Ravensthorpe Liberal Club
Ravensthorpe Liberal
Club
The exact date of the establishment of a Liberal Club in Ravensthorpe
is unclear but the club appears in Kelly’s Directory in 1889 with William
Hansen as the secretary. Club members held a cricket match in September 1890
and attended the funeral of Marmaduke Fox in February 1892.
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| Walter Runciman, M.P. |
The club held an
“enthusiastic
Liberal meeting”
in Ravensthorpe Co Operative Hall in January 1902 to support Walter Runciman as candidate for the
area. Later when the club held its
annual gathering in March after the election they welcomed him as their MP. He
thanked them for their support in the election which had achieved a big Liberal
victory in Dewsbury. Leeds Mercury 25
January & 10 March 1902
Liberalism was seen as being “vigorous” in the Dewsbury
Division in the early twentieth century and in 1909 a sign of this was seen as being the opening of the new
Ravensthorpe Liberal Club. The existing premises had become inadequate due to growing
numbers and
“working men”
members, decided that a new building should be
erected in order to meet requirements.
Unusually
Liberal women are mentioned in the report of the opening as being in agreement
with the men about the building. The President on opening day gave £190 to the
building and furnishing fund. The club
was opened by Walter Runciman who alluded to
“the generosity of the
ladies”.
An interesting feature of the
opening was that although the meeting was open to “all comers” a Suffragette
Demonstration took place. It was
reported that
“Whether the female hooligans were afraid to cause the
indignation of the Ravensthorpe people or whether they have at last seen the
folly, their methods of violence did not transpire.” Leeds Mercury 13 Dec 1909
The club advertised for a steward
and wife in July 1953 when the existing steward retired. There was a two bedroom house to go along
with the wages offered and the club was open just 6 days a week. The post was
vacant again in September 1954. Yorkshire
Post 3 July 1953 & 4 September 1954
