This is the second of the walks round Methley. It will take you round the conservation area of Methley which is called ‘Churchside’. Can you guess why?
The walk is approximately ¾ of a mile long and will take around 40 minutes. We will start at the junction of Church Lane (once named Long Lane) and Little Church Lane (once simply Church Lane).
Little Church Lane is a one-way street so you will be walking against the traffic – such as it is.
Most of the houses are now privately owned after being owned for a long time by the Embletons and the Embleton Trust. Previously some were owned by the Sawyer family. The houses were built late in the 1800s and early in the 1900s. There are no houses shown on the 1832 map.
As you are walking up the Lane you will notice the green on which Methley Cricket Club play all their home matches. The Club was formed in 1863 and the land was donated by the Earl of Mexborough for that purpose.
The clubhouse is a very popular venue in the village.
As you near the end of the Lane look to your left to see a relatively new housing development. This was once the site of Methley Infant school. It was built in 1952 by local building firm P J Parrott, and opened in 1953.
It was built on a field which was once part of the Cedars (we will reach the Cedars later). It went through a few re-organisations before it finally opened as the village Junior school to take children from 4-11 years of age.
On the opposite side of the road we have Methley Bowling Club. Originally this land was held by Methley Cricket Club from Methley Estates. In its early days it was connected and maybe affiliated with the Rose and Crown (now the Boundry House), the Inn being the Club HQ.
Some old Trophies were inscribed ‘Rose and Crown Bowling Club.



