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East Leeds: Cross Gates tribute to Barnbow factory explosion victims
PROUD PAST: A picture from bygone days of workers at Barnbow munitions factory, Cross Gates.
Victims of the Barnbow factory explosion in Leeds will be remembered at a new housing development on the site where they lost their lives.
A total of 35 women died in a blast at the munitions factory in Cross Gates on December 5, 1916.
Outline planning permission has now been granted for the construction of 130 homes at the Barnbow site, which has stood largely vacant in recent years.
And today it was revealed that nine roads in the development are due to be named after women killed at Barnbow in the First World War. Recreation areas and other communal spaces will also bear the names of explosion victims.
The tribute proposals are being driven forward by Coun Pauleen Grahame (Lab, Cross Gates & Whinmoor) in partnership with the East Leeds History and Archaeology Society and Bellway Homes, the firm behind the housing scheme.
Coun Grahame said: “I am delighted that plans to name new residential streets in honour of these heroic women have now been put into motion.
“It is very important that the role Barnbow played in the British war effort is not forgotten.”
An existing memorial to the explosion victims could also find a new home in the housing development or in Manston Park. Its present position on Cross Gates roundabout is regarded by many people as insufficiently prominent.
As previously reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, the memorial may also undergo a major process of restoration. Barnbow opened in December 1915. As the First World War progressed and more and more men were called up, women – affectionately known as the ‘Barnbow lasses’ – eventually formed the vast majority of its workforce.
The site was subsequently occupied by the Vickers tank factory, where production ceased in the late 1990s.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 4 comments to this article
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JCoates
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 05:59 PMThis would be a lovely tribute for all our family to remember Amelia Stewart Jane Coates
Richard2011
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 08:35 AMI think that this is a great way to honor these brave people who played a vital role during the war. Does make me wonder though that within the next 5 -10 years that the whole area around there will become a big housing estate as the factories close one by one. I would like to make one prediction about Bellway who are building these houses. I bet they put them up a dam site quicker than the ones they have been doing on South Parkway and Gipton for the last god knows how many years. Will they need to take a 'cash paymentbung' to finish these off like they have on the Parkways from Leeds City Council to pull their fingers out. I bet not! Watch this space and see if my prediction is right
harry parkin
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 03:26 AMIam very pleased to hear about the tribute to the girls that lost their lives in the Barnbow explosion in the new housing devlopment on the old site .I would be pleased if Coun Pauleen Grahame could include my fathers name. (William Parkin) who worked at the factory and was first in and rescued 12 girls. (SEE East Leeds History and archaeology Society ) when you name recreation areas or communal spaces. It would make me happy to know if this is possible. Thanking you Harry Parkin
tykelad
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 01:34 PMI never knew about the explosion, but I think it's a great idea. It is always good to use local history as a source for modern place names.
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