Barwick-in-Elmet Historical Society
Today's News (Tomorrow's History)
Part 3.
2005
This information is provided by the Barwick in Elmet Historical Society.
December 2005
In the last two years, there have been three attempts by property developers to buy properties in the Leeds Road area of Barwick which have large gardens and, through demolition of the houses, build 3 story densely packed housing. The first scheme was approved after a reduction in the height of the development and a lowering of the density of the housing. The second scheme has gone to planning appeal while the third has been withdrawn. All the schemes have provoked a large number of protests from villagers. Colin Burgon, the M.P. for the area, has been involved and has supported the protests. He has asked Leeds City Council to resist the the pressure of the developers in line with the government's requirements that developments should integrate into the existing environment. He supports the views of local protestors that the schemes will not preserve the character of the village.
November 2005
After a pleasant late summer, the middle of the month has brought a spell of brilliantly sunny days and very cold nights. In the mornings the countryside has been white with heavy frost. The late arrival of autumn has kept the leaves on the trees later than normal. There are forecasts of a very cold winter ahead - time will tell.
People in Barwick are writing protest letters again as yet another planning application has been received for large properties on the Leeds Road to be demolished and replaced with three storey blocks of flats. The complainants are basing their main thrust on the incompatability of such schemes in a village environment. Up to now, similar schemes have been approved and the entrance to the village from Scholes will soon be quite changed.
October 2005
The month started with an annual event in Barwick. There was a sale held in the village hall to raise funds for the NSPCC. The sale has been an annual event in the village for about 50 years.
The third week of October has seen the unmistakable arrival of autumn with the leaves turning colour and dropping after what seems like weeks of unbroken grey sunless skies. The Barwick feast is getting assembled on Jack Heap's Field.
This year has been a poor year for nuts with small shrivelled nuts which will hopefully mean a decline in the grey squirrel population next year.
September 2005
The Historical Society received a magnificent donation from Barwick-in-Bloom of £500 which was the surplus which arose from the Flower Festival which was organised as part of the activities associated with the village's entry in Britain in Bloom. The donation is specifically for the planned information boards which will be provided for the earthworks in the village. Before the information boards are produced, the society is awaiting a non-invasive archaeological survey of the earthworks. The society has applied to the Local Heritage Initiative Fund to finance the archaeological survey.
On Sunday 18th September, a memorial was unveiled at Crossgates to remember those who lost their lives at the Barnbow Shell Filling Factory in the First World War (further information and an article on the factory)..
The month ended with the news that Barwick achieved a silver gilt award in the Large Village category of Britain in Bloom.
August 2005
August has started with a Festival of Flowers entitled "This was their finest Hour" by the Barwick-in-Elmet Flower Club. It was held in the Barwick-in-Elmet Methodist Church on 6th & 7th August. There were 21 themed displays as well as various arrangements on the pews and tables. The festival was held in conjunction with Barwick in Bloom as a prelude to the judging of the village on Tuesday 9th August as Yorkshire's entry for the large village class of Britain in Bloom.
Barwick in Bloom have produced a very imaginative DVD containing a slide show of the preparations for the competition, a copy of which has been given to the judges.
August has ended with the third Carling Festival at Bramham Park which was completely sold out. The traffic problems experienced last year seemed not to have been repeated as there were many signs in Leeds deterring motorists from using the A64. The winds over the weekend assisted in not afflicting Barwick with the thudding bass of the music. No doubt Potterton was not spared.
July 2005
The Barwick Maypole Committee (soon to become the Barwick Maypole Trust) held its post-ceremony meeting on 4th July. It has been usual for the meeting to be held at the maypole immediately after the raising ceremony. Its main purpose is to elect a committee for the next three years. Over forty attended the meeting. The present committee was re-elected plus three more members. In a discussion on the arrangements for this year's ceremony it was very apparent that the event was very successful. Many messages had been received by the committee expressing thanks and congratulations. It is envisaged that the event in three years time will be on similar lines.
June 2005
Barwick continues to be busy getting ready for Britain in Bloom on 9th August while Scholes is in good shape for Yorkshire in Bloom. Before then on 26th June, Barwick has its annual Open Gardens Day. Twelve gardens are to be open to the public including the Bowling Club. Each year the gardens are newly selected and it must be 50 or so gardens which have been opened up over the last four years. This takes a lot of effort by the families involved.
This month has marked the use of the York race course for staging the Royal Ascot meeting while Ascot racecourse is undergoing major renovations. While it is about twenty miles away, the event has not gone un-noticed in the parish. While it has not been wise to drive towards York before the start of the racing, the most marked influence of the meeting has been the stream of helicopters passing overhead between Leeds-Bradford Airport and the Knavesmire.
On 21st of June a landmark of the centre of Barwick for decades was removed. BT has removed the telephone kiosk from outside the Post Office. There had been efforts to have it saved but it is no longer economical to maintain many public call boxes due to the spread of mobile phones. The box was of the old type - designed before the Second World War. There is still a public phone box in the village (a new mostly glass type) on the corner of Long Lane and Leeds Road.
May 2005
The month has seen Barwick busy preparing for two events, the Maypole Raising and the "Britain in Bloom" competition in August. Scholes has been busy making sure that the village is looking resplendent for "Yorkshire in Bloom". Anyone who has not been to Scholes in the last three years or so will notice a big change in the appearance of the village. Flower beds are springing up in all sorts of corners and you are welcomed to the village from any direction by a well cared-for bed of flowers.
The noticeable result of the Maypole Raising preparations is the condition of Hall Tower field which has been cut and cleared of undergrowth which was starting to conceal half of the motte. Plans are under way to keep it permanently in the new condition. The tradition of taking the garlands around the village has started and most of Barwick had been covered before 21st May.
As part of the preparation for the Britain in Bloom competition, the ground behind the bus stop opposite the Post Office in Barwick has been transformed.
April 2005
April has opened with some warm days. Both villages are a mass of daffodils
growing on the verges along with other varieties of colourful flowers. Barwick
is not participating in
19th April
The programme for the Maypole Raising on the Spring Bank Holiday Monday has
been published . The programme is
- 10.00 Road closures
- 11.00 Commencement of the Maypole Raising
- 13.00 Parade starts from
the school in
- 14.15 Ceremony of the Crowning of the May Queen
- 14.30 Maypole Dancing
- 16.00 Church bells will
peel. The
- 18.00 Road closures will end
The new pole is being delivered in the next week or so. It will be pressure
treated, ready to splice and will comply with current British Standards and has
a 20 year guarantee. It is believed to be a couple of feet taller than its
predecessor and a little fatter.
Over 6000 rosettes have been made and are being assembled on the garlands. The
garlands will be paraded around the streets of Barwick, Scholes and Aberford
from the beginning of May. The May Queen will be elected by local school
children in the coming week. Plans for the procession floats are well ahead.
The procession will feature the floats and will have a Scout marching band
following the "Town Crier".
There will be a new feature of Maypole Day this time. There will be a street
market in
It is planned to close
The appeal for funds through the Maypole Roll of Honour has raised over £1,500
so far.
The Maypole Queen for 2005 was chosen on 25th April. She is Maddi Cornforth
of
Top
28th April
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The new maypole was delivered to Hall Tower Field at 5
p.m. today. |
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The new pole ready for much work prior to its raising. |
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29th April
Retirement
after 43 years service to Barwick-in-Elmet
|
|
April ended with the last milk delivery by Geoff and Norma Atkinson. Geoff started delivering milk to the southern half of Barwick forty three years ago and retirement follows a lifetime of early mornings and working in all seasons. During that time he has married Norma, who shared his early mornings, and raised a family. He found time to look after livestock and carry out gardening and landscape work in the village - which will continue to occupy him. |
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Geoff and Norma on their last round on the evening of 29th April 2005 |
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March 2005
The highlight of this month has been the felling of the maypole in Barwick on
Easter Monday in preparation of a raising of a new pole on Spring Bank Holiday
Monday. Because the maypole had been standing for six years and its condition
was uncertain, it was felt that it was not possible to take it down using
safer, but untried, methods. The only other time that we know of when the pole
was cut down was in 1947 when the pole had been up ten years. Then the pole was
cut down with an axe. Now, nearly 60 years later, a power saw was used while
the pole was supported by a 50,000 kg crane. The cutting took far less than a
minute. The crane lowered the pole sufficiently for the old garlands to be
removed and for the splicing to be un-bolted. When separated, the two parts
were loaded by forklift onto a farm trailer and taken away to a local farm.
February 2005
The winter is mild and damp. However there was a sign of impending spring today
(6th February) as the curlews have returned to the fields north of the golf
course.
The Maypole Committee has changed its name to Barwick-in-Elmet Maypole Trust.
The trust is to apply to become a registered charity. Plans for this year's Maypole
Raising have been hit by the failure to be awarded a lottery grant. This
will not stop the ceremony from going ahead but appeals are being made to
every household to make a donation towards the event. There will be a Roll of
Honour with donors' names on it which will be buried in a time capsule.
Donations can be sent to the Barwick-in-Elmet Maypole Trust c/o 14 The Boyle,
Today (21st February) the days are noticeably getting longer and the daffodils
are out on Long Lane so spring should be in the air - but we have snow and a
biting easterly wind.
Since the new year, Tillotson's shop on
January 2005
January has started quietly. In spite of a few cold snaps, the daffodil bulbs
are pushing out their leaves in the middle of the month. There has not been any
significant change. However a recent planning application to demolish two large
houses in substantial grounds in
The road from Barwick to Garforth is undergoing major repair - not before time.
The road is closed from 9.30 to 3.30 for the work to be done in 100 metre
stretches per day.
Today January 2001 to December 2002
Today January 2003 to December 2004
Today January 2005 to December 2005
Today January 2006 to December 2007
Today January 2008 to December 2008
Today January 2009 to December 2010
Today January 2011 to December 2012
Today January 2013 to December 2014
Today January 2009 onwards
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