A VILLAGE club is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

The Applegarth – in Banks Lane, Riddlesden – will mark the milestone with a full day of activities on Saturday, October 15.

Its actual anniversary fell last year, but events were put on hold due to the pandemic.

The origins of the building date back to 1867, when Thomas Blakey demolished an old farmhouse on the site and constructed the new property. The initials of he and his wife Emma, together with the date, are inscribed above the entrance.

Their son John, who lived at the house with his wife and daughters following his parents' death, sold the property in 1919 to industrialist John William Midgley.

In November, 1944, six men from the Home Guard formed the Old Comrades Association and that ultimately would lead to the birth of what was to be Riddlesden & Morton United Services Club – the Applegarth.

The Midgley family agreed to sell the building for £2,500, provided it was used as an ex-servicemen’s club.

A £100 donation was made from association funds and a major fundraising drive took place, which successfully resulted in the necessary money being found and the purchase was completed.

In June, 1946, the first-ever committee meeting took place inside the Applegarth.

And on September 30, the club opened to members.

The Applegarth then was men-only, but in 1953 it was agreed that members could bring their wives along on Coronation Day. The only other female allowed in the building was the stewardess.

Various improvements have been carried out to the building over the years.

In 2005-6, the club raised additional capital by selling off land.

"The club decided to use most of the capital on a total refurbishment – transforming it into the place it is today," says Stuart Lunn, the club's historian.

"The Old Coach House, adjacent to the club and still owned by the Applegarth, was also renovated with a view to renting it out to provide a steady income. The cottage has been further upgraded to become a holiday let.

"The club can look back on a long history and many changes – perhaps the most significant in recent years being the end of the ‘men only’ rule, with women now very much a part of the club and its running."

For more about the anniversary celebrations, search The Applegarth Club (Riddlesden & Morton United Services Club) on Facebook.