The presentation ceremony for this year’s Barnbow Memorial Garden Competition, run by the East Leeds History & Archaeology Society (ELHAS), took place recently at the memorial stone in Manston Park, Cross Gates. The competition was open to local children who submitted a flower bed design to be planted around the memorial stone.
150 children entered the competition this year with some fantastic ideas, making it a hard task for the judging panel to select the winning entries. Leah Smith from Manston St James Primary Academy was the overall winner,and said ” I was very excited to have won. I didn’t think I would. The garden with my design looks amazing.” Second place went to Lucy Swift from Manston Primary School and third place to Bethany Parker also from Manston St James Primary Academy. The prizes were presented by local MP Richard Burgon and Councillor Pauleen Grahame.
This year is the 100th anniversary of the major explosion which occurred on the 5th December 1916 at the WW1 Shell Filling Factory. This tragic event saw the loss of 35 lives and terrible injuries to many more. The annual competition is a great way of honouring the sacrifices made by the munitions workers of Barnbow and also keeping their story alive for today’s generation.
On 5th Dec 2016 to mark the 100th anniversary of the explosion ELHAS will be holding a commemoration event. This will begin at 1.30pm at the memorial in Manston Park where there will be a short service of remembrance attended by Lord Mayor Cllr Gerry Harper and MP Richard Burgon. Light refreshments and a performance of Evie’s Story, a monologue by a Barnbow girl produced by the charity Space2, will follow in the Barnbow pub. They would like to invite people who have a connection with the WW1 Barnbow factory (perhaps related to someone who worked there or especially with some connection to anyone involved in the explosion.) People with connections to the WW1 factory can get in touch either by phone on 0113 2936473 or email
el.has@ntlworld.com There will be a limited amount of space in the Barnbow Pub, therefore invites will be on a first come basis. But everyone is welcome to attend the memorial in the park.
Jacki and Bob Lawrence of the East Leeds History & Archaeology Society have also just completed filming for the BBC programme ‘Inside Out’. They were asked by producer Lucy Smickersgill if they would help tell the story of the Barnbow Lasses and what happened at the Shell Filling Factory during WW1. The pair met the production team in Cross Gates Library where they discussed all the research they have done into the Lasses and the tragedy that ensued. They then visited the site and the spot where they believe Hut 42, where the 1916 accident happened, was situated. Neil Redfern from Historic England was also in attendance and it is hoped that the site will become a scheduled monument. Bob Lawrence told us “We have a map of the area from which we were able to ascertain the location of Hut 42 by using a building that is still present today and simply measuring using the scale on the map. When we reached the location, there was clearly evidence on site such as lumps and bumps in the ground.” The Inside Out series returns to our screens in September on BBC1 with this show scheduled for November.
