Royle Cottage History
The history of Royle Cottage is a varied one. It may date back to the early 19th century (if you can date it please do) and was the home for a Dunlop Ltd manager.
It was converted into a club house in the early 1960s by Dunlop’s to house their social club, based then in Castleton House which was demolished to build the houses on Lawnswood.
Dunlop employees enjoyed the club until the plant, the largest covered factory space in Europe at the time, was closed and recently, 2012, demolished.
Woolworths PLC purchased the club in 1979 and Royle Cottage Dunlop’s Club became Royle Cottage Woolworths Sports and Social Club, with ex Dunlop employees remaining members for some years.
At this time the club enjoyed a large sports field, football pitch, and a beautiful crown green bowling green with a pavilion. These areas had to be sold by the land owners and now are houses The Green and The Woods, whose residents like those of Lawnswood enjoy the present club.
Closure of Royle Cottage was narrowly avoided when Woolworths PLC was put into receivership in December 2008 and closed down as a company in January 2009.
The Distribution Centre, where most members worked, survived for a further 12 months before closure.
An eleventh hour plan by members of Woolies Club in December 2010 who formed a property group and bought the club and lands, saved Royle Cottage from inevitable demolition and Phoenixlike the club rose again and continues to serve as a social centre for the people of the area.