By the middle of the eighteenth century clubs had started to open across the country as meeting venues for members of the two main political parties.

The Shipley Conservative Association (SCA) wanted to have meeting rooms and there were many different views of what was required. In April 1885 the Old Fire Station in Atkinson Street became available to rent and SCA moved in. It is interesting to note that no beer was sold by this club! There were many problems and the club closed in March 1901.

After the Liberal Unionists and the Conservatives amalgamated it was clear that the new Shipley Unionist Association (SUA) needed a home and rooms in Dale Street were rented with the new club opening in October 1909. This second club became affiliated and inter-affiliated to the Association of Conservative Clubs in 1910.

In 1914 Shipley Hall Estate Co. Ltd., purchased Shipley Old Hall using funds raised by Unionist businessmen. The Old Hall was let to SUA (later Shipley Unionist Club (SUC)) until it was purchased from the company 1932. Christmas 1919 saw the Shipley Divisional Unionist Association (formed in 1885) move from Thornton Road to rent free accommodation at the SUC.

In 1947 the SUC became a Conservative Club and has been the Shipley Conservative Club ever since. Thus the second club has been supporting the Conservative and Unionist Party since 1909.

This is only a very short history of the Club, another success from the Conservatives. It is hoped that the full story can be written shortly.

C .M .Clapham

President

November 2010