page_title: Holbeck Working Men's Club
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Holbeck Working Men's Club / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Holbeck WMC
context_page_description: The Holbeck in Leeds is one of the United Kingdom's oldest working men's clubs, and is thought to be the UK's oldest surviving working men's club.
context_section_description: The Club was originally founded in 1871 at '5 Ebenezer-place, Mint, Holbeck' in 1871. By 1876 it boasted 83 members, assets of £81, and receipts of £155. In 1877, the club moved to its present premises, whose address was then 'Low Moorside, Holbeck, Leeds' (now Jenkinson Lawn, Leeds LS11 9QX). By 1907, the club had 501 members, and funds of £1956. In 1913 it recorded 426 members, with funds of £1,758, rising in 1928 to 718 members and funds of £4,918.
  Among the people who frequented the Club in the post-war years was the local Labour politician Hugh Gaitskell, and the Club was 'one of the most important venues' for early performances by Ernie Wise alongside his father Harry.
  On 2 March 1959, the club voted to permit members' wives to become 'lady members'. 
  The club has long hosted sports teams, including bowls, snooker, and football, winning the West Yorkshire Association Football League in 1989-90. It has also undertaken collections for charity.
caption: The Holbeck WMC in 2010, prior to renaming and redecoration.
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