Woodsome Reveal New Date That Could Be A World Beater

Woodsome Hall Golf Club, located just south of Huddersfield, has just discovered that the clubhouse building is quite a lot older than was thought. So much so that it is believed to be the oldest original building being used as a golf clubhouse in the world!

After a successful dendrochronology (tree ring dating) process of the original timber trusses in the roof of the main hall, it has been confirmed that the date of Woodsome’s Hall is 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. 98 rings were dated as spanning the years 1365 to 1462.

NTDL suggest that it is very likely that all the dated timbers were cut at the same time for the construction of the Great Hall roof, with the report stating: “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.” Sands 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 General Manager, Ryan O’Connor, said 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.”

Photo: Woodsome Hall Golf Club.