Shepley Conservative Club
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| Bridge House, formerly Shepley Conservative Club. 2018 |
“musical honours.”
Huddersfield
Daily Chronicle 15 April 1881
Later that year the club marked the death of Lord Beaconsfield (Benjamin Disraeli). Huddersfield Daily Chronicle 6 May 1881
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| Shepley. From the Kirklees Image Archive (K003432) |
1885 was a momentous year when new club premises were opened by Thomas Norton, JP, of Bagden Hall, and president of Scissett Conservative Association. When the club had started they had met locally in small rooms, however by 1885 their numbers had increased so much that new premises were necessary. Members totalled over 100 by that date and the idea for the new club building originally came from James Senior.
An entirely new building was erected and situated on the north side of Huddersfield Road covering 110 yards and being three storeys high. There was great difference in the level between Abbey Road and the site and this cause the basement to have to be built above ground. The ground floor of the building was level with Abbey Road and this was the main entrance.
The rooms on the ground floor consisted of a large reading room which measured 20 feet by 16 feet and a smoke room measuring 16ft 6in by 12 ft. These rooms were separated by a “beautiful” pitch pine screen which allowed the rooms to be combined for lectures and social gatherings as well as “electioneering.”A well-lit and spacious hall formed the centre of the building on the ground floor and from this a
“broad easy staircase of very handsome
appearance”
and proportions, gave access to a large landing on the first floor. The doors to the billiard room, which was 25 feet by 20 feet opened from the landing as did those to the large card room (16 feet 6inches by 12feet.) Each floor had a lavatory for the convenience of the members. In the basement could be found the caretaker’s kitchen, bedrooms and a small keeping cellar.
The exterior of the building was described as
The skyline had been broken by an ashlar pierced parapet, a large gable with carved finial and chimneys. The building described creates an image of quite an imposing structure which as yet we have been unable to locate.
Internally the club had been fully fitted with one noteworthy feature being the hall lamp having the
The contractors on the construction were:
Masons and slaters - Hollingworth & Sons.
Joiners - F and J Hawley of Penistone.
Plasterer - Alfred Jessop
Plumber and painter - George Lindley.
Reuben Senior in the absence of his brother, James Senior presented a silver key to Thomas Norton inscribed
W.H.Jessop proposed every success to the club and spoke of the “fine building” that Shepley now had. He went on to say that he had been told that Shepley was a
The club held a large meeting in the St Paul’s Schoolroom in May 1887. Earlier in the afternoon tea had been served in the same room and about 200 people had attended. At the subsequent meeting the platform was presided over by C. W. Keighley, JP who was supported by many prominent local Conservatives including Harold Thomas who addressed the large gathering on the
The club held a meeting annually to discuss the clubs finances and elect officers to the club committee. This meeting began to be preceded by a “sit down tea” such as the one held in March 1889 in the National School Room in Shepley. Around 170 people sat down for the meal which was then followed by a public meeting presided over by Thomas Norton, JP. Also on the platform to address the meeting was Harold Thomas, Conservative candidate for the Holmfirth Division. It was reported that the room for the meeting was “well filled.” Huddersfield Chronicle 23 March 1889.
However at the seventh annual meeting the “tea” seems to have been dispensed of and held in the club premises with George Washington in the chair. The annual report was presented by the secretary which showed a favourable balance and also an increase in members although once again no figures were given. Elected officers for the following year – James Senior, President; Mr H Senior, Mr R A Barnicot, Dr Macgregor, Mr R Hirst, Vice Presidents; Mr H Sutherland, Treasurer; Mr C Webster, financial secretary; Mr J L Noble – corresponding secretary. Huddersfield Daily Chronicle 9 October 1891
He impressed on the members the importance of coming together and said that there was a wish gain 50 of new members to the club by October. Huddersfield Chronicle 2 February 1895
The second in the series of “tea and entertainments” was held in the club rooms on 20 February. Reportedly,
This seems to have been the final social in the series as there are no reports of any further socials that year. However the club held a very successful Shrove Tuesday social in the club rooms in 1898 to celebrate the 14th anniversary of its opening. Club membership had continued to increase and the finances were better than they had ever been since the club had started, although no figures were stated in the club report. George Washington chaired the event and together with S. S. Wood, Wilson Smith and Hayden Matthews made short speeches to the gathering. The entertainments continued until around 11pm and consisted of songs, recitations, “stump” speeches and duets on piano and concertina. All provided by the club members and their families. The event was praised by all involved as being
In October 1909 the club held a celebratory event to commemorate the “presentation” of “the handsome club” by James Senior in 1885 which the Shepley Conservative Club now occupied. It was said that the meeting “was made an occasion for rejoicing” by the local Conservatives and Boyd Carpenter addressed the crowd. Manchester Courier 18 October 1909
Other social occasions included billiards matches being held in the club rooms. In March 1909 the club invited members of Thurlstone Conservative Club to a series of games of billiards. Shepley won the tournament, 554 to Thurlstone’s 543. Sheffield Daily Telegraph 23 March 1909
The club often hosted meetings to discuss political issues and also candidates for the district. In 1900 a meeting was held at the club of the Holmfirth Conservative Association to discuss political matters and the adoption of Major Stuart Wortley as candidate. Sheffield Daily Telegraph 24 September 1900
Again in 1908 the club hosted a meeting to select a prospective Conservative candidate for Holmfirth Division. In June, T. Eastham of Hadfield was unanimously selected and it was reported as being an
A similar meeting under the auspices of the Central Conservative and Unionist Association in December 1909 held at the Shepley club saw Geoffrey Ellis adopted as candidate for the Holmfirth Division. Sheffield Daily Telegraph 20 December 1909.
It was reported at the annual meeting in 1923 that there was a deficit on the year’s workings. Members of the committee were elected with Henry Senior, President; E. Sunderland, Secretary; and G Webster, Treasurer. Sheffield Daily Telegraph 26 November 1923.
The club continued to have an entry in the Kelly’s Directory in 1936 but it is not known when the club closed. The building is now called Bridge House.
“domestic Gothic”
and had mullioned and transomed windows with ashlar quoins. The front entrance door was of “pleasing design” with a space over it which was divided into four small arched openings with leaded lights which were glazed in broken tints. Each floor level had been emphasised by
“pleuth strings and cornices”.
The skyline had been broken by an ashlar pierced parapet, a large gable with carved finial and chimneys. The building described creates an image of quite an imposing structure which as yet we have been unable to locate.
Internally the club had been fully fitted with one noteworthy feature being the hall lamp having the
“Union Jack
and National Standard”
engraved on it.
The works are from the designs of Mr E Hughes FRIBA of Lord Street Huddersfield who also superintended the work which was reported as having been
“carried
out in a most efficient manner.”
It was said that
“No reasonable expense has been spared to make the club a most
perfect building of its class”.
The contractors on the construction were:
Masons and slaters - Hollingworth & Sons.
Joiners - F and J Hawley of Penistone.
Plasterer - Alfred Jessop
Plumber and painter - George Lindley.
Reuben Senior in the absence of his brother, James Senior presented a silver key to Thomas Norton inscribed
“
Presented to Thomas Norton, JP, on the occasion of his opening the
Shepley
Conservative Club, 17th February 1885.”
Thomas Norton responded to this saying that he hoped the Conservatives would work hard and organise themselves to be well prepared for the next election. He went on to say how impressed he was with the large gathering
“especially considering
the very inclement weather”.
Following the ceremony the club held a celebratory tea in the Methodist New Connexion Schoolroom. Around 400 tickets had been sold for the event and between 300 and 400 people attended the tea. There then followed a meeting in the St Paul’s Schoolroom with Thomas Norton presiding supported by C.B.S.Wortley, MP; Harold Thomas of Sheffield; Walter Norton, JP; Rev. T. Newton; Major Preston; Major Brook; W. H. Jessop and Reuben Senior.W.H.Jessop proposed every success to the club and spoke of the “fine building” that Shepley now had. He went on to say that he had been told that Shepley was a
“very radical place”
until a short time before and that he had expected to meet opposition on his visit. Instead he had been pleased to find that the
“meeting had been a most enthusiastic one.”
He went on to say that clubs such as the one at Shepley were a great aid to the Conservative Party but added that the success
“greatly depended upon having no
drink sold in them.”
George Washington made the reply on behalf on the club and said that the members
“meant to do
their very best.”
They had already worked hard to form and build the club and would continue to do so. He went on to say that the members of the committee had considered selling drink on the premises but they were
“unanimously opposed against the introduction of drink
into the club.”
Huddersfield Daily Chronicle 18 February & 21 February 1885.
The club held a large meeting in the St Paul’s Schoolroom in May 1887. Earlier in the afternoon tea had been served in the same room and about 200 people had attended. At the subsequent meeting the platform was presided over by C. W. Keighley, JP who was supported by many prominent local Conservatives including Harold Thomas who addressed the large gathering on the
“Emancipation Bill.”
Sheffield Daily Telegraph 16 May 1887
The club held a meeting annually to discuss the clubs finances and elect officers to the club committee. This meeting began to be preceded by a “sit down tea” such as the one held in March 1889 in the National School Room in Shepley. Around 170 people sat down for the meal which was then followed by a public meeting presided over by Thomas Norton, JP. Also on the platform to address the meeting was Harold Thomas, Conservative candidate for the Holmfirth Division. It was reported that the room for the meeting was “well filled.” Huddersfield Chronicle 23 March 1889.
However at the seventh annual meeting the “tea” seems to have been dispensed of and held in the club premises with George Washington in the chair. The annual report was presented by the secretary which showed a favourable balance and also an increase in members although once again no figures were given. Elected officers for the following year – James Senior, President; Mr H Senior, Mr R A Barnicot, Dr Macgregor, Mr R Hirst, Vice Presidents; Mr H Sutherland, Treasurer; Mr C Webster, financial secretary; Mr J L Noble – corresponding secretary. Huddersfield Daily Chronicle 9 October 1891
The club went on to develop more social occasions and in 1895 a tea and social evening was held at the Shepley Conservative Club and which was to be one of a series of such events. The series had been decided by the club committee and the first took place on 26 January. All of the tickets that were issued were sold which matched the expectations of the committee.
“An excellent
meat tea was provided”
and this was followed by entertainment from club members. Mr Stott’s sermon from the text “Old Mother Hubbard” was apparently the success of the evening and had been delivered in an
“impressive and orthodox manner,”
and had been greeted with a
“storm of
applause.”
The evening proved to be the most successful ever held to date in the club and Alfred Ellis, who presided over events, said that
“he had at his call an abundance of splendid
performers.”
He impressed on the members the importance of coming together and said that there was a wish gain 50 of new members to the club by October. Huddersfield Chronicle 2 February 1895
The second in the series of “tea and entertainments” was held in the club rooms on 20 February. Reportedly,
“A capital tea was provided, the
tables almost groaning under the good things upon it and the high reputation of
the donor.”
Mrs George Washington had provided the lavish display having assisted by other ladies. Mr George Washington presided over the proceedings and welcomed
“the large attendance”
to the occasion especially in view of
“the state of trade and the weather.”
Songs, recitations and other entertainments were again provided by club members. It was noted that Miss Ramsden gave a recitation which was a“the state of trade and the weather.”
“particularly good
one,” being “given with true feeling and expression.”
It is a pity that what she recited was not reported. Huddersfield Daily Chronicle 22 February 1895.This seems to have been the final social in the series as there are no reports of any further socials that year. However the club held a very successful Shrove Tuesday social in the club rooms in 1898 to celebrate the 14th anniversary of its opening. Club membership had continued to increase and the finances were better than they had ever been since the club had started, although no figures were stated in the club report. George Washington chaired the event and together with S. S. Wood, Wilson Smith and Hayden Matthews made short speeches to the gathering. The entertainments continued until around 11pm and consisted of songs, recitations, “stump” speeches and duets on piano and concertina. All provided by the club members and their families. The event was praised by all involved as being
“one of the most successful socials held
in connection with the club.”
Huddersfield Chronicle 24 February & 26
February 1898.
In October 1909 the club held a celebratory event to commemorate the “presentation” of “the handsome club” by James Senior in 1885 which the Shepley Conservative Club now occupied. It was said that the meeting “was made an occasion for rejoicing” by the local Conservatives and Boyd Carpenter addressed the crowd. Manchester Courier 18 October 1909
Other social occasions included billiards matches being held in the club rooms. In March 1909 the club invited members of Thurlstone Conservative Club to a series of games of billiards. Shepley won the tournament, 554 to Thurlstone’s 543. Sheffield Daily Telegraph 23 March 1909
The club often hosted meetings to discuss political issues and also candidates for the district. In 1900 a meeting was held at the club of the Holmfirth Conservative Association to discuss political matters and the adoption of Major Stuart Wortley as candidate. Sheffield Daily Telegraph 24 September 1900
Again in 1908 the club hosted a meeting to select a prospective Conservative candidate for Holmfirth Division. In June, T. Eastham of Hadfield was unanimously selected and it was reported as being an
“enthusiastic meeting”
which was
"a business-like attempt to contest
the constituency.”
Sheffield Daily Telegraph 1 June 1908.
A similar meeting under the auspices of the Central Conservative and Unionist Association in December 1909 held at the Shepley club saw Geoffrey Ellis adopted as candidate for the Holmfirth Division. Sheffield Daily Telegraph 20 December 1909.
It was reported at the annual meeting in 1923 that there was a deficit on the year’s workings. Members of the committee were elected with Henry Senior, President; E. Sunderland, Secretary; and G Webster, Treasurer. Sheffield Daily Telegraph 26 November 1923.
The club continued to have an entry in the Kelly’s Directory in 1936 but it is not known when the club closed. The building is now called Bridge House.
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| Bridge House 2018 |
