Staincliffe Conservative Club

Staincliffe Conservative Club 2018

The Staincliffe Conservative Club was opened in 12 February 1887 by J. S. Colefax at four o’clock in the afternoon. The event was advertised in the Yorkshire Post which described the event. After the opening ceremony tea was served in Staincliffe National School followed by a meeting and entertainment. Joseph Fox, JP was president of the club and spoke to those attending the meeting at 7pm. There were others who also spoke and these included George Sheard, Frederick Ellis, Henry Wharton, JP, Duke Fox, Isaac Parker and Councillor Kilburn.

The evening was rounded off with entertainment in the form of a “glee party” where a selection of songs were sung. Tickets to attend the tea and the meeting were sold for 1s. Anyone wanting to attend only the meeting was charged 6d. Yorkshire Post 5 February 1887

In January 1891 the club held its annual meeting with George W Fox presiding. The club had a healthy membership of 134 and had a credit balance of £2 5s. A new committee was elected which included Joseph Fox as President and four vice presidents being R.L.Critchley, George Sheard, G.Cox, and George W. Fox. Yorkshire Post 22 January 1891

A speech was made at the club in May 1928 by J.W.W.Shuttleworth, the prospective candidate for Dewsbury. In it he stressed the need for safeguarding the Heavy Woollen Industry due to the danger posed by foreign imports of heavy woollens and blankets. Leeds Mercury 12 May 1928

Notes about some prominent members –

One of the founders of Staincliffe Conservative Club, William Henry Yates, celebrated his golden wedding in June 1930. Interestingly the article stated that Mr Yates was one of the

“oldest Druids in the district.”  

He had been a Druid and member of the “Prosperity Lodge” for 55 years. Leeds Mercury 13 June 1930

In October 1937 one of the clubs older members James Oldroyd, who was the oldest Freemason in Batley, died after a fall at his home.

Another prominent member of the club died in January 1939. John William Chew was a long-time member of the committee at the club, as well as a member of the Council of Batley, Morley and Ossett Conservative and Unionist Association. He was the owner of Dixon Chew Drysalters in Batley which had been established by his father in 1896. Leeds Mercury 7 January 1939

Entries in Kelly’s Directory for 1927 and 1936 show the address of the club at Chapel Fold, Staincliffe and the club is still in existence there.