ROSA McKIBBIN sent in this splendid picture of Birstwith cricket team from 1873 and asked: “Can you help me find out the names of the people in this photo, please?”
It seems unlikely, but you never know…
Birstwith is south of Ripon and north of Harrogate, and it still has a cricket club – last weekend, they put out three teams: the firsts beat Pateley Bridge, the seconds beat Ripley but the thirds lost to West Tanfield.
Rosa’s grandfather, the Reverend EA Stockdale, was a curate at Birstwith from 1871 until 1874 before becoming the vicar of Kirby Hill, near Richmond, until 1900, and then of Middleton Tyas until 1937.
“He was a keen sportsman, and I’m wondering if he might be on this picture,” she says. “I haven’t any pictures of him as a young man, but I am very fortunate to have his diaries from 1881 to 1900.
"I spent a lot of time during lockdown transcribing them and they give a good insight into the social history of that time, of how very involved vicars were in their parishioners’ lives.”
If you can help in any way, we’d love to hear from you.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here