The history of the building that now house Garforth Country Club began in 1863. It’s origins reflect many aspects of Victorian society at the time. The buildings were set up as Garforth Working Men’s Club and Mechanic’s Institute. The Mechanic’s Institutes were organized to “provide education for ordinary working peoples”, before the introduction of compulsory elementary education by the Forster Act of 1870. Some of the smaller ones declined with the introduction of schooling for all, others even developed into Universities.

The report of Garforth W.M.C. & Institutes to Yorkshire Mechanic’s Institute Union   Says “ Early in 1865 a meeting of the inhabitants of Garforth was called for the purpose of endeavouring to form a society for the moral improvement of the working class”.(The authors of a Short History of Garforth consider that 1863 rather than 1865 is the correct date). Many of the committee had long felt the deplorable want of some place of rational recreation and instruction for the working population and young people of the village.An appeal was made by F.C.T Gascoigne Esq of Parlington who consented to become President. The result was: “a neat and useful building containing  a reading room, bagatelle room, chess and draughts room and Housekeeper’s rooms and over these a large lecture hall capable of between three and four hundred people”. The  buildings and grounds occupy an area of about one and  a half acres and in the latter are a large bowling green made by members of the club, a quoit and skittle ground and remaining part is tastefully laid out as an ornamental garden.”The Gascoigne family had owned large areas of land in the district for several generations including mines and farms and probably employed many of the “working class” who were intended to benefit from their paternalism.

The Institute opened on 13^th October 1863 and a Soiree was held to celebrate the opening on 20^th October. The chair was taken by the Vice President W. Atkinson Esq. The involvement of the gentry and Church in the education of the working classes can be seen in the guest list. ”the Society was honoured with the presence of the Right Honourable Lord Houghton, Lord  Cavendish M.P. the Reverend Canon Allay D.D. George Lane-Fox Esq. Barnton Lupton Esq and other gentlemen of local influence who had evinced the most active interest in the formation of the society”.The committee were, however, surprised at the poor attendance at the night classes and thought that the fee of one shilling might be off putting. The reading room is not so well used and it is feared that the games in adjoining rooms prove an undue attraction”.

In the 1866 report it is noted that membership had risen by 130 to 430. Having dropped the charges for night classes, the attendance improved dramatically. Classes were held on two night a week under the superintendence of Messrs. Hollis and Moston. The number of pupils was 103. Five boys sent examination papers to the West Riding Education Board and obtained certificates, four receiving prizes of £1, quite a lot of money in 1866.

The Annual Soiree held on December 23^rd was chair by F.C.T. Gascoigne in the presence of the Right Reverend Lord Bishop of Ripon and other gentlemen.Over these first two years many talks and lectures were given on educational topics, a large number by clergymen. Local Lecturers include ; J. Wager Esq of Aberford and E Robinson Esq of Garforth. Concerning the next sixty years little evidence has emerged, but the Secretary’s position was held in 1867 by Arthur Woodhead, in 1877 by Charles Gummerson and 1881 by John Woodhead.Sometime between 1881 and 1889 the W.M.C. & M. I. became Garforth Conservative and Unionist Club. Perhaps this is a reflection of the declining need for the Mechanics Institute, so the gentlemen made it heir own club. In 1889 the President was J. Lowther Esq. and the Secretary H. Armstrong Esq.

The building continued to be used as a Conservative club for over eighty years with various alarms and excursions. In 1921 the club premises were purchased from Colonel Frederick Richard Thomas Trench Gascoigne on 24^th June. The indenture was signed by the Trustees of Garforth Conservative and Unionist Club. The were Robert Routledge of Colliery-House Garforth, Mining Agent. Eli Ruston Archer of The Beeches Garforth, Gentleman, and Edwin Spragg Donald of Windsor terrace, Garforth Master Coopersmith. The cost of the land, three roods and twenty five perches and the club buildings was £2000. The witness to Colonel Gascoigne and Laura Gwendolen Douglas  Gascoigne’s signatures was W.H.E Watson Managing Clerk, Estates Office Aberford.

A mortgage of £1700 was obtained from Tetleys, soon replaced by a mortgage to Sam. Smiths for £1900 in £1925. This was foreclosed in 1929 and the title transferred to the brewery and the club continued as tenants.

The name was changed from the Conservative Club to The Country Club in 1962 and eventually purchased by the members in 1992 with a suitable mortgage