Shepley Liberal Club
“unity is strength”.
The success of the newly formed Liberal Association was to return two Liberal Candidates for the South West Riding of the county. Shortly after the Liberals success in 1881, the Conservatives in the village formed a “Constitutional Club” in Shepley. In response to this and seeing the benefits that a club would give to their cause they began to look around for suitable premises in order to form a club themselves. Prior to this they had met in a variety of locations in the village including people’s homes.
In the centre of the village there had been a working men’s club which had not been successful and the building became vacant. There is no address or location for this building given but it was said to be
“spacious and well adapted for the purposes of the club.”
The Liberal Association took possession of the building and partly furnished it at a cost of £60 to the current membership, 114 people in total, although there was still more work to be done on the premises.
The club consisted of two “commodious” rooms. The upper used as a reading room and the lower being used as a smoke and recreation room. The Association provided a small library of books in the reading room which they intended to be added to over time as funds permitted. Six or seven daily papers plus copies of Punch and The Graphic were provided. Draughts and chess were provided in the recreation room. At this stage there is no mention of a billiard table.
The club was formally opened in September 1882 with the proceedings reported as being
“of enthusiastic
character”.
The outside of the building was adorned with a large banner displaying the motto of the Liberal Party
“Peace,
retrenchment and reform.”
The Union Jack floated form one of the windows of the building. Alderman Woodhead, JP, performed the opening ceremony in the upper room. He addressed the gathering stating
“There was
nothing more likely to promote the success of Liberalism than these clubs if
properly managed.”
He went on to wish the club prosperity and declared the club open. Afterwards a tea was held in the Methodist New Connexion Schoolroom served and provided by the wives and daughters of the members of the club. |
| Joseph Woodhead, JP. |
Later in the evening a public meeting was held in the schoolroom adjoining Christ Church which had been decorated with banners and inscriptions –
“Progress, liberty and fraternity”
and
“Success to the Liberal cause.”
Reportedly the room was crowded and with “many ladies being among the audience.” The secretary of the club gave a brief summary of the history of the establishment of the club before Alderman Woodhead addressed the crowd. He said that he trusted that the club would be “as useful as desired” and the franchise would soon be extended. In light of this the aim of the club would be to inform and educate people in Liberal principles and enable them to gain the necessary political information
“to discharge efficiently
and intelligently the duties”
which would be devolved upon them. Sheffield Independent 30 September 1882; Leeds Mercury 2 October 1882The club held regular public meetings in locations in the village in order to deliver its political aims as it would seem the club building was too small to hold such events.
In April 1884, Shepley Liberals met in the Methodist New Connexion Schoolroom in Shepley for a
“well attended tea party”
which had been provided by the ladies of the club. This was followed by a public meeting. John Kaye, JP, of Clayton West, was chairman of the meeting and J. F. Bottomley Firth, MP; H. Woodhead of Huddersfield and Councillor J. Wilson of Sheffield supported him on the platform. All of them addressed the audience and expressed support of the government and debated policy. Huddersfield Chronicle 15 April 1884; Leeds Mercury 14 April 1884
1885 saw a meeting of the Shepley Liberal Club held on Shepley Green to introduce the Liberal Candidate Henry Joseph Wilson to the electorate of the Holmfirth division. 200 people attended. President of the Liberal Club was Edward Armitage. Sheffield & Rotherham Independent 17 August 1885 & Huddersfield Chronicle 22 August 1885
In 1887 there are a number of political meetings arranged by the club reported. A Liberal meeting was held at Shepley with S. A. King, President of Shepley Liberal Club in the chair. There was a large attendance at the meeting which was held in the Methodist New Connexion School, Shepley.
 |
| Henry Joseph Wilson |
Leeds Mercury 10 January 1887; Sheffield Daily Telegraph 10 January
1887; Huddersfield Daily Chronicle 11 & 15 January 1887
 |
| Joseph Firth Bottomley Firth, MP Chelsea |
Another meeting held in the Methodist New Connexion School, was to hear an address from Joseph Firth Bottomley Firth, former MP for Chelsea, on
“The condition of Ireland.”
Edward Brook chaired this meeting which again was reported to have had a good attendance. Leeds Mercury 29 September 1887Lectures were also given at the club premises just one of which was by W Goldthorpe, of Shelley, on
“The
disadvantages of a state church.”
Huddersfield Daily Chronicle 22 & 26
November 1887.
The Methodist School Rooms seem to have been the most popular place for the club to meet outside of its own premises with their annual meetings, such as one in 1888, being held there. At this meeting tea was served to 130 people before the meeting commenced. Leeds Mercury 5 November 1888
The club is recorded in the 1936 Kelly’s Directory but with no address other than “Shepley”. It is not known when the club ceased to exist.
