Social & Special Interest Groups
Burley Social Club
formerly MINIATURE RIFLE AND SOCIAL CLUB
Hill Top ( just off Main Street )
CIU Affiliated - Associate Members Welcome
Originally opened in 1913, its premises included a shooting range until well after the end of the second world war. It then became purely a social club, though it continues to be generally referred to as "The Rifle Club".
There is no connection whatsoever with rifles or shooting ; the only "miniatures" to be had are from the wide selection of spirits available from the well-stocked bar. A name change would seem long overdue, but after all, this is Burley.
Re-built in the early seventies, and re-modelled 4 years ago, the recently refurbished clubrooms now include:-
- A large Concert Room with stage, a small dance floor and ample seating
- A Games Room with a Snooker Table, Dart Board and Dominoes
- Large screen Sky TV
Opening Hours
Monday to Saturday 12 noon - 11:00pm
Sunday 12 noon - 10:30pm
There is an adequate sized car park, except perhaps on Wednesday evenings
New members are always welcome - membership costs are:
on Joining £ 5.50 (minimum 18 years of age)
then Annually £ 4.00
Club telephone number:- 862287
These membership fees are more than compensated for by the huge savings on the price of drinks - why not call in for a friendly welcome and have a look around ?
If you appreciate the sound of a Big Band, try Wednesday nights from 8:30pm (no charge), or Saturday nights from 8pm for the weekly show (again, no charge).
Each Wednesday Evening, from 8:30 to 10:30, the Club is host to
The Leeds Dance Orchestra
a 17 piece band playing all the old favourites
All adults welcome – there is no charge for entry
The Burley Miniature Rifle Club ( now the Burley Social Club )
Here are some items lifted directly from the minutes of the Burley Miniature Rifle Club, from it's conception through to the actual opening:
1st July 1913
Preliminary Meeting held at the Red Lion Hotel
....to consider the formation of a Rifle Club for the village of Burley in Wharfedale
....the subscriptions for the first year be five shillings, to be paid half yearly 1st of July 1913 and the 1st of January 1914....
....the age limit be 21 years of age....
....the offer of a Minstrel Concert be accepted....
....the first Committee Meeting be held on Thursday 10th July 1913.
10th July 1913
Committee Meeting held at the Red Lion Hotel
....the offer of the premises on the terms of one year rent free and after the first year 3 shillings per week be accepted....
....there be a Sub-Committee to collect subscriptions....
....a Sub-Committee to enquire into Target setting up....
Monday 21 July 1913
First Committee Meeting held in the New Club Rooms
....the plates for the targets be ordered at once per quotation from Messrs Crossley & Davenport, Leeds...
....that 5 squares of glass be purchased from Messrs Wm Fison & Co Ltd at the price of 2 shillings each...
Proposals were being put forward for an ever increasing number of potential members to be accepted for membership. These proposals were accepted and carried.
In August 1913 the Club applied for affiliation with the National Miniature Rifle Association, at a cost of 11 shillings.
They also moved the meetings back to the Red Lion Hotel whilst the building and fitting of the Committee Room were carried out. A bar was built and the range itself fitted with targets, steel plates and other essentials.
Other fittings to the Club included a urinal - that is, one. Although there were now about 100 members this was probably quite sufficient, as no alcohol was yet available.
That situation, however, wasn't to last. On the 24th September 1913 the Club carried the following proposals:
- ....that one dozen bottles of whisky at 42 shillings per doz, and 1 doz bottles at 37 shillings be ordered from Messrs Reaney & Greaves, Bradford....
- ....that beer be sold at 2.5d (2 and a half old pennies) per pint, and glasses at 1d with five glasses equal to a quart. Aereated Carried Waters to be sold at 1.5d per bottle....
- ....that the Secretary order 2 x 18 gallon barrels of beer at £ 1.2.0d (22 shillings) from Messrs Whittakers Old Brewery, Bradford; and 2 x 18 gallon barrels of beer at the same price from Messrs Hammonds, Bradford....
- ....that 2 doz pint glasses at 5/3d unstamped; 3 doz beer glasses at 2/6d per doz, and 3 brass beer taps - 3/4 inch - at 4/3d be ordered from Messrs Lund & Reynolds, Market Street, Bradford.
Having got their priorities right, the Committee now proceeded to order 2 rifles from the Society of Miniature Rifle Association, London, at a cost of £2.12.0d (2 pounds 12 shillings, or 52 shillings) each, along with 10,000 rounds of ammunition.
It's only fair to say that at this stage the Club wasn't actually open, yet. But, at the same meeting, it was proposed that the Club should be opened on Saturday 4th October, if it were possible to complete the arrangements - it apparently wasn't, because at the meeting of 6th October 1913:
- ...that the Club be opened on Saturday 11th October, and that invitations be sent out....
- ....and that the Secretary write to the Burley Urban District Council asking for the supply of gas radiators for heating the Club rooms....
On a meeting held two days before the official opening, it was proposed, and carried:
- ....that candidates for membership be elected by ballot....
- ....and that the Committee meet every Thursday night until December.
Presumably the Club opened, as intended, on Saturday 11th October 1913. The event is not mentioned in any minutes.