Prompted by my visit to 'our old curling pond' I have been checking through some of our minute books and found some of these facts interesting. So I thought I would share them:-
After several years of discussion our 'Artificial Rink Committee' was reformed in 1909 and by 1911 a proposal for a 3 sheet rink (tar surface) was proposed at the Gas Works site at a cost of £134 (£15,900 equiv). In the end this site proved not to be suitable but Dr Martine offered use of his field in Court Street. The cost of the lease was to be £5/Yr (£600 equiv).
Instructions were given to proceed in 1912 by which time the cost had risen to £200 (£23,750) - full costings, gas, electricity, mason etc are in the minute books.
The artificial rink was complete with gas lighting and play instructed to finish by 10.30pm
The ice fees for non-members were 1/- (£6) for 2 hours
If the artificial lighting was required an additional charge of 3d (£1.50) per person for 2 hours.
During the war years half price was to be charged for 'men in uniform'.
The artificial pond was given up in 1923/24.
Curling ceased on the main pond in 1928.
Membership fees and Club Funds.
in 1912 the club had a 'Joining Fee' of £1/1/- (£124 equiv)
and its membership fee was 15/- (£ 90 equiv)
Club funds varied, I guess partially due to maintenance costs on the pond and the artificial pond. The following are equivalent rates allowing for inflation.
In 1908 our club funds at the AGM were declared as £5,600
In 1914 our club funds at the AGM were declared as £11,850
In 1923 our club funds at the AGM were declared as £ 350.
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| Last game of the season 1895 |
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| Clubhouse and winning Wood Trophy Team 1900 |
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| Pond with swans 1929 |
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| Pond April 2020 (I just missed the heron) |
