 Beverley Conservative Club Beverley Conservative Club opened in January 1885, at that time being known as "The Beverley Conservative Working Men’s Club." In the first year the membership grew rapidly and by 1888 was such that larger premises were required. The rooms in the new club included a Billiard Room, a Reading Room with over 30 newspapers and periodicals and a Library with about 500 books, for the free use of members. The popularity continued and in 1895 the club again moved, this time to better premises in the Market Place, where it remained for the next thirty years.
Surprisingly, in those early years the consumption of alcohol in the club did not take place, however, in 1913, 29 years after it was formed, the club decided to install a bar. This proved a very popular move and the club continued to be well patronised.
After the Great War, the members decided that instead of renting the club premises, they should look for somewhere suitable to buy and in 1925, a large Georgian house with 5.9 acres of land, known as Wylie Park, was purchased. However, these were difficult times and by 1934, the bulk of the parkland had been sold for building.
During the Second World War the club was shut as the premises were requisitioned for use by the army. In 1945, when it was returned to the members, it was in a very poor state of repair, a fire having destroyed the top two stories. Nevertheless, in just under a year the club was again open.
In 1964, the bulk of the main building was bought by compulsory purchase in order to extend Wylie’s Road, the club being rebuilt on its present site.
Since then, the club has many additions and alterations and recently, in early 2003, both the bars were completely renewed.
In 2004 ladies were elected to full membership of the club and 2006 saw the first lady members of the committee.
The club has seen many changes in its long history and now, with a membership of well over a thousand, it happily survives and thrives. |
