Lindley BC 1902 memories

Memories

Bob Haigh sent me this photograph he had taken below of a wall outside Lindley BC on Daisy Lea Lane. I in turn passed it on to Bill Blackburn, a Lindley BC legend, and this is what he made of it.

The sign is on the wall bordering the car park, which was a plot of wasteland, on the fringe was a wooden hut which the bowlers used, I have a photo of the hut. Before the car park was resurfaced, the locals used to have a bonfire on November 5, which attracted a large crowd with toffee and parkin provided by members wives

This is what I know about the Lindley BC green. Last year someone posted a large envelope through the club letterbox not saying where it was from. The steward opened it and it contained material about the club's history. As I was the first person to go into the club he gave it to me as he had no interest in it.

The envelope had various photos, one showing members outside the club at the official opening of the new club in 1903, with James N Sykes sat on his white horse. Mr Sykes was also responsible for the erection of the clock tower, he was a local mill owner who lived in what is now the Manor Hotel.

Minutes show that a group of local businessmen met in the Bay Horse Hotel in December 1894 to buy a plot of land to form a bowling green. In 1896 Mr J Binns a local rope and twine manufacturer, presented the Huddersfield Bowling Association with a silver cup. A wooden hut served as a clubhouse until in 1903 James Sykes built the club as it is now following the re-laying of the green in 1902.   

An interesting item in the minutes stated that in November 28th, 1904 a Mr T Hepworth was allowed to sell tripe in the pavillion.

Bill Blackburn

November 2025