More memories from Lindley BC

Memories

A few days ago I published a photograph taken by Bob Haigh showing an inscription on the wall outside Lindley BC. I had shared this with Bill Blackburn and he had added some information about the introduction of the new (i.e.current) bowling green opened in 1902. Bill followed that up by contacting me again and sending me some photographs which I have added below.

This is what else he had to say.

This is what I know. 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. In spite of many enquiries I still don't know who posted them, There was no mention where they came from on envelope. Anyone any idea who might have passed them on to the club?

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 club house 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,

I have sent you some pictures from LBC. The one with four bowlers laying on grass verge in front of what was then known as the 'pavillion.' The one with James N Sykes on his white horse was at the official opening of the new club in September 1903. The one with players with the newly presented Henry Taylor Cup, was when LBC beat Cleckheaton at Rastrick to be the first winners of the trophy in 1917

It is worth noting that there are numerous bowls showing in all three of the photographs. It is also worth noting that these photographs of bowls all show them to be in groups of three. Two woods and a jack. This sits well with a recent story published on HuddWeb about how every bowler used to have their own jacks which were an identical bias to their woods. In matches in the old days each bowler had their own weighted jacks which would be used whenever a bowler had won the previous end.