THE WELCOME INSTITUTE AND CAFE.

 

 

This attractive and useful building in Brook Street (adjacent to the Market Place), owes its origin, in a huge degree, to Mr. W. Read, of Cursham Street, Sutton, whose portrait is seen in front of the building printed below. Mr. Read, who came from Oldham (Lancashire) to Sutton in December, 1899, became the Secretary of the now defunct Band of Hope and Adult Temperance Union, and in 1901, seeing the need of such an institution for the parish, he wisely acquainted Mr, A. B. Markham, M.P., of Stuffynwood Hall, of the fact and the Member for the Mansfield Division interesting himself in the movement, gave a handsome donation of £1,500 towards the building. The Duke of Portland followed with handsome gifts of the site covering an area of 500 yards and a sum of £100, whilst Mr. Emerson Bainbridge very liberally gave £1,000 and the piano in the hall which now bears his name. The Rev. J. Stephenson (Congregational pastor), later took up the secretarial duties in connection with the building scheme, and still holds that position—a position which ho worthily occupies — whilst Mr. F. W. Buck, J.P., was Chairman of the Committee of about 50 gentlemen representing the various public bodies in the town. The total cost of the structure was about £4,000, it being opened December 8th, 1906. by the Duke of Portland, supported by Mr. A. B. Markham, M.P., and Mr. Emerson Bainbridge, his Grace receiving a silver key at the hands of the architect (Mr. Percy B. Houfton, of Chesterfield) in commemoration of the event. The trust deed provides that the building shall be non-political and non-sectarian, and that it shall be managed by a Committee, consisting of representatives of the various public bodies in the town, who shall, if necessary, create other Committees which may be needful for carrying on the work of the Institute. The building is of sand-faced bricks, with stone-dressed doorways and gables, etc. Internally, in the basement are commodious kitchen, stoves, heating chamber, etc. The ground floor has shop, cafe, billiard-room, committee-room, and reading-room. On the first floor is a large hall seating 1100 people, a fitted stage, retiring rooms, and a smaller room which may be used as a girls' club room. The second floor comprises two committee-rooms and a caretaker's house. It is luxuriously furnished throughout.