A golf club in Yorkshire has discovered that its clubhouse is about a century older than previously thought – and is now believed to be the oldest original building being used as a golf clubhouse in the world.
Woodsome Hall Golf Club, located just south of Huddersfield, has conducted a dendrochronology (tree ring dating) process of the original timber trusses in the roof of the main hall. This has confirmed that the clubhouse dates back to 1462. It was previously thought to be a 16th century building.
Carried out by The Nottingham Tree Dating Laboratory (NTDL), analysis was undertaken on samples from ten different main structural timbers to the roof of the Great Hall. The 98 rings were dated as spanning the years 1365 to 1462.
NTDL suggests that it is very likely that all the dated timbers were cut at the same time for the construction of the Great Hall roof. The dating report states: “As a result of this dating, the Great Hall range should not be referred to as a sixteenth century ‘Elizabethan’ building, but is of late-fifteenth century, ‘Tudor’ date.
Woodsome member Phil Sands, who led the project said: “If Laurence Kaye, who funded much of the building work at Woodsome were to travel back from the 15th century to today he would still recognise his hall. We also know that Woodsome existed as a settlement from about 1236.”
He added: “There is a strong case for Woodsome to claim that we have the oldest original building used as a golf clubhouse in the world.”
Woodsome’s general manager, Ryan O’Connor, says that visitors to the club are always very impressed with the unique surroundings. “From the moment you approach the clubhouse, you get a real sense of history. It makes a visit to Woodsome even more special and memorable.”
