THE oldest quoit club in the world celebrated its 176th anniversary by unveiling a blue plaque commemorating the part 10 spittoons, a pack of cards and a barrel of whisky played in its long history.

Darlington Quoits Club had been planning to celebrate its 175th anniversary last year, but was forced to cancel its year of events by coronavirus.

Instead, the club used lockdown to revamp its premises in Raby Terrace, behind Skinnergate, with a new air conditioning system and redesigned bar area.

On Saturday, Darlington mayor Cyndi Hughes reopened the club after the pandemic and unveiled the first of two commemorative plaques.

The Northern Echo: Darlington mayor Cyndi Hughes unveils the blue plaque with the club's oldest member, 96-year-old Ray Scollay. Picture: Steven Curtis

Darlington mayor Cyndi Hughes unveils the blue plaque with the club's oldest member, 96-year-old Ray Scollay. All pictures: Steven Curtis

The Northern Echo: The mayor of Darlington joins the members and supporters of the Darlington Quoits Club. Picture: Steven Curtis

The mayor of Darlington joins the members and supporters of the Darlington Quoits Club. Picture: Steven Curtis

The club held its first meeting in the Dun Cow Inn on Post House Wynd on September 19, 1846, and in Victorian times, quoits was such a fashionable pastime that many mayors of the town were members.

“It’s really appropriate that these chains are here,” said Cllr Hughes, pointing to her regalia, “because of the connections between the former mayors and this wonderful place. You are the oldest quoits club in the world, and thank you for keeping it so vibrant.

“I would like to honour the community you have developed here because it is priceless, really something special.”

The Northern Echo: Darlington mayor Cyndi Hughes has a go at quoits. Picture: Steven Curtis

Mayor Cyndi Hughes throws a quoit, above, as does a young player, below

The Northern Echo: A young player throws a quoit. Picture: Steven Curtis

With the help of Ray Scollay, 96, who is the oldest member of the world’s oldest quoit club, she unveiled a plaque in the outdoor playing area. It records how the club bought the land in Raby Terrace for £100 in 1896 and opened its clubhouse on December 8, 1898, at a further cost of £92 which included the spittoons, cards and the barrel of whisky.

A second plaque, paid for with the help of Darlington’s Towns Fund money, is due to be placed on the club’s streetfront in the near future.

The club has increased its membership by 35 per cent in recent weeks and is hoping to enter a league for the first time in its history.

The Northern Echo: Darlington mayor Cyndi Hughes with club president, Tom Beaumont. Picture: Steven Curtis

Darlington mayor Cyndi Hughes with club president, Tom Beaumont, above, and, below, with chairman Ben McKeown

The Northern Echo: Darlington mayor Cyndi Hughes with quoit club chairman, Ben McKeown. Picture: Steven Curtis

Club president Tom Beaumont revealed that an article last year in The Northern Echo’s Memories section had reached Canada to where a 19th Century club captain had emigrated taking a trophy with him. The trophy survives in Vancouver and, having made a connection with Darlington, a new quoits club is being established in the Canadian city.

Mr Beaumont said: “We want to remind our town and the members that it’s safe to come out and play again. We also want to show off our improvements – we are trying to keep the history while moving forward so that the club will be here to celebrate its 200th anniversary.”

The Northern Echo: The club's refurbished toilets include male and female signs made to look like quoits. Picture: Steven Curtis

The club's refurbished toilets include male and female signs made to look like quoits.