Alnwick
Alnwick Working Mens Club
Last Updated:
6 Mar 2025
Alnwick
This is a
Institute, Club
55.412254, -1.709422
Founded in
Current status is
Extant
Designer (if known):
Grade II Listed
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.
Listing Description (if available)
Both Ordnance Survey plans here illustrate Alnwick town centre and Clayport Street from the middle of the 19th century until the latter. It's one of the earliest streets in Alnwick forming the east-west link through the town. Given its status as an important market town & staging post, it was almost inevitable the street would feature valuable infrastructure and social institutions here. One of Alnwick's most important defensive buildings, Clayport Tower, was constructed here as a result in medieval times and formed the main western fortification in and out of the town. It was however demolished in 1804, presumably owing to expansion of the road for development.
We can also see the club building itself between the Pack Horse and Freemens Arms. It features an extensive rear yard all the way back to Monkhouse Square though this was entirely expanded upon by the 1890s thanks to the advent of Alnwick's public baths.
The 1923 Ordnance Survey, though not as detailed, gives us the first indication this building was used as the club adjacent to the baths and the fire station at the rear.
The Alnwick Working Mens Club in the centre of the shot, February 2025.
Clayport Street, with the old Tower Pant and our building in the centre of the frame. Unknown original source.
