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Telford's 146-year-old Working Men's Club closing down

A working men's club in Telford, which is thought to be the oldest in Britain is closing down tonight. It's been open since 1868 but still women are not allowed to be full members.

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PICTURES: Doors to close at Britain's oldest Working Men's Club

146 years after the Working Men's Club opened in Madeley and still women are not allowed to be full members Credit: Newsteam/SWNS
The Anstice Memorial Institute in Madeley opened in 1868 Credit: Newsteam/SWNS
Women are only permitted into the club as guests or visitors or half members Credit: Newsteam/SWNS
Women are allowed to work at the club but have never been allowed full membership or to be on the board Credit: Newsteam/SWNS
Last orders at oldest Working Men's Club in the country Credit: Newsteam/SWNS

Club closing down after refusing to allow women

Lynn Saunders pulls the pints but can’t actually become a member of the place Credit: Newsteam/SWNS

Lynn Saunders can pull the pints, but she's never been allowed to become a full member of Britain's oldest working men's club in Telford.

Tonight, the final pints will be pulled at the Grade II listed building in Madeley after it was forced to close over funding.

Women have not been allowed to become full members of the Anstice Memorial Institute since it opened 146 years ago.

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146-year-old working men's club to close tonight

Britain’s oldest working men’s club, The Grade II-listed Anstice Memorial Institute in Madeley Credit: Newsteam/SWNS

Britain's oldest working men's club in Telford is closing down tonight.

The Anstice Memorial Institute in Madeley opened in 1868. It has been run by members ever since, but women have never been allowed to become full members.

In 2010, club members were told they needed to raise thousands of pounds for repair work on their grade II listed building but they were unable to get funding due to archaic rules on membership.

Susan Colley, 43, has been the manager of the bars but never allowed to sit on the board Credit: Newsteam/SWNS

Tonight, the final pints will be pulled in the club which has four bars, a snooker room, pool room and ball room.

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