged to entertain and performed several
“glees in good style.”
“handsome
gold Albert”
from the members and they then toasted his very good health as he had not been well for several months.
In July of that year a new
transformer substation was planned to be constructed at the top of Chapel Hill
and this would enable the mains electricity to be extended to the club
building. By the time of the annual meeting in September 1896 the club had
electric lighting installed. They were
pleased with the cost of it stating that
They regarded the benefits of the new lighting as providing a much better light making it more comfortable for members.
“apart from the installation, it had
only exceeded the cost of gas by 10s a year.”
They regarded the benefits of the new lighting as providing a much better light making it more comfortable for members.
Membership in 1894 had risen slightly
to 269 but the club continued its aim to raise membership and by the annual
meeting the following year it had risen to 284. The membership continued to
rise and by 1896 80 new members had joined and the total stood at 332 with a
healthy balance sheet at the year-end as well. Huddersfield
Chronicle 17 September 1892, 2 December 1892; 4 March, 15 December 1893, 14
September 1894, 9 & 22 February, 23 March, 20 July, 13 September 1895, 11
September & 4 December 1896
A fund raising bazaar was planned to
be held at the Liberal Club in March 1901 over the course of three days. The weather
was very good on the day and the three day event was opened by Lady Woodhouse,
her husband Sir James T Woodhouse, had been unable to attend through ill
health. There was a large crowd to witness the opening and welcome Lady
Woodhouse.
The main object of the bazaar was to fraise fund for renovation and
alterations to the club premises. They
intended to build at the rear of the building a series of ante rooms for the
large room, with an entrance at the side.
They also intended to redecorate the whole of the club building as it
had not been done for some years and needed attention. The whole of the planned
alterations, renovations and improvements had been estimated at £300.
The wives,
sisters, mothers and lady friends had worked for two or three years holding
sewing meetings at the club to create good to sell at the bazaar. They were
able to stock a large number of “plain and fancy” stalls through their
efforts. A company of joiners were
employed to construct a substantial framework for the stalls using a design by
Dennis Balmforth, a young man from Lindley who was aiming to follow the
profession of architect. The upper part
of the stalls were shaped in
“flowing lines”
with the corner supports made to
represent
“fluted columns.”
The painting
and papering of the woodwork was done by T. W. Barnes of Lindley. Once the stalls were completed they were
draped in
“art muslin” in various “delicate shades”
with the upper section
embellished with
“shields and old fashioned implements.”
All the stalls were
also fitted with electric lights done by electricians Crossley and Bould of Huddersfield.
When the bazaar reopened on the Saturday, its third and final day, there was a large gathering of people to witness Councillor Joel Crosland, president of the club, perform the reopening ceremony. Wednesday had seen £125 8s 4d with and additional amount of £62 2s 10d being added on the Thursday. The hope was that the final day would exceed both! It actually raised £94 5s 7d that day giving a grand total of £282 16s 9 ½ d. Huddersfield Daily Examiner 13 & 18 March 1901; The Showman 5 January 1901
When the bazaar reopened on the Saturday, its third and final day, there was a large gathering of people to witness Councillor Joel Crosland, president of the club, perform the reopening ceremony. Wednesday had seen £125 8s 4d with and additional amount of £62 2s 10d being added on the Thursday. The hope was that the final day would exceed both! It actually raised £94 5s 7d that day giving a grand total of £282 16s 9 ½ d. Huddersfield Daily Examiner 13 & 18 March 1901; The Showman 5 January 1901
The club had a very successful Chess
Team and in November 1894 the members of the team were
by the members of the cub to commemorate their victory in a local chess
competition hosted by the Huddersfield Chess Club.
The
and served as was usual by the
ladies. Around 70 people sat down to
dinner. After the meal the evening continued as a social event with a musical
programme including a duet on piano and violin. The club invited the Huddersfield
Chess Club to play a friendly match against the home team the following month
which the home team once again took the victory if only by a one game. The
chess team continued to compete successfully winning several competitions the
following year.
“entertained to dinner”
The
“excellent repast”
was
provided by the “club-keeper” Mr Illingworth
The other competitive sport enjoyed at
the club was crown green bowling with the club having its own bowling green. In
1934 the club played host to a match between the county teams of Yorkshire and Lancashire.
The Yorkshire team included players from the club. They were playing for the
Crosfield Cup and the competition was played in two sections. The Yorkshire
team won on the Lindley green but lost the competition
overall. The club played host to a variety of bowls competitions over the years
including the Merit Winners Championship in 1949.
Bowling still remains strong at the
club and they now have a ladies team which would not have been heard of in the
early years. Also in recent years they have snooker teams.
Huddersfield Chronicle 22 & November & 14 December 1894, 15 May,
16 September 1895Yorkshire Post 16 July 1934 & 27 September 1949; Lancashire
Evening Post 16 July 1934; Examiner Live 4 February 2014
The Lindley Liberal Building Company Ltd, which had
been set up to manage the new in 1887, sold the building and land on 28 December 1910
to Lindley Liberal Club for the sum of
£500.
However the building was to be subject to clauses
inserted by the Trust which stated that it
"Must be used as a political and social club, for persons residing
in the district in which the club is, and holding opinions in accordance with
those held by the Liberal Party in Huddersfield, as expressed from time to
time, through the Huddersfield Association and to permit the several
privileges, advantages, conveyances and accommodation of a club to be provided
on the said premises and to permit the same to be used on behalf of the
association of Liberals as expressed in Lindley and District in such a manner
as said trustees shall in their discretion think fit."
This condition is still in place in the deeds
and so the club is committed by this to permit the Liberal Party access and use
of the premises for their political purposes.
The spare land at the bottom side of the club was acquired by on 1
August 1910 to be used as a Bowling Green and tennis courts.
Frederick William Sykes of Green Lea, Lindley signed the deeds on behalf of the club. The deeds to the land state that the club cannot build on the land and that a
was to be paid every Christmas Day which the club continues to do this to this day. The club was also responsible for all road repairs halfway across Daisy Lea Land and Occupation Road up until Huddersfield Highways department adopted the said roads.
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Frederick William Sykes Of Green Lea, Lindley.
Kirklees Images Archive
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Frederick William Sykes of Green Lea, Lindley signed the deeds on behalf of the club. The deeds to the land state that the club cannot build on the land and that a
“peppercorn
rent”
was to be paid every Christmas Day which the club continues to do this to this day. The club was also responsible for all road repairs halfway across Daisy Lea Land and Occupation Road up until Huddersfield Highways department adopted the said roads.
A wide variety of other organisations also made use of the club’s facilities over the years right up to the present day. January 1891 saw the Huddersfield and District Perfect Thrift Building Society holding its meeting at the club.
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Huddersfield Industrial society store, 1910.
Kirklees Image Archive
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When a new branch store of the
Huddersfield Industrial Society opened in Lindley in 1891, the club hosted the
tea after the formal event.
In 1894 the
club played host to the Leeds, Huddersfield and Heavy Woollen District Federation
of Liberal Clubs half yearly meeting. A tea was held followed by the meeting
which was attended by 130 delegates from the Federation representing over
13,000 members.
In more
recent years the Huddersfield Chess Club, a Fuchsia Society, Huddersfield
Lions, an RAF Association, bell ringers and a stamp collecting society have all
used the club to hold their meetings.
The club
continues to thrive with a membership of around 2000 and is one of Huddersfield’s
most successful clubs. Huddersfield Chronicle 10 January, 29 April
1891, 1 October 1894; Examiner Live 4 February 2014
www.lindleylib.co.uk
Extracts from The Centenary Booklet 1887 to 1987
