Langham Working Men’s Club
Encyclopedia
The Langham Working Men’s Club is a traditional working men's club
in the north London neighbourhood of Harringay
. The Secretary was a certain Mr. C.H. Pritlove. The club then became the Langham (Non Political) Club and Institute, named after a nearby road, and was registered under the Friendly Societies Act
on 13th May, 1910. It soon affiliated to the Working Men's Club and Institute Union
. The club relocated to its current premises on Harringay's
Green Lanes in 1915.
To begin with, the building was a large double-fronted house but it was extended back away from the road to provide additional rooms. A dance floor was laid in the new concert room. Later on a snooker room was provided upstairs where the offices are also located.
It was fortunate to avoid being bombed during the war
though a few nearby streets suffered direct hits. It set up a very popular amateur boxing club and was the venue for local tournaments as well as for training. A collapsable boxing ring was erected inside one of the main rooms for this. The club produced a few boxing champions as well such as Amateur Boxing Association
middleweight
J. Hockley in 1944 and lightweight
A. Lewis in 1949, as well as S. Lewis, Middleweight Champion in 1949. The club's proximity to the nearby Harringay Arena
may well have encouraged an interest in the sport. Lack of outdoor facilities meant that an indoor one was preferable. In the 1960s the club committee thought the original boxing ring might be stored under the stage but they found only some old Christmas decorations. Many previous artefacts and documents were destroyed by a fire.
The Lord Mayor of Haringey
in 1967 was Mrs A.F. Remington and she pulled the first pint in the new lounge of the Langham that year. As she did, she declared that as it was a working men's club, she presumed they would be taking their wives along as well. In her view 'all wives were working women.' It did appear to be a women-friendly club even in the days when women were not welcome in others.
Apart from regular charities that it supports, the members organise spontaneous collections such as when the Asian tsunami hit back on Boxing Day
2006. There was a marathon darts
playing session plus various other activities to raise money for those caught up in the disaster.
Regular entertainment is usually arranged for Saturday and Sunday evenings with some special events on Fridays, such a quizzes. Bingo is also played and a game of snooker can be had anytime the club is open. A local line dancing
club holds its events in the large function room once a week.
To conform with the 2007 smoking ban, a ‘smoker’s den’ was set up in the forecourt area.
Working men's club
Working men's clubs are a type of private social club founded in the 19th century in industrial areas of the United Kingdom, particularly the North of England, the Midlands and many parts of the South Wales Valleys, to provide recreation and education for working class men and their families.-...
in the north London neighbourhood of Harringay
Harringay
Harringay is a residential area of North London, part of the London Borough of Haringey, United Kingdom. It is centred on the section of Green Lanes running between the northern boundary of Finsbury Park up to the southern boundary of Duckett's Common, not far from Turnpike Lane.-Location:The...
History
The club’s predecessor was the Hornsey Social Club, which was open between 1907-1910, and was found at 31 Turnpike LaneTurnpike Lane
Turnpike Lane is the name of a street in Haringey, north London.The road is characterised by independent retailers with flats above their shops...
. The Secretary was a certain Mr. C.H. Pritlove. The club then became the Langham (Non Political) Club and Institute, named after a nearby road, and was registered under the Friendly Societies Act
Friendly Societies Act 1875
The Friendly Societies Act 1875 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed by Benjamin Disraeli's Conservative Government following the publication of the Royal Commission on Friendly Societies' Final Report....
on 13th May, 1910. It soon affiliated to the Working Men's Club and Institute Union
Working Men's Club and Institute Union
The Working Men's Club and Institute Union is a voluntary association of private members' clubs in Great Britain & Northern Ireland, with about 3,000 associate clubs. One club in the Republic of Ireland, the City of Dublin Working Men's Club is also affiliated. Most social clubs are affiliated to...
. The club relocated to its current premises on Harringay's
Harringay
Harringay is a residential area of North London, part of the London Borough of Haringey, United Kingdom. It is centred on the section of Green Lanes running between the northern boundary of Finsbury Park up to the southern boundary of Duckett's Common, not far from Turnpike Lane.-Location:The...
Green Lanes in 1915.
To begin with, the building was a large double-fronted house but it was extended back away from the road to provide additional rooms. A dance floor was laid in the new concert room. Later on a snooker room was provided upstairs where the offices are also located.
It was fortunate to avoid being bombed during the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
though a few nearby streets suffered direct hits. It set up a very popular amateur boxing club and was the venue for local tournaments as well as for training. A collapsable boxing ring was erected inside one of the main rooms for this. The club produced a few boxing champions as well such as Amateur Boxing Association
Amateur Boxing Association of England
The Amateur Boxing Association of England is the governing body of amateur boxing clubs in England. There are separate organisations for Scotland and Wales with boxing in Northern Ireland being organised on an All-Ireland basis. The Association was founded in 1880...
middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
J. Hockley in 1944 and lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
A. Lewis in 1949, as well as S. Lewis, Middleweight Champion in 1949. The club's proximity to the nearby Harringay Arena
Harringay Arena
Harringay Arena was a sporting and events venue on Green Lanes in Harringay, North London, England. Built in 1936, it lasted as a venue until 1958.-Construction:...
may well have encouraged an interest in the sport. Lack of outdoor facilities meant that an indoor one was preferable. In the 1960s the club committee thought the original boxing ring might be stored under the stage but they found only some old Christmas decorations. Many previous artefacts and documents were destroyed by a fire.
The Lord Mayor of Haringey
London Borough of Haringey
The London Borough of Haringey is a London borough, in North London, classified by some definitions as part of Inner London, and by others as part of Outer London. It was created in 1965 by the amalgamation of three former boroughs. It shares borders with six other London boroughs...
in 1967 was Mrs A.F. Remington and she pulled the first pint in the new lounge of the Langham that year. As she did, she declared that as it was a working men's club, she presumed they would be taking their wives along as well. In her view 'all wives were working women.' It did appear to be a women-friendly club even in the days when women were not welcome in others.
Activities
There is no longer any boxing but plenty of other things going on at the club. It is described by President, Mr. Robert Mead, as a ‘family club’ where everyone knows everyone else, and one that looks after its members. But it also cares for others in the community and has always been involved in charity work. The club hosted the Lord Mayor's charity event in 2006.Apart from regular charities that it supports, the members organise spontaneous collections such as when the Asian tsunami hit back on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
2006. There was a marathon darts
Darts
Darts is a form of throwing game where darts are thrown at a circular target fixed to a wall. Though various boards and games have been used in the past, the term "darts" usually now refers to a standardised game involving a specific board design and set of rules...
playing session plus various other activities to raise money for those caught up in the disaster.
Regular entertainment is usually arranged for Saturday and Sunday evenings with some special events on Fridays, such a quizzes. Bingo is also played and a game of snooker can be had anytime the club is open. A local line dancing
Line dance
A line dance is a choreographed dance with a repeated sequence of steps in which a group of people dance in one or more lines or rows without regard for the gender of the individuals, all facing the same direction, and executing the steps at the same time. Line dancers are not in physical contact...
club holds its events in the large function room once a week.
To conform with the 2007 smoking ban, a ‘smoker’s den’ was set up in the forecourt area.
Sources
- Robertson, J.G., Leading Working Mens' Clubs of England, London 1952.
- The Economist, Vol 311, 1989
- Club Historians website