Mirfield Conservative and Constitutional Clubs

The club was in existence in 1887 when their annual dinner was held at the Black Bull Hotel, Mirfield with Mr E. T. Ingham presiding. A large attendance was reported but no numbers given. Huddersfield Daily Chronicle 13 December 1887.

The Black Bull Hotel, Mirfield. From the Kirklees Image Archive (K003135)

The address for the club given in Kelly’s Directory was Conservative Club, Easthorpe, Mirfield.

In April the following year a meeting was held at Mirfield Town Hall under the auspices of Mirfield District Conservative Association. Mr J.H. Wheatley, president of Morley Division Conservative Association presided over the proceedings and it was recorded as having

“a good attendance, though the hall was not nearly filled”. 

Also attending was Mr F Ellis, President of Spen Valley Conservative Association and Mr J A Brooke, President of Huddersfield Conservative Association. Leeds Mercury, 20 April 1888. A week later another meeting was held in the Town Hall by the club for the purpose of an address by R. A. Yarburgh, MP for Chester. Once again the meeting was reported to be well attended although “the hall was not nearly filled!” Leeds Mercury 28 April 1888

The Conservative club appears to have been thriving in the 1880s and 1890s with various annual social events held in their name. The annual dinner was held in 1890 at the Black Bull Hotel and it was reported that 60 people sat down to eat. After dinner Edward Theodore Ingham, president of the club supported by other committee members, addressed what was called an

“enthusiastic meeting” 

and at which the loyal toast was

“drunk with enthusiasm”.  

Yorkshire Post 2 December 1890 & Huddersfield Chronicle 6 December 1890.

The annual event was reported as a “tea party” rather than a dinner in 1892 when it was held in Mirfield Town Hall. On this occasion the crowd was much larger with around 500 people sitting down to tea. The event was presided over by Mr J W Staincliffe who supported Mr W Carr (junior) the candidate for Morley Division. When the chairman opened the event he remarked on the

“presence of so many ladies” 

and went on to say that he hoped that as well as taking part in the “amusing” part of the evening that they would also take an interest in the political part and

 “exercise their influence to assist them in the work.”  

Other speakers thanked the ladies for their work in preparing the tea! After tea a variety of speeches were made by members and the evening was then concluded with dancing. Huddersfield Chronicle 1892.

Once again in February 1893 the club held its annual event which was said to have been

“a very successful meeting"

in the Town Hall with 500 people present. The tea was held prior to the meeting which was described as being 
                                                          “short but most enthusiastic!” 

Followed by a “stirring” speech given by Frederick Ellis, who had been the Unionist candidate for Spen Valley in the 1892 general election and a prominent Conservative in the area. He went on to stand again in the election of 1895 but was defeated by the Liberal Candidate, Thomas Whitaker. Huddersfield Chronicle 21 February 1893

www.mirfieldmemories.co.uk

The Mirfield Constitutional Club became a registered company on 16th May 1907 and the tax valuation records show the club address in 1910 as King Street, Mirfield which is the address shown for the club in 1927 and again in 1936 in Kelly’s Directory. The tax records also show that the Conservative club owned two houses and a shop at 81 Huddersfield Road, Mirfield, one of these was occupied by Joshua Buckley. Another name listed was J Parkinson, St Pauls Road, Mirfield but it is not clear whether he had a role in the club or was a resident of the property. In the same tax records there is an entry for Mirfield Constitutional Club at 13 King Street, Mirfield described as a house and club rooms.
It would appear that the Conservative Club and the Constitutional Club were two separate bodies from these entries with the latter appearing to have been formed sometime in the early twentieth century. The Kelly's Directory of 1927 shows them as two separate entries but both having an address in King Street.
In May 1914 the Constitutional club held a bazaar at Mirfield Town Hall under the auspices of “Mirfield Constitutional Club” with the aim of eliminating the clubs debts and raise funds for

“propaganda work”

in the area. It was opened by H. C. Meysey-Thompson, the prospective Unionist candidate for the Morley area. E. B. Wilson presided over the event and said that although some people thought that men’s clubs should support themselves a political club such as Mirfield Conservative club had different aims to those of non-political working men’s clubs. He appealed to the people of the Morley District to help raise funds so that the club could then spread its

“political leaven”. 

Huddersfield Daily Examiner 14 May 1914

As well as social evenings, bowling was very popular with members as the Constitutional club had its own bowling green and competed in local events. In 1924 the club was drawn against Mytholmroyd C.I. to play in the third round of the Yorkshire Cup bowling match. Todmorden & District News 23 May 1924. 

The club bowling team failed to turn up at a competition match in the Henry Taylor Cup in May 1935 and so the match was awarded to Luddenden Foot team! Todmorden District News 24 May 1935.

In 1937 the final stage of the Mirfield and District Merit Competition was played at the club ground. Apparently there was “thrilling bowling” that afternoon with two County players being defeated by Mirfield Club members in the semi-finals and Morris Jackson of Lower Hopton Club winning the title. Leeds Mercury 12 July 1937

Sometime before 1951 the Mirfield Young Conservatives were formed. They were reported by the retiring chairman, Mr. A. C. Lister, at the annual meeting of the Association in 1951 as having had a successful year

“financially, socially and politically.” 

New officers were elected - President. Mr. B. Woolnough. senior; chairman, Mr. E. G. Brown; vice-chairman. Miss Joan Fisher; secretary. Miss Pat Ryan; assistant secretary. Miss K. Bennett; treasurer. Mr. J. Fretwell. Yorkshire Post 30 May 1951