275 Year Old Lost Racecourse | Can we find it?

[@jetsons101]

Darren, thanks for keeping the local and regional history alive. The following is a famous quote (by me) "So much history but so little time."

[@DazDT]

Hi Darren! Sorry It's taken a while to get this comment up! Got some interesting info for you and your followers! I worked in the Buildings & Services dept in YPO a few years ago and on my first walk around I noticed some large pieces of sandstone. They were dug out of the ground so that a large waste water tank could be installed (before I was employed) and placed on the grass areas as ornamental pieces and to stop trucks going on the grass I guess. I suspected straight away that they were formally part of a structure but had no idea what. Nobody knew where they were from and dismissed them as natural rock. Later in my employment, I was tasked with researching the route from the train station to YPO as part of our environmental portfolio. I decided to look into the history of Grandstand road and it wasn't long before I learned of the racecourse and the Grandstand. Imagine my excitement as I learned of the Grandstand building! It wasn't long before I realised the location of the grandstand was almost exactly where the hole had been dug for the tank! I went out and investigated the stone more on my break times, the other staff must have thought I was mad! If they're still there, I'd thoroughly recommend having a look Darren! I know some of the staff at YPO and could probably get you in for a look. To be honest, if you just asked they'd probably let you have a look. FYI we're having a history weekend at The Polka Hop Wakefield, based on industrial history mainly but also some fringe stuff like old breweries, pubs etc. Would love it if you wanted to get involved! Call in and see us or send a message via the website/Facebook. There's a pint waiting for you anyhow for your videos on the Leeds Station! Cheers Daz

[@AdventureMe]

Hey Daz. Thanks for the info. I wish I'd noticed them. When is the history weekend?

[@DazDT]

History Weekend is 8th/9th/10th September mate. There'll be an event and adverts up on our website/socials soon as it's a month away. Looking forward to it! @@AdventureMe

[@shirleysmith1713]

Brilliant video Darren. Never knew about this Racecourse, even my husband didn’t know, and he likes his 🐎 horse racing - lol . I must say very interesting, also like the drone view 👍🏻 Thanks for showing 😁

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks 👍

[@therealunclevanya]

I thought this would have been about Heath Common as that looks like it was a race course. What a surprise.

[@kevinh96]

An interesting piece of history very local to me and something I knew nothing about. The whole area is worth exploring, especially to the South around the villages of Crofton, Ryhill, Hemsworth and South Kirkby. The area is full of old railway lines, including bridges hidden amongst trees, the remains of station platforms and the remains of some of the coal mines dotted about.

[@shirleylynch7529]

Imagine that. Very interesting . Walls 16 inches thick. Wow. Thank you Darren. This was really informative and great footage.

[@Mark-yk1ny]

Great little video thanks Darren 👍 and not far for you to go. That's always a bonus

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks 👍

[@nigeltift6335]

Educational & informative as ever!! Take a look at Oswesrty's old race course! Still buildings there too!👍🏻🍻

[@Dan23_7]

Short and sweet but you still took the time to tell us about it 👍🏼 Thanks Darren

[@ryanwisbey3387]

I always look forward to your finding about our history when building were purposeful and elegant. Thanks

[@rontanser9369]

Short video, but still very interesting thank you. It’s certainly a massive complex now but at least they’ve hidden it nicely in the trees

[@douglasthompson296]

Hi Darren, short but sweet. Now that lane with the boulders blocking it @ 2:30 mins approx just reminds me so much of those police/helicopter chases i see on telly where the m/cycle, scooter and cars are being chased down it 🚔🚔🚔🚁🧐 The amount of Eddie Stobs trucks you caught, try for sponsorship from them. Cheers DougT

[@bobsrailrelics]

So many lost racecourses and other tracks for other sports, great find.

[@martinmarsola6477]

An interesting tour today. Thank you for the time invested into the video. Always a pleasure. Cheers Darren! 🇬🇧👍🙂🇺🇸

[@kefro63]

I lived just down the road from here. We had to do school cross country running over the fields that the Industrial units are now on. Great to see local history is been kept alive. Thank you

[@AdventureMe]

Would be curious to know if you could see anything then.

[@kefro63]

I only found out about the race course later in life, so even if there had been anything as I was running round it would not have come to my attention. The green lady lived, I believe, in what we called madam hall. As kids we dared each other to go in to the ruins. Quite scary when you are 9 or 10 😂. I have now subscribed after watching some of your other videos. Thanks again

[@kefro63]

Don't know why my name doesn't come up

[@lindseykaine-walley6339]

A Brilliantly done (History lesson) video that we did need! I'm not familiar with Wakefield but it was still interesting to learn! Thanks Darren 👍😁

[@paulrobinson373]

Thanks for keeping us on track, when i saw the clue Grandstand Road, I thought Frank Bough was going to turn up 😅

[@AdventureMe]

You and me both!

[@EgoShredder]

Frank's name used to conjour a few giggles in the 70s and 80s, as the slang word "boff" was a euphemism for quiet farts.

[@jamieouthere]

Happy Yorkshire Day Darren for yesterday. Every one of you tubes are magic.

[@AdventureMe]

You too

[@mandycoleman1394]

Another nice story ! Love it !

[@michaelhamilton7111]

Brilliant. Thanks for the memories. I worked on some houses in Bolus Lane around 1970. Best wishes from Costa Rica😊

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Peter-MH]

A grandstand in Wakefield of all places! You’d expect a prison, a workhouse or an asylum, but not a grandstand and racecourse! Amazing!

[@christelbraune4530]

Darren ich bedanke mich!! Freue mich das ich noch kleine Einblicke zur englichen Geschichte bekommen kann. Schöner Name Green Lady 💋💖. Thank you Darren 👍

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

Er ist schwer zu schlagen

[@OutandAboutWithDavid]

Very good Darren. Nice drone footage. Thank you.

[@AdventureMe]

Many thanks

[@lynnballington8467]

Hello Darren how are you love your vidio of the Wakefield grandstand did you know that jane McDonald comes from there when you next go to Blackpool you could have fish and chips on the hertigie tram best wishes take care stay safe xx

[@AdventureMe]

I did know. She's a local legend

[@davidnorman7761]

Short was an understatement darren.still cracking video.hope next series is good .

[@hollimurray8856]

Interesting wee video 😊

[@Al-qv5vs]

Short and sweet but still really interesting and well put together. Thank you.

[@nigelbarker4135]

Extremely interesting Darren. So glad your keeping local history alive👍👏👏👏👏

[@michaelkaye9872]

Fantastic buddy, never seen a photograph or anything resembling the grandstand

[@oddsandwindsocks5905]

Morning Darren. Nice little find .

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks 👍

[@TraceUK]

There was also a racecourse in Harrogate on the Stray in the 1700s. There’s an old OS map which shows it clearly

[@Slacky2k13]

Good vid again mate!

[@paulharvey9149]

Hello Darren, how's my favourite KZbin creator today? I don't think I've ever been to Wakefield, and certainly knew nothing of your short one filmed here, nor the races that must have taken place. Thanks for educating us once more - you'll need to suggest a field trip!

[@AdventureMe]

All good thanks. Hope you are well?

[@AndrewBurton-z6c]

Hi ,Thanks for the video. I live nearby and have looked into the grandstand story. They say the old grandstand at York (designed by the same man, John Carr) was almost identical to this one. There are more descriptions of the york one and more paintings etc on the web. I wondered if you could point me towards acquiring the old map of the area as shown in the clip. Also I wondered if you had heard of the Lingwell gate Roman coin moulds which were found just off Lingwell gate lane during the 17 and 1800s. The moulds are distributed throughout many museums countrywide and are famous worldwide. Just another very interesting piece of history from this area. Regards.

[@AdventureMe]

For the maps maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side

[@xr6lad]

For all millennials : a picture can be a painting , sketch, drawing, tapestry etc. The word picture means ‘picture’ so it doesn’t require explanation it’s not a photo (a picture can be a photo as well).

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

And this 3:51 is an engraving. Pip pip, Lord Snooty

[@niallodonnell5150]

Many thanks for posting - a very informative video. I walk up and around Grandstand Road and Telford Way every day collecting litter.. Was aware of the history but as you discovered sadly there is little apart from the name….

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah the units cover everything

[@simontaylor6083]

Awesome video. Lived in the area all my life and didn't know about the racecourse. Have you ever looked into the Newland hall in Normanton? Lots of interesting derelict buildings there and a lot history around it.

[@AdventureMe]

Yes I have. Just haven't got round to doing it yet

[@colinbrook4368]

There was a racecourse at Stourton near the copper works aswell

[@AdventureMe]

I sure did, it's on the list to do

[@davesimpson8920]

Nice one pal love history especially local so I had to subscribe

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for the sub. Plenty of local stuff on the channel. You may have to dig back through the videos. But loads.

[@davesimpson8920]

Nice one mate just glad I came across your channel

[@Kimmy-pw8tm]

Well I'm a horse lover, and the story's about Australia's race horse of the early 1930s, is Phar Lap. Let's go for trot and find this race course....

[@Kimmy-pw8tm]

You just mentioned Telford way, how coincidental, Phar Laps trainer was Harry Telford.

[@frogandspanner]

Only 2 miles from home today. Well, it is holiday time.

[@Teesbrough]

Very interesting. Now I know Yorkshire is a massive and populous County but I’ve been intrigued for some time as to why it hosts so many racecourses. From Doncaster to Redcar there are currently nine. Adding this lost one at Outwood plus Richmond, Scarborough, Tadcaster and Teesside Park makes fourteen. Were there more?

[@pamelagreenwood8280]

Not sure Teeside Park is in Yorkshire?

[@AdventureMe]

Teeside is indeed Yorkshire. Right up to Middlesbrough.

[@AdventureMe]

Yes there was one at Stourton in Leeds too, coming soon. And also one at Kiplingcotes which I have covered, but that's only a seasonal tiny one.

[@fatlad5090]

morrisons fruit and veg depo in bradford is built on a old greyhound track

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah I knew that one. Greenfield. I used to work right next to it.

[@pamelagreenwood8280]

Was it here? en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenfield_Stadium,_Bradford

[@a11csc]

wish i had a tenner for every time ive been up and down 41 lol

[@AdventureMe]

Me too. And never knew

[@vincerobinson6144]

Did you know there used to be a greyhound track in Wakefield?

[@AdventureMe]

Yes. And Bradford too

[@steveburnham8755]

❤

[@KeithHambidge]

Great shame