Before the Golf Course
The Ben Rhydding Hydropathic Establishment, taken in 1858.
This was the very first purpose-built hydrotherapy building in the country.
The original course
An old photo of the original course.
The original Clubhouse
A second-hand government building of timber construction was purchased in 1967 and became the new clubhouse, much of which is still in use today.
History of Ben Rhydding Golf Club
Wheatley is the old name for Ben Rhydding. First mentioned in the thirteenth century, Wheatley means 'Clearing used for wheat'. The name Ben Rhydding which has come to replace it was introduced by the builders of the Hydropathic Hotel of that name which was opened in 1844. Because the enhanced station which was built on the recently opened railway line to Ilkley was financed (and owned) by the Hydropathic Company, and its main function was to serve its visitors and staff, it seemed natural to call the station Ben Rhydding, and soon the name was being used for the village as well as the station and Hydro. The name itself probably originates from the personal name Ben, followed by ridding, or clearing.
Squire Middleton erected the White Wells Bath House in 1793. Its existence paved the way for the "Hydropathic boom" of the 19th century, for it was after deriving curative benefit at the White Wells that a wealthy gentleman named Hamer Stansfield resolved to form a company to erect a "Hydropathic establishment" in the area. That was in 1843 and the site to be chosen was at Wheatley - later to be known as Ben Rhydding - and in charge of the Hydro was one Dr Rischack, who had been brought from Silesia - formerly Austria.
The Ben Rhydding Hydropathic Establishment was opened in 1844. The enterprise was successful, for in 1850 it was reported that 500,000 gallons of moorland water was being piped annually to the Ben Rhydding Hydro. Its success led to other Hydros being built in Ilkley, perhaps the most notable being Wells House (designed by Cuthbert Brodrick, who was responsible for Leeds Town Hall). Then came Troutbeck, Craiglands, and other smaller establishments. Ilkley led the way, and soon the great English Spa town building boom was going ahead.
As hydrotherapy lost a lot of its fashionable appeal in the late 19th century, the owners of the Ben Rhydding Hydropathic Establishment, the largest in England, had a golf course constructed between 1885 and 1890 to become part of the Establishment’s facilities, and in the early 1900’s the name was changed to the Ben Rhydding Golf Hotel. The hotel, known locally as The Hydro, remained in business until the start of the second world war when it was taken over by the Wool Control Board - this government agency was led by Sir Harry Shackleton, a former Bradford wool trader. It never reopened as a hotel and was demolished in 1955. The site was used as the golfers car park for many years until it was eventually sold for housing development. Hydro Close is the site of the main Hydro building.
The golf course, meanwhile, remained in the ownership of the Watson family and with the demise of the Ilkley Moor Golf Club a number of people met together at the Wheatley Hotel in Ben Rhydding and in 1947 Ben Rhydding Golf Club first came into being.
Membership grew rapidly and the club became affiliated to the Bradford and Yorkshire Golf Unions. Members looked after the course themselves and the greens were protected from grazing sheep and cattle by post and wire fencing.
The original clubhouse, which is still in existence adjacent to the 9th tee, was illuminated by calor gas and water was drawn from nearby wells.
In 1962 the club secured a ten year lease from the Watson family which meant that the grazing rights could be purchased from the local farmer thus allowing the fencing to be removed from around the greens.
A further 10 year lease was negotiated in 1972 which allowed the car park to be extended and mains services provided, and in 1975 the club finally bought the freehold interest in the land, so now owned the club outright.