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Home » Rawdon » Events Rawdon » First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon 1909

First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon 1909

First Tram to Rawdon 1909
Title First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon
Date 26th May 1909
Location Rawdon
Photo ID D099
Comment See below …

The decorated tram is outside Benton Congregational Church, at the junction with Green Lane and New Road Side.
A crowd has gathered to witness the proceedings.

Editor’s Note: In the first tram to Rawdon we have now amended this to read ‘First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon’, as the trams passed through Rawdon along New Road Side Rawdon/Yeadon through to Guiseley but by-passing Yeadon town centre. However, it makes recording this event much simpler. Ed. JB. 11 February 2024.

First Tram to Rawdon 1909

M062 – First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon, 1909.

First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon – 1909

The tram is outside Crowtrees House on New Road Side with guests and members of Rawdon Council.
The lady in the middle of the group wearing a fox fur is Mrs Johnson Gott, Mr Johnson Gott is to her right.
They lived on Micklefield Lane, he was a painter.

In July 2013, Jenny Gott informed us that Mrs Johnson Gott shown in the picture was originally Priscilla Rowse, born 1862, in Thorpe, Lincolnshire. Johnson and Priscilla had 2 children Ellen and Harold.

Harold was killed in 1918 in action in Italy and a window in St. Peter’s church has his name transcribed.

First Tram to Rawdon 1909

M080 – First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon, 1909.

First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon – 1909

This was the scene at the bottom of Green Lane just before the junction with New Road Side.
People are thronging round the “Special Car” which is carrying local worthies.
In the centre at the front is a man wearing a straw boater hat, on his left is George Herbert Teale, Chairman of Yeadon Council.

First Tram to Rawdon 1909

A145 – First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon, 1909.

First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon – 1909

First tram to reach Rawdon from Leeds, marked “Special Car”, it is decorated and on board are invited guests. The arrival of the trams caused huge excitement, it cost 4d to travel to Leeds, by train it was 9d. The Chairman of Rawdon Council drove the tram a short distance to the border with Yeadon where the Chairman of Yeadon Council then took over. The event was celebrated with tea served in Benton Congregational Church. This view of the tram is at the bottom of Green Lane with Benton Terrace in the background.

First Tram to Rawdon 1909

C032 – First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon, 1909.

First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon – 1909

A poor quality picture of the first tram from Leeds.

First Trams to Rawdon 1909

Y605 – First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon, 1909.

First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon – 1909

This view of the tram is at the bottom of Green Lane with Benton Terrace in the background.

First Trams to Rawdon 1909

Y606 – First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon, 1909.

First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon – 1909

George Herbert Teale, Chairman of Yeadon Council, centre.

First Tram to Rawdon 1909

A146 – First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon, 1909.

First Tram to Rawdon & Yeadon – 1909

The first tram to reach Rawdon was celebrated with a “knife and fork” tea. The meal was eaten in the school room of Benton Congregational Church (now Trinity Church) which is at the junction of Green Lane and Otley Road (A65). Tickets were issued for admittance, this group of fashionably dressed Rawdoner’s are pictured in the church doorway.

Previous Comments:

Re M062
jennygott
Mrs Johnson Gott shown in the picture was originally Priscilla Rowse, born 1862, in Thorpe, Lincolnshire. Johnson and Priscilla had 2 children Ellen and Harold. Harold was killed in 1918 in action in Italy and a window in St. Peter’s church has his name transcribed.
22 July 2013.

Consolidated by Jack Brayshaw. 21 April 2021.
Last updated: 11 February 2024 – Photo ID: Y605, Y606 & webpage renamed. 27 July 2023 – Photos ID: A145, A146 & C032. 24 February 2023 – Photo ID: M062 Text. 22 October 2022 – All images updated.

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