Blubberhouses Cricket Club was originally formed during the first half of the 19th Century,
between this time and the present day the Club has only occupied four cricket grounds:
1. On land belonging to the ‘Gill family’ of Blubberhouses Hall, situated on the opposite
side of the river Washburn, slightly upstream from the present ground. The ‘Gill Family’
still have connections with the club.
2. Between 1904/06 on land near to the Hopper Lane Hotel.
3. At the rear of the Manor House, (Which stands on the opposite side of the road to
Blubberhouses Church).
4. On the present ground, which was originally the site of the West House Flax Mill
and below the site of the old Skaife Hall.
Towards the end of the 19th century the then occupant of Skaife Hall a Colonel Galloway
improved the ground and held an annual cricket festival, which brought a degree of fame to the
ground and to Blubberhouses, with national and international players taking part, including the
Hon.F.S.Jackson, B.J.T. Bosanquet (the father of the Googly) and George Ulyett.
The Galloway’s became great benefactors to the Cricket Club and eventually allowed the Club
to use the ground. Ownership later passed to the Leeds Corporation and thence to Yorkshire
Water, who are the present day land lords.
Our present ground, below the site of the old Skaife Hall, was improved by the Galloway family and
is believed to have been used around the 1880’s. Col. William Galloway who as President of
the club promoted a annual Cricket Festival with national and international players taking part,
including the Hon. F.S.Jackson who played for Yorkshire between 1890 & 1907, George
Ulyett who played for Yorkshire between 1873 & 1893 and B.J.T.Bosanqet the player
responsible for the ‘Googly’
1992 sparked a memorable year as it commemorated the opening of the new pavilion. In 2006, the
installation of electricity was completed.
