Northumberland Inns and Taverns: Alnwick (Clayport)

Name: Alnwick Working Men's Club

Address: 21-23 Clayport Street, Alnwick

Clayport Street (late 1800s)

The club can be seen in the photo centre-left adjacent to the entrance to the baths. The building adjoining the club right in the centre of the picture was the Pack Horse Public House in the mid-1800s but had closed before the club opened in the mid-1870s. Opposite the club on the corner of Clayport and Dispensary Street was the Bird & Bush public house, which was rebuilt there in the late 1800s having previously been further down the street. This is pictured below on the 1959 OS Map.

1959 OS Map

Planning for the facility began decades after the National Wash House Act, utilizing land that was previously a vicarage and a tannery. Unlike standard working men's clubs of the era, the building on Clayport was uniquely integrated with public municipal sanitation. The ground floor contained 13 baths (eight for males and five for females) alongside a swimming bath at the rear. Behind the main building, the site featured 30 washing troughs and a dedicated drying room to serve local townspeople. The venue arrived during a period of intense civic sanitation reform in Alnwick following a devastating cholera outbreak in 1849, evolving alongside the town's advanced water supply and public health initiatives. Like traditional Working Men's Clubs, it provided a community space for recreation, though its physical architecture uniquely mirrored Victorian public welfare projects.

The following, rather verbose article in the Alnwick Mercury in 1876 heralded the opening of the Working Men's Club along with the public baths and bathhouses built to the side and rear of the club. As you'll see, the baths, club and cocoa house were managed by different people down the years, often appearing adjacent to one another on the census records.

OPENING OF A WORKING MEN'S CLUB IN ALNWICK
ADDRESS BY THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND

On Monday evening last, a public Meeting was held in the Town Hall, Alnwick, presided over by his Grace the Duke of Northumberland, for the purpose of inaugurating the Working Men's Club, for which spacious buildings have been erected and furnished in Clayport Street, at the sole expense of his Grace, and the use of taken present as a free gift to the town.

In February 1874 we gave at some length a description of the Baths and Bath Houses and of the Working Men's Club; but it may be desirable on the present occasion to repeat the particulars which we then gave with report to the Club, as so much interest attaches to its opening. Our readers are aware that the buildings altogether have a frontage of about 80 feet towards the street, and that the buildings appropriated to the purposes (of the Club is that which belonged to the late Mr Joseph Appleby. It has been entirely remodelled and is now substantially a new building. On entering from the street the visitor finds that the principal rooms on the ground floor which first attract his notice are the Dining Room and the Smoking and Conversation Room. These two commodious rooms are each about 18 feet in length and 16 in breadth and of height proportionate to these dimensions. The Bar and the Kitchen are situated beyond these, the kitchen being fitted out with every requisite appliance; there are also pantries, and several spacious underground cellars. The main staircase is reached by passing through a corridor, and on the first floor are situated the Reading Room, Bagatelle Room, and Committee Room. They are all noble rooms but the Reading Room claims the principal notice. Its length is 31 feet it is of the breath of 17 feet, and it is 13 feet in height. It is a beautiful and finely proportioned room and admirably adapted for the accommodation of its future occupants. Like all the other public rooms, it is well ventilated, and is lighted with sunlights. Several other rooms on this floor extend backward, being principally intended for the accommodation of the manager and his family, and the rooms on the second floor will be appropriated to the staff of servants which will have to be maintained. The rooms are all well furnished at the expense of the Duke On the first floor towards the rear of the premises is a large Soup Kitchen fitted with two great pots which are heated by steam from the boilers at the adjoining Baths. The designing and executing of the plans reflects the utmost credit on Mr George Reavell, his Grace's resident architect. The following are the names of the contractors by whom the works have been executed :—Messrs Armstrong Bros., masons; Mr H. Hunter, joiner; Mr G. Pickard, plasterer; Mr T. Rutherford, slater; Messrs A. and B. Robertson, painters and glaziers; and Messrs Wilkin and Dickman, plumbers and smiths; Messrs T. Robertson and Son, have supplied the furnishings.

The public meeting in the Town Hall, on Monday night was well attended, the hall being completely crowded. His Grace the Duke of Northumberland occupied the chair, and amongst those on the platform were Mr Joseph Snowball, Seaton Burn; Rev E. B. Trotter, Rev J. M. Perry. Mr Mark Smith, Mr Thos. Robertson, Mr Jos. Yeaman, Mr G H. Thompson, Mr George Reavell, Mr James Heatley, Mr Robt Kyle, Mr Adam Robertson, Mr Edward Allen, Mr Blair, and Mr George Cockburn. The Noble Chairman, who was received with great applause said — Your presence here, my friends, has been invited for the purpose of co-operating in the formation of a working men's club for this town (Applause). It is a want which I believe has been felt for some time past; but whether it has ever been expressed or not, I am not aware; but I have thought that it is an institution which is in the highest degree adapted for the wants of this town, in as much as I am well aware that the accommodation afforded, though it is not entirely absent, for persons who desire peace, order, and comfort, is not upon a sufficient scale to supply the wants of the whole communitv. (Hear, hear). Now the building which has been in hand for several years —for three years I think it is now—has at last been finished and furnished. (Applause) The erection of the building, and its construction, have been carefully considered ; and I believe it will be found upon trial that it is adapted for all the purposes for which it was intended. (Applause). If it should not be so, it has been from no want of a desire to secure all the advantages which such an institution is capable of affording to all those who may become members of the institution. (Applause). Every man requires some relaxation, some ease, whether it be from work either of the head or the hand and he requires a certain degree of repose together with all the other comforts which the word "repose" implies He must have warmth, he must have light; he must have agreeable company, and these requisites have been hitherto afforded to such an extent, as you are far better judges than I can be by the public-house. (Applause). Now, the public house may be a very good place of resort; but it has this unfortunate concomitant—that all are expected to purchase liquor there— (hear, hear), —and purchasing that liquor, you are expected to purchase more—you are expected to treat your friends very often, and you are led on from one thing to another until at last the result is anything but that which is desirable, and the consequences are fatal alike to your health, both of body and of mind- (loud applause). Now, it has always appeared to me that there is no reason why the nature of a public house with the concomitants of noise, riot, dirt, and confusion, should necessarily be confined to an establishment where the same thing can be obtained in reasonable amount—where comfort can be obtained in reasonable amount without any of those adjuncts. Therefore this establishment is calculated as I hope in a great degree to supersede the necessity of resorting to those places. I don't say that public-houses may not be in themselves necessary things. I don't mean to say that, properly used, they can be dispensed with; but this I do say, that they do afford temptations which, especially to the young, are very often most fatal. (Loud applause.) Well here, to every man therefore who prefers quiet to noise, comfort to a state of riot and confusion, are the means of enjoying a recreation without interference by anybody, the means of spending as much money as he pleases, and no more, upon himself; to such men the advantages of this establishment are offered, (-applause) I must ask you, of course, to recollect that the success of this establishment, and which must be self-supporting, for it would be impossible to keep up an establishment at a heavy expense only for a few members—can only be secured by its members imitating what is seen in other ranks of life, that is to say, that every man who becomes a member of a decent club of all ranks is expected to behave himself respectably. (applause). He is expected to behave himself, not to annoy his neighbours, to avoid any habits which are disagreeable to them. He is to enjoy his own ease, but without entrenching upon the liberty of his neighbours doing the same (loud applause.) Now that is fact constitutes a great portion of what people call gentlemanlike conduct; and it is only with that gentleman like conduct that any establishment in which a great number of men are gathered together can be kept in order ('Hear, hear'.) You must yourselves not only obey the rules, but you must of course be the guardians of these riles. (Applause.) You must see that your neighbours obey them ; and every man who does not obey them must be looked upon by you as having lost his proper position. (Applause.) The rules are calculated to afford as much liberty as is possible to the inclinations and likings of every person, and as is consistent with the due management of an establishment in which a great number of people are from time to time assembled. I don't think there will be anything found in practice to complain of in them; but should there be so, it will always be in your power hereafter to modify those rules, and accommodate them more completely to the habits of those who are to form the members of the club. (Loud applause.) To this end I propose that the club shall be managed in very large proportion by members of the working class. The rules laid down at present of course, though experimental, are peremptory; because there are no means of ascertaining at present the tastes and habits and feelings of those who are to be the members of the club. But although these rules are to be considered provisional, some of them of course cannot be dispensed with. But the committee which is to carry out these rules will be named by me for a short time. They are all working men; and I will ask them to be so good as to act together, and they will be in office for about a month, and then, after that, a fresh election will take place. (Applause.) I said that the club should be self-supporting ; but in order to start it properly, you will find that it has been furnished; all the furniture is in the house. (Applause). All the necessary fittings are there: and everything is ready to take possession at once — (loud applause)—and lest there should be any trouble in starting the thing at once, I am willing to become responsible for the rates and taxes for the first year. (Loud applause). There may be some who think that there is an establishment already existing in this town which may be injured by this institution; I don't think it will he so. There is a Mechanics' Institute, which is very well attended, but then it is attended by studious people—people whose object is to learn and to study. Now this establishment will not be of that description. It is not an establishment for study, but an establishment for comfort and ease There will be means for recreation and of reading, and there will be means for playing innocent games, so that they don't conduce to gambling. (Hear, hear, and loud applause). All this will be very much for the consideration of the committee, who will be appointed hereafter, but that is the idea. But the Mechanics' Institute will be reserved for study; and I hope that this club, which we are now going to form, will be a sort of ante-room to the Mechanics' Institute, but not by any means a conflicting establishment. (Loud applause.) I don't think there is anything more I have to say to you upon this subject, but only to beg you to believe that there is no other object in inviting you to form part of this establishment than to do that which shall be beneficial, an I which shall be agreeable to both. (Loud applause), I leave it to you at present, in its present state. (Applause). Mr Thomas Robertson said he rose to propose that an address be offered to the noble Duke for the very handsome manner in which he had at all times, studied the comfort and prosperity of the town of Alnwick—[loud applause] and especially for this great boon to the working in the establishment of a working men's club for Alnwick—(applause); and he could say this for the working men of this town, that the most of them were intelligent, well behaved men. (Hear, hear.) He proposed that the following address be presented to his Grace :— To the Most Noble Algernon George, Duke of Northumberland. We, the inhabitants of the town of Alnwick, in public meeting assembled, take this opportunity of approaching your Grace to express our heartfelt thanks for the very great benefit you have conferred upon the town in providing for the use of its inhabitants such perfect and well-adapted premises for the purpose of holding a Working Men's Club. In many ways previously has your Grace's interest in the town been manifested, but none more so than in the present instance. We congratulate your Grace on the benevolent and enlightened motives by which you are actuated in thus, at very great cost, erecting and furnishing this building for the convenience of the working classes in particular, and indirectly, for the community at large. We trust that your Grace's most sanguine expectations maybe realised, and that large moral, social, and intellectual good may accrue. In again thanking your Grace for this renewed mark , of your kindness towards the inhabitants of the town of Alnwick, we would express a sincere hope that your Grace, with the Duchess of Northumberland and every member of your Grace's family, may be spared in health and happiness to live amongst, us and witness the successful results of your efforts for the public welfare.

Saturday, Jan. 1, 1876 Alnwick Mercury

1923 OS Map

Shown to the east of the club, marked on the map as P.H. (Public House) were the Blue Bell Inn and Three Tuns, the Freemen's Arms opposite Union Court having closed to business at the back end of the 19th century.

I was grateful to find the below article, courtesy of the North East Heritage Library website that provides further background and history of this great establishment.

Anyone getting off the bus at Alnwick will be greeted by the Working Men’s Club - a spotless & tidy building compared to its soot laden neighbour. It would be hard to believe it’s from the 18th century, but is incredibly well looked after.

The Alnwick Working Men’s Club is a fairly old one compared to many, founded in 1876. It went well beyond the scope of what you’d expect, which makes it a fascinating society to read into. The first general meeting was held in the February to a very large attendance, to such an extent the meeting had to be suspended and moved to the town hall down the road. After only a month 250 people signed up as a member. The first committee was, of course, to agree whether there would be beer at the club premises. The Duke was present as the chairman, and said it was the members to decide such a thing.

Accommodation for the people of Alnwick was quickly discussed as there was at that time very little available. They pushed a motion to the Duke to increase housing and the towns sanitation to which he obliged. Lodgings and board were very soon provided by the next year.

Such a swathe in favour and popularity allowed the club to invest in several institutions in the town. A bath house was quickly opened, and the club opened up a cocoa room a couple of years after founding within the club - these were popularised by the temperance movement as a social alternative to drinking providing coffee, hot chocolate and cakes. It was, at this stage, the northernmost cocoa room in England and fully funded by the Duke / the club founder.

Such is testament to the success of this place that the only people who resigned their membership are those who left the town. A reading room was instituted as was a library and billiards room, similar to many institutes across the north. Concerts were offered alongside dinners too. Even A football club was formed in the late 1880s.

Though this place might be seen as just a typical club, it really was a pioneer of the northern working class society. Its seamless relations with the Duke meant stuff got done, and it had a sizeable impact to the community which has generally been forgotten to time.

Listed landlords/managers of the club were David Elliott (1879-), Edward Gibbins (1881-), William Dunns (1891-), Thomas Waugh Cockburn (1901), George and Marys Dodds (1909-), Edwin John Harlow (1914), Sarah Short (1921) and George Bennett (1939).

1879 Kelly's Directory David Elliott

1881 Census David Elliott & Edward Gibbins & Jane Davison

ALNWICK WORKING MEN'S CLUB

The annual general meeting of the members of the Alnwick Working Men's Club was held on Saturday night in the committee room of the institution. The Rev. E. B Trotter, M.A., vicar of Alnwick, occupied the chair, and was supported by Mr. Adam Robertson, one of the vice-presidents.—The Secretary (Mr. E. B. Gibson) read the annual report and balance-sheet, which showed that during the past year the working of the club had been in every way satisfactory. There had been 296 on the roll of members, of which 30 had left, leaving on the boob 266, as against 263 last year. The introduction of wines into the club since last annual meeting had supplied a want long felt by the members, and the committee had much pleasure in testifying that the club had been managed to their entire satisfaction, and that the best of order and good fellowship bad existed. The financial statement showed a total balance, with the stock in hand, of £35 0g 2d. He reports were adopted. —Mr. George Wilcox, in the unavoidable absence of Mr. M. Robinson, moved, " That spirits be introduced into the club," which was seconded by Mr. Walters, and carried by 22 against 17. —Mr. William Robinson moved, " That a sum of money be set aside for the purpose of enlarging the library."—Mr. E. Whinham moved as an amendment, " That the purchasing of books for the library be deferred until the urgent and necessary improvements in the dining and billiard rooms were carried out."—Mr. Robinson's motion not being seconded, the amendment thereupon became the staple motion, and wad carried unanimously. —The next resolution, "That the hours of Sunday opening in the afternoon be the same as formerly, viz., from one o'clock to three o'clock," to be proposed by Mr. William Robinson, was withdrawn by that gentleman, the chairman congratulating him upon doing so. The election of eight members of committee was then proceeded with, with the following result: Richard Darling, 33 votes; Win. Forster, 29; Robert Gelson, 21; Edward Whinham, 25; Matthew Curry, 24; Alexander Moir, 21; John Mitchell, 15; George Willcox, 13.

A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting.

Saturday Feb. 2, 1884
Publication: Morpeth Herald