Royal British Legion, Deddington Branch Club

Deddington Royal British Legion Club Ltd

The club offers social facilities for members of the Deddington Branch of The Royal British Legion and their guests at their licensed clubhouse on The High Street. Membership is open to all over the age of 18 years, whether previously or currently serving in the armed forces or not. Annual subscription is £16.50 (£11.50 for senior citizens) for club and branch combined. The membership year runs from October 1st.

Club facilities include snooker, pool, social evenings, bar, participation in club teams for dominoes, etc. Full details can be obtained from the Club Stewardess on 01869-338449 on Friday evenings from 7pm, Saturdays & Sundays from 11.00 am or, outside these hours, on 0775 711 2822 - or from any of the following officers:

For details of membership eligibility refer to the local branch webpage

The club was registered with the FSA as an Industrial and Provident Society (IP13308R) at sometime prior to 1948. The FSA website states that "An industrial and provident society is an organization conducting an industry, business or trade, either as a co-operative or for the benefit of the community".

History of the clubhouse building

Between 1820 and 1895 the building was an axle-tree factory belonging to the local firm of Mason & Hard. It subsequently passed into the hands of a William Cox of South Newington (Mechanician). In 1920 the newly established trustees of "The Red Triangle Club" - presumably so called because they drank Bass beer! - and "The Deddington Institute" purchased the property '...recently converted from a workshop belonging to Mason & Hard...' for the sum of £350 '...under the provisions of The Friendly Societies Act of 1896' to be their club premises.

The trustees were:

On February 12th 1925, at a General Meeting of The Deddington Institute and Red Triangle Clubs, it was resolved that their Trustees should hand over the Club premises to the then newly formed Deddington Branch of the British Legion who "...shall henceforth stand possessed of the said heraditaments and premises upon trust to permit the same to be used and appropriated for the purposes of the said Deddington Branch of the British Legion subject to such regulations bye-laws and rules as may from time to time be made by the Committee of Management of the said Branch".

It was also stated in the trust deed that ..."the trustees shall in the event of the said Deddington Branch of the British Legion ceasing to exist hold the said heraditaments and premises in trust for the Parish Council of Deddington aforesaid for and on behalf of the inhabitants of the Parish of Deddington aforesaid".

Historical Note: The British Legion only became The Royal British Legion on September 10th 1971.

The present Trustees of the building are: