25th March, 2020 Hull Museum Publications/Pickering Park 5.

The map extract above focusses on the ‘entertainments’ section of Pickering Park in the inter-war years. As with the ‘Recreation Ground’ (see yesterday’s map extract) Pickering was forward thinking in providing ‘tennis ground’ and ‘bowling green’ from the outset whereas the three other municipal parks in Hull had had to incorporate bowling greens particularly into spaces available in their original lay-out plan. Even more progressive was Pickering’s ‘putting green’, the building shown on the map between the Bowling and Putting greens survives.

Crown green bowling had very rapidly become a popular activity in the decade before the outbreak of the Great War. The Parks and Burial Committee took-on the responsibility of providing facilities but demand always outstripped supply. Initially one and later two greens were created at East and West Parks but for some years the Pearson Park sub-committee resisted any such development on the basis that the didn’t have the space. Pearson Park now has two bowling greens in the south-east corner of the Park and the creation of these was being discussed by 1920.

The Park’s authority provided the bowls, mats and other necessary items which were then rented by the players who had booked the green for that certain date and time. This required a member of park’s staff to be on hand. Even at one penny per person per game a considerable income was generated. During the Great War the demand for women’s bowling equipment rapidly increased (less heavy bowls). Initially the Parks and Burial Committee were against allowing bowls matches between teams, on the assumption that betting would take place, but by 1914 this had been relaxed.

The map extract above shows that the post-Enclosure model farm called Priory Farm was still functioning with its two foldyards. I have been told that it was still working into the early 1980s. For a fuller consideration of this and similar features in the landscape see ‘A History of Hessle Common (now south-west Hull)’ in section 3 of this website.