I was born in WGC back in 1954 and growing up there I got to know The Woods extremely well, living only a shortish walk from them, in Russellcroft Road.
My mother’s family moved to WGC in 1921 and I believe were the fifth family to do so living at No.67 Handside Lane.
Her father, Walter Burley worked for the Garden City Company, in what capacity I don’t know.
So growing up in the town, we as a family, would often walk our dog in the woods and I remember my mother showing us The Dell and telling us about it and the plays that were put on there.
The last time I saw The Dell it was extremely overgrown with trees growing out of ‘the stage’ and the seating around the sides hardly visible.
So I’ve known of this Dell all my life and knowing the the Garden City would be doing something I was sure, for the 100th celebration, The Dell flitted into my head and I did wonder if anyone knew of its existence. So finally getting around to Googling WGC 100 years and finding this article on the Centenary Foundation’s website I was so pleased to see that the Dell had been remembered, but am sad to see the project for its restoration has been withdrawn.
I will be travelling to WGC shortly and hopefully I’ll find time to come and have a look at the Dell and see it again after all these years.
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