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Gunner Henry Stubbs
E32 Square column with Celtic cross on top and four Latin crosses
In loving memory of Samuel STUBBS of Roundhay who died January 11th
1907 aged 62 years. A loving husband and father. Also Ellen beloved
wife of the above who died February 27th 1926 aged 75 years.
In God's safe keeping. Also Gunner Henry STUBBS RFA beloved
younger son of the above who died in Newcastle Military Hospital
March 16th 1917 aged 31 years. Also of Clara beloved daughter of the
above Samuel and Ellen STUBBS who died December 1st 1951 aged
68 years. At Rest.
Gunner Henry Stubbs, First Reserve Royal Horse Artillery, Field Artillery, (Service Number151999) is memorialized on the new Commonwealth War Graves memorial situated on the edge of the north yard at the top of the drive. The new monument was erected in case the south yard should be too dangerous for visits. Because Gunner Stubbs died in England his body is buried in St. John's south graveyard.
Sharon Donaldson kindly researched Gunner Stubbs biography. This is also available in full, and with pictures, on the Oakwood Church website: www.oakwoodchurch.info/roundhaystjohn
Henry was born in February 1889 in Morley to Samuel and Ellen Stubbs. Samuel was a Licensed Victualler of the Albion Inn, Morley. Henry married Eliza Oldroyd on 5th August 1911 at St. John's Church and they lived in Bilton Villa on Ladywood Road.
It appears that Henry and Eliza had three children, two of whom died as babies and are buried in the Oldroyd family grave in Wortley. Henry's father, Samuel, died in 1907 and was buried at St. John's where Henry was interred in 1917.
E32 Square column with Celtic cross on top and four Latin crosses
In loving memory of Samuel STUBBS of Roundhay who died January 11th
1907 aged 62 years. A loving husband and father. Also Ellen beloved
wife of the above who died February 27th 1926 aged 75 years.
In God's safe keeping. Also Gunner Henry STUBBS RFA beloved
younger son of the above who died in Newcastle Military Hospital
March 16th 1917 aged 31 years. Also of Clara beloved daughter of the
above Samuel and Ellen STUBBS who died December 1st 1951 aged
68 years. At Rest.
Gunner Henry Stubbs, First Reserve Royal Horse Artillery, Field Artillery, (Service Number151999) is memorialized on the new Commonwealth War Graves memorial situated on the edge of the north yard at the top of the drive. The new monument was erected in case the south yard should be too dangerous for visits. Because Gunner Stubbs died in England his body is buried in St. John's south graveyard.
Sharon Donaldson kindly researched Gunner Stubbs biography. This is also available in full, and with pictures, on the Oakwood Church website: www.oakwoodchurch.info/roundhaystjohn
Henry was born in February 1889 in Morley to Samuel and Ellen Stubbs. Samuel was a Licensed Victualler of the Albion Inn, Morley. Henry married Eliza Oldroyd on 5th August 1911 at St. John's Church and they lived in Bilton Villa on Ladywood Road.
It appears that Henry and Eliza had three children, two of whom died as babies and are buried in the Oldroyd family grave in Wortley. Henry's father, Samuel, died in 1907 and was buried at St. John's where Henry was interred in 1917.
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Left: Map of 1871 Right: The 'Homesteads' from the Soldiers' Field
In the early 1800s, the area known as Roundhay, three miles north of Leeds, was rural and comprised of about a dozen farms. One of these properties, the farm buildings of which, were located on the site of the 'Homesteads' on Old Park Road next to the North Leeds Cricket Club, (backing onto what is now the Soldiers' Field) became part of the Nicholson estate. Richard Hartley, who farmed over 200 acres here, died in 1832 and his son, John, continued farming in the area until his death in 1869. Richard and John Hartley are buried in the south graveyard of Roundhay St. John's Church right in the far corner close to the end of the Church near the boundary wall. Richard would have been among the first dozen or so to be buried there since the church was built in 1826.
Richard's grandson, also named Richard, inherited the tenancy of the farm.
William Nicholson Nicholson's widow died in 1871 and several hundred acres of the Nicholson estate, which included this farm, was purchased by the Council to make Roundhay Park and Richard and his family were required to move as the Council needed the property for roads and development and wanted to sell the farm buildings to recoup some of the purchase price of the estate.
Fortunately, Richard and his large family of ten children, all of whom lived to adulthood, moved to South Milford to farm land on the Steeton Hall Estate and prospered. He and his wife retired to Boston Spa. Richard died in 1911 at age 81 and was buried in Wetherby Cemetery.
Neville Hurworth, who researched and kindly shared this information, gave a talk on this subject to the Oakwood and District Historical Society. He said that the Hartley grave is unusual as most of the local farmers are buried elsewhere, for example, Barwick-in-Elmet, Chapel Allerton Cemetery and some in America.
Richard's grandson, also named Richard, inherited the tenancy of the farm.
William Nicholson Nicholson's widow died in 1871 and several hundred acres of the Nicholson estate, which included this farm, was purchased by the Council to make Roundhay Park and Richard and his family were required to move as the Council needed the property for roads and development and wanted to sell the farm buildings to recoup some of the purchase price of the estate.
Fortunately, Richard and his large family of ten children, all of whom lived to adulthood, moved to South Milford to farm land on the Steeton Hall Estate and prospered. He and his wife retired to Boston Spa. Richard died in 1911 at age 81 and was buried in Wetherby Cemetery.
Neville Hurworth, who researched and kindly shared this information, gave a talk on this subject to the Oakwood and District Historical Society. He said that the Hartley grave is unusual as most of the local farmers are buried elsewhere, for example, Barwick-in-Elmet, Chapel Allerton Cemetery and some in America.
New Commonwealth War Graves Commission Memorial
January 2018
The CWGC is responsible for the commemoration of members of the Commonwealth Forces who died during the two World Wars. For purposes of commemoration, the dates are: 4th August 1914-31st August 1921 (First World War and 3rd September 1939-31st December 1947 (Second World War). The following six casualties who died within the requisite dates have their names on a special memorial because the South Churchyard, containing these particular graves, has been designated an unsafe area due to subsidence.
The new CWCG memorial can be seen in this image or viewed directly at the top of the drive up to Roundhay St. John's church.
With plot numbers in the south churchyard the inscription reads:
Gunner H. Stubbs died 16th March 1917, in Newcastle Military Hospital E32
Private F.B. James died 2nd February 1919 E12
2nd Lieutenant H.Marsden died 5th June 1918, at home, from a serious illness contracted while on active duty in France C15
Private F.B. Ryder (military grave marker) died 4th November 1919 Q18
2nd Lieutenant H.Cullingworth died 30th October 1919 C9
Corporal N.C. Hemingway died 30th April 1946 age 35 A19
January 2018
The CWGC is responsible for the commemoration of members of the Commonwealth Forces who died during the two World Wars. For purposes of commemoration, the dates are: 4th August 1914-31st August 1921 (First World War and 3rd September 1939-31st December 1947 (Second World War). The following six casualties who died within the requisite dates have their names on a special memorial because the South Churchyard, containing these particular graves, has been designated an unsafe area due to subsidence.
The new CWCG memorial can be seen in this image or viewed directly at the top of the drive up to Roundhay St. John's church.
With plot numbers in the south churchyard the inscription reads:
Gunner H. Stubbs died 16th March 1917, in Newcastle Military Hospital E32
Private F.B. James died 2nd February 1919 E12
2nd Lieutenant H.Marsden died 5th June 1918, at home, from a serious illness contracted while on active duty in France C15
Private F.B. Ryder (military grave marker) died 4th November 1919 Q18
2nd Lieutenant H.Cullingworth died 30th October 1919 C9
Corporal N.C. Hemingway died 30th April 1946 age 35 A19
Happy Days at St. John's
An April 1976 Wedding
Irfan Shah,who researched and helped produce 'The First Film' about Louis Le Prince, has a website which includes further information about him. It is available for you at the link below:
unbound.com/books/the-shadow-traps/updates
An April 1976 Wedding
Irfan Shah,who researched and helped produce 'The First Film' about Louis Le Prince, has a website which includes further information about him. It is available for you at the link below:
unbound.com/books/the-shadow-traps/updates
July 2016
Updates
The current owners of the property, The Pentecostal City Mission Church, embarked on a renovation of the church to listed building standards earlier in the year. Coruss, the company engaged for this task, did a great job of repairing leaks in the roof and taking care of interior damage resulting from the years of neglect. Coruss are experts in damp-proofing, wet and dry rot, condensation and black mould. Further work on the interior was planned but unfortunately this work came to a halt in late July 2016. We do not know when the work will be continued. Electricity, plastering and plumbing were in the plans. A pew, seen propped up against the church had been removed due to the fungus growing underneath. The organ, restored in 2004, has crumbled off the wall!
The current owners of the property, The Pentecostal City Mission Church, embarked on a renovation of the church to listed building standards earlier in the year. Coruss, the company engaged for this task, did a great job of repairing leaks in the roof and taking care of interior damage resulting from the years of neglect. Coruss are experts in damp-proofing, wet and dry rot, condensation and black mould. Further work on the interior was planned but unfortunately this work came to a halt in late July 2016. We do not know when the work will be continued. Electricity, plastering and plumbing were in the plans. A pew, seen propped up against the church had been removed due to the fungus growing underneath. The organ, restored in 2004, has crumbled off the wall!
In July 2016 a very tall and rotting lime tree was found at the base of the south graveyard. The owners were informed of its state by the Leeds Council, due to its proximity to the school playground across the driveway. The tree was finally removed by 5th June 2017 by order of Council.
The remains of the dangerous tree, June 2017. Thankful that it has been cut down and that the children in the school are now safe.