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| THE much modernised former site of the Wirksworth Labour and Social Club |
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| How it looked in the late 1970s before being restored by Wirksworth Civic Trust Photo courtesy of www.wirksworth.org.uk |
Alf Mellor, who lived right across the road from the club, was custodian of the keys for anyone who came up to play, and was one of the best exponents of the three ball game in the town around that period, illustrated by the fact that he scored the highest break of 60 in the 1952 season.
Ken "Kammer" Gell was another much respected team member, noted for his trademark upright stance, along with Brian and Cyril Wain.
The club also produced a snooker team to finish runners up in the 1956 C Division season which featured Clayton Slack along with Brian and Stan Matkin amongst others.
Isaac Gratton, reputedly grandfather of current players Jimmy and Andrew was a member of the committee and, living immediately next door, would often call around to investigate if anyone was suspected of playing out of the stipulated hours.
He was apparently also affectionately known by the nickname of "The Magpie" due to the fact that he was reportedly often seen seen with very black hands on occasions when the club's coal supplies often seemed to dwindle very quickly (so rumour has it!)
The club was situated at 31 The Dale, about 150 yards up on the right, having previously been the George IV Inn in the early 1900s when run by Fred and Hannah Brooks.
It consisted of a billiards table upstairs and a table tennis table downstairs with crisps and pop being sold by committee members as and when they popped in.
As some of the younger members went into National Service, the membership roster soon began to suffer and it seems by the late 50's Mr Gratton himself bought the building and turned it into an extension of his own residential property.
By the mid to late 60s, Mr Gratton's original dwelling next door to the club became a shop selling Lyons Cakes.
The property as can be seen above, became derelict and after deteriorating during the 70s, was restored and improved as a single dwelling by The Wirksworth Trust, who for a time held an office there before it was sold for residential purposes.
After closing, the club tried to re-locate within the premises of what is now the Wirksworth Methodist Church where it was hoped a main road position and bar would increase custom but could not obtain a licence and it thereafter became defunct.
