About

About the Gala

The Ravensknowle Children's Gala is a non-profit organisation and was first held in Ravensknowle Park in 1927. Our aims have remained broadly the same since that date - to provide a free tea and a free days entertainment.

Each child between the age of 4 -14 who live in the Gala area is entitled to a 'tea' on Gala day. In the weeks before the event our volunteers call on each household in the area to distribute 'tea tickets' free of charge. The tickets can be exchanged on Gala day for a pre-packed 'tea' which usually consists of a piece of fruit, sweets and a drink.

Everyone can enjoy the free entertainment we provide with many acts on stage and in our large arena.  There is no admission charge to the Gala. Although we now also provide a number of attractions that do make a charge it’s still possible to have a great day at the Ravensknowle Children's Gala without spending a penny.

How it all began

Back in 1915 a young lady called Mrs. Kilburn, started a fancy dress competition for the children of Senior Street, which back then was called Kilburns Field. This quickly developed into an annual street party that went by the name of Moldgreen and Dalton (Ravensknowle) Children's Gala. Mrs Kilburn continued to organise this event until 1927 when a more formal organising committee was set up, and apart from a 'gap' for World War II, the treat has run annually since.

All the children enjoyed simple competitions including the classic egg and spoon race!! They then sat at long tables and ate their free tea which consited of a long bun, a small cake and a mug of tea. We wonder what the youth of today would think to that idea of a collective meal time treat.

The whole area of Moldgreen and Dalton looked a good deal different back then from what it does today, including the layout of what we know as Ravensknowle Park.

The park was described as 'being of cosy proportion' measuring just less than 5 hectares in size and was 'popular with visitors enjoying a shorter walk'

Upon its opening, the park had a paddling pool, bowling greens and tennis courts together with areas of ornamental bedding. There was also two park lodges where gardeners lived, as well as greenhouses where the bedding plants were grown in the park, together with boundary railings and the aviary.

The Victorian Mansion House, which now houses the Tolson Museum has been changed significantly since originally being built in 1860. The mansion together with the formal gardens were given to the Corporation of Huddersfield in 1919 as a memorial to the owner's nephews, who were lost in the First World War.

It is at this time that Ravensknowle Park came into being, named after the owners of the land in the 15th century