Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue

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Reference
X937
Title
Stotfold Village Club
Date free text
1890-1900
Production date
From: 1890 To: 1900
Admin/biog history
The Club appears to have been a club for men. It met in two rooms (one of which was later referred to as the 'reading room', where members could talk, read magazines and newspapers, play board games (bagatelle, dominoes and draughts are mentioned) and billiards. It is probable that the club was intended to provide an alternative to public houses and beer houses and the vicar Rev W E Jackson is the first president mentioned in the minutes. The Club closed for the Summer, usually on 31st May, and reopened around the beginning of September each year. It is unclear when the club started as in the first of the minutes in these books there is a discussion about raising the minimum age for membership suggesting that the club had already been in existence prior to the start of this minute book (May 1890). In 1894 the minutes record the intention of 'starting the village club on a firmer basis'. Funds always seem to have been low or in deficit. In November 1900 24 members were paid 10 shillings each 'their share of balance of money' and this may have been the winding up of the club.
Stotfold Town Council
Physical description
All volumes in poor condition.
Level of description
fonds