Leisure & Recreation in Hoole: Difference between revisions

 

However Dr Moor was the son of Maria Moor who inherited the land on the South side of Hoole Road on which the terraces of Moor Park were built in the 1850s (link to Moor Park). His full name was Henry Trowbridge Moor, and his father was a naval officer who served under Sir Thomas Trowbridge and was lost at sea in the Indian Ocean when the "Blenheim" sank in 1807. Henry had been born in 1803, went to Rugby School and St John's College, Cambridge where he studied medicine. He was appointed Physician at the Chester Infirmary in 1831, having made a very public application and acceptance.

File:CC4 Application.jpg|''<small>Dr Moor's application for position as Physician at Chester Royal Infirmary 31 December 1830</small>''

File:CC4 Application Transcription.jpg|''<small>Transcription of Dr Moor's application for position as Physician at Chester Royal Infirmary 31 December 1830</small>''

Illustration CC6 Memorial in Chester Cathedral

 

 

===J.C. Loudon, Hoole House Estate, and the People’s Parks in Hoole<ref>''<small>Article researched and written by Linda Webb, July 2021, Hoole History & Heritage Society</small>''</ref>===

 

 

[[File:5LRBA 2a Hoole House Estate Notice of Sale.jpg|left|thumb|367x367px|''<small>Sale particulars for Hoole House 1896 (1)</small>'']]

[[File:5LRBA 2b Hoole House Estate Notice of Sale.jpg|thumb|''<small>Sale particulars for Hoole House 1896 (2)</small>'']]

The Club had strong links with the Freemasons and for many years dinners were held in conjunction with the Deeside and the Tattenhall Bowling Clubs. Prominent citizens such as R. Cecil Smith (Hoole Volunteer Fire Brigade and Mayor of Chester), Chas Jones (Agricultural Machinery Merchant at Cowlane Bridge), William Kearton (Guardian of the Workhouse) were associated with the Club which appears to have been a men only organisation. The land it occupied in Vicarage Road was sold for housing in 1974.

 

[[File:5LRH4 Invitation to Tender for Bowl House Feb 1912.jpg|left|thumb|''<small>Invitation to Tender to erect Bowl House and the Park Lodge February 1912</small>'']]

[[File:5LRH5 Drinking Fountain.jpg|thumb|''<small>Drinking Fountain at the Bowl House</small>''<ref>''<small>Copyright Jeff Buck re-used under the Creative Commons Licence</small>''</ref>]]

The Hoole Alexandra Park Bowling Club had always welcomed lady members from the start, a Miss Barton who died in 1940 was “''a member since its formation''”. In 1934 there were 25 lady members, Mrs. R.H. Pryce was a member of the otherwise male committee and went on to be President in 1941; other lady members were also to become Presidents. In 1943 Mrs. E.G.M. Kenney was the first lady to win the Club’s championship. The Club set up a dedicated ladies’ section and although it continues today as a mixed organisation, in 1947 a new separate ladies bowling club was formed.

 

During the 2020 Covid 19 lockdown the Secretary of [[Hoole Ladies Bowling Club|'''Hoole Ladies Bowling Club''']], Jane Branson was able to use the minute books and secretaries’ reports of the Club to provide a detailed history of its formation and activities.

[[File:5LRH8 Hoole Carpet Bowls.jpg|thumb|287x287px|''<small>Hoole Carpet Bowls Club Fixture Card 1977/8</small>'']]

In the middle of the twentieth century, it was claimed that angling was the most popular participative sport, and a survey as recent as 2014 confirmed that this may still be the case. Findings were based on the number of fishing rod licences sold and an estimate based on the numbers caught fishing without one. Before the days of social media, lots of boys were taken fishing by their fathers or grandfathers for the first time (and perhaps the last time if nothing was caught), and local fishing spots included:

 

*The River Gowy at Mickle Trafford and Guilden Sutton.

*The River Dee at The Meadows, Farndon and Sealand.

===‘Hoole boys’ who played for Chester F.C. in the past===

 

In 2010, during the celebration of 125 Years of “The Blues”, one of ‘the City Legends’, Chester F.C. players invited to relive yesteryear, was John “Basher” Evans, from Hoole. Working his way up through the junior ranks of Chester Football, at the age of 18, in 1961, he became a part-time professional, and turned full time professional at 21. At this time, playing conditions, using heavy footballs, often on muddy or wet pitches, meant that strength was essential for success in the game. Always “Basher” to the crowd, possibly due to his robust playing style, John made 44 First Team appearances for Chester F.C. under four managers: John Harris, Stan Pearson, Bill Lambton, and Peter Hauser.