Our History
Registration of the Society
In November 1919 a man named Wilson Whitaker, who was the secretary at the time, filed an appeal for the establishment of a ‘Working Men’s Club’ at Wadsley Bridge. On the 13th February 1920, the club was registered as Wadsley Bridge Working Mens Club and Institute Ltd under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act (1893). The clubs original postal address was located at 12 Fielding Road (Wadsley Bridge) which is now located next to the Hillsborough Stadium, this was the home address of Mr Whitaker at the time and where the society used to meet.
The certificate of acknowledgment of Wadsley Bridge Working Mens Club and Institute on the 13th February 1920 (click to enlarge)
The signatures of the men who founded Wadsley Bridge W.M.C, George William Gough, Harold Wadsworth. Harry Womersley, George Allen, William Webster, D.G Patchett, Farewell Gillott and Wilson Whitaker (click to enlarge)
The postal addresses of the founding members and the original postal address of Wadsley Bridge W.M.C (click to enlarge)
The Club Grounds
Before 1921, the Grange on Halifax Road used to be home to a Mr Edwin Robinson who later became the president of the society once the club had moved to where it resides now. A conversation in a tramcar led to Mr Robinson granting the society time raise a deposit and gave what assistance he could. A hut was built on the grounds and all looked good for a successful opening of the working mens club until a tree was cut and destroyed some telegraph wires which cost the club £65 in damages which is around £3000 now (Page 15 in this PDF). This setback didn’t stop them and in 1921 the societies address was moved to the Grange.
The house owned by Edwin Robinson located on the club grounds around 1920 (click to enlarge)
Becoming a Club
On the 18th October 1921, the industrial and provident societies act issued a change of address from Fielding Road to the current site of the club ‘The Grange, Wadsley Bridge’. The club did well for a few years and then in 1929 the club sent out souvenirs to its members and held a celebration for the opening of ‘the extensions’. By this time the club was being ran by a different committee, the president was Mr Robinson (previous owner of the club grounds) and a William Allwood became the clubs secretary. Access to the souvenir and more information in the souvenir is here.
The change of address document, signed by William Whitaker and authorised by the Industrial and Provident Societies Act (click to enlarge)
The committee of the club when the extensions of the club were opened in 1929 (click to enlarge)
A picture of the club and its extensions in 1929 (click to enlarge)