The original main building was built in 1838 as the first village school to provide education for the local miners children., with additions being added in 1850 & 1852.

The Centre was purchased on 29th December 1946 from the Poynton Collieries company by two villagers,  Mr William Jones Davies of Barlow Fold, Poynton and Mr Joseph Higginbotham of “Craig-y-Don” Dickens Lane, Poynton, but how and with what monies is not known. The price paid was £5000, which in those days was a substantial amount. The purchase comprised several plots of land, making up 11.336 acres in total,  including the land upon which the current Methodist church stands, the Centre buildings and grounds and the whole of the present Sports Club.

The whole was put into trust on 3rd November 1947 and the original  written constitution stated that it was to be used as a Community Centre the objectives being:

“To provide physical and mental training and recreation, and social, moral, and intellectual development through the medium of reading and recreation rooms, lectures, classes, recreations and entertainments or otherwise as may be found expedient.”

There is evidence that the current sports club leased it’s land from the Centre.

However, as a copy of the actual lease and no evidence of purchase can be found, ownership of the land at the sports club is debateable, but it can be assumed that the ownership still lies with the people of Poynton.

During the last war the building was used by the Home Guard and many stories surround their occupation of the building during this period.

The original Trustees of the Centre were:

Messrs, Joseph Higginbotham, Ezra Wainright, William Piggot, and Francis Openshaw.

The Centre has provided a home for many thousands of Poynton people and groups over the last 55 years and many people now in their  30’s & 40’s have fond memories of the building as the local youth club.

During the early 70’s the Centre became the number one “FOLK CENTRE” in the Country and this tradition carried on for over 20 years. Sadly folk declined and to continue with it became financially unviable.

Over the last  ten  years the Centre has developed, renovated, and improved it’s facilities to incorporate a modern I.T. suite. It is the home of over 20 different groups or activities, and currently hosts 45 daytime adult education classes in conjunction with the County Council adult learning department and Macclesfield  College, in addition to Line Dancing and monthly Ceilidhs.

 Exterior views of the Centre