SWANLAND MENS INSTITUTE

The northern vestry of the Congegational Church (now Christ Church) was the schoolroom. It had a playground next to it. After the new school was built behind the pond the old schoolroom was used as a mens billiard room and James Reckitt built the present Institute on the playground. This facility was fully furnished and comprised of two large rooms with a full sized billiard table in each, and a reading room / library. The Institute was opened in 1914 and agreement for running it was dated 30^th. December of the same year.

Another agreement between the Institute and the Chapel dated 1916, reveals that the reading room was used by other organisations namely Swanland Manor Cricket Club, Swanland Horticultural Society and Swanland Manor Bowling club for their committee meetings. This agreement also shows that the library contained some one thousand five hundred books also given by James Reckitt to feed the minds of the villagers as their Christmas present. When the County library service took over some of the original books stayed on the shelves for a time but have dwindled away over the years.

When in around 1970 the Institutes membership fell to single figures the old schoolroom reverted back to the chapel. The County Library has exclusive use of the reading room.

We are pleased to record that there is currently a thriving membership of some seventy members, ranging in age from eighteen to over eighty years. Three Snooker teams play league snooker from the Institute. They are affiliated to the local league and play against other teams in the area, including North Ferriby and Welton. Over the years players have had considerable success, as both individuals and team members.

Members of the Institute are able to play at any time except Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day. The Committee meets on a regular basis and is responsible for the day to day running of the Institute and the Building, which is a listed building. It is an interesting architectural feature of the village and is situated at a focal point opposite the pond.

The Institute is open to new members, application forms can be obtained from:-

Don Brook. Hon. Treasurer
The Conifers
24, Manor Road
Swanland
East Yorkshire
HU14 3PB
Telephone 01482 634115