Hello, During the 1950's and maybe early 1960's I was taken for a holidays in Newbury, and we always stayed at the Liberal Club. From the book of rules I have it was situated at 94 Northbrook Street. I have very fond memories of staying there and was hoping to find some pictures of the area to remind me of what it looked like.

I recall that we entered the building by some side alley which opened out to a grassed area, at the back of which was a billiard room. The kitchen, which was on the left, was a rather large room with an aga in one corner. Next door was a nurses home. The furniture in it was all dark wood, and highly polished. I'm not sure what their position was but my Aunt and her mother lived there. I expect my Aunts father also lived there, but I don't recall seeing him there. Their surname was Symes, James and Maude, with the daughter Winnifred.

Being woken by the church bells, and walks along the river bank are also nice memories.

I've looked through some of the photos that have already been posted of Northbrook Street, but can't see anything that looks like its the place.

Tried Google maps with sheet view, but it looks like a one-way system prevented them from getting to that end of the street.

I'm not only interested in pictures, but if you have any information on the buildings that would be good too.

A bit confusing because 94 Northbrook Street is the Curry's Digital store which is just about to close.

From various town guides, it would appear that the Liberal Club (and the Boys Club) were situated between West Street and Albert Road. Buildings in this area were replaced by Brook House which was built in the early to mid sixties.

The Liberal club was definitely situated in this area in 1953, but had closed before the 1960 guide was published.

Hope this helps.

The Liberal Club was at 61 Northbrook St from 1896 to the 1950s.

Not the best of pictures, but this shows the buildings in 1965/6 Just before their demolition.

Two other buildings of interest. The left hand shop was the famous JJ Davies china shop which now has become Mc Donalds with a new building on the site. The china shop had a glass covered conservatory that ran down West st and had a huge grape vine growing inside over the heads of the customers.
The other building is the old bioscope cinema which still survives. It is the one just to the right of the hoarding. After that comes Albert Road, the methodist church set back and out of view and then the monument pub.

Quoted from rayb6379

From the book of rules I have it was situated at 94 Northbrook Street. I have very fond memories of staying there and was hoping to find some pictures of the area to remind me of what it looked like.

I recall that we entered the building by some side alley which opened out to a grassed area, at the back of which was a billiard room. The kitchen, which was on the left, was a rather large room with an aga in one corner.

This does make more sense to be situated at 94 Northbrook Street where there is a side alley, but this is a long way away from the old Liberal Club doorway.

Quoted from brian

The left hand shop was the famous JJ Davies china shop which now has become Mc Donalds with a new building on the site. The china shop had a glass covered conservatory that ran down West st and had a huge grape vine growing inside over the heads of the customers.

I may well be wrong here (I'm sure I'll be corrected) but wasn't there a Davis connected with the Newbury Society? you know, that lot that keep an eye on our heritage. And wasn't this a listed building? How odd that Micky D's (or whoever) were able to purchase it and knock it down.

Threep.

Could it be Bolton Place - the little alley down the side of Currys? The multistorey is on one side (perhaps this was where the grassy area was), and the Currys building extends back some way.

Quoted from Threepwood

I may well be wrong here (I'm sure I'll be corrected) but wasn't there a Davis connected with the Newbury Society? you know, that lot that keep an eye on our heritage.

You could be right. I know that Peter Davis, who ran the shop, was a big noise (pardon the pun!) in the Newbury Symphony Orchestra in the 1970s. He lived at East Woodhay and was disabled, but that didn't stop him being an active chap.

I would often go in to his shop to admire the grapevine. When the shop was demolished and the vine cut down, I acquired some cuttings and stored them in sand until they could be planted, but sadly they did not grow.

I have another reason for remembering the place; at that time I had a girl friend who occupied the flat above the shop. Happy days!

Quoted Text

And wasn't this a listed building? How odd that Micky D's (or whoever) were able to purchase it and knock it down.

Threep.

Indeed - it is more than odd; it is a shame.

Quoted from Brewmaster

You could be right. I know that Peter Davis, who ran the shop, was a big noise (pardon the pun!) in the Newbury Symphony Orchestra in the 1970s. He lived at East Woodhay and was disabled, but that didn't stop him being an active chap.

Enborne (Enborne Street to be exact).

I'm not to sure about the rights and wrongs of the sale of the shop but it was in fairly poor condition and when he retired, there wasn't anybody who wanted to continue with the business. Fact of life really but traditional shops just cannot survive in the supermarket and cheap import sellers market of today. Who in this day and age, buys a bone china dinner service or a brown teapot lid.

If you want a feel for for the JJ Davies shop, then it is encapsulated in the first chapter of a book by Richard Adams (Watership Down), Girl in a swing. It's an interesting read, but not about furry bunnies and things.

One of the biggest myths in property is that listing protects a building from demolition.  It might make it a little more difficult but the list of demolished listed buildings in Newbury is an increasingly lomg one.

All true and good and valid points, it just seemed odd that for someone involved so much in local heritage, when push came to shove,  it seems to have been a case of -  'sod the heritage' - Micky D's can have it.


Threep.

Quoted from blackdog

The Liberal Club was at 61 Northbrook St from 1896 to the 1950s.

After the decline/demise of the club the building was used for Newbury Boys Club run by Newbury Borough Council, -late forties early fifties-one of my memories is that it had 'public baths' (one for each sex), as the home where I grew up did not have a bath so for 6d I could have my weekly soak.

Thank you all for so much information. I've looked again at the rule book and I think I mis-read it. It was printed by J T Nash, 94, Northbrook Street, but the main heading is Liberal Club Northbrook Street. The sign also agrees with the booklet in that it also says established 1896. The demolition dates also coincide with when my aunt and and the rest of her family moving to Essex.

Shame it was demolished as it was a really nice building inside.

Can't believe my luck, just found (that I thought I'd lost, hence these enquiries) another booklet which has pictures of the front and also the inside. Its entitled "Views of New Premises opened February 1896", and looks a bit different to the picture above. The shop to the right of the door isn't there, and there's a smaller entrance to the left of the front door, which is where I guess we would have got in. When I get a scanner I'll post the pictures, if I can get them to a reasonable quality.

I wonder when the club actually changed to the Newbury Boys Club?

Quoted from brian

Enborne (Enborne Street to be exact).

Of course. My memory isn't what it was.

(But I do remember the girl friend in the flat!)