This memorial in Manston park, Leeds, commemorates all those who were killed in the 3 explosions at the National Filling Factory No.1 also known as Barnbow during munitions production.
The text on this plaque reads:
Roll of honour
Workers of the No1 National Filling Factory, Crossgates, Leeds, who lost their lives in the explosions;
5th December 1916
Ethel Jackson (ILS Inspector) – Leeds
M. Keyworth (ILS Inspector) – Leeds
M. Alderson – Leeds
Katie Chapman – Leeds
Gertrude Reid – Leeds
Agnes L. Power – Leeds
Elsie Martha Atkinson – Leeds
Mary E. Schofield – Leeds
Florence Whiteley – Leeds
Amelia Stewart – Leeds
K. Bainbridge – Leeds
Edith Sykes – Leeds
Ida Worslop – Leeds
Mary Jane Blackstone – Leeds
Helena Beckett – Pontefract
Jane Few – Pontefract
Emily Sedgwick – Harrogate
Kathleen Eastment – York
Mary Worley – York
Alice Smart – York
Sarah Ann Jennings – York
Mary E. Carter – York
Elizabeth Mason – York
Lilian Ellis – York
Olive Yeates – York
Charlotte Fox – York
Eliza West – York
Maria Evelyn Rowley – Halton
Ada Glassby – Harrogate
Annie Blackamore – Normanton
Mary Gibson – Castleford
Polly Booth – Castleford
Eliza Grant – Castleford
Edith Levitt – Castleford
Maggie Baker – Kippax
21st March 1917
Florence A. R. Hodgkins – Normanton
Elsie Bruce – Wakefield
31st May 1918
James S. Thompson – Harrogate
James McHale – Leeds
William Orange – Leeds
THEY DIED SERVING
At the memorial site are information signs that give you more background information about the Barnbow Lasses and the No1 Shell Filling Factory.
Visit
You can visit the memorial freely in Manston park, Leeds.
For the 35 fallen workers on the 5th of December 1916 a separate memorial was created at Cross Gates in Leeds.
Photos provided by Phil Wood.
Hello
I’d like to correct a common misapprehension. This beautiful plaque does not commemorate all those that “ lost their lives in the explosions”. For example it does not include the unknown women who was killed 5 Dec 1916 at Barnbow. Neither does it include Harriet Emma Pickering who was injured in that explosion, taken to Leeds Infirmary where she died 19 Dec 1916.
Further, Harriet Emma Pickering was not the only Barnbow casualty to die in Leeds Infirmary; Amelia Stewart died there 30 Dec, Margaret Barker died 18 Dec, Edith Sykes died 13 Dec, Lilian Ellis died 11 Dec, Charlotte Fox died 7 Dec whilst Olive Yeates, Eliza Grant, Edith Levitt, Elizabeth West, are Jane Blackstone and Jane Few ( FEW not Jew) all have 6 Dec on their death certificates. Perhaps you’d like to verify what I write and edit accordingly. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing this information here Claire.
It might be a good idea to reach out to the Leeds City Council and ask them to alter or add the information to the monument.