ABOUT THE CLUB

The Wortley Folk Club was born in 1968 in a spare room at the 'top' Red Lion pub in Grenoside, north Sheffield. Originally called the Cupola Folk Club, an acknowledgement of the historical Sheffield steel industry, the organisers had to quickly learn how to run an increasingly popular club twice a month during (possibly) the heyday of folk clubs. The club quickly grew and attracted many singers just starting out who are now famous as television or stage personalities. For example, Christy Moore was at the dawn of immortality when he appeared for 12 pounds ! In 1970 the club moved home to The Old Horns pub in High Bradfield, Derbyshire where it continued to grow and for many years attracted the top performers of the time. For several years the club enjoyed a reputation as a purveyor of high quality folk music in a traditional atmosphere. However, different landlords took over took over the pub, which resulted in a short rest period until the club reopened in September 1988 and continued until March 1992 when again a change of pub ownership resulted in the club finally saying farewell to the Old Horns.

Being pre warned, a group of stalwarts of the club decided to transfer the club to an upstairs room at the Wortley Arms pub in Wortley, a small village just north of Sheffield. Changing the name to the Wortley Folk Club, from April 1992 the club again gained in popularity becoming one of the leading clubs in the area showcasing the best performers ably supported by resident and visiting floor singers. Alas, fate reared its head again when ownership of the pub changed and the new owners deciding to convert the concert room into a restaurant! So in December 2005 the club moved again, this time to The Castle pub in Bolsterstone (well known for the Male Voice Choir). Unfortunately, this venue was not really suitable, so in January 2007 the club moved to the present venue in the Black Bull pub in Ecclesfield, again north of Sheffield, retaining the Wortley Folk Club name which has become synonymous with a relaxed, friendly, traditional type folk club with excellent performers and music.

As the room used in the Black Bull can only seat about 90 people, shows which are expected to attract a larger attendance are staged at either the Academy Theatre in Birdwell near Barnsley or in the St Ann's Church Hall in Deepcar, depending on availability.

Background information - Ecclesfield

Since early times, Ecclesfield has been an important transit point for traffic heading north from Sheffield and further south. Even today, Ecclesfield is ideally positioned on, or near, the main roads out of Sheffield and is close to junction 35 of the M1 motorway. Opposite the Black Bull is St Mary's Church, in the old days known as the Cathedral of the north, so important that there is mention in the Doomsday Book of Egglesfield (meaning church in a field) the original spelling of Ecclesfield - wow !!