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Crossgates Golf Club, Cross Gates, Leeds. (1911 - WW1)

The club first appeared in 1911.

The course was located where Manston Park is nowadays.  

Report on the proposed club and course in January 1911.

Skyrack Courier Friday 20 January 1911. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The following report accompanied the above headline - "In company with the genial Sandy Herd (writes Mashie in the Evening Post) I visited the prospective nine-hole course at Crossgates, and went on a tour of inspection of the ground at the disposal of the directors. It struck me at first that there was scarcely room for a nine-hole course - there are only two very large fields, comprising over 32 acres - but after a premonitory wag of the head  Herd seemed fairly optimistic. After a solitary two hours he showed me his side of the nine-holes, four at least of which would be quite long - a good average drive and brassey shot would be needed to find the green.

With the exception of a wicked looking little pond that will cause much heartburning and an innocuous hedge, there are absolutely no natural hazards, and much will have to be done in this direction before it can become a sporting course. The railway, too, lies in wait for even slightly sliced balls at two of the holes, and the road at others. However, most of these disadvantages can be remedied, and are certainly counter balanced by the lovely turf, which has a sand and gravel subsoil, admittedly the best for the purpose. It is beautifully springy, and in course of time the greens will be like billiard tables. The clubhouse is a complete little building and special arrangements are to be made for the provision of lockers, while the accessibility of the links is a great point in their favour.  

The club is a semi-private one, in as much as only members of the Recreation Hall are allowed to become members of the golf club. This, I think, on the whole is a wise step, as the links might very easily become congested, and as there is little or no room for temporary greens, these would soon be worn out. There is to be no Sunday play at first, but, of course, that is a matter capable of adjustment later, if it is thought desirable. Herd has planned out a sporting little nine-hole course, in fact, I could not have believed he could have avoided crossing as he has done. The work is to be pushed forward, and play, it is thought, will, given favourable weather, be possible in a couple of months, though it will naturally be some time the links are thoroughly seasoned." 

Advert for the course in 1913.

From the Yorkshire Evening Post Saturday 25 January 1913. Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Dr W P Bean was medical officer at Templenewsham during the war. A keen sportsman he was a member of the golf club and also played cricket for Cross Gates. 

Report on the annual meeting in February 1915.

Skyrack Courier Friday 12 February 1915. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Crossgates Golf Club member H G Haswell writes from the front line in July 1915.

Skyrack Courier Friday 30 July 1915. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The final for the summer medal of the ladies' section was played in October 1915. It was won by Mrs Thewlis and she gave the money value of the prize to the Red Cross Society.

Fund raising in November 1915.

Skyrack Courier Friday 12 November 1915. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The golf course was acquired for the building of the Barnbow shell-filling factory in 1915. In October 1916 the workforce numbered 16,000 at the factory and of these 93% were women and girls (affectionately known as the Barnbow Lassies). It was here in December 1916 that one of the worst tragedies in the history of Leeds took place when 35 women and girls were killed by an explosion that ripped through part of the munitions factory.

The Ordnance Survey Map below shows the area that eventually became Manston Park. There is a memorial in the park for the Barnbow Lassies.

O.S map Revised 1905 to 1906; © Crown Copyright {Year of Publication 1909}.

The Google Map below pinpoints the location of Manston Park.