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After the First World War a number of serving
and retired officers came to live in Hartley and because they missed the
facility offered in the services of an Officers Mess, they decided to create
one, in part of what is now known as the Hartley Social Club.
In the period 1924/5 the
Officers Mess was absorbed by the formation of the Hartley Constitutional Club
which expanded and leased the whole of the Hartley Social Club building.
At about this time the 10 acre pasture field to the west of the Club was
offered for sale.
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Mr Charles
Ellerby, a member of the Club committee and an agricultural contractor, was able
to come to an agreement with William Sale, the field owner for a lease of five
years at £100 per annum, with an option to purchase for £1,000 within the 5
year agreement. In the period
1926/7 the Constitutional Club founded the Hartley Sports Club with a view to
using the field for cricket, tennis, etc. With the assistance of some of the members and financial
support from the Constitutional Club and Hartley residents, Mr Ellerby was able
to create a cricket square and outfield which allowed cricket, followed by
tennis and bowls, to be played. |
| The “Officers” eventually made the
decision to exercise the option to purchase the land and Captain Charles Bignell
undertook the task to float a company, entitled The Hartley Country Club, and to
build a clubhouse on the site.
Captain Bignell was able to raise the capital, shares and loans for the
purchase and building work and the Clubhouse was finally opened in 1934 by the
local Member of Parliament. The
Hartley Country Club was registered as an open space for all time and was
designed to be a non-religious and non-political organisation. On the formation of Hartley Country Club the Constitutional
Club ceased to exist and became what is now known as Hartley Social Club. |
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At the outbreak of World War 2 all the sports
at the Club stopped because the young men were conscripted into
the services to fight for their country. During
this time Hartley saw their village encompassing an Italian prisoner of war
camp, an ammunition dump in local woods and the position of anti-aircraft guns.
During the war the Club sustained slight damage from shrapnel but was
fortunate to be missed by phosphorous bombs which were dropped in the area. Captain Bignell, during this time, was put in charge of the
air raid operations in the area and was awarded an OBE. |
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After the War more work was done
on the ground. Two more grass
tennis courts and two hard courts, replacing the first two grass courts, were
added. The bowling green was
expanded and moved to where it is today and hockey was started.
The period after the War saw a
change in the structure of the Clubhouse, which was previously for men only.
It was decided to build a room, which would allow women into the Club for
the first time. The image of a
family club was born and the ladies of the village took every opportunity to
meet there and have a drink.
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The 1950’s saw the Club prosper with increased
membership and becoming a very popular part of the community, which it still is
today.
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Information gained
in an Interview with Charles Ellerby ( b.21.6.1900, d.28.12.01) in June 2000.
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