Wetherby Castlegarth Tennis Club
Club History
1904 - 2005
In
1893 an agreement was signed between Mr Montague of Inmangthorpe Hall and the
Wetherby District Council in which the land was called "Low Field" or
"Mill Field". The council then agreed to pay one pound on the sixth of
April each year in consideration of a sewer laid by them through this field.
In
1898, this meadow or pastureland consisting of 1328 acres was let to a Mr Coates
for £6 a year. In 1904, the field was purchased for £140 at an Auction Sale
held in The Brunswick Hotel at Wetherby by; Mr Coates, Mr F Hoole, Mr J Hoole,
Dr Hargreaves, Mr Heap and Mr Wilson. These six men formed themselves as
trustees for a certain club called "The Castle Garth Lawn Tennis Club"
and framed rules and regulations for the management of the club laying down that
in the event of the premises being no longer required, or for want of adequate
support, it shall be lawful for the Trustees to sell the land or alter or extend
the objects or nature of the said club or may change the title. These
arrangements were contained in a Trust Deed dated 1st October 1904
which set out the legal framework for the club and which still applies today.
Originally,
four grass courts and a pavilion were situated along a charming length of the
banks of the River Wharfe above the Mill Weir and Wetherby Bridge.
The
courts were laid over an acre of level sand loam, which allowed them to drain
quickly after rain. Town’s water was available at the pavilion and there was
easy access to the sewer for internal sanitation. Additional Land was available
for a ‘hard court’ or for other purposes without disturbing the existing
grass courts.
In
1904 there is a record that Mr Noble of Paradise Nursery, Boston Spa, tendered
an estimate to make a new croquet ground for the sum of £28, as at the time,
Croquet was very popular.
In
1940 further Trustees were appointed and in 1946, copies of the rules were
amended and reprinted.
In
1975 Castlegarth Lawn Tennis Club (as it was then known), reached an agreement
with two members who constructed the present clubhouse in return for the land on
which to build squash courts. Unfortunately, by 1995, the squash courts were not
doing very well and subsequently ceased operating and have lain in a state of
dis-repair for many years and have now become an eyesore on the riverside.
The Tennis Club, however, has continued going from strength to strength and in 1998 with the aid of a lottery grant for £11363, was able to erect floodlighting to enable members to play tennis into the evening.
Now
known as Wetherby Castlegarth Tennis Club, playing tennis is available 365 days
a year and up to 9-30pm under floodlights. Currently we have 143 Senior and 167
Junior and Intermediate Members.
Since
1995, there has been speculation of the squash courts re-opening, them being
converted to office premises and even the building of apartments and houses on
the present site. The changing economic climate has seen the courts flooded
several times in recent years, both in Summer and in Winter. The last time
covering the courts to the height of the net posts.
The
present Committee have withstood all the approaches for development and agreed
only to allow the squash courts to be finally converted to offices in 2002.
Twelve
months ago the lease for the Squash Courts was purchased by Paul Caddick of
Caddick Construction, father of Andy Caddick the England International
Cricketer.
As
part of the reconstruction programme of the Squash Courts into The Main Offices
for Caddick Construction, the current Clubhouse is to be re-built with an upper
story and a new viewing balcony. The interior is to be fully modernised and will
create a brand new member’s function room.
Work
is due to commence on October 4th, 100 years, almost to the day,
since the original Club was formed.
External work is due to be completed by the end of March 2005 with the whole site completed by Mid-May for the Grand Opening by Harry Gration on Saturday May 14th. Both the buildings and the surrounding area are being transformed from their former condition to a building befitting the club, its members and the town for the 21st Century. All in all, the future looks exceptionally healthy at Wetherby Castlegarth Tennis Club and with the committee committed to the improvement of the facilities and the support we can give to our members, will we be able to produce a Wimbledon Champion? We can but dream.
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