You probably walk past it every day without giving it a second thought. But behind the doors of Skipton's Three Links Club lies one of the town's most remarkable and little-known stories.

The building has been home to the Oddfellows since 1962, but the society's roots in Skipton stretch back much further. On 5 January 1829, local people gathered at the Unicorn Hotel on Keighley Road for the town's first Oddfellows meeting.

At a time before the welfare state, members paid into a shared fund that helped protect families from illness, poverty and funeral costs. The movement grew rapidly despite being forced to meet in secret because membership societies were considered illegal. By the time the law changed in 1850, the Oddfellows had become Britain's largest friendly society.

The organisation played an important role in Skipton life for generations. By the early 1900s, more than 1,100 local people were members, and in 1928 the branch helped break new ground when Edith Minnikin became the town's first female district chairman.

Today, the focus is less on financial support and more on bringing people together. Live music, quizzes, bingo, social events and community activities make the Three Links Club a welcoming place for people of all ages, whether they're Oddfellows members or not. Welfare visits and member benefits also ensure the society's original values of friendship and support remain at its heart.

So next time you walk past the Three Links Club, remember there's far more behind those doors than you might think.

For more information, call 07471 280673  or email sarah.butcher@oddfellows.co.uk.