PUBS and CLUBS

ASHWELLTHORPE WORKING MEN'S CLUB

During the 19thC, alcohol use and drunkenness were considered by some to be the pathway to social disintegration and various societies were set up to campaign against alcohol. The Church of England Temperance Society was formed in the 1860s recommending total abstinence and the Working Men's Clubs and Institute Union was founded on 14 June 1862, with Rev. Henry Solly (Unitarian Minister) and Rev. JH Ryder as Joint Secretaries. Its manifesto stated the Union's aims: "This union is formed for the purpose of helping working men to establish Clubs or Institutes where they can meet for conversation, business and mental improvement, with the means of recreation and refreshment, free from intoxicating drinks; these clubs, at the same time, constituting societies for mutual helpfulness in various ways……" Some three years later, this Union agreed that there would no longer be any restriction on the sale of beer in member clubs

And it was with the background of this Temperance movement that the Rev. James H Anderson (who had been ordained Curate of Wreningham and Ashwellthorpe on Sunday 27 May 1877 and who lived in the Church house next to All Saints) organised a public meeting to be held in the Ashwellthorpe schoolroom on the evening of Monday 11 March 1878.  

This meeting was to discuss the possibility of opening a Coffee and Reading Room/Working Men's Club and this idea had the support of Colonel James Gubbins (who was to become its President), a retired Army officer who had fought and been injured at Inkerman in the Crimean War and was the present tenant of Ashwellthorpe Hall, and the Rev. JW Upcher, the Rector of Wreningham and Ashwellthorpe. Mr William Dewing who had purchased Yew Tree Farm with several farm cottages in May 1865 (not part of the Berners' Ashwellthorpe Estate), had given one of these cottages for the use of the club and it had already been fitted up most carefully by others.

Rev. Anderson said he hoped the club, which would be open every night from 7.00 to 10.00 p.m. except on Sundays, "would be a centre of sound instruction as well as rational amusement in the parish". Books, magazines and newspapers would be supplied as well as games of chess, draughts, dominoes, solitaire and go-bang and coffee would be provided at a penny per mug. 

Also present was the Rev John Cholmeley of Carleton Rode who, according to the Norwich Mercury of 13 March, spoke to the meeting "in a highly amusing and witty style" counselling the men of Ashwellthorpe to avoid the public house. The public house, he said, "amongst its temptations, had usually the most comfortable, warmest and best lighted room in the parish. It would no longer be so in Ashwellthorpe" which, at that time, had three public Houses – Baker's Arms, King's Head and White Horse; so this idea might not have been quite so well received by the landlords! Another speaker was the Rev JD Ballance, vicar of Horsford, who not only advised the men of Ashwellthorpe to avoid the public house, but also the drink.

Those present then adjourned to the new clubroom where coffee was supplied along with the promised papers and magazines. The games were "heartily engaged in" and singing was added "to the happiness of a most pleasant evening".

The Norwich Mercury concluded its report "The start of the Ashwellthorpe Working Men's Club is an undoubted success". Nothing more is known about the success/longevity of the Ashwellthorpe Working Men's Club. However, in later years there was a local branch of the Church of England Temperance Society which held a meeting in Ashwellthorpe Schoolroom on 4 November 1885 – not in the Working Men's Clubroom – when the Norfolk News reported that the speaker "in a most earnest manner" detailed the great benefits of total abstinence and the incalculable harm done by intemperance and unnecessary expenditure on alcoholic drinks. The newspaper went on to report that the audience "consisting chiefly of working men and youths, were generally pleased with the speaker's remarks".

Sources: Norfolk Chronicle 9 March 1878; Norwich Mercury 13 March 1878; "The Temperance Movement", Chapter 8, by Rob Donovan; Eastern Evening News 9 November 1885; Norfolk News 14 November 1885

ASHWELLTHORPE FOOTBALL CLUB

ASHWELLTHORPE FOOTBALL CLUB TEAM - 1925-1926 SEASON

The above is a picture of the Ashwellthorpe Football Club Team from the 1925-1926 Season, photographed outside the White Horse Public House. All team members and officials are known and they are:

Back Row - left to right: Miles Battleday (Secretary), Robert Harvey, Harold Land, Sam Harvey and Maur(ice) Lawn (President)

Centre Row - left to right: Jimmy Nickalls, Jimmy Land and Eric Shearing

Front Row - left to right: Harry Land, Alfred Clitheroe, Roger Wade, Bernard Gibbons and Harry Wade

ASHWELLTHORPE FOOTBALL CLUB TEAM - 1928-1929 SEASON

Here is a picture of the Ashwellthorpe Football Club team - winners of the Wymondham and District Football League, in the 1928-1929 season - photogaphed outside The White Horse public house. The only person known at present is JAMES FOREY (Middle Row, third from left) who lived in Tacolneston and was chauffeur for a Major Gribble at Tacolneston Hall.

Other teams playing in that League then were: Barnham Broom, Bawburgh,Dereham Reserves, Diss Reserves, Great Moulton, Harleston, Hethersett, Hingham Reserves, Mulbarton, Spooner Row, Thetford Reserves, Wicklewood and Winfarthing.

If anyone recognises  any other team members from nearly 100 years ago, information would be very welcome.

FILM CLUB

FILM NIGHTS AT (the old) ASHWELLTHORPE VILLAGE HALL