May 1923
May 1923
May 1923
Opening of the Green
Opening of the Green
This report is from the Consett Guardian dated May 25th 1923. The weather was described by Mr E. J. George as "Consett weather" (there was snow, sleet and hail), but there was an "exceedingly large attendance".
There are photos from the Opening Ceremony at the bottom of this page.
THE ANCIENT GAME OF BOWLS.
OPENING OF NEW GREEN IN THE PARK.
GIFT OF THE CONSETT IRON CO. It is probable that the game of bowls is one of the most ancient pastimes connected with our country. We believe we are correct in saying that it goes back for perhaps nine or ten centuries. It was a game much beloved by our forefathers. Therefore it was a happy idea on the part of the directors of the Consett Iron Company to decide to construct a bowling green in their beautiful park. This has being placed right at the bottom of the park in a delightful situation, and, as might naturally be expected. a real good job has been made of it. In fact, we should say that it is one of the finest greens in the country, and it seems destined to fill a long- felt want.The new green, which is set to be the first public bowling Green in North-West Durham, is, as we have intimated, pleasantly situated at the Blackhill end of the park. It was designed by Mr. C. E. Oliver, the Company’s architect, who also provided the plans for the handsome little pavilion, the veranda of which has wisely been designed to provide shelter against such conditions as prevailed on Wednesday week. The whole of the work has been executed by the Company and it reflects credit on all concerned.In connection with the green a club has been formed, and to show the appreciation which the green has met with it can be mentioned that the membership limit of 100 was reached five days after the club was formed, and there is already a long waiting list. Tennis enthusiasts are also catered for in the Park, and additional hard courts are now in course of preparation.OPENING CEREMONYUnfortunately, vile weather was associated with the opening ceremony on Wednesday afternoon of last week. Just before the proceedings commenced a heavy shower of snow, sleet, and hail began to fall. This continued throughout the whole of the time speaking was in progress. Well might Mr E. J. George, the general manager of the Company, remark that all he would say about this weather was that it was “Consett weather”. However. in spite of the wintry nature of the elements there was an exceedingly large attendance, invitations having been extended to the members of the Benfieldside and Consett Urban District Councils, etc.The chairman was supported by Mr, Clarence Smith, Hexham, chairman of the Consett Iron Company; Coun. R. Alsop, secretary to the Company; Mr. R. Park, Coun. A. H. Middleton, Mr R. C. Foster, C.C., Coun. J.R. Surtees, J.P., Coun. W.D. Reed, Coun. G. Dibley, Mr. E. C. Jones, Mr. H. H. Wattsford, Coun. G.T. Hyden, J.P., Coun. Jos. Walton, Capt. H. McNair, Dr. J. Murray, Mr H. Cornforth, Mr S. Aynsley, Mr R. Clough, Coun. J. Campbell, Coun. J. Nixon, Mr A. D. Wood, Coun. G. J. Robinson, C.C., Inspector Smith, Mr A. Simpson, Mr. A. Henderson, Coun. W.D. Redshaw, Mr Wm. Davison, Mr J. Mathieson, Major Mangles, Mr H. Wood, Mr M. Hobday, Coun J.E. Savison, Mr Jos. Farthing &c.It had been intended that Mrs Clarence Smith should perform the opening ceremony but a previous engagement detained her, and in consequence that duty devolved upon her esteemed husband.Mr George, in opening the proceedings, make some humorous remarks respecting the weather. He said that before coming there he had often read accounts of the terrible snow storms that they were subjected to. When he arrived about 1904 he came to the conclusion that it was a very cold place. (Laughter.) He also remembered that a wolf got loose that winter and caused a great deal of alarm. It had escaped from a place at Shotley Bridge where wild animals were then kept. The chairman expressed regret at the fact that Mrs. Smith was not able to be with them, but said that they had an excellent substitute in the person of Mr. Clarence Smith. (Loud applause.)Mr. Clarence Smith, in performing the opening ceremony, apologised for the absence of his wife. He said that the directors had always been intensely interested in anything pertaining to the welfare of their employees. In speaking of their employees they liked to include in their thoughts all the inhabitants of the district, because, after all, Consett was a large but isolated place which depended largely, if not entirely, on the work of the collieries of the Consett Iron Company. (Applause.) He understood that bowls had not been previously played to any extent in the district, but he was sure that it was now destined to become one of the most popular games. He had pleasure in declaring the green open, and in handing it over to the town expressed the hope that it would be well patronised, and that it would provide pleasant recreation for many years to come. (Loud applause.)Coun. W.D. Reed, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Smith, said he was delighted to see the Bowling Green open that day, because he felt that it would be a means of enjoyment for a lot of people. He hoped sincerely that ere long there would be a revival of trade and that men, instead of being on the “dole” would be working for good money. (Applause.)The chairman here presented Mr. Smith with a silver cigarette box as a souvenir of the occasion; and in acknowledging this, and responding to the vote of thanks, Mr. Smith said that he hoped the time was not far distance when Consett would have one of the finest and most up to date steel plants in the country (Loud applause.)On the motion of County coun. R.C. Foster, a hearty vote of thanks was tended to the chairman.The chairman in reply said that not only in Consett, but also in the colliery villages, if anything was done it was done by the company working through those employed by them. It was only in that way that they could help one another. For instance in Consett they had a large Institute and Reading Room that was open to the public upon practically the same conditions as the company’s employees. (Applause)Ere Mr Clarence Smith preceded to deliver the first “wood” there was, fortunately a temporary lull in the snowstorm.
OPENING OF NEW GREEN IN THE PARK.
GIFT OF THE CONSETT IRON CO. It is probable that the game of bowls is one of the most ancient pastimes connected with our country. We believe we are correct in saying that it goes back for perhaps nine or ten centuries. It was a game much beloved by our forefathers. Therefore it was a happy idea on the part of the directors of the Consett Iron Company to decide to construct a bowling green in their beautiful park. This has being placed right at the bottom of the park in a delightful situation, and, as might naturally be expected. a real good job has been made of it. In fact, we should say that it is one of the finest greens in the country, and it seems destined to fill a long- felt want.The new green, which is set to be the first public bowling Green in North-West Durham, is, as we have intimated, pleasantly situated at the Blackhill end of the park. It was designed by Mr. C. E. Oliver, the Company’s architect, who also provided the plans for the handsome little pavilion, the veranda of which has wisely been designed to provide shelter against such conditions as prevailed on Wednesday week. The whole of the work has been executed by the Company and it reflects credit on all concerned.In connection with the green a club has been formed, and to show the appreciation which the green has met with it can be mentioned that the membership limit of 100 was reached five days after the club was formed, and there is already a long waiting list. Tennis enthusiasts are also catered for in the Park, and additional hard courts are now in course of preparation.OPENING CEREMONYUnfortunately, vile weather was associated with the opening ceremony on Wednesday afternoon of last week. Just before the proceedings commenced a heavy shower of snow, sleet, and hail began to fall. This continued throughout the whole of the time speaking was in progress. Well might Mr E. J. George, the general manager of the Company, remark that all he would say about this weather was that it was “Consett weather”. However. in spite of the wintry nature of the elements there was an exceedingly large attendance, invitations having been extended to the members of the Benfieldside and Consett Urban District Councils, etc.The chairman was supported by Mr, Clarence Smith, Hexham, chairman of the Consett Iron Company; Coun. R. Alsop, secretary to the Company; Mr. R. Park, Coun. A. H. Middleton, Mr R. C. Foster, C.C., Coun. J.R. Surtees, J.P., Coun. W.D. Reed, Coun. G. Dibley, Mr. E. C. Jones, Mr. H. H. Wattsford, Coun. G.T. Hyden, J.P., Coun. Jos. Walton, Capt. H. McNair, Dr. J. Murray, Mr H. Cornforth, Mr S. Aynsley, Mr R. Clough, Coun. J. Campbell, Coun. J. Nixon, Mr A. D. Wood, Coun. G. J. Robinson, C.C., Inspector Smith, Mr A. Simpson, Mr. A. Henderson, Coun. W.D. Redshaw, Mr Wm. Davison, Mr J. Mathieson, Major Mangles, Mr H. Wood, Mr M. Hobday, Coun J.E. Savison, Mr Jos. Farthing &c.It had been intended that Mrs Clarence Smith should perform the opening ceremony but a previous engagement detained her, and in consequence that duty devolved upon her esteemed husband.Mr George, in opening the proceedings, make some humorous remarks respecting the weather. He said that before coming there he had often read accounts of the terrible snow storms that they were subjected to. When he arrived about 1904 he came to the conclusion that it was a very cold place. (Laughter.) He also remembered that a wolf got loose that winter and caused a great deal of alarm. It had escaped from a place at Shotley Bridge where wild animals were then kept. The chairman expressed regret at the fact that Mrs. Smith was not able to be with them, but said that they had an excellent substitute in the person of Mr. Clarence Smith. (Loud applause.)Mr. Clarence Smith, in performing the opening ceremony, apologised for the absence of his wife. He said that the directors had always been intensely interested in anything pertaining to the welfare of their employees. In speaking of their employees they liked to include in their thoughts all the inhabitants of the district, because, after all, Consett was a large but isolated place which depended largely, if not entirely, on the work of the collieries of the Consett Iron Company. (Applause.) He understood that bowls had not been previously played to any extent in the district, but he was sure that it was now destined to become one of the most popular games. He had pleasure in declaring the green open, and in handing it over to the town expressed the hope that it would be well patronised, and that it would provide pleasant recreation for many years to come. (Loud applause.)Coun. W.D. Reed, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Smith, said he was delighted to see the Bowling Green open that day, because he felt that it would be a means of enjoyment for a lot of people. He hoped sincerely that ere long there would be a revival of trade and that men, instead of being on the “dole” would be working for good money. (Applause.)The chairman here presented Mr. Smith with a silver cigarette box as a souvenir of the occasion; and in acknowledging this, and responding to the vote of thanks, Mr. Smith said that he hoped the time was not far distance when Consett would have one of the finest and most up to date steel plants in the country (Loud applause.)On the motion of County coun. R.C. Foster, a hearty vote of thanks was tended to the chairman.The chairman in reply said that not only in Consett, but also in the colliery villages, if anything was done it was done by the company working through those employed by them. It was only in that way that they could help one another. For instance in Consett they had a large Institute and Reading Room that was open to the public upon practically the same conditions as the company’s employees. (Applause)Ere Mr Clarence Smith preceded to deliver the first “wood” there was, fortunately a temporary lull in the snowstorm.
Photographs of the Opening Ceremony
Photographs of the Opening Ceremony
On 25th May 1923 the Consett Guardian published photos of Opening ceremony. The report accompanying the photographs is transcribed below. The images shown below are copied from the photographs displayed in club house.
The Consett Guardian published two additional photographs, captioned:
Councillors and friends who attended the ceremony
Interested spectators at the opening ceremony
We only have very poor copies of these two photographs. If you have a good copy that you are willing to lend us, please contact us.
A bowling green laid in Consett Park was opened on Wednesday week, by Mr. Clarence Smith, chairman of Consett Iron Company. Mr. E. J. George (general manager) presided at the ceremony. Following a competition by members of Consett Park Club, tea was served in St. Aidan’s Hall, Blackhill. Incidents (Blocks by courtesy of “Illustrated Chronicle.”)
CONSETT PARK
Opening of the Bowling Green. May 16th 1923
by Mr. D Clarence Smith
Chairman of Consett Iron Coy Limited
Mr. E. J. George addressing the spectators.
Mr. E. J. George presenting a silver casket to Mr. Clarence Smith for Mrs. Smith
Mr. Clarence Smith declaring the green open.
Players assembling for the opening game
Mr. Clarence Smith sends down the first wood
Mr. E. J. George manipulates the second wood
