The south-west part of Hob Moor (behind Edmund Wilson Baths) has seen big changes over the last 200 years. A map from 1852 shows it was already a well-established brickyard called North Field Brick Yard, with a clay pit and pumping mill. By 1892, the clay pit had doubled in size and there was an additional pumping mill. By 1909, the clay pit had reached a size of 6.6 acres and may already have filled with water, as the pumps are shown on a map as being 'old'. There is no kiln marked.

The 1937 Ordnance Survey still shows an area of open water; some clay pits had been used in part as rubbish pits and were gradually becoming marshland. The large pond became known as Kelsey's Pond. Mr Harry Kelsey lived with his family in a bungalow with a verandah just to the north of the pond. He used to look after the pond, pulling weed out. Although man-made, the pond looked natural, surrounded by bull-rushes and trees. Swans nested on it. Fishing cost 6d per day and the fish included tench, roach, perch, bream, carp and pike. Fishing matches were very popular and anglers would come from as far as Leeds to compete. Frank Oates was one of those who regularly took part and he kept a detailed fishing diary, of which the page for Monday 10th April 1944 is shown below; it shows where each fisherman sat, the wind pumps, Mr Kelsey's caravan and hut, and the golf course.

People used to skate on the pond in winter; one year the ice was thick enough for 100 people to skate on all at once. Someone would bring a wind-up gramophone and there would be skating to music.

By 1954, Kelsey's Pond had slowly been back-filled over a number of years and the area was finally acquired by the Corporation and incorporated into Hob Moor. In 1968 the Council acquired part of the tip land for leisure purposes and Edmund Wilson Baths were built.