39 – Helmington Hall Community Club

Helmington Hall Community Club

A public meeting in 1935 decided that a community club was needed and two years later it had 350 members.

The decision to build a community club was prompted by the Social Services Movement and a site was provided by Strakers and Love, the owners of Helmington Hall. It was in their rookery and 40 volunteers dug the foundations for what became known as the green hut.

The club’s monthly magazine, called Rookery Nook, reported in November, 1937, that there were 350 members and classes included woodwork, boot repair and physical training. A drama group staged frequent productions and a lending library stocked 615 books, read by 64 borrowers.

A women’s section had 60-odd members and in 1956 Rough Lea Methodist Youth Club moved to the hall. They ran a very active cinema club and organised dances, football matches and other activities. Youth club holidays were organised every other year to Scarborough or Blackpool.