History of Burley District Cricket
Brief history of cricket in Burley in Wharfedale district.
It helps to remember that most outdoor sports in their early history & team ones in particular, were pretty crude in terms of what they needed for a pitch.
Cricket was no exception i.e. a 22yd strip of flattened ground, with the outfield mowed by sheep.
(The lawn mower was invented in 1830 & manufactured from 1832 onwards - more here: History of Lawn Mowers)
Cricket was no exception i.e. a 22yd strip of flattened ground, with the outfield mowed by sheep.
(The lawn mower was invented in 1830 & manufactured from 1832 onwards - more here: History of Lawn Mowers)
1838 - William "Billy" Swain (1827-1910) plays his first cricket match for a Burley team at the age of 11. By 1861 William Swain was a professional cricketer.
1840s - Burley Victoria Cricket Club - Currently no idea where their pitch was or who was involved. (1901 Burley Victoria established an association football club. (Burley Football History)).
1849 - William Fison & Co. bought the Greenholme Mills & its estate. The business continued many of the sporting & recreational activities for their employees that they'd started when manufacturing & trading in Bradford.
1850s - Burley & Greenholme CC playing at Peel Park. (Roughly where the Scout & Guide hut is now down Peel Place).
We presume Burley & Greenholme CC became Burley Clarence CC playing at Peel Park.
1866 - Burley Clarence relocated from Peel Park to somewhere else within the recreation grounds when North View was built by William Fison & Co.
[Note: village recreation grounds - all the land between the village & Greenholme. From the vicarage at the east, to Leatherbank at the west. Most of this land was owned by William Fison & Co. The land was used for farming, either livestock or growing crops. But fields would be set aside for village events & sports when the need arose.]
1886 - James Hodson (1828-1895) buys The Grange & its estate from the executors of Thomas Emsley (1816-1885).
Hodson family members were known to play cricket - the Burley Archive has an image of them sitting outside The Grange with cricket bats etc. The most likely place for them to play is where Hodson Park is now. Our hunch is that they also played rugby union & created a pitch that ran along Langford Lane. Hence the origin of the Langford Lane football enclosure. (Burley Football History).
Hodson family members were known to play cricket - the Burley Archive has an image of them sitting outside The Grange with cricket bats etc. The most likely place for them to play is where Hodson Park is now. Our hunch is that they also played rugby union & created a pitch that ran along Langford Lane. Hence the origin of the Langford Lane football enclosure. (Burley Football History).
Cricket at The Grange
1896 - Burley Wesley CC - Currently no idea where their pitch was.
Image below is listed in the Hodson Collection in Burley Archive as a cricket match between Burley and Ilkley pre-1900. The building in the background is Burley in Wharfedale vicarage. This would put the pitch in the Recreation Ground, but before the ground was enclosed by a wall.
Pre-1900 Burley v Ilkley
1897 - 1899 - Burley Clarence CC plays at Proctor's Field.
1899 - The modern Recreation Ground was formalised by William Fison in 1898 by having a wall built round it & an entrance off York Road created. The "Rec" was officially given to the village by William Fison in 1899. Was originally called Fison Park. .
1900 - Around the turn of the century Burley Clarence CC moved to Clarence Field/Walton Park - the cricket ground on the corner of Leatherbank & Ilkley Road (formerly Generous Pioneer pub site).
Burley Cricket Club (undated article)
The article on the Burley Cricket Club which appeared in our last issue aroused a good deal of interest, not only in Burley but also in the wider district of Wharfedale, where the affairs of the Burley Club have been closely followed for over a generation. One old player who remembers well the Burley Club of the days to which it is related, said there should have been mention made of Arthur Lofthouse, the old groundsman. " He was like a father to us," he said, "and he took as much interest in the ground as if it was his own private garden." An error crept into the story where reference was made to Gordon Murray. This should have referred to Bert Fairburn, the wicket keeper, for whom, when he batted, Gordon Murray acted as runner. |
1900 - Marianne Hodson (b1835) dies (her husband, James Hodson, had died in 1895), The Grange & its estate passes to the James Hodson Trust.
1901 - Burley Victoria set up an association football team (alongside a cricket team from the 1840s), their home ground was called Oak Avenue. Sited either where the allotments are now or in Peasborough field where Burley & Woodhead School is located.
1902 - Burley Clarence CC changed their name to Burley in Wharfedale Cricket Club & became a section within the Burley in Wharfedale Sports Club. The sports club laid out a bowling green 40yds x 30yds at Clarence Field/Walton Park and a tennis court. [Info from Wharfedale Observer].
1904 - Burley in Wharfedale AFC established a ground in Hodson Park - the Langford Lane enclosure. (See Burley in Wharfedale Football history).
1910 - Burley in Wharfedale CC are still playing at Clarence Field.
1910 Burley in Wharfedale CC
1910 Burley in Wharfedale CC news article in Ilkley Gazette. Image from Mrs M Peacock, Brewery Road, Ilkley.
Back Row L-R: 1. J Craven; 2. W Livingstone; 3. W Ellis.
Middle Row L-R: ?? in suit; 4. W H Vine; 5. A Town; 6. F Fairburn; 7. H Leach; Umpire - W Newbould.
Front Row L-R: 8. W Horsman; 9. ? Priestman; 10. Fred Hardisty; 11. W. Peace.
Back Row L-R: 1. J Craven; 2. W Livingstone; 3. W Ellis.
Middle Row L-R: ?? in suit; 4. W H Vine; 5. A Town; 6. F Fairburn; 7. H Leach; Umpire - W Newbould.
Front Row L-R: 8. W Horsman; 9. ? Priestman; 10. Fred Hardisty; 11. W. Peace.
1911 Burley in Wharfedale CC
1914 Burley in Wharfedale CC
1915 to 1919 - The Great War forced the abandonment of competitive cricket in Wharfedale.
1919 - Burley in Wharfedale CC restarted cricket at Clarence Field. For reasons unknown, the owners of Walton House gave the club orders to quit the ground.
1920 - Burley in Wharfedale CC played all their home matches at Menston Cricket Ground (Behind the Fox Pub off Bradford Road).
1921 to 1924 - Burley In Wharfedale CC played at Fison Park / Recreation Ground.
1923 - Wharfedale & Airedale Minor Cricket League formed. Comprised of the following clubs - Burley in Wharfedale, Horsforth, Horsforth Hall Park, Menston, Otley, Tong Park, Yeadon, Yeadon Green Lane, Ilkley, Calverley, Rawdon & Guiseley. [Info: Leeds Mercury March 1923].
In 1924/5 - Burley in Wharfedale Sports Club bought a field in the centre of the village for £1000. And spent a further £500 preparing the ground & buying equipment. They held a 3-day Japaneses bazaar (May 1st to May 3rd 1925) to raise funds for this purchase.
Its presumed they have bought a section of Hodson Park from the James Hodson Trust. Our research indicates that the Langford Lane Football Enclosure was still in existence. The Burley In Wharfedale Sports Club are the official owners of the Hodson Park cricket ground. Burley in Wharfedale Cricket Club are a section within the sports club.
Its presumed they have bought a section of Hodson Park from the James Hodson Trust. Our research indicates that the Langford Lane Football Enclosure was still in existence. The Burley In Wharfedale Sports Club are the official owners of the Hodson Park cricket ground. Burley in Wharfedale Cricket Club are a section within the sports club.
1920s Burley in Wharfedale CC
1920s Burley in Wharfedale CC team photo.
Back Row L-R: Umpire ??; 1. ??; 2. Eric Fairburn; 3. Bill Livingston; 4. William (Bill) Harrison; 5. Fred Hardisty; 6. Dennis (Danny) Hardisty.
Front Row L-R: 7. ??; 8. ??; 9. Walter Peace; 10. ??; 11. F Greenwood.
Back Row L-R: Umpire ??; 1. ??; 2. Eric Fairburn; 3. Bill Livingston; 4. William (Bill) Harrison; 5. Fred Hardisty; 6. Dennis (Danny) Hardisty.
Front Row L-R: 7. ??; 8. ??; 9. Walter Peace; 10. ??; 11. F Greenwood.
1926 - Burley Wesley CC - pitch sited north of West Terrace & close to Leatherbank. Currently unsure if this is the same club as "Burley Wesley" of 1896 or a revival of it.
1929 Burley in Wharfedale Women's Cricket Team
The Burley in Wharfedale Women's Cricket Team, also known as Greenholme Girls, was started in 1929 & played their matches at Hodson Park, Grange Road, Burley in Wharfedale - the site of the present cricket club.
Burley in Wharfedale Cricket Club were founder members of the Yorkshire Women's Cricket Federation in 1931. With the addition of a Lancashire section & other clubs in the north, this organisation became the English Women's Cricket Federation in 1935. The women's cricket team was very active in the 1930s. |
Burley in Wharfedale "Greenholme Girls" Cricket Team - undated image: Back row L to R - Ethel Horton, Stella Atkinson, F. Isles, ??, Maggie Atkinson. Front Row L to R - ??, ??, ??, Annie Lister.
Yorkshire Mill-Girl Cricketers - news article Leeds Mercury - June 11th 1930
1931 - Burley in Wharfedale Women's Cricket Team. Played in the "Mrs Sunderland Cup" competition at Keighley cricket club.
1931 Burley in Wharfedale Women's Cricket Team - Greenholme Girls
Newspaper cutting names (left to right): F. Isles, M. Horsley, F. Smith, L. Holland, B. Smith, A. Newitt, B. Stoddard, D. Hope, A. Pickering, J. Gilmour (capt.), M. Mann.
Looking for information on what happened to the English Women's Cricket Federation & Burley in Wharfedale's Women's Cricket Team in the 1940s & subsequently. Please contact the webmaster if you can help.
1931 - Scalebor Park Hospital CC versus Burley in Wharfedale CC at Scalebor Park Hospital cricket pitch.
Images & names courtesy of Yvette Horton.
The match is believed to have been a fundraiser for the hospital with players from both the 1st and 2nd XIs of Burley in Wharfedale CC and invited players such as Richard Gossop head master of Burley National School, Aireville Terrace.
Images & names courtesy of Yvette Horton.
The match is believed to have been a fundraiser for the hospital with players from both the 1st and 2nd XIs of Burley in Wharfedale CC and invited players such as Richard Gossop head master of Burley National School, Aireville Terrace.
1931 Scalebor Park Hospital CC v Burley in Wharfedale CC played at Scalebor Park.
Back Row L to R: 1 ??; 2 Fred Horton; 3 Bill Atkinson; 4 Haggai Harvey; 5 ??; 6 ??; 7 ??; 8 ??.
Next Row L to R: 9 Dr John Rutherford Gilmour; 10 Rev Eric Rede Buckley; 11 Dr Mackie.
Next Row L to R: 12 Walter Newbould; 13 J S Ward; 14 Fred Hardisty; 15 ??; 16 George Hanson; 17 ??.
Front Row L to R: 18 Johnson Lockwood; 19 ??; 20 William Newbould; 21 ? Peace (Herman & Walter's dad); 22 ??; 23 Richard Gossop; 24 John William Hanson; 25 ??.
Back Row L to R: 1 ??; 2 Fred Horton; 3 Bill Atkinson; 4 Haggai Harvey; 5 ??; 6 ??; 7 ??; 8 ??.
Next Row L to R: 9 Dr John Rutherford Gilmour; 10 Rev Eric Rede Buckley; 11 Dr Mackie.
Next Row L to R: 12 Walter Newbould; 13 J S Ward; 14 Fred Hardisty; 15 ??; 16 George Hanson; 17 ??.
Front Row L to R: 18 Johnson Lockwood; 19 ??; 20 William Newbould; 21 ? Peace (Herman & Walter's dad); 22 ??; 23 Richard Gossop; 24 John William Hanson; 25 ??.
1931 Burley in Wharfedale CC
Back Row L-R: Horace Pullan (Scorer); 1. Eric Fairburn; 2. Dennis Hardisty; 3. George Fairburn; 4. Ben Mann; 5. Bill Livingston;
6. George Hanson; Umpire - Mr Spinks.
Front Row L-R: 7. Herman Peace; 8. Fred Horton (Coach); 9 ??; 10. Walter Peace; 11. Ernest Mann.
Back Row L-R: Horace Pullan (Scorer); 1. Eric Fairburn; 2. Dennis Hardisty; 3. George Fairburn; 4. Ben Mann; 5. Bill Livingston;
6. George Hanson; Umpire - Mr Spinks.
Front Row L-R: 7. Herman Peace; 8. Fred Horton (Coach); 9 ??; 10. Walter Peace; 11. Ernest Mann.
1931 Burley in Wharfedale CC
Back Row L-R: Scorer ??; 1. ??; 2. Eric Fairburn; 3. George Hanson; 4. Fred Horton; 5. Bill Livingston; 6. Walter Peace; Umpire ??.
Front Row L-R: 7. George Fairburn; 8. William Peace (Herman & Walter's dad); 9. ??; 10. Fred Hardisty; 11. Dennis (Danny) Hardisty.
Back Row L-R: Scorer ??; 1. ??; 2. Eric Fairburn; 3. George Hanson; 4. Fred Horton; 5. Bill Livingston; 6. Walter Peace; Umpire ??.
Front Row L-R: 7. George Fairburn; 8. William Peace (Herman & Walter's dad); 9. ??; 10. Fred Hardisty; 11. Dennis (Danny) Hardisty.
1934 Burley in Wharfedale 2nd XI
1934 Burley in Wharfedale CC 2nd XI
Back Row L-R: Official ??; 1. Fred Horton; 2. ??; 3. ??; 4. ??; 5. Herman Peace; 6. ? Atkinson; Umpire ??.
Front Row L-R: 7. ??; 8. ??; 9. ??; 10. ??; 11. Frank Newbould; Scorer ??.
Back Row L-R: Official ??; 1. Fred Horton; 2. ??; 3. ??; 4. ??; 5. Herman Peace; 6. ? Atkinson; Umpire ??.
Front Row L-R: 7. ??; 8. ??; 9. ??; 10. ??; 11. Frank Newbould; Scorer ??.
1930s - Burley in Wharfedale Cricket Club team photo in front of wooden pavilion at Hodson Park.
1937 - Opening of Burley in Wharfedale Sports Club new pavilion for cricket and tennis sections, on Saturday June 5th 1937 by Mr. Victor Waddilove, County Councillor of Baildon, who deputised for his brother, Mr. Ernest Waddilove, Chairman of Ilkley Urban Council. Mr H. Brearley, chairman & treasurer of the club presided at the opening ceremony. The pavilion cost £650 to build.
1937 - Burley Wesley CC open a cricket pavilion at their ground, which was somewhere behind West Terrace & alongside Leatherbank.
1937 onwards - currently have no information in the Burley Archive on Burley cricket clubs upto & during WW2.
Post WW2 have scant info too. There are are a couple of photos of Burley in Wharfedale CC from the 1950s with some names given and one from 1969. If you have any photos and/or info please get in touch via the contact form.
1944 Burley in Wharfedale CC winners of the Airedale & Wharfedale League Trophy and the Waddilove Cup Trophy.
1944 Burley in Wharfedale Sports Club
Winners of The Airedale and Wharfedale League Trophy and Waddilove Trophy
Back Row L to R: Arthur Taylor; Eric Wood; H. Brumfitt; C. Stradling.
Middle Row L to R: L. Lambert; Stanley Child; William (Bill) Harrison (capt); W. H Bryant; William (Bill) Imeson.
Front Row L to R: Charlie S Jones; M. Lockwood (scorer) G. Booth.
Winners of The Airedale and Wharfedale League Trophy and Waddilove Trophy
Back Row L to R: Arthur Taylor; Eric Wood; H. Brumfitt; C. Stradling.
Middle Row L to R: L. Lambert; Stanley Child; William (Bill) Harrison (capt); W. H Bryant; William (Bill) Imeson.
Front Row L to R: Charlie S Jones; M. Lockwood (scorer) G. Booth.
1947 Bill Bowes' Benefit Match. Held at Burley in Wharfedale Sports Club ground Hodson Park. Information and images courtesy of Malcolm Wadsworth.
Bill Bowes' XI of England, Middlesex & Yorkshire players versus Bob Hargrave's XI of players from local cricket clubs.
Bill Bowes' XI of England, Middlesex & Yorkshire players versus Bob Hargrave's XI of players from local cricket clubs.
Played on the Burley in Wharfedale Sports Ground - June 29th 1947
Bill Bowes' XI
William (Bill) E. Bowes - England & Yorkshire William (Bill) J Edrich DFC - England & Middlesex Denis C.S. Compton - England & Middlesex J.D. Robertson - England & Middlesex J. Young - England & Middlesex L. Compton - Middlesex W.F. Price - Middlesex A.B. Sellers - Yorkshire H. Halliday - Yorkshire D. Brennan - Yorkshire A. Mason - Yorkshire Umpires: J. Craven & W. Tankard |
Bob Hargrave's XI
H.R. Hargrave - Burley E. Paynter - England & Lancashire S. Taylor - Earby C. Hainsworth - Yeadon G. Carter - Undercliffe W. Burkinshaw - Undercliffe L. Philips - Hunslet S. Child - Burley E. Wood - Burley L. Horsman - Burley F. Greenwood - Burley Scorers: M. Lockwood & R. Pedley |
1950s Burley in Wharfedale CC
1950s Burley in Wharfedale CC team list
Back Row L-R: 1. ??; 2. J Wise; 3. William (Bill) Imeson; 4. ??; 5. Frank Miller.
Front Row L-R: 6. Stanley Childs; 7. H Driver; 8. Eric Wood; 9. F Greenwood (wicket keeper); 10. S Slater; 11. A Spivey.
Back Row L-R: 1. ??; 2. J Wise; 3. William (Bill) Imeson; 4. ??; 5. Frank Miller.
Front Row L-R: 6. Stanley Childs; 7. H Driver; 8. Eric Wood; 9. F Greenwood (wicket keeper); 10. S Slater; 11. A Spivey.
1950s Burley in Wharfedale CC - Waddilove Cup winners (unknown year)
Back Row L-R: 1. Frank Quinn (Jane Longstaffe's dad); 2. ??; 3. Michael Clarkson; 4. Arthur Taylor; 5. Peter Atkinson; 6. ??. Front Row L-R: 7. ? Harrison; 8. ??; 9. William (Bill) Imeson with cup; 10. Roy Mawson; 11. Eric Wood. |
1957 Ilkley County Secondary School cricket team defeated Aireborough Grammar School to win the Airedale & Wharfedale Schools' Cricket Cup. The majority of the team's players came from Burley and Menston.
Back Row L to R: Mr. R. Parker; J. Tomkinson; A. Oliver; A. Howes; E. Lupton; M. Skillbeck; Mr. J. Bailey.
Middle Row L to R: S. Cox; Malcolm Wadsworth; J. Fordham (capt); A. Knowles; M. Robinson.
Front Row L to R: R. Parker; G. Fordham.
Info & image courtesy of Malcolm Wadsworth
Back Row L to R: Mr. R. Parker; J. Tomkinson; A. Oliver; A. Howes; E. Lupton; M. Skillbeck; Mr. J. Bailey.
Middle Row L to R: S. Cox; Malcolm Wadsworth; J. Fordham (capt); A. Knowles; M. Robinson.
Front Row L to R: R. Parker; G. Fordham.
Info & image courtesy of Malcolm Wadsworth
c1958 Scalebor Park Hospital cricket team presentation
L to R: Ted Webster; ??; Mr Stringwell; Ronnie Armitstead (capt);
Little girl presenting flowers Carol Snowden nee Mann, to the right of her leaning over, her father Ben Mann & to the right of him Freddie Freeman.
Lady with handbag on the seat at back Nina Valentine (Dr Valentine's wife).
Info & image courtesy of Carol Snowden.
Little girl presenting flowers Carol Snowden nee Mann, to the right of her leaning over, her father Ben Mann & to the right of him Freddie Freeman.
Lady with handbag on the seat at back Nina Valentine (Dr Valentine's wife).
Info & image courtesy of Carol Snowden.
1962 Scalebor Park Hospital cricket team and others
1969 Burley in Wharfedale CC
1969 Burley in Wharfedale CC
Back Row L-R: 1. Peter Atkinson; 2. J Clarkson; 3. R. Smith; 4. J Morris; 5. G Newsholme; 6. F Brooke (12th man).
Front Row L-R: 7. Malcolm Wadsworth; 8. Malcolm Lupton; 9. P Champion; 10. R Pedley (capt); 11. C Eastham; 12. G Hardaker.
Back Row L-R: 1. Peter Atkinson; 2. J Clarkson; 3. R. Smith; 4. J Morris; 5. G Newsholme; 6. F Brooke (12th man).
Front Row L-R: 7. Malcolm Wadsworth; 8. Malcolm Lupton; 9. P Champion; 10. R Pedley (capt); 11. C Eastham; 12. G Hardaker.
1977 Burley in Wharfedale CC U15s v Ilkley CC U15s
1977 Burley in Wharfedale CC U15s v Ilkley CC U15s - teams list
Back row Burley L-R: 1. David Ross (Burley CC coach); 2. Keith Revis ; 3. Mark Dearden; 4. Martin Robinson; 5. Stephen Thorne (keeper); 6. Nick Unsworth; 7. David Shackleton (capt.); 8. Chris Haward ; 9. John White; 10. David Whittaker; 11. Jonathan Brearley; 12. Noel Stephenson; 13. Dr. K. Parker (Ilkley CC coach).
Front Row Ilkley L-R: 14. Andrew Bedford; 15. Anthony Potts; 16. Timothy Robinson); 17. Colin Montgomerie (the golfer); 18. Michael Potts; 19. Chris Strong (capt.); 20. Blair Nixon; 21. Neil Frankland; 22. Pete Flanagan; 23. Brandon Gore; 24. Geoff Griffiths.
Info & image courtesy of Jane Shackleton.
Back row Burley L-R: 1. David Ross (Burley CC coach); 2. Keith Revis ; 3. Mark Dearden; 4. Martin Robinson; 5. Stephen Thorne (keeper); 6. Nick Unsworth; 7. David Shackleton (capt.); 8. Chris Haward ; 9. John White; 10. David Whittaker; 11. Jonathan Brearley; 12. Noel Stephenson; 13. Dr. K. Parker (Ilkley CC coach).
Front Row Ilkley L-R: 14. Andrew Bedford; 15. Anthony Potts; 16. Timothy Robinson); 17. Colin Montgomerie (the golfer); 18. Michael Potts; 19. Chris Strong (capt.); 20. Blair Nixon; 21. Neil Frankland; 22. Pete Flanagan; 23. Brandon Gore; 24. Geoff Griffiths.
Info & image courtesy of Jane Shackleton.
Burley in Wharfedale CC 1982 Second XI Championship Winners
Back Row L to R: Keith Revis; Eric Paterson; Andrew Dukes; Antony McGowan; David Smale; David Boyes;
Front Row L to R: Stephen Thorne; Alan Knowles; Malcolm Wadsworth (Capt.); Mark Dearden; Alan Dibb; David Wadsworth (scorer).
Front Row L to R: Stephen Thorne; Alan Knowles; Malcolm Wadsworth (Capt.); Mark Dearden; Alan Dibb; David Wadsworth (scorer).
The Burley Archive needs help - post the 1980s we have a noticeable lack of info & images about cricket in Burley District. If you're interested in helping research Burley cricket history or have images & info we can use, please get in touch via the contact form.
Burley Community Library & Burley Archive, Grange Road, Burley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire England LS29 7HD
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Burley Archive & Local History Group: Drop-In Sessions Friday 2.30pm to 4.30pm. For other times please contact us
Burley Archive & Local History Group: Drop-In Sessions Friday 2.30pm to 4.30pm. For other times please contact us