| Title | Billing Wood |
| Date | 1969 |
| Location | Rawdon |
| Photo ID | JH015 |
| Comment | See below. |
A view of the Billing from the bottom of the track leading to the old small holding. The wooded building to the right belonged to Mr David Higgins, a childhood friend, who lived on Intake Lane at the time and where he kept his life long hobby of racing pigeons. David still lives locally and I believe is the President of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association.
To the immediate right of the pigeon loft and out of view is Billing Dam.
As mentioned previously, you can see where the plough in the field on the left, has not ploughed a certain small raised area. This un-ploughed piece is where the coal mine excavation had been in the 1800s. As children during the winter when the snow was thick, we were allowed by the farmer to go sledging there. We would all pull our sledges to the very top and enjoy the ride down to the bottom. (Ed: Jack Brayshaw.)
W387 – Billing Wood, 1969.
Billing Wood – 1969
Three winter photographs of Billing Wood to the right hand side in the distance, donated by Anne Copeland nee Watkinson.
If I remember correctly this image is taken from a footpath located to the side of the old Samuel Ledgard’s Yeadon Bus Depot on Moorfield Drive and leads behind the Markham Estate to Billing Wood. Walked this path many a time in my youth and by my dad and granddad before me. (Ed: Jack Brayshaw.)
W388 – Billing Wood, 1969.
Billing Wood – 1969
As above.
W389 – Billing Wood, 1969.
Billing Wood – 1969
As above.
This image is of particular interest and looks to have been taken from a bedroom window possibly located on Ackworth Drive and shows in the foreground the Harrogate Road running from right to left. The road going from the bottom left side back to a large building with the gable end facing, is Moorfield Drive and the building at the end of the Road is where the Samuel Ledgard’s Yeadon Bus Depot was located. The footpath to Billing Wood was at the end of the building on the left hand side. (Ed: Jack Brayshaw)
P387A – Billing Wood, c1975.
Billing Wood – c1975
Editor’s Note: I just had to include this close up image of Billing Wood taken in the mid 70s which shows in better detail the old farm stead built in the 1800s. To the right behind the stone walled enclosure was a water holding tank which fed Intake Farm and various homes before the water authorities took over. In the foreground just out of view is Billing Dam. Such a beautiful part of Rawdon. JB. 03 November 2023.
E183 – Billing Wood, 2001.
Billing Wood – 2001
A view of the Billing not rarely photographed. Below would be Markham Avenue estate area leading up towards the Fountain. The back of the Billing, leading from the now levelled sand mountain would take you along the edge of the farmers field and the steep embankment can clearly be seen; where we would sit and watch the air displays from Yeadon aerodrome and pick bilberries. (Ed: Jack Brayshaw.)
T084 – Billing Wood, 2016.
Billing Wood – 2016
Donated by Kirsty Redshaw – Billing Wood under a blanket of snow.
Another unusal view of Billing Wood taken if I am not mistaken from Bayton Lane near to an old entrance to Yeadon Moor where I would ride my motor bike (c1964) in what we called the ‘Bomb Holes’ a series of three or four large depressions in the ground.
The motor bike was a BSA Bantam which was not road legal, nor was I of age! I had ridden the bike up over the Billing, down the fields and up to Bayton Lane where I would then push it across the road and onto the Moor. I would spend about an hour there and then go back home before I was missed by my dad! (Ed: Jack Brayshaw.)
U636 – Billing Wood, 2020.
Billing Wood – 2020
Looking across from the York Gate plantation up by the Chevin to Rawdon Billing Wood, a peaceful scene during the National Lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Photographer John Arundel.
Editor’Note: A superb photograph of Billing Wood and not only does it show the end markings of the runway near where Warren House Farm once stood just on the left of the image, but also Yeadon Cemetery in the centre of the image; and as the weather was fine enough that day the photographer captured the Emley Moor Television Transmitter at Kirklees, Huddersfield, over 35 miles away, seen at the extreme top right of the image. Ed. JB. 28 December 2023.
Consolidated by Jack Brayshaw. 13 June 2023.
Last updated: 28 December 2023 – Photo ID: U636. November 2023 – Phot ID: P387A. 13 June 2023 – Photo ID: W387, W388, W389 & T084
