Methley, Churchside.
Churchside corner, with St Oswald's Church
and the house formerly inhabited (1820s to 1840s) by The Rev. Dawson Lumb,
curate.
The Rev. Dawson Lumb was curate of Methley 1821-1843. He was found drowned
in the old river near Swillington Bridge on December 13th, 1843. The house
is now named Churchside House and has altered very little. Beyond is the
former Methley Post Office and attached house and beyond that is the Rose
and Crown. Note no traffic, the church complete with spire and the dress
of the girls. The gentleman in the picture is Mr. William Goulden, a well
known village character, nicknamed 'Gouldie'. Some people say he lived
in this house; others say he lived in the small house in the Post Office
yard.
Mr. Goulden was the son of the corn miller in Mickletown; he was left
an orphan and was brought up in the Mexboro' household, later becoming
butler to various other gentry and to a Bishop of Ripon. On his retirement
he returned to Methley, occupying one of the houses mentioned above. He
always admired and was interested in church music and on his death by
his will left £900 (quite a large sum in 1917-19) for the benefit
of the Choir and Organist of Methley Church. Interest from this legacy
is still used, at one time for the Choir's Annual Outing, now chiefly
for church music.
The Crown Bowls bowling green is on land leased to Methley for a very small sum by Methley Estates. Originally this land was held by Methley Cricket Club from Methley Estates. The green was laid by a Methley man, Mr. Joe Hill, in 1905. In its early days it was connected and maybe affiliated with the Rose and Crown, the inn being the Club headquarters. Some old trophies were inscribed 'Rose and Crown Bowling Club'. The photo shows games in progress and the pavilions. Members shown: in white pullover - Mr. Sam Langstaff; in dark trousers and waistcoat - Mr. Joe Sidebottom; partially hidden - Mr. Michael O'Donnell; the man bowling the white Jack ball is Mr. Don Pierce
Methley Infant School, Little Church Lane
Methley Infant School, front (ie west) view. It was built in 1952 by a
local building firm P.J.Parrott and opened in 1953. Built on a field in
Little Church Lane, which was previously a part of the grounds of the
Cedars. Used in 1953-1955 as an Infant School for Methley and Mickletown
(not Scholey Hill). Closed as an Infant School 1955 on the re-organisation
of education; the Infants were transferred to the Controlled C of E School
(ex- National School) and after minor alterations the Church Lane building
opened as the village Junior School for children 4-11 years of age.
Older
village children stayed in Pinfold Lane School, which was made into a
Secondary Modern School until 1960, when Pennington Lane School, Rothwell,
was completed and Methley pupils were sent there. Pinfold Lane School
closed from 1960 - 1962 for modernisation and refurbishment and reopened
Jan/Feb 1962 as the village Junior School, while the Infants returned
to the Infants School and the Church School building was closed.
The Infant School now accommodates Infant and Nursery children. The field
where the School was built was often previously used, through the generosity
of the Embleton family, for village occasions such as Flower Shows and
Carnivals and also by some Leeds Sunday Schools as a venue for their annual
outing. Originally these children travelled by train to Woodrow Station
and later by road on lorries.
