MEMORIES 309 played a round of golf at High Coniscliffe. The nine-hole course was established in 1895 in old quarries by the River Tees, and its clubhouse is now a private house in the centre of the village. The club closed in 1915 when Darlington Golf Club became established closer to the homes of many of the players.

In 2007, Malcolm McCallum published a centenary history of Barnard Castle Golf Club. Its first nine-hole course was at Wyse Hill which is just outside Startforth, and its first competitive match was on May 12, 1897 at High Coniscliffe. The Barney team was made up of a vicar, doctor, chemist and three Barnard Castle schoolmasters, but they lost by 18 holes to two to High Coni.

Mr Whitwell was man of the match as he won 13 of the Coniscliffe holes on his own.

The two clubs played quite frequently in those early days. The Teesdale Mercury of December 8, 1898, contained a match report, which said that the “pleasant riverside links (of High Coniscliffe) were much appreciated as a contrast to the more mountainous features of Wyse Hill”.

The Northern Echo: GOLF VILLAGE: Looking west through High Coniscliffe on what is today the A67 between Darlington and Barnard Castle. The golf houses, built in 1895, are in the terrace with the gable ends behind the schoolchildren. Picture courtesy of Darlington Centre for

GOLF VILLAGE: High Coniscliffe on an Edwardian postcard. The golf clubhouse and the professional's house are directly behind the children. Picture courtesy of Darlington Centre for Local Studies

Wyse Hill wasn’t a good location for a golf course as it was too far from Barnard Castle and the railway station. In 1907, the club moved to Harmire, its current location which was then just a couple of minutes’ stroll from the station. Lord Barnard made a substantial donation to the new course as he thought it would be good for tourism.

The High Coniscliffe course also suffered because of its location. In 1908, Darlington Town Golf Club opened at Skerningham, conveniently next to the Harrowgate Hill tram terminus. Its nine holes were in a 40-acre field which included a cricket pitch and pretty wooden pavilion.

Initially, the golfers and the cricketers were to live together peacefully, but a “cunning move” in January 1909 saw the cricketers evicted and their pavilion was bought by the golfers for £4.

On November 7, 1913, Haughton Grange Farm beside Skerningham came up for auction, and the golfers succeeded in buying it for £3,000. It was 98 acres and included an old farmhouse which was to be converted into a clubhouse.

The Barnard Castle golfers immediately saw an opening. On December 13, 1913, their secretary wrote to his counterpart in Darlington, asking to buy the pretty wooden pavilion which was now surplus to requirements.

The price was fixed at £40 cash plus a further £30 in 12 months.

So for 50 years, the pretty wooden cricket pavilion from Harrowgate Hill was the Barnard Castle golf clubhouse. Although Barney now has a purpose-built clubhouse, the old pavilion still stands beside the 18th green.