Speaker Rotarian Vincent Dobson

Ken explained that Vincent was a long standing friend. He is a Rotarian at Ilkley Rotary Club.

When he started his talk he commented how much younger Blaize were than Ilkley which surprised a few people. He said that his talk would cover two main topics; firstly Myddleton Lodge (ML) its history and when it was used as a monastery and secondly the Black & White Hats cricket match that used to be held in Ilkley. He said he would be sharing his personal experiences with us. The two subjects were coupled because both played important part in his life.

He said that he had spent 5 years visiting ML when it was referred to as a monastery. Originally, in Tutor times, it was a hunting lodge owned by the Middleton family whose main home was Stockheld between Wetherby and Spofforth. The Middletons were a staunch Catholic family and were frequently persecuted for their beliefs. The Middleton effigy in Ilkley church shows a Knight of great importance. 

A more recent history of the family shows that in 1866 squire William chose to live at ML rather than Stockheld but in 1883 he let out ML and moved away. In 1893 the lands were sold to Ilkley Board and the lodge was let out. In 1912 the Lodge was sold to Sidney Kellet. By 1950 Middleton family gone last with the last member of the family dying a pauper.

Vincent said that aged 10 he remembered going to ML where he spent time looking for priest holes.

In the 1930’s Mr Harrison bought High Austby farm in Nessfield. He came from same town in Ireland as Vincent's mum and Vincent frequently visited the farm. During his ownership a passage was found connecting the farm to the Lodge. This was an old escape route for fleeing Catholics during the period of persecution.

Kellet died in 1922 and his widow sold ML to the Passionist Brothers who are a strict Catholic sect. It was at this time that the Lodge started being referred to as the monastery although strictly it was a Catholic Retreat. Vincent's brother became a Passionist at the Retreat, so Vincent visited ML regularly and helped at holiday and weekend retreats as well as on farm. He also played around the stations of the cross in Calvary woods. Two of his friends also had brothers training to become priests at the Lodge.

Vincent went to Leeds catholic school and remembers going to Stonyhurst public school near Clitheroe to play cricket. He felt it was like going to Lords.

The original Ilkley Cricket ground was located where the Clarke Folley centre is today. But in 1870 the land was needed for the new railway and funds had to be found to buy a new ground and £140 raised. However, the new ground was a failure because the ground was so poor. In 1879 the club was in debt and decided to move back into the town centre. In order to clear the debt a comic match was organised on land behind the Crescent Hotel. This Black and White cricket match was titled because one side wore black top hats and the other white top hats and everybody dressed in fancy dress. The match was such a success that it was held annually followed by a dinner at the hotel. 

1888 Mr Crawley presented a new Sterling silver cup made by Fattorini the jewellers who made the famous FA cup. Antonio Fattorini left Italy to fight Bonepart, but by the time he got the front the fight was already over so he bought a donkey and became a pedlar. Arriving in Leeds he set up a jewellery store which went on to have a head office in Skipton with branches in Bradford and Birmingham. The family were so successful that they also started Empire Stores and Grattan. These were formed originally as watch clubs. The coming of railways meant people needed watches to make sure they met the train timetable and the Fattorinis met this need by a mail order watch club.

The Ilkley carnival sprang out of Black and White Hats cricket match.