Linthwaite Conservative Club

Information about the Linthwaite Conservative Club is sparse although what there is suggests that there was some support for Conservatism in the village, but Liberalism would appear to have been much stronger.

Some years before the formation of the Conservative Club, the Conservatives of Linthwaite held a banquet at the Milnsbridge National Schoolroom in October 1865. Around 100 men sat down to eat a meal prepared by the landlord, Thomas Morley, of the Horse and Groom Inn, Linthwaite and the schoolroom was 

“profusely decorated with flags and banners.”  

The 100 men who attended were all the registered “Conservative” voters in the village. A local JP, George Armitage presided over the occasion which was also attended by many prominent local Conservatives.  After several political speeches the evening was concluded with a party of glee singers entertaining.

A few years later in 1873 the Milnsbridge and Lower Linthwaite Conservative Association was formed.  They celebrated with an inaugural “soiree” in the Milnsbridge National Schoolroom where tea was taken by over 260 people. Once again George Armitage presided with other local Conservative speakers.  After tea Armitage addressed the meeting and stated that the Association had been formed 

“entirely” 

of working men with upwards of 100 members and was founded on 

“sound Conservative principles.”  

Lewis Randle Starkey addressed the meeting at length and thanked the association for their support, after which a glee party enlivened the proceedings with music. 

The Linthwaite Conservative Club appears to have been formed around 1875 a there are records of billiard matches played by their team against other clubs in 1877 and 1880. However at the moment no clear records have been traced of its formation or the location of the club premises.

By 1883 Conservatism in Linthwaite was flourishing so much so that they were contemplating the enlargement of their club premises. The President invited all the members to dine at the Armitage Arms, Milnsbridge in December that year. 

The Armitage Arms seems to have been an apt place to meet with several of the Armitage family being present – Charles Armitage presided, supported by Edward Armitage, J. A. Armitage, and A. Armitage. The room at the inn was decorated especially for the occasion with the names of the most prominent Conservative statesmen placed around the walls. 

After an “excellent repast” and the usual toasts the formal meeting and addresses began.  When Edward Armitage addressed the meeting he proposed

 “Success to Milnsbridge and kindred Conservative Associations.” 

He had been informed that at that time they had 150 members and that they were also in a very healthy financial position.  As they had money in hand he felt that the time was right for them to 

“extend their borders” 

and prepare for the next election. Once again as seemed to be the custom the meeting was concluded with entertainments this time by a “quartet party” who rendered a number of songs.

There was a large attendance at a tea meeting held at the Church School in 1886 despite the inclement weather of the evening. The main object of the meeting appears to have been to 

“take counsel together” 

after a defeat in the election. When John Hirst addressed the meeting he said that they should learn the valuable lesson 

“that they could only win by hard and persistent work and that success would not be obtained by the labours of the few but by the efforts of many.”  

The evening’s political debates were interspersed with a programme of readings and singing. 

The association held their annual tea and meeting in the Linthwaite Schoolroom in March 1889.  Joseph Shaw presided over the event which had a very good attendance. Harold Thomas, the Conservative candidate for the Holmfirth Division, had been invited to attend but was unable to do so due to other commitments on the day. In his letter of apology he referred to the “great activity” shown by the Linthwaite Conservatives in supporting him and the Conservative campaign in the Colne Valley. When the annual report was read by the secretary it showed the growth of the Association by 30 members over that year. Huddersfield Chronicle 21 October 1865, 20 January 1873, 21 December 1883, 23 January 1886, 26 March 1889