Grange Institute
Grange Institute, Main Street, Grange-over-Sands
Grange Institute is a historic building which houses a private members Snooker Club and has two meeting rooms for hire to local groups at very reasonable hourly rates. Each room has a capacity for 24 to 30 people depending upon the furniture required.
Historical Background
Canon Henry Robert Smith
Canon Henry Robert Smith became Vicar of St. Paul’s Church, Grange a year after the arrival of the railway and saw the town grow rapidly. Canon Smith perceived the need to supply the working men of the town with facilities for “rational recreation, social improvement and intellectual and moral advancement and in particular to supply lectures and readings on literary and scientific subjects and intellectual amusement.”
Purchase of Main Street Site
He purchased, in 1866, a site in Main Street, from James Simpson Young of Abbot Hall, Kent’s Bank. On it he built a block consisting of two shops with a large room above in which to hold meetings, he later acquired the whole building for the Institute, at a total cost of £800. Facilities for billiards and chess were provided together with an ongoing programme of lectures under the management of a committee.
Henry Eden Smith
Canon Smith‘s eldest son, Henry Eden Smith later became President of the Institute, thus continuing his father’s vision. The Institute was the pioneer in establishing a cultural and social programme for the people of Grange, but by 1900 recreational activities began to take precedence over cultural activities.
Other Societies in Grange
The Grange Lecture Society, the Grange Natural History Society, the Grange Photographic society and the Grange Literary and Scientific Society appeared in the late 19th and early 20th century, taking the place of the cultural activities of the Institute and leaving only the Snooker tables upstairs for the use of Institute members and the two meeting rooms below.
Acknowlegement
Thanks to Professor Michael Atkinson M.A.M.D, F.R.C.P. (source British Library at Colindale) for the historical information above.
Pictures of the Interior
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Snooker Table - 1
Snooker Table - 2
Snooker Table - 3
Kitchen Area Meeting Room 2
Kitchen Area
Kitchen Area
Kitchen Area
Stairs
Room Set Up for Meeting