22.03.20, 10.04.20 Rambles around Rawdon

Submitted by Wildlife Field… on Sun, 12th Apr 2020, 6:53pm

As I explained in my initial Blog entry, Rawdon is made up of several constituent parts. This entry will cover the area around Micklefield Park, Harrogate Road - the village green and Quaker Meeting House. Also Little London a village in its own right. The current "crisis" has afforded me the opportunity to explore Rawdon from the historical perspective guided by the publication "A History of Rawdon - persons, places and prejudice " by DC Willcock. 

One of my earlier rambles (date 22.03.20) took me downhill in the opposite direction of the Billing. Almost immediately below my house are playing fields for a primary school which has since relocated and the Victoria allotments established in 1920 and celebrating it's 100th anniversary this year. 

Micklefield Park which lies between Micklefield Lane and Leeds Road is in the main a recreational area with some interesting features including a small arboretum. The garden which includes a specimen Tibetan cherry (prunus serrula) is enclosed by a hedge of yew and mahonia. One corner of the park consists of ancient woodland with an understorey of dogs mercury, wood anemone, celandine and yet to emerge bluebells.    

The park leads to the interesting area of Little London, a village in it's own right. I was able to explore this area on the 10.04.20. It contains a cluster of tightly packed weavers cottages built in the 1830's.The houses are predominantly built of sandstone from a nearby quarry with stone and slate roofs. It is said the the name Little London came from a local man Benjamin Grimshaw who had been to London and was impressed with what he saw. A section near to a busy junction was named Clattergate. By the end of the nineteenth century it was largely self contained with a chapel, pub and school which no longer function as such. The school which is on Micklefield Lane was bulit in 1846. It was run on non conformist principles was closed in1960 and has subsequently been converted into flats. 

Returning to Rawdon Cross Roads I proceeded along Harrogate Road with the village green and memorial garden on my left. At the far end of the green along Quaker Lane is located the Rawdon Quaker Meeting House. It was built in 1697 soon after the Act of Toleration of 1689. It is of a modest simple design. Their benefactor at the time was Francis Rawdon of Rawdon Hall. The Rawdons alongside the Laytons were a prominent family in the area although of differing religous persuasions. Alongside are a cottage and stables. More recently the Meeting House hosts a popular concert series in support of Amnesty International. It is a short uphill climb to my home in Larkfield. 

Photos included

Margaret .

 

 

Add new comment