The club was established in December 1908 and was first opened in January 1909.
School children in front of the classrooms that became the Working Men’s club.
The original building that housed the club was formerly school class rooms that formed part of the Caversham House Academy, established by Francis Knighton in the mid-19th century. Francis Knighton had already established a boy’s school in Reading, but was looking to move to the more healthy environment of Caversham, and consequently bought Caversham House by auction in 1849.
He built school classrooms over the road, and the school playgrounds were to the side of this building, where the church (on the location of the old cinema) and the library stand today. In 1872 (in the location of the current beer cellar) a tunnel was built under Church Street to link the class rooms and playground to the rest of the school on the other side of the road (in Caversham House). This allowed children safe transit across the road, avoiding the carts and horses that travelled up and down Church Street. The weather vane located on the top of the building has been restored and can still be seen today, bearing the initials of the school’s founder:
In February 1932, the club purchased additional land on the North side of the club, and a sub-committee was formed to oversee the re-development of the club buildings. This involved a new billiards room, plus rebuilding the front of the club entirely. In April 1933, a builder was appointed, and the new club was completed by 1934. A re-opening ceremony was held in the new lounge on 8th June, with a cold supper and a concert, with 83 in attendance.
The club building that we see today, at around the time of its completion in 1934.
The Annual Return for the Friendly Societies from December 1915, showing the club’s commencement in 1909.
The club was registered with, and is still with the Friendly Societies – currently the Friendly Societies Act 1974, Register number 28W.