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Information taken from
https://www.rainham-history.co.uk Published March 1972.
Late in the last century the
land around the hamlet of Wigmore was occupied by a number of
smallholders, cultivating fruit and vegetables. These people sold
their products from a shed attached to a big house in what is now
Woodside Road. It was their habit on these occasions to get in a
barrel of beer for their own consumption. After a few years they
formed a club and took over the house.
As the land was gradually
sold off for building the sale of vegetables etc. grew less but the
club membership increased. There were then no other licenced houses
in the locality.
Later in spite of the opening of two new pubs on
either side, the “Smallholders Club” continued to progress and now
boasts a membership of over 1000. The old building was demolished
and about 3 years ago the present well equipped and spacious club
rooms came into use.
Other organisations in the area use the rooms
for their activities. My Senior Citizen colleague will be glad to
know, that being close to the Post Office, quite a number of retired
gents (and a few ladies) regularly use the Club as a rest centre.
Membership fee to them is 25p per year (50p for the not so old). |
