Scapegoat Hill Liberal Club
Scapegoat
Hill Liberal Club
Scapegoat Hill is a small village 5
miles west of Huddersfield, close to the villages of Slaithwaite and Golcar.
The village nowadays, together with nearby Bolster Moor has a population of
1,246. Scapegoat Hill was part of the parish of Golcar and so its
history may be intertwined.
Although there is evidence that the Scapegoat
Hill Liberal Club was in existence as early as 1875 with a report in 'The Times’
indicating that 6 members
of Scapegoat Hill Liberal Club attended a meeting of the National Reform Union,
there is little further evidence of its activities during the following 14 year
period. Whether this earlier club was a
short-lived venture, which was then revived when more Liberal feelings
developed in the area and so it had greater success is unclear. Perhaps it was
a development by the Liberal Club in Golcar to increase its representation.
Pictures of Scapegoat Hill village taken around 1910. from Kirklees Image Archive.
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| Baptist Church, 1910. Kirklees Image Archive |
However during the Easter
weekend 1889 the club held a sale of work in the Baptist Schoolroom. This was opened by Mrs Henry Lister of Huddersfield, a leading member of the Huddersfield Women’s Liberal League. The new building would consist of a large
billiard room, and a number of rooms to be used as committee, games and reading
rooms. The total cost of the projects was put at £500 and the club had promises
of £200 to that date. When Mrs Lister addressed the crowd she stated that in
her opinion “every man and woman ought to be interested in politics. Politics
ought to form part of their religion and it was a mistake to say that women
ought to know nothing of politics.” The
aim of the sale was to defray some of the costs of building new club premises
which were progressing towards their completion at this point but it was
expected that “a long time would elapse before they were finished.”
It would be 1891 before the new building was complete. It was formally opened on Easter Monday 1891 by Sir James Kitson. A procession left the Central Liberal in Golcar led by a brass band and proceeded from Golcar to the new club at Scapegoat Hill. John Arthur presided over the proceedings which was shown to be a very popular event by the large number of streamers and banners displayed along the route of the procession.
It would be 1891 before the new building was complete. It was formally opened on Easter Monday 1891 by Sir James Kitson. A procession left the Central Liberal in Golcar led by a brass band and proceeded from Golcar to the new club at Scapegoat Hill. John Arthur presided over the proceedings which was shown to be a very popular event by the large number of streamers and banners displayed along the route of the procession.
When Sir James Kitson addressed the crowd he
remarked that as he came up the hill with the procession he felt he was coming
as their standard bearer. He went on to remind them that the club was
“a fort
to hold fast the principles of Liberalism.”
He was presented with an inscribed silver key with which to open the
building. Ernest Lockwood, club secretary gave his report which showed that the
new premises had cost £600. The club had
so far got £250 towards the cost and it was hoped that they would be able to
reduce the debt further by the end of the day, obviously hoping for more
subscriptions to be given during the proceedings. The club at that point had 100 members and
the hope was that this would rise with the opening of the new premises which
were described by the Leeds Times as being
“comfortably arranged, lofty and
healthy.”
There were reading, discussion and recreation rooms plus a large
billiard room. After the formal opening
tea was served in the Baptist Chapel Schoolroom followed by a large public
meeting in the Baptist Chapel, Golcar. Huddersfield
Chronicle 24 April 1889 & 1
April 1891
The club held it’s
annual
“tea and entertainment”
in November 1894 at the Scapegoat Hill
Schoolroom. The tea was prepared by the
“lady friends” of the club and was well attended. After tea the club president Ben Wood opened a programme of
entertainments performed by club members and friends including songs and
recitations which were reportedly well received by the audience. The profits
for the evening amounted to £6 towards club funds. Huddersfield Chronicle 3 November 1894
In 1918 the club was a
member of the efforts to send “comforts” to the men of Scapegoat Hill who were
serving in the war. This was organised through the
with members of the Liberal Club being part of its committee. Postal orders were sent to the men frequently
and 560 in total were sent during 1918 at a cost to the society of £112. There is no record of the names of the
Liberal Club members involved in either the war or the committee. The funds
needed to support the soldiers at the front were raised through parades and
flag days such as one held in August 1918. Despite poor weather people paraded
behind a brass band through the village and in the procession were trade
exhibits on decorated horses and wagons.
A variety of other “attractions” toured the village, flags were sold and
collections made. Prizes were awarded for the different decorated floats. In the evening the brass band played for
dancing and the village children gave a performance of singing and
dancing. Professor Land gave a “Punch
and Judy Show" to add to the entertainments.
A total of £50 was raised for the aid fund. Huddersfield Daily Examiner 6 August 1918.
“Scapegoat Hill Local Aid
Society”
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| E. L. Mallalieu |
Edward
Lancelot Mallalieu
spoke at the club’s Jubilee celebrations in 1939, when he stood as prospective
Liberal candidate for the Colne Valley. Leeds Mercury & Yorkshire Post 17 April
1939
In 1928 electricity was first installed
in the village and the club had electric lighting fitted to the premises.
The club in Scapegoat Hill still
exists today in its original building.
