Wrenthorpe Community Association History

In October 1944, a committee was formed to raise money to provide a community centre in Wrenthorpe. After three years of great effort, £150 had been raised by a few hard working individuals but the initiative then became dormant until 1949 when a public meeting was held on 6 th April at Wrenthorpe Council School when a decision was taken to revive the scheme.

The first AGM of the Association was held on 24 April 1950 when it was agreed to proceed with a project for a temporary building on the site of the Royal Oak Yard in the village centre which had been made available by the Stanley Urban District Council.

Fund raising began in earnest and on 20 July 1950 the Community Association held its first Carnival. Fashion shows, fayres, etc. followed and in 1952 plans were approved to erect a Hall. However, on 6 th November, the partially erected building was blown down in a severe gale.

Undaunted, the Committee showed its resilience and even before the account for the first building had been settled, another, second-hand, building was bought and erected on the cleared site. This was the black and white timber and asbestos structure which many residents will still remember. Opening in 1954, this Hall gave great service to the community until 1985.

However, by the late 1970's it became apparent that the old Hall was reaching the end of its life. Accordingly, fund raising began again with 'Buy-a-brick' campaigns, 'Spectaculars', sponsored fun runs, etc. With the help of Wakefield MDC and a bank loan, the present purpose built Hall was built and opened in January, 1986.

When the scheme to build a community centre was revitalised in 1949, the driving force were the Women's Institute and the Whist Drive.

The Women's Institute (now the Wrenthorpe Ladies Group), who met in the old woollen mill at the bottom of Silcoates Lane, raised £100 towards the cost of the first hall, only to see it come crashing down in a gale. The Saturday night Whist Drive held meetings in the recently demolished Council School and were successful in raising funds to buy and erect a replacement.

From information supplied by Rena Killingbeck, this committee comprised the following individuals:

Mr Gemmel Charlie Swindley (Treasurer)

Mr H Waddington Mrs Wilkinson

Mrs Bennett Mr Moss (Secretary)

Mrs Page Mrs Booker

Mr S Cuer Mr Reeve

Mr Dyson

The Whist Drive continued to meet every Saturday night, initially in the Village Hall before moving to the Valley Crescent Community Centre. It closed quite recently due to lack of support. The Ladies Group are still going strong and meet in the Village Hall on the second Wednesday of each month.

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