KNOTTINGLEY PLAYING FIELDS
By TERRY SPENCER B.A. (hons) Ph D.
(2002)
PAGE ONE
As the
process of industrialisation and urban development gained pace in the
second half of the nineteenth century the provision of public spaces such
as municipal gardens and parks for the purpose of public recreation and
amenity became increasingly desirable.
Within
Knottingley the displacement of traditional industries, such as
agriculture, limestone excavation and the maritime trade with its myriad
trades and supplementary occupations, and their replacement by ‘dirty’
modern industries such as glass and chemical manufacture and iron founding,
occurred during the last quarter of the century.
The physical
and demographic expansion which had occurred from the early decades of the
nineteenth century, whilst continuing apace throughout the second half of
that century, posed no real threat to the semi-rural character of the
township until the early decades of the following century. However, as a
result of the introduction of new industries, private housing initiatives
after 1890 and the establishment of Knottingley Urban District Council
early in that decade, urbanisation became more pronounced. The formal
adoption and lay-out of roads, streets, the laying of pavements and the
undertaking of other public works betokened the substantial growth of
urban development by the turn of the twentieth century, a process which
increased considerably from the 1920s as the Council adopted increasingly
ambitious public housing policies resulting in the development of housing
estates on former green field sites at the southern side of the town.
Whilst the
early years of the twentieth century still afforded the children of the
town access to long established play areas such as marshland, common land
and disused quarries, industrial pollution and dereliction made such
places increasingly hazardous to health and safety and the increase in
traffic, particularly in mechanised transport, rendered the streets ever
more dangerous playgrounds.
The
combination of such factors engendered a collective desire for the
creation of a formally designated, adequately supervised, safe environment
for recreation and play which would in addition add to the civic prestige
of the town and reflect the communal pride of its inhabitants.
The earliest
public manifestation of the desire for a town playing fields and
recreation ground dates from May 1897, when a public meeting was held in
Knottingley Town Hall to discuss an appropriate form of commemorating the
diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne. At that
meeting the Reverend F.E. Egerton, Vicar of St. Botolph’s Parish, drew
attention to the fact that the children of the town were compelled to play
in the streets which were dangerous for them. Egerton suggested that a
recreation ground would solve the problem and provide a tangible memorial
to mark the national occasion. Furthermore, the purchase of the land would
prove to be a good civic investment for which the cost could be spread out
over a long period, thus avoiding financial strain for the ratepayers.
Enthused by Egerton’s suggestion one attendant ratepayer stated that
there was a case for a "right good man" to give the town a piece
of land for use as a park. Alternative suggestions included the provision
of public baths, the purchase of the Town Hall from the faltering company
which owned it at that time, to provide Council offices and a public hall
and the landscaping of the Flatts. The wily Egerton sought to pursue his
goal by proposing an amendment concerning the provision of a recreation
ground but the motion fell for want of a seconder. (1)
The question
of public provision of playing fields for Knottingley children was next
discussed at a meeting of the Knottingley Education Committee held on
Monday 19th March, 1911. The matter had been raised by County
Councillor Tom Jackson at a meeting a month earlier but the matter had
been deferred. (2) Jackson therefore renewed his earlier proposition that
the Local Education Authority should provide a playing field and that
children attending Knottingley schools be allowed one hour per week for
use of the facility. To support his point Jackson quoted examples of other
local authorities, particularly Goole, which had made such provision and
stated that should the LEA be unable to do the same for Knottingley the
town council be urged to consider the matter. Jackson was supported by Cr.
J.H. Harrison who stated that it was necessary to remove children from the
streets. However, objection was raised by Cr. Booth who said he was
strongly opposed as Knottingley was nothing more than a long, straggling
village with not a congested place or street in it. Booth thought the
suggestion went a little too far in public benevolence to warrant further
burdening the ratepayers. Booth was supported by Cr. Burton Arnold who
asserted that there were plenty of quarries to play in, discounting the
concern which had been voiced at an earlier meeting concerning potential
accidents in unfenced quarry sites. Cr. G.W. Reynolds pointed out that
such sites were private property and therefore children were ‘liable’
if trespassing in them. Furthermore, if Booth considered there was no
congestion he knew little about Knottingley. Cr. Arnold said there was
plenty of space on the Flatts at which point the issue became sidetracked
by a debate between Cr. T. Worfolk and Cr. Reynolds concerning the
linguistic technicalities arising from the Council’s acquisition of the
Flatts (3) before Worfolk’s grand assertion that "there
was too much catering for pleasure and amusement", particularly
as the Committee’s basic policy was to oppose increased public
expenditure.
Cr. Jackson
pointed out the beneficial effects of removing children from the stenches
coming from the sewers. More air and recreation would make the towns’
children better men and women and the few shillings it would cost would
not be felt by the Ratepayers. Cr. Harrison contended that the Flatts were
unsuitable as a playground until the river was purified. Being Coronation
year, Burton Arnold was hopeful that some public spirited gentleman would
donate some land for a park, at which point a vote was taken on the issue.
Harrison and Reynolds voted for Jackson's proposal and Worfolk, Booth and
Arnold voted against. As Chairman, Worfolk cast his vote against the
motion, which was therefore lost.
The W.R.C.C
Director of Elementary Education, Mr. W.H. Brown, anticipating a revival
of the subject at the next meeting attempted to pre-empt discussion by
sending a letter which stated that the aim of the ‘providers’ was
unlikely to be attained due to cost factors. In view of this statement,
nothing further was done, leaving Worfolk to opine that the matter would
die a natural death. (4)
There was
therefore, no further public agitation for several years until toward the
end of the Great War when a committee was formed to consider a suitable
form of memorial to the fallen at which time the subject was revived. A
majority of the townsfolk preferred a monument with an element of public
utility. It was therefore decided to obtain land for the establishment of
a public park and playing fields with a monument to the fallen situated
within the park. The most popular site for the project was the Green House
Fields situated adjacent to the south side of the lower end of Hill Top.
Early negotiations with Mr. Jackson the owner of the site broke down,
however, resulting in the siting of the War Memorial at the junction of
Weeland Road and Chapel Street. (5)
Despite the
failure to establish a memorial park at that time the desire for a public
playing field for the children of the town remained strong. Indeed, some
of the leaders of the local community foresaw the day when the Council
would be required to provide both playing fields and public baths (6) and
although provision of the latter had to wait a further half century, the
movement to establish a playing fields was revived within a few years of
the earlier abortive attempt. The need for such provision was clearly seen
when in January 1926, the local police successfully prosecuted a case at
Pontefract Magistrates Court against three adolescent Knottingley boys who
were fined for playing football in the street, thereby obstructing the
highway. (7)
At a meeting
of the Knottingley Urban District Council in June 1927, a letter was read
from Mr. J.C. McGrath, Hon’ Secretary of the National Playing Fields
Association, asking the Council to form a local branch of the Association.
(8) In response to a motion by Cr. G. Hargrave, seconded by Cr. J. Harker,
the council agreed to the establishment of such a committee which held its
inaugural meeting on the 15th June 1927. (9)
The
deliberations of the Playing Fields Committee resulted in a special
meeting of the Council being convened to consider the best means of
raising subscriptions to ensure the provision of public playing fields for
the town. It was decided to call a public meeting to be held in the Town
Hall on Monday 20th June 1927. Accordingly, the local
stationer, Mr. T.M. Hepworth, was commissioned to print handbills for
distribution by Mr. T. Millward, the town factotum, giving details of the
proposed meeting and inviting suggestions. Notice was given to all
ministers of religion, headteachers and representatives of local business
and social organisations. (10)
The public
meeting was presided over by Cr. John Jackson with Crs. Harker, Kipping,
Hargrave, Robinson, E. Jackson, G.P. Jackson, Brown and Hartley in
attendance. Also present were the Vicar of Christ Church, Rev. Estyn St.
C.M. Collins, and Mr. E. Treadgold and Mr. F. Ward, local headteachers.
The Acting Town Clerk, Mr. W. Berry, was appointed Secretary pro tem and
read out the letter from Mr. McGrath following which Rev. Collins,
seconded by Mr. Ward, proposed that an established committee press forward
to provide playing fields in Knottingley. A committee of about fifty
representatives of civic, religious, educational and business
organisations within the town was formed with power to decide whether to
subscribe to the West Riding Playing Fields Association or retain funds
received for local use. (11)
Initial
enthusiasm was not so pronounced by September at which time a second
meeting was held. Out of 38 notices issued to interested parties, only 9
committee members attended, including the Secretary. Faced with such a
poor response nothing could be undertaken by the committee and there was
no discernable progress until November 1927, when the Knottingley District
Education Sub-Committee wrote to the Council asking it to use its power to
provide playing fields for the children of the town. (12) The Chairman of
the Council, Cr. J. Jackson, drew attention to the apparent lack of
interest as evinced by the poor response to the recently called meeting.
It was nevertheless, decided that the Town Clerk should attempt to
"open an effort." (13) Consequently, a further public meeting was
called for Thursday, 17th November and advertisements were
placed in the local press inviting attendance. (14)
The onus was
placed upon the K.U.D.C. and in January 1928, Cr. Hargrave moved, "That
this Council pledge itself to provide playing fields for the children as
speedily as possible."
The motion
was seconded by Cr. Robinson and supported by Crs. Steel, E. Jackson and
Harker. However, the proposed scheme, costing an estimated £3,000,
represented a half-penny rate over a number of years and occurring at a
time of worsening national economic conditions with implications for a
downturn in local business and employment, was opposed by Crs. Kipping
(Vice Chairman), Brown and G.P. Jackson. (15)
Proposing the
motion, Cr. Hargrave drew attention to the lack of previous action on "a
matter of national importance" equating the
value of physical education to that of scholarship. Cr. Hargrave sought a
mandate to call another public meeting, expressing his belief that the
West Riding County Council would provide financial assistance for the
project. Cr. Brown demurred, however, stating his belief that such
assistance would only be provided if the K.U.D.C. bought the land at the
current price of agricultural land. Cr. Robinson said it was not essential
to spend money laying out playing fields. If the Council provided the
space the children would make their own amusement on the site. Cr. Dey
stated that the time was not opportune and looked to the future for
fulfilment of the project for, he asserted, the prospect of a rate
increase rendered immediate action unjustifiable. In this assertion, Dey
was supported by Cr. H. Bentley who said a further loan of £2,000 in
addition to the £8,000-£9,000 debt incurred by the Council, together
with other statutory financial obligations was undesirable and while he
did not think any councillor did not sympathise with the scheme, the time
was inopportune. Hargrave responded by pointing out that the Council had a
borrowing capacity in excess of £67,000 and were committed to £8,758 of
debt repayment. A further loan of £3,000 would mean a half penny rate
over 80 years which no ratepayer would feel. Opponents of the scheme
claimed that local industry and business was declining as a result of the
ongoing recession and would not stand for the extra financial strain. The
ensuing vote narrowly favoured the scheme, however, thereby ensuring, in
the words of the Chairman, that the Council had "made
themselves responsible" for provision
of the playing fields. (16)
The
possibility of obtaining money by means of individual subscription had
been raised during the Council’s discussion. The furtherance of such a
course was, however, dependant upon provision of a specific object to
serve as a target for public attention by providing a tangible dimension
rather than the abstract aspiration which had hitherto characterised the
project. The necessary element was provided by means of a letter in June
1929, to the new Chairman of the K.U.D.C., Cr. Horace Bentley, from Mr.
C.J. Jackson. The letter stated Jackson’s willingness to sell Green
House Field for £1,000, subject to certain conditions. (17)
Jackson,
owner of The Hall, formerly known as Marine Villa, now residing at Deal,
Kent, had attempted to sell the land both privately and publicly since
inheriting the estate of William Jackson in 1918. (17) Following the
failure of protracted negotiations with Knottingley War Memorial Committee
on the dual issue of price and condition (19) an abortive attempt had been
made to secure a sale by public auction but this had merely attracted a
single bid of £1,700 for the entire estate (of which Green House Field
was a sub element) which was rejected. The estate had then been divided up
and offered in various lots but again withdrawn from sale due to
insufficient bids. (20) Jackson’s offer to the Council of the Green
House Field therefore represented a concealed but somewhat desperate
attempt to be shot of the land and the attainment of a higher price for
the same than normal commercial considerations could obtain. Nevertheless,
the proposed sale was hedged with conditions. One such was that the
Council should erect a fence from the corner of the railway bridge at the Spawd Bone Lane end of the land to the entrance of a field known as Pigeon
Cote Field, belonging to Jackson, situated adjacent to Green House Field
on the western boundary. The Council was also to take over full
responsibility for maintenance of the dividing wall which separated the
two fields. In addition, Jackson sought to retain right of access and of
carriage over the Green House Field. (21) Despite such impositions the
Council was in favour of obtaining the land offered but was constrained by
lack of available money to enable immediate purchase of the site. It was
therefore decided that the Town Clerk should write to Mr. R. Clive,
Secretary of the Miners Welfare Fund, to ascertain whether a grant could
be obtained from that source. (22) Two months later the Clerk reported to
the Council that no reply had as yet been received from the Miners Welfare
Association and Jackson was pressing for a response to his offer to
dispose of the land. Reluctantly the Council resolved to let the matter
stand in abeyance pro tem. (23) Meanwhile, the public, being made aware of
Jackson’s offer, commenced a series of fund raising efforts. In October
1929, Mr. Jackson Morris on behalf of the local Playing Fields Committee,
obtained permission to place a poster in the front window of the Town Hall
advertising a street collection throughout the town on the 26th
of the month. (24) Further, in the hope of obtaining its support, the K.U.D.C. had meanwhile nominated Cr. H. Gregg as its representative on the
Executive Committee of the National Playing Fields Association, after
initially ignoring the request of the Association for such representation.
(25)
Foremost in
realising the necessity for playing field facilities both in terms of
general utility and as a specific venue for school sports days and field
sports, were the local teachers. It is unsurprising therefore that the
Knottingley teachers were at the forefront of fundraising activities. Mr. T.W. Coates, Chairman of the Knottingley Education Sub Committee, had been
prominent in the revival of the playing fields project in 1927 and no less
active were Messrs. E. Treadgold, J. Morris, and E. France, together with
other colleagues within the teaching profession.
One
innovative idea which was ultimately to pass into the folklore of the
town, was undertaken by the teachers on Saturday 26th October
1929, when the local teachers organised a mile of pennies. The effort
raised the sum of £32-8-5 towards the target of £1,000. Whilst donations
from Bagley & Co., and sundry organisations and individuals made up
the bulk of the money raised to enable the eventual purchase of the
playing fields site, it is the mile of pennies which has stuck in the
collective memory of the citizens of Knottingley, resulting in the
erroneous and indeed, wishful belief that the event was the major (if not
sole) source of funding which enabled the purchase of the Green House
Field. (26)
Commenting on
the subject of playing field provision the Editor of the Pontefract and
Castleford Express under the headline "WELL
DONE TEACHERS", stated early
in 1931,
"The
commendable project of the provision of playing fields for the
schoolchildren of Knottingley has received only lukewarm support. Apart
from some members of the Urban District Council who have done their utmost
in the matter, and a few friends, only the school teachers have shown
practical interest in the need. Some time ago they gave it a good fillip
by introducing a ‘mile of pennies’ and on Friday they followed with a
military whist drive and dance held in the Town Hall."
In spite of
bad weather the event was a huge success, the teachers providing both the
prizes and the refreshments, proceeds realising over £25. (27)
The following
month the teachers in association with the local Playing Fields Committee
organised a Shrovetide carnival, again held in the Town Hall.
Approximately 500 children and adults attended the event and contributed
to the sum of £90, which was later handed to the Playing Fields Fund.
(28)
In March
1931, it was announced that the effort by the Playing Fields Committee to
obtain the Green House Field was near completion and that the Committee
had asked to Council if it was willing to assume responsibility for the
site when purchased and fully equipped. The scheme was described in the
local press as "the
grandest thing in Knottingley." (29)
Jackson’s
offer to sell the land whilst provisionally accepted with the unanimously
expressed thanks of the Playing Fields Committee who after four years of
generally unproductive meetings desired some tangible development, was not
confirmed until November, 1930. (30) At a meeting on Tuesday 18th
November, the Committee formally announced the purchase of the 9 ½ acre
Greenhouse Close costing £400. (31) At the time of the announcement only
half the sum required by the Committee was available and the principal
purpose of the meeting was to discuss the way in which the balance could
be obtained by voluntary means in order to avoid any increase in local
rates. The Committee had every confidence in the support of the public for
it was stated that time and time again it had been proved that there were
no better givers than the people of Knottingley. The Treasurer, Cr. H.
Gregg, stated that there was £181 in hand of which Bagley & Co., had
given 100 guineas and Gregg & Co., 25 guineas. One innovative fund
raising measure was the sale of plots of land at ten shillings per plot
with a share certificate being issued in respect of each plot purchased.
Presumably the certificates had a mere token value with no legal validity
for few if any were retained by the purchasers, the writer being unable to
locate a single one. (32)
A plan of the
proposed lay-out of the land drawn up by the K.U.D.C. Surveyor, Mr. G.J.
Laverick, was submitted to the meeting and the Chairman, Cr. G.P. Jackson,
invited alternative suggestions. Laverick, who had previously been
responsible for the lay-out of Bentley U.D.C. playing fields at a cost of
£600 for children’s play apparatus, had estimated that to lay out and
equip Knottingley playing fields with similar apparatus together with a
paddling pool and sand pit, would cost about £2,000. The committee’s
first priority was, however, to provide seats for the use of old people
and a safe environment for the town’s children. It was decided to
affiliate with the West Riding Playing Fields Association in the hope of
obtaining a grant to enable the purchase of a slide, parallel bars and
swings. Such development was left in abeyance, however, whilst priority
was given to landscaping the site. A decision was taken to level the
western side of the field in order to make a football pitch and utilise
the natural contours to the south east as terraced flower beds with
rockeries and rustic pathways. A natural bowl situated adjacent to Sleepy
Valley, created as the result of previous limestone excavation, provided a
sheltered area which was eminently suited to the eventual placement of the
equipment for the children’s play area.
Cr. Jackson
Morris stated his belief that up to 90% of the cost of levelling the site
might be available from the government under a scheme to create work for
the unemployed and that several organisations existed which, whilst
unwilling to subscribe to the purchase of the site were willing to
subscribe to equipment, including one body which might provide 80% of the
cost involved. Morris had been informed of such sources by Cr. Millar of
Castleford U.D.C., who had stated that of the two playing fields belonging
to the Council, costing about £3,000, approximately £50 had been
obtained by public subscription with most of the expenditure being met by
various grants. (33)
A further
consideration for the committee was whether the playing fields once
obtained should be handed over to the care of the K.U.D.C. or placed in the
hands of the trustees. It was eventually decided to approach the council
to ascertain its willingness to undertake the future care and maintenance
of the site. On the 4th March 1931, a deputation consisting of
Messrs. Jackson Morris, Treadgold, Dobeson and Cr. J.A. MacDonald, met the
council which was requested to accept the playing fields when purchased
and fully equipped. As the spokesman for the delegation Morris recalled
the years of difficulty faced by the Playing Fields Committee and the part
played by the citizens of the town in subscribing the bulk of the money
obtained. In asking the Council to accept custody of the site Morris
asserted that the offer to the Council of playing fields fully paid for
and equipped was "an
opportunity which is unlikely to come the way of many other local
authorities." (34)
Morris stated
that while the initial appeal of the Committee for further public
subscriptions was "cheering
and satisfying" an intensive
public appeal had not been made at that date as negotiations were still
ongoing, albeit almost concluded. It was stated that the vendor was
particularly anxious that once sold the land should remain as playing
fields sine die with proper legal safeguard concerning future utilisation
in order to prevent any possibility of it being used as building land. The
vendor had therefore insisted that clauses be included in the draft
agreement to ensure compliance with his wishes. The vendors stipulations
had occasioned delay and until the negotiations were finally concluded no
formal public appeal could be undertaken but Morris assured the Council
that the Committee would not ask it to take responsibility until such time
as all costs were met as the Committee did not wish to push the expense
involved onto the ratepayers.
In response
to councillors queries Morris reiterated that initially the cost to the
Council would be ‘nothing’ and that should expenditure prove to be
greater than presently anticipated the Committee would postpone the scheme
for a further period until the project was fully paid for. Nevertheless,
the Committee was anxious that the grounds be opened to the public as soon
as possible but would not seek to impose conditions upon the Council for,
as Mr. E. Treadgold pointed out, the Committee was established as a
sub-committee of the K.U.D.C. and therefore; "We can
have no conditions – you are the major committee, we are the minor
one."
Admitting
partial truth to the rumour then current within the town that unless
negotiations were competed by a specific date the opportunity to purchase
the land would be withdrawn by the vendor, Morris conceded that there had
been some difficulty regarding negotiations. Any public scheme had
opponents who were entitled to their opinions but he did not feel he
should elaborate further. However, it became clear from subsequent
questions and comments that enemies of the scheme had embarked upon
"underneath work" which had attempted to show members of the
Playing Fields Committee as being irresponsible by disseminating false
information which coming to the notice of the vendor and his legal
representatives, had almost succeeded in sabotaging the negotiations.
Consequently, due to the efforts made "to
knock their feet from under them" the Committee
members had had "an
uphill fight" to restore
confidence before the vendor finally assured them that he would afford
them every help to ensure a mutually satisfactory outcome to the
negotiations. At that point the delegation withdrew and the Council went
into private session to discuss the matter further. (35)
The matter
appears to have remained unresolved however, for at a subsequent meeting
of the K.U.D.C, the issue of the playing fields took up most of the
session. At that meeting Cr. H. Bentley sought to refer back for further
consideration a previous minute which had authorised the Chairman of the
Council to join with the representatives of the Playing Fields Committee
in signing a contract for the purchase of the Green House Fields.
Following the
visit of the deputation from the Playing Fields Committee a discussion had
arisen in Council concerning the desirability of the K.U.D.C. Chairman,
who at that time was Cr. Bentley, being party to the contract of sale
thereby obviating the necessity for two separate deeds of conveyance and
thus reducing legal costs. However, Bentley, fearing the financial
consequences of any default on the part of the signatories representing
the Playing Fields Committee, perhaps as much for himself as for the towns
ratepayers, contended that the Chairmans signature would ipso facto, "jeopardise
the towns ratepayers to the tune of £400" (36) and therefore
successfully proposed a motion "that
the contract for the sale of Green House Field be not signed by the
Chairman" at a council
meeting held on the 25th March 1931.
At a
subsequent meeting at which Bentley was not present, Cr. H. Gregg launched
a rearguard action to have the minute rescinded and secured a minority
vote for his resolution. To this action Bentley, now Chairman no longer,
objected, maintaining that by signing the contract of sale his successor,
Cr. G.P. Jackson, rendered the council fully responsible for the costs
involved in the event of default or other circumstances effecting the
signatories of the Playing Fields Committee. Bentley contended that whilst
a playing field was desirable the town’s financial position made the
time inopportune for the ratepayers to assume the potential burden of
debt.
In pointing
out that the minutes were merely a confirmation of the accuracy of the
business undertaken in Council meetings and had no legal commitment
severally or singularly the Town Clerk also sought to allay Bentley’s
fears by stating that the money involved in the land purchase had already
been paid. At this point Bentley, somewhat grudgingly withdrew his
objection.
The Chairman,
Cr. G.P. Jackson, confirmed that he had in fact signed the Purchase
Agreement and that the money had been paid to the vendor, Mr. Jackson. The
Chairman also stated that he had been promised £100 towards the cost of
equipping the playing field. It is interesting to note that while the
purchase money had been paid to the vendor the money was not fully
obtained at that time for Cr. Gregg in emphasising that the sum was
guaranteed revealed that only £280 was to hand, leaving a further £180
to be raised. (37)
A further
point of incidental interest was the assertion of Cr. H. Bentley that in
observing the terms of the original Council resolution and refusing to
sign the agreement of sale concerning the Green House Field he had been
the victim of malicious rumours and even threats emanating from certain,
but unnamed members of the Playing Fields Committee. (38) The deplorable
nature of such conduct is indicative of the intensity of the feeling in
Knottingley concerning the playing fields issue at that time and was the
precursor of similarly heightened passions almost forty years later when
the playing fields were again regarded as being under threat from an
element within Knottingley Council.
The
conveyance of 9 acres, 1 rood, 29 perches of land known as Green House
Close was signed and dated 8th August 1931. (39) The
signatories on behalf of the Playing Fields Committee were Cr. James
Alexander McDonald and Cr. John Percival Jackson, the latter also signing
in his capacity as the Chairman of K.U.D.C. The terms of the deed of
conveyance imposed a number of obligations and restrictions upon the
purchasers. Several concerned the erection and maintenance of boundary
fences and walls including prohibition of access along the path between
Spawd Bone Lane and Marine Villa Road which was eventually opened to the
public. Other clauses prevented the construction of buildings on the site
except for those such as a pavilion or clubhouse to be erected in the
context of recreational usage. No trade or business was allowed and the
sale of intoxicating liquor was prohibited. It was further stipulated that
all games, sports and other events permitted "shall
be conducted in an orderly manner without causing a nuisance or annoyance
to the Vendor or owners and occupiers of the adjoining and neighbouring
land."
The Vendor
also asserted his right of access "with or
without horses, carts, traction engines and other vehicles ……. Cattle
and other beasts" over the
roadway across Green House Close between Hill Top and his property and
also his right of way over the footpath running the length of the Close
between Hill Top and Spawd Bone Lane. (40)
Despite such
constraints the K.U.D.C. adopted the playing field, affixing the seal of
the Council and forming a sub-committee to draft by-laws, the members
being Cr. G.P. Jackson (Chairman), Cr. W. Robinson, Cr. E. Treadgold and
Cr. H. Gregg. (41)
By Spring
1932, the Council had begun to seek organisational funding for the lay-out
and equipping of the site, submitting a copy of the conveyance to the
Secretary of the National Playing Fields Association to reinforce the
Council’s application for a grant from that body. An approach was also
made to the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust. The former organisation
indicated its willingness to make a grant of £25 and the latter the sum
of £75. The grant of the N.P.F.A. was conditional upon the Council giving "a
formal undertaking dedicating the land as a public recreation ground in
perpetuity."
Consequently,
at a general meeting of the Council held on the 2nd March 1932,
it was resolved on a motion by Cr. H. Gregg, seconded by Cr. J. Brown
(Vice Chairman), that "… the
Council dedicate the land for permanent preservation for public recreation
and undertake not to appropriate or use the same for any other purpose
without obtaining [government] consent to do so." (42)
The task of
landscaping the playing field provided a limited but useful opportunity to
engage local unemployed people and in December 1932, the Playing Fields
Sub-Committee was hurriedly reappointed in order that its chairman could
take his place on another Council committee established with the aim of
finding work for local unemployed men who were victims of the ongoing
economic depression. (43) It would appear that the project was a long term
one, reliant for the most part on manual labour. At a Council meeting on
the 7th February 1934, Cr. Brown reported that he had undertaken
an inspection of the playing field area together with the Surveyor who had
informed him that he estimated that 12 men could complete the levelling
work in a fortnight. The Surveyor was therefore to engage the men for a
further fortnight, commencing 12th February 1934. (44)
The cost of
the work was estimated at £380 which appears to have been charged to two
Council sources viz:-
| CAPITAL EXPENDITURE |
£ s d |
| |
|
| Labour |
£301-19-0 |
| Team Labour |
£ 22-4-0 |
| Total |
£324-3-0 |
| |
|
| REVENUE
EXPENDITURE |
|
| |
|
| Labour |
£ 56-8-6 |
| Total |
£380-11-6 |
The work was
not completed according to the time estimated however, for at a further
Council meeting held on the 25th April 1934, it was resolved
that the Playing Field Committee would convene at the site the following
Monday evening to decide how the levelling of the site should be
completed. (45)
Meanwhile,
the Committee had devised schemes for the development of the amenities
within the park. As early as mid September 1932, a report was presented in
full Council featuring the construction of public lavatories at an
estimated cost of £145 and also a shelter for old men costing £50. A
recommendation was also made for the purchase of wire litter baskets for
use the following Spring and the Clerk was instructed to make enquiries
concerning the purchase of a drinking fountain also to be installed the
following year. (46)
With regard
to the latter item the Council received a letter in July 1933 from the
Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association indicating
their willingness to present the town with a ‘Granolithic Bubble
Drinking Fountain’. A condition of the donation was that the Council
would erect and maintain the fountain and supply it with "pure,
wholesome water." (47)
The offer was
accepted on this condition with the grateful thanks of the Council and the
following month the Surveyor reported that the fountain was being erected
on a spot within the playing fields selected by the K.U.D.C. Chairman, Cr.
H. Gregg. (48 The position chosen was in the middle of the central path
connecting Hill Top with Spawd Bone Lane, a somewhat unfortunate choice
for it was seen in situ shortly thereafter by the vendor, Mr. Jackson, who
objected to the location, probably on the grounds that the centrally
situated fountain constituted an obstacle to the transit of vehicular
traffic and therefore infringed his legal right of passage along the
central path. (49) The fountain was therefore relocated to a position
alongside the pathway, opposite the public conveniences, close to the Hill
Top entrance.
Even after
the purchase of the playing fields and their adoption by the town council
the subject was not free from controversy. A fundamental issue concerned
the use to which the area should be put, whether as its name suggested the
space should be purely a play area for children or, alternatively, a
recreation ground for the townspeople in general.
By July 1934,
when the levelling of the Greenhouse Field had reached an advanced stage
and the childrens’ paddling pool was almost completed, a meeting of the
Council decided to implement a full scheme of development to provide
facilities for adults, including a tennis court and a bowling green. (50)
The proposal met with some opposition, particularly from Cr. Daniel O’Driscoll
who stated that the original idea was to provide playing fields for
children. O’Driscoll claimed that the proposed facilities for adults
would add £1,400 to the original cost, plus £200 per annum for
caretakers wages. The establishment of the playing fields had been
influenced by posters showing children playing around street lamps but,
said O’Driscoll, he didn’t recall seeing pictures of tennis or bowls
being played in back alleys. The proposed facilities would be used by a
‘select few’, claimed O’Driscoll. The remark obviously touched a raw
nerve as far as Cr. Burton Arnold was concerned. Did the term ‘Select
Few’ refer to Council members, he asked, and was assured by O’Driscoll
that he merely meant the minority of townsfolk who played tennis or bowls.
In reply to O’Driscoll’s
strong criticism, Cr. E. Treadgold, who was largely responsible for the
design of the proposed lay-out of the recreational facilities, said that
the playing fields were for everybody. The proposed scheme had been placed
before the public and had received approval. By adopting a comprehensive
scheme the Council had qualified for a grant from the N.P.F. Association
which would seek a refund if the scheme was curtailed.
O’Driscoll’s
motion being put to the vote, resulted in a tie, with five votes for each
side. The Chairman, Cr. H. Gregg, therefore gave the casting vote against
the motion and the scheme received the go ahead. (51) Lack of a clear
mandate and the problem of funding the scheme at a time of economic
recession resulted in delay in the implementation of the plan which,
however, remained a long term objective.
At a K.U.D.C.
meeting on Wednesday 3rd June 1936, Cr. Treadgold suggested
that a bandstand be erected in the park as a memorial to the late King
George V, at a cost of £250. The maverick Cr. O’Driscoll objected to
the proposal on the grounds that such expenditure could hardly be
justified when the Council could not afford to employ an extra man to keep
the streets clean. O’Driscoll also claimed the idea should be
disregarded since the Playing Fields Committee was now ‘a dying
committee’, a charge vehemently denied by Treadgold. It was therefore
decided that if the said committee presented a formal proposal the Council
would further consider it. (52)
The following
month it was announced that the Council had decided to undertake a
comprehensive programme of enhancement with provision of a bowling green,
two hard surface tennis courts, a putting green and a bandstand. The
Surveyor was asked to prepare estimates of the cost, including the
purchase of an additional 500 square yards of land at the rear of The
Close, from Mr Tom Jackson, to enable extension of the football pitch. The
members of the Playing Fields Committee were also to visit Selby and
Whitwood to view the childrens’ play apparatus. In addition, the Council
approved plans for the erection in the park of a caretaker’s bungalow.
Again, Cr. O’Driscoll
objected, stating that it was unfair to take space from the children and
that the time was inopportune in any case. O’Driscoll said those who
wanted bowls or tennis should pay for them, but he did support the
proposal for a full-time caretaker, claiming that there was wide awareness
of indecent behaviour taking place within the playing fields. O’Driscoll’s
brother, who was the part-time caretaker, had claimed that supervision was
a full-time job but the Committee, aware of the expense involved had
recommended no change at that time. Support was given to O’Driscoll by
Cr. Horace Bentley but Cr. Treadgold opposed, stating that no complaints
of misconduct had been made to the Committee. Treadgold reiterated that
the playing fields were not merely for children but for all citizens of
the town. In this assertion Treadgold was supported by the majority who
saw provision of recreational facilities as a remunerative measure which
would subsidise the cost of a full-time attendant. The recommendations
were therefore carried. (53)
From the
moment that the public was granted access to the grounds the need for
supervision became apparent. In June 1932, Mr. L. Hartley who had
purchased the Hall and grounds from Mr. Jackson, wrote to the Council and
complained of vandalism to his property. (54) There were also complaints
from the public of cycles being ridden in the playing fields contrary to
the by-laws. (55) The problem was to prove a perpetual one with many
cyclists using the path through the playing field as a short cut between
Spawd Bone Lane and Hill Top. (56) The frequent and extensive use of this
route, combined with the rapid increase in motorised traffic using the
Weeland Road along Hill Top, posed increasing danger of accident making it
necessary by the mid 1930s to post warning signs drawing attention to the
potential hazard. (57)
A further
issue was trespass caused by people obtaining access to the playing fields
during the hours of closure via Knottingley Town Cricket Field or Sleepy
Valley, the home of Bagley’s Rec[reation] Rugby League Club, both
situated alongside the playing fields. Strongly worded letters were
despatched to the respective secretaries of the two clubs asking them to
prevent such access. The secretary of the Rugby Club turned the tables
however, by requesting the Council to place notices at their side of the
dividing fence to deter egress from the playing fields via Sleepy Valley.
(58)
Meanwhile it
was decided to close the park on Sundays and post notices regarding
vandalism and misuse of the site and also engage a policeman between
4.00pm and 9.00pm each weekday evening for the period of one week in the
hope of preventing such abuse. (59) The notices offered a reward of £2
for information regarding vandal damage. Not all vandalism was caused by
anti-social elements within the town however, as shown by the decision of
the Council to prosecute a Pontefract man apprehended by the local police.
(60)
The most
effective deterrent in the long term was considered to be the appointment
of a caretaker to patrol and supervise the grounds. With the development
of the amenities within the park the Playing Field Committee recommended
that in place of the part-time attendant originally envisaged, the post
should be a permanent full-time one involving supervisory duties from
6.00pm to 10.00pm weekday evenings and 1.00pm to 10.00pm Sundays. (61) It
was not until May 1935 however, that advertisements were placed with
applicants being asked to state the remuneration required. (62)
The
advertisement for the post drew 18 applicants. Opinions were divided
whether to appoint one from the total number of applicants or shortlist
four and on the casting vote of the Chairman of the Playing Field
Committee, Cr. E. Treadgold, the latter course was adopted. (63) However,
in keeping with the K.U.D.C. policy of providing work for the unemployed
it was decided that only residents of the town would be short-listed. Six
applicants were selected for interview, only one of whom had featured on
the original shortlist drawn up two months earlier. On the 19th
August 1935, Mr. Pat O’Driscoll was appointed, to commence duty from
Friday 28th August at a wage of £2-10-0 per week. (64)
O’Driscoll,
a towering figure with a stiff military bearing and a stentorian voice
that gainsaid any defiance of his authority, was undoubtedly the correct
choice. Serving for more than seventeen years until his retirement in
1952, O’Driscoll became something of a legend to several generations of
Knottingley schoolchildren, including the writer, and long after his
retirement and death people within the town looked back on his tenure of
the playing fields as being a ‘golden age’. (65)
With the
appointment of a caretaker the playing fields were once again opened on
Sundays but somewhat surprisingly the children’s swings were locked up
on that day. (66) A feature of Sunday’s in the park was band concerts.
Initially an application by Knottingley Silver Prize Band to give Sunday
evening concerts of sacred music was rejected by the Council (67) and even
as late as 1935 a decision to allow the Castleford St. John’s Ambulance
Brigade Silver Band to hold a summer concert was rescinded. (68) However,
in 1933 it was agreed to allow Knottingley Silver Prize Band to provide
Sunday concerts in the summer season from 2.45pm to 4.30pm and 7.45pm to
9.15pm with a collection at the entrances to the playing fields for the
Band funds. The decision appears to have been subject to an element of
doubt for having agreed to allow the Band to perform each Sunday the
Council then amended the arrangement to two Sundays per month. (69) The
inaugural concert took place in July 1933 and was attended by a large
crowd, the programme being reported to be "all in good taste".
(70) but gave rise to consideration of the provision of seating
specifically for use by the audience (72) and a paved area to provide a
base on which the musicians would perform was also planned. Yet despite
the obvious popularity of the concerts and the report that "next
year may see a bandstand" it was not
until 1951 that provision of a purpose built ornamental bandstand received
practical consideration. (73)
Much of the
cost of equipping the playing fields came from grants and loans. The
grants appear to have been of a retrospective nature for a letter from the
National Playing Fields Association in early 1933 stated that a grant of
£100 would be forthcoming as soon as the projected sum of £198 had been
spent on the specified equipment. Simultaneously, the Town Clerk was
instructed to work out loan charges which would cover the cost of the
scheme being prepared by the Surveyor. (74)
The Council,
mindful of the economic depression of the period and its consequences for
local rates, particularly those contributed by the local business
community, had adopted a policy of festina lente regarding the development
of the playing fields. However, Cr. J. Millar of Castleford who had been
instrumental in the establishment of that towns playing fields, advised
the K.U.D.C. to adopt a bolder, more comprehensive approach. The National
Playing Fields Association it was advised, were empowered to advance up
to one sixth of the capital cost of a full development scheme with the
West Riding County Council adding a further 10%. Further sources of
finance Millar suggested could be obtained via local ‘flag days’ for
which the N.P.F. Association would provide posters and literature. (75)
The K.U.D.C. seem to have adopted this last suggestion with enthusiasm and
several such flag days were held, the first one taking place on the 21st
April 1934. (76)
A further
minor source of revenue was obtained through the issue of licences to
local vendors to sell ice-cream, sweets and light refreshments in the
playing fields. Commencing in 1935 with rival applications from R. Millett
of Aire Street and Louis Valente of Chapel Street, the licence to sell
ice-cream was keenly sought. (77) In the event both applications were
rejected and the first recipient of a licence was Louis Massarella who was
also successful in obtaining renewal of his permit the following year.
(78) Massarella had obtained the licence by offering the sum of two
guineas for the right to sell ice-cream inside the entrance to the playing
fields. The offer, although accepted, it was next agreed by the Council
that henceforth the licence fee should be one guinea for ratepaying
vendors and two guineas for non-ratepayers. (79) By 1938 however, the
licence had become subject to tender with Massarella’s offer of three
guineas in June that year outbidding the two guineas bid by Valente. (80)
Massarella was himself considerably outbid many years later when in 1955
his offer of three guineas was topped by an offer of £5 from D. Lewis
& Son who had acquired the former Valente site in Chapel Street. The
differential pricing whilst indicative of the emergent inflation of the
post war decades also reveals the ongoing popularity of the playing fields
and the consequent viability of the site as a sales outlet. (81)
The proposal
to erect public toilets in the playing fields gave rise to consideration
of the installation of 1/2d slot doors for access to the conveniences
although this decision, taken in conjunction with the proposal to
construct the toilets with glazed brick interiors, may have owed as much
to considerations of public hygiene and anti-vandalism as to the
generation of income from use of the amenity. (82) Indeed, in mid 1935 the
Playing Fields Committee made provision for gates to be installed at the
entrance to the public conveniences in an attempt to prevent access at
times when the playing fields were officially closed. (83)
Dr. Terry Spencer
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