Brighouse and District Heritage Newseum No. 18

BRIGHOUSE & DISTRICT

Heritage Newseum

Issue 18 Autumn 2022

Edited and Published by Chris Helme

After the Second World War everyone’s daily life was to change, none more so than the lives of women.
Tied to the kitchen with no social life of their own for some was to be a thing of the past.

The Co-op had started a Women’s Guild back in 1899 and it really began to thrive after the Second
World War and went on to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee in 1959. Sadly, as the membership grew older
and the numbers dwindled it too like many other groups had to fold.

After the war a number of other groups were formed with one of the first being the Brighouse Business
and Professional Women’s Club in June 1946 and two years later the Brighouse Inner Wheel was formed.
It wasn’t long before there was the Brighouse Ladies Circle as well and with both the local Labour Party
and the Conservative Party having ladies sections there was plenty of scope for ladies to play a greater
role in the affairs of the town. With Brighouse having a strong link with charitable causes such as Life
Boats and local hospitals, it seemed appropriate that they should also form a branch of the NSPPC which
formed its Luncheon Club in 1959 to support that worthy cause.

It is well documented that one of the best-supported organisations in the town were the branches of the
Townswomen’s Guild. The first local branch to be formed was at Hipperholme in June 1954 with Brighouse
forming one later the same year. With Rastrick and Bailiff Bridge forming their branches in 1959 the whole
of the Borough was covered by at least one of the branches.

Times also changed in the sporting world with the addition of ladies rugby, bowls, tennis and golf. Having
researched the history books, I have not found any early support for ladies playing competitive football but
this photograph was taken during the 1966/67 season when the Mayor and Mayoress Councillor Herbert
Prest and his wife presented the winning team with their cup. But who are these early local version of the
Lionesses?

© Christopher D. Helme (2022), Tower House, Holme Mews, Wakefield Road, Lightcliffe, Halifax,
West Yorkshire HX3 8TY. This publication is copyright and apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of

study, research, criticism, review or as otherwise permitted under the Copyright Act, no part including text
and/or photographs and/or other images may be reproduced by any process without written

permission. All enquiries and payments should be directed to the author and publisher.

Frontispiece: Bradford Road looking towards Bailiff Bridge c1969. The houses on the left were always referred
to as the ‘Long Row’. These properties were a mixture of through houses and back-to-back properties.

They were all demolished and a small number of flats were built on the site to replace them.

BRIGHOUSE & DISTRICT

HERITAGE NEWSEUM

From the Editor Issue 18 Autumn 2022

Welcome to the Autumn 1 Notes from the Editor.

edition of the Newseum. I 2 Two local entrepreneurs.
am sure many of you 4 Origins of the Raffle.
will remember the very

hot summer of 1976 just 5 Still treading the boards in Brighouse.

as I do. Well these last 7 Short Back and Sides, Sir?
few months have 8 Changing times at Zion Chapel.
certainly topped that year.

In this edition we have two particularly fascinating 9 ‘Oyez, oyez, oyez - Now hear this.’

stories: ’Brookfoot goes to Hollywood’ and 10 Hipperholme Library - Going, Going Gone!

memories from Brighouse Rush in 1833 by 11 Early days of Wellholme Park Children’s
someone who was there. How many readers can Centre.
remember Oliver Hinchliffe’s shop on Bradford
Road? It was a furniture shop which was open for 12 General Small comes to town.
123 years.
13 Vine Court and the Dark Passage.

The Calder Navigation Society celebrated its 14 Oliver Hinchliffe - 123 years of history.

50th anniversary not that long ago. Peter Davies, 16 Memories of Brighouse Rush - August 1833.

the society’s Chairman, has sent the history of 17 Long service awards a thing of the past?
this organisation. There is even some information
about how to join. 18 Memories from the Council Chamber -
1941/42.
Hipperholme Library has now been sold for a
staggering £286,000. Just who has bought it 19 All aboard for the annual outing.
remains a tight lipped secret and equally so is
20 Working lives - Those were the days.

what the building’s future may be. Let us hope 21 From Brookfoot to Hollywood.

that the Collins Memorial Clock will be in 22 The Railway Sawing and Planing Mills.
the future plans. 23 Calder Navigation Society.
24 The age of the tram arrives.
For all you brass banders you can tune into my
weekly two-hour brass band radio programme. It

is played on nine community radio stations in the

UK and four overseas, Australia, New Zealand,

Italy and Galway in Ireland. I then send the show Remember to look at our website where you can
link out to hundreds of individual listeners around also contact the editor and you are able to
the world. If you want to hear the show send me purchase various local books, including some that
an email and I will tell you how.
are no longer in print, through the online shop,

We are always pleased to hear from where PayPal is available:

readers with a story to share … Enjoy! www.chrishelme-brighouse.org.uk

Chris Helme

1

Two local entrepreneurs started their business selling solid tyres.

The Brighouse Motor Agency or ‘The BMA’ as it was reputation, they were rewarded by being given an

known by both its customers and employees began agency from the Leyland Commercial Vehicles

life when vehicular transportation was very much in Company, who were expanding throughout the

its infancy. The birth of this company was due to the Yorkshire area and saw an ideal location in Bailiff

farsighted business skills of two men who made a Bridge along with the reputation of the Firth brothers.

thriving business from selling petrol in cans and solid By 1928 the business had expanded rapidly with

tyres in those early days of motorised transportation. other depots being opened in Hull, Bradford and as

far away as Middlesbrough and even the petrol side

of the business was expanding as well. The

Brighouse Motor Agency (BMA) was one of the first

garages in the area to have underground petrol

storage tanks installed. With a never- ending queue

to buy petrol at the princely sum of ten and a half

pence (less than five pence in modern money) per

gallon they were always kept busy.

The original Brighouse Motor Agency premises on During the 1920’s the only other form of transport
Bradford Road Bailiff Bridge. In recent years the site for those unable to afford a motor vehicle was the
tramcar. It was the brother’s astute observation that
was cleared and redeveloped for housing. saw them begin the Calder Bus Service as an
alternative. It was a service that became so
successful that by the early 1930s the Bradford
Corporation had bought the routes from them.

It is over a century ago that Percy and James Firth Not long after selling the bus company the two
nephews of Sir Algernon Firth, of Firth’s Carpets, brothers decided to embark on finding larger premises.
received from him their early financial backing. Their The unlikely opportunity suddenly presented itself
first premises were two lock up red bricked garages when a significant plot of land became available
in Bradford Road next to the flats. These buildings from the Kirklees Hall Estate which was almost
have gone and the site has been redeveloped for directly opposite their original red bricked premises.
Following keen negotiating they bought it and built
housing.
one of the most impressive garages sites in the
When they first opened the business, mainly selling whole district.

petrol in cans, it produced a slow but steady income it
was the earlier development of solid tyres that saw The business went through another boom period
business take off. It was through their knowledge of following a visit by two representatives from the
Royal Ordnance factory at Chilwell in Nottingham
motor cars and there being no other similar
businesses locally, and having the facilities to fit and were awarded long-term contracts to work on
Army vehicles. The BMA certainly played its part in
and re-fit solid tyres, they had cornered the
helping to rebuild the transport system in Europe
market.
right up until the contracts were finally terminated in
Taking advantage of this niche in the trade and
buying the necessary equipment the business went 1952.

from strength to strength. It wasn’t long before The business had to diversify, or it would go out of
expansion was a possibility. However, it was in business. The call was answered with new business
commercial vehicles rather than the motor vehicles coming from none other than the Rolls Royce Company,
where they identified and took full advantage of yet which required precision engineering work. Very
another niche in the market. Commercial vehicle soon the company’s primary business of vehicle fleet
repairs was something other local garages had left maintenance was just a memory as they progres-
sively moved on to full time precision engineering
alone. Through their continued efforts and
for the Rolls Royce Company and many other

2

household named companies. greenhouse full of the smell of tomatoes to sail little

It was this change that in 1952 saw the old name walnut boats in the large water tank.

of the Brighouse Motor Agency being dropped and He, always had a lingering smell of pipe tobacco,

the company renamed ‘Calder Engineering’. In 1971 snuff and whiskey. Isn’t it funny how certain smells

the company was bought out by Reed International remind you of someone. It was to be our last

and gradually went into a state of decline along with Christmas there, by March the house was sold and

many other engineering companies. This saw we’d all moved to the flats above my Uncle

the company finally close, and the site and Raymond’s amusement arcade, Bay View, on The

contents were auctioned off. Today the building Esplanade, just yards from JOYLAND Amusements,

has a new lease of life and through diversification it previously LUNA PARK, the arcade my Grandpa

now employs many people in successful small and his older brother, James, had built up in the

and medium sized businesses. 1930’s.

James and Percy were two real Why and when he got the notion to set up an

entrepreneurs and diversified into another amusement arcade on the Bridlington seafront I
can only surmise. At the time the family was living in
and unlikely business. Mrs Margaret
Brighouse but as my Mum, Connie, was a full-time
Broom, Percy’s granddaughter, takes up border at The Bridlington Girls High School they

the story. were probably visiting her. He’d have seen the

My last living memory of my Grandpa, Percy Firth, growth and popularity of these small arcades. Or
was watching him through his study window, asleep was it his Uncle, Percy Batley Firth, who gave him
in his chair. It was 5th November, I’d just turned four the idea? Percy was living in New York and often
visited Coney Island. We do know it was him who
and there was the
usual mix of family came up with name, Luna Park.

and friends gathered At first the business was quite small but overtime

around the bonfire. it grew with more buildings been added to the

But this year the arcade. The Firth family, still in Brighouse, would

atmosphere was spend the holiday period in Bridlington with the

tense and subdued three daughters helping in the arcade. Eventually a

amongst the adults. house in Cardigan Road, on Bridlington’s South
None of us kids knew Side was purchased. Percy B Firth had left The
that Grandpa was ill, States and came to live them along with his brother,

a few weeks later he Walter James Firth, my Great Grandfather.

was gone. When I My Grandpa had is eyes on a rundown property
was a bit older my towards the rear of his arcade, it was owned by a
Mum told me he’d Mr ‘Mappy’ Knaggs who didn’t approve of these
died following an very popular amusement arcades, there was no
unsuccessful operation to remove a cancerous way he was going to sell his property to the like of
tumour in his throat. Percy Firth! Enter James Walter Firth, Percy’s older

Life changed dramatically for us. Mum, Dad, my brother and co- owner of Brighouse Motors. Somehow,
older sister and I were living with my Grandparents he persuaded Mr Knaggs to sell his property, lock
in a large, beautiful White House with a garden stock and barrel to him! I personally think Mappy

s we e p i n g d o w n t o w a r d s t h e s e a f r o n t o n either had the wool pulled over his eyes, being led

Bridlington’s north side. It had a sizeable green- to believe that James was setting up a business

house by the side of the house and a beautiful similar to the one in Brighouse, or that he somehow

summer house on the lawn. It was a child ’s didn’t connect the two Firths. He can’t have been a

paradise especially during the holidays and week- happy bunny when he realised he’d been duped.

ends when our cousins came to stay. I was often Luna Park now became one the largest amuse-
lonely once they’d all gone but Grandpa would ment Parks in Bridlington, it had dodgem cars and
cheer me up, sometimes by taking me into his one of biggest ghost trains around and it was my

3

poor mum’s job to push it through if it broke down! Origins of the Raffle
Plus now you could access the arcade via The

Promenade as well as The Esplanade. Roll-up, roll-up, buy your raffle ticket here, only

As Luna Park thrived so did the others. An ambi- 10pence, everyone a winner !

tious lady, Charlotte Brown, already some smaller Have you ever wondered when raffles began ?
arcades, plus two sons, Harry and Sidney helping Well, they have been around probably since the
her. She was a pretty determined person and had beginning of human civilisation in one form or another.
her eyes on Luna Park. She jumped at the chance As fundraisers, they have a very long history and
when James offered his share to her. He wanted to have been used by individuals and even heads of
concentrate on the Brighouse business, so she
state for centuries.
was now in partnership with my Grandpa. It
History tells us that the ancient Babylonians,
worked for a while but she was aware Grandpa’s
heath wasn’t too good, diabetes. He was spending Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all loved playing
raffle like games of chance, using dice or bones to
more time at Brighouse plus he was concerned
that World War 2 was looming. He eventually sold cast lots and draw winners. Soon, these simple
his share to Charlotte and The Joyland Amusements games of chance evolved into real fundraising efforts.

I grew up with was born. The Chinese invented Keno, a form of lottery, which

After the war my Uncle Jimmy, James Firth, is still popular today. The money from these lotteries

moved to South Africa, near Cape Town, where he was used for defence and civic projects, including
died on December 1st, 1953, ironically his brother the construction of the Great Wall of China.

Percy survived him by one year and two days. In 1446, following the death of her husband, the

widow of Flemish painter Jan Van Eyck sold tickets

and raffled off his

remaining paintings

in one of the first

recorded raffles.

With the idea of

using raffles to

raise funds was

something that

soon caught on.

Printing raffle
tickets and selling
them are a wonderful
way to raise funds
for both big and
small projects.

Raffles and lotteries have been held throughout
Europe with the Netherlands even laying claim to
have the longest running lottery, dating back to 1727.

Uncle Jimmy Firth in Bridlington before he moved Today, church groups, service clubs, community
to South Africa. organisations and many others run raffles as
fundraisers.
My Grandpa was a well loved and respected
gentleman in Bridlington as well as Brighouse. Returning to our three raffle ticket sellers: Samantha
Cuthbert, Rebecca Walton and
He was also very much loved by all his Joanne Brearley who are selling
grandchildren who are very, very proud of his tickets on behalf of the Rainbows,
legacy. 32 years ago in October 1990.

4

They are still treading the boards in Brighouse

Over the years I have collected literally dozens of This was in 1923 and as a result of untiring

concert and show programmes. These involve both efforts the following year saw the St James’

large and small organisations and many events Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society’s first

of different kinds. They all production, Floradora.

feature groups from in and This production was staged at
around the Brighouse and the Sugden Memorial Hall at
district area. Bridge End. Public support on

This week I spotted one on that opening night did no go

eBay, the Internet auction well. But good reports about the

website. This programme is show soon spread which saw

for the Brighouse Light Opera the crowds flock to the hall to

Society and one that I did not see it. The queues to see the

have. This was a special production grew to such an

one, so I entered what extent that many people were

proved to be the winning unable to get in and see the

bid. The programme is dated show.

1949 and whilst that year’s The two people responsible for
production was The Desert
Song, more importantly it getting the best out of this group
was the society’s Silver
Jubilee production. of amateurs and producing what

The leading performers was described as a first class
were Trevor Coley as Pierre,
It is not just a show programme, it is 36 pages musical comedy were Mr H.T.
of social history.
Evans and musical director
Christopher Peacock. This

the Red Shadow and Freda Smith as Margot. successful performance saw the birth of what

The society was born from the remnants of the old became known as the St James Amateur Operatic and
St James’ Dramatic Society (at St James’s Church, Dramatic Society.

Bradford Road) which decided to form an operatic This initial success set the tone for all future

section for the production of musical comedy. productions.

In those days it had few resources and in order to However, the first signs of dissent came after 11

raise money it found it necessary to adopt methods years at the annual general meeting in 1935, when

which, as the programme says, only stopped short the society found itself without a secretary and

of robbery! treasurer. It was pointed out by the Parish Church

In order to enrol people with the necessary Vicar, the Rev Edward Moore Haines, that over
talents, strange things happened. To say new members recent years the annual light opera performance

were press-ganged, and the producer was dragged had become so popular that people who had no
in after a neatly laid ambush, may not be far from connection with the church were being recruited
both into the cast and production staff.
the truth.

It was suggested that these ‘comers-in’ were now

practically running the organisation and the church

authorities considered this as unacceptable.

From the 1924 production Floradora. The crunch finally came when the Rev Haines
announced that the officials of the society should all
be active church members. If any member left the
church then they would also be expected to leave
the society. The result was that in the following
February the society disbanded.

5

From the ashes of the St. James group rose Of all the advertisements I have picked out this

Brighouse Light Opera Society when ex-members one, Ripley’s Ices which was in Half House Lane,

rallied and formed the new group. Hove Edge. I am sure many readers will remember

Returning to the Silver Jubilee programme of calling in for an ice cream whilst walking home
1949, by then the society was called Brighouse from an afternoon at Sunny Vale.

Light Opera Society (BLOS). There were 17 individual performers in this

These were the days when programmes ran to 36 production with Trevor Coley and Freda Smith
having the principal parts.
pages and were packed with not just information

about the show but advertisements from countless Another 50 people were in supporting roles

local businesses. including the dancing girls, the ladies chorus and

Whilst there are only four of the advertisers still in the men’s chorus. There were also many people
business today, it is interesting looking back at those involved who the audience never saw including

which no longer exist but you may still remember. Jack Bray who was the ’Prompter’ and Master F.

Tate’s Corner, was the specialist draper at the Park who was the ’Call Boy’. These were all vital

corner of King Street, which is now occupied by roles to ensure the production went well.
M&Co; H.T.Tidswell at 36, Briggate sold books for
every occasion and every kind of pen you could The society produced a show every year from
imagine; and Denham’s The Pipe Shop on 1924 through to 2004, except for the Second World
War period. Its sister company, Brighouse Amateur
Operatic and Dramatic Society, formed in 1923,

also did an annual musical.

Each group produced and presented their own
separate shows. The BAODS continuing with their
more traditional performances and carried on
raising money for many local charities. The BLOS
took a slightly different route with performances that
were described as being ambitious in more recent
years with no absolute guarantee they would be a
success - happily both organisations have done
well.

Commercial Street. Mr Denham sold every kind of In 2005 for business reasons and often common
pipe and tobacco and even sold those very select membership the light opera society and Brighouse
Sobranie Black Russian cigarettes. Wright Ingham, Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society
the three storey shop in Thornton Square, is today (BAODS) came together and the organisation was
a Vaping Shop. renamed Brighouse Theatre Productions (BTP).

The light opera society held their productions at
the Albert (Cinema) Theatre until it was closed and
then sold during the early 1970s. Their new home
was the Rydings Hall in Church Lane. But when that
was sold and became the doctors’ surgery they
moved to the Civic Hall, joining the BAODS under
the same roof. Sadly the Civic Hall is now closed
and its future uncertain. This has meant that both
groups have had to move out and try to finds alternative
accommodation.

Trevor Coley played Freda Smith played During the Covid period no shows have been
Pierre and the Red Margot Bonvalet. held. However, BTP remains active and the
pantomime Aladdin and Jasmine’s Genie-us
Shadow. Adventure is scheduled for January 2023.

6

Short back and sides sir?

When it comes to lads having their hair cut, terms, how would I like it. In the end what I said

traditionally it was your father who took you to the bore no resemblance to what I got. Mr Blackburn

same business he went to. But then again, for some only knew one style, possibly two, short back and

readers it might have been your mother giving you sides or shorter back and sides. That transpired to

the dreaded basin cut. The older you got, and be the one, and only time I visited Mr Blackburn’s

becoming more self-conscious about your shop.

appearance, the dreaded basin haircut was a real Then not long after the word went around the lads
nightmare. there was a new barber in town. In fact it was on

I was taken Market Street in

to see Harry what is today the

Greenwood upstairs taxi office.

at his Waring The barber was a

Green bar- young chap called

bers shop, I Billy Ingham; the

always shop was always

enjoyed full.

going to shop, 'Do you want a
for all the square cut' he
comics he asked. Wow, this
had available was real style we
for us to read. were getting into.

I was so He wore a white

small I was sat on a cushion, so I could see the type of uniform jacket, and he even put scissors and

mirror. The chair itself, thinking about it now, combs in a glass box. Was that to kill the head lice?

resembled one of those you see on the American Once I moved away, I never went to Billy’s shop

films often referred to as ‘Old Smokie,’ yes you again, and on the occasions, I visited the town centre
have guessed, I mean the electric chair. Harry I saw he too had moved on. But I often wondered
would stand there with the strap he used to sharpen what ever happened to him.
some of his implements, never talking or looking at
you, but holding a conversation with your Dad, as if Many years later I received a letter from Billy
Ingham. I thought, no, this cannot be the same
you were not even there.
man, but it was !. He kindly loaned me this
On one occasion I was under instruction from
photograph from the 1953 – 54 when he along with
home, ‘get your haircut,’ wishing I could have it a some other town centre workers were members of
bit longer like some of the other lads at school. But I the Brighouse Tuesday Cricket team.
had pushed my luck a bit by putting it off, the very
Back row, from the left: Billy Ingham (who in those
thought of the basin being dusted off was enough
days was working at Ed Taylor's); L. Taylor (George
for me to take what was really drastic action.
Mitchell's shoe shop, Commercial Street); Un-
But Harry’s was shut, where else could I go, the known; E. Wells (Webster’s Outfitters); Unknown;
only place I could think of in what was for me a dire W. Webster (father of the late Terry Webster of T G
emergency was Blackburn’s. I eventually plucked Webster, Insurance); W. Hirst (ICI); Unknown
up enough courage to go in, and looking round I (Frank Stocks fruit and veg on Commercial Street
saw this old chap, who I presumed to be Mr Blackburn, which was a couple of doors from the Ring O’Bells
surrounded by all his sharpening straps hanging pub, where the Wellington Arcade is now).
from the walls. There was just me in the shop. I sat
in one of those ‘Old Smokie’ type chairs, he asked Front: K. Booth (Ed Taylor's); J. Jenkinson (who
was a butcher working in Forster Square, Bradford);
‘how would you like it’?
Eric Taylor (Ed Taylor's);
Well, the very question was a contradiction in

7

N. Riley (fish and chip shop, Hove Edge); L. Nelson Changing times at Zion Chapel

and D. Rastrick (Burton's Commercial Street).

It is almost 10 years ago since I read that Billy Most readers could be forgiven for not recognising
Ingham one of the region’s most successful and where these Cubs are and when this photograph
popular hairdressers had passed away at Bradford was taken. The field was next to the Zion Chapel at
Royal Infirmary, aged 74. Hove Edge and both the chapel and field were
redeveloped for a housing scheme which became
He was born and raised in Bailiff Bridge, and part of Chapel Street in the 1980s.
when he left school in 1953 he started work at Ed

Taylor’s hairdressing salon in Market Street,

Brighouse.

In 1956 he was called up for his National Service
with the RAF and always said that he loved every

minute of it.

He returned

to hairdress-

ing in 1958

and started

taking part in

competitions

all over the

country. He

would go on
to win national Many churches and chapels in Brighouse and their
and interna- satellite communities went through a period of cel-
tional awards, ebration in the 1950s and 60s when cen-
Market Street — Ed Taylor’s hair- tenaries and Golden Jubilees were common place.
dressing salon is the shop with the chalking up a But with the arrival of the 70s many of them began
staggering total to experience difficult times with falling congre-
projecting sign on the left. of 150 awards

including 104 first prizes gation numbers and spiralling costs to maintain

the fabric of the buildings.
He set up his own salon and later opened branches
in Elland, Huddersfield, Brighouse, Halifax, Bingley, The Zion finally closed in the 1980s and I believe
it was following this closure and subsequent
Leeds, Cleckheaton and Manchester.
demolition that the Hove Edge Scout Association
During his late 50s he was ill and was forced to moved into some premises in Halifax Road.
retire at 60 from his salon in Cleckheaton. However,
five years later his health had improved enough to The Cub photograph was taken more than 40
years ago, with
start working again and he became quality control
many of these
manager for a large hairdressing company. He
boys now almost
retired at the age of 70 due to further problems with
50.
his health.

One of the highlights of his career was that he got This second
to meet and cut the hair of several well-known photo is the
celebrities, including football legend Denis Law and Chapel not long
comedian Russ Abbot. after it closed a n d
b e i n g demol-
There will be some readers who will remember ished in prepara-
visiting Billy’s shop in Market Street and while tion for the site
Billy had no comics, unlike Harry Greenwood’s to be re-developed
shop you were sure of a modern stylish haircut. for housing.

8

“Oyez, oyez, oyez - Now hear this”

In December 1978 Ralph Wade, aka Rowan of the The last town cryer was said to be John Wardell

Brighouse Echo, wrote a story that he could not and according to the few notes written about him it

quite finish off all those years ago. would appear that after he made his last public an-

It was 44 years ago that Ralph wrote “Oyez, Oyez, nouncement the position was never filled.

Oyez! - now hear this, Co-operative Movement started Mr Wardell had two sons and to settle who should

in Rochdale”. This was back in 1844. have custody of the bell they settled it in the tried

It wasn’t the pronounce- and tested way, they had a
ment, although it was to fight over it.

bring hope of a better life The winner was Walter and

to tens of thousands of in the time honoured fashion,

families, but the man who the bell was handed down

made the announcement, from Walter to his son Milton.

that was Ralph’s interest. He became as ‘well known as

The Brighouse town Milton Wardell in 1978 showing off the old bell. t’bellman’ not because he was
cryer of those days was the grandson of the bellman but
George Frederick Augustus because of his job. He was
Parry. His father was the caretaker at the Brighouse
known as ‘Old Parry’, a Library and Art Gallery.

schoolmaster, who had a small school in some ‘low When Milton passed away the bell was passed on

decker’ cottages in Clifton Road, opposite the to his sister Mrs Bertha Stead. Before she died she

entrance to the old Brighouse Cricket Club ground. thought the bell should be handed over to the

He also ran a night school for young people daughter of the other brother in the battle for the
between 16 and 20 years of age. bell.

‘Better known than t’bellman’ is an old expression This lady was Mrs Emma Longbottom, who lived
at Field Lane. To keep the bell in the family she
dating back from the days when outstanding
handed it down to her daughter Lily who went on to
characters roamed the districts. There was the
yeast man who more often than not, sold yeast marry Bill Wickens. By this time the bell was in a
poor state. But Bill was a first class engineer and
supplied by local breweries. The George Hotel
Brewery was the best known local product: the was able to work on it to return it to its once pristine
condition.
scissor and knife grinder with a Heath Robinson

contraption from which the sparks showered his Whilst Ralph was researching and tracking the old

customers there was the ‘Oatcake Man’ and the bell down he visited Bill Wickens and had the

’Muffin Man’ and the men who sold laces were quite opportunity of ringing the bell and what a weight it

often too many to count. was.

It was a sign of the times with barrel organs in So, Ralph wrote his findings in his Echo column
plentiful supply. and the story came to and end in 1978, but did it?

Returning to our bellman. It has been said that the Where is the bell now? After Bill passed away the

last bellman in Brighouse was Fred Perry. He was a bell was handed down to his son Eric, who also lives

real character, on one occasion he made a bet that in Field Lane. As the years went by Eric decided to

he could run from Lightcliffe Station pushing a present the bell to the Clifton Handbell Ringers. Not

wheelbarrow non stop to the Royal Hotel in the so much to be played but rather a rare piece of

town centre. He raced through the Bonegate Toll- Brighouse local history that would be appreciated

gate as though his very life depended on it. He and have a permanent home.

collapsed outside the Royal and his pals carried him But, so far I have not been able to track it down.
in side where he had a well-earned pint. Does anyone know what happened to it?

9

Hipperholme Library - going going gone...

The Hipperholme Library closed in 2020 and at the who was elected Chairman in April 1903 and was in
end of July 2022 it was reported the building, having office when the new Town Hall was opened.
been placed on an online property website, with a
guide price of £120,000 bids soon topped that. The The next change to be felt at Hipperholme was in
property was finally 1933 when the local government re-organisation
sold for £286,000
to an undisclosed proposals came to
buyer. Just what is the forefront once
going to happen to it again. Hipperholme
remains to be seen. residents wanted
nothing of this as it
I am sure a few was seen that to join
people in Hipperholme together with
may have remem- Brighouse was
bered that it was nothing more than a
August 12, 1994, means for Brighouse
when the Hipper- to gain valuable rates
holme Branch of Barclay’s Bank closed. from the big house-
holders in the area. This would not benefit the
I remember once the Bank signage was removed immediate Hipperholme area at all.
for the first time probably since 1937 passers-by
could read the words 'URBAN DISTRICT' that had Needless to say, by 1936 the plans for a greater
been hidden away underneath. Brighouse were approved and the new Borough
boundaries came into being on April 1, 1937. This
In this photograph, which was taken on the day saw the demise of the Hipperholme Urban District
the building was opened on August 2, 1899, you Council which had served the local community
can quite clearly see these same words on the left- admirably and I suppose many people in those days
hand side of the photograph and the words COUN- thought that big was not always beautiful just like today.
CIL OFFICES on the other side.
The Town Hall was closed for refurbishment and
Hipperholme had been the dominant partner in a year later opened as the Hipperholme Branch
the Hipperholme cum Brighouse Township for centuries Library. The last change for Hipperholme was of
but in 1865 Brighouse broke away and formed its course in 1974 with the introduction of Calderdale
own Local Board in 1866. Hipperholme, although Metropolitan Borough Council, covering the whole
not straight away, did follow having held a Calder Valley.
local referendum on the subject. The first Local
Board members at Hipperholme held their first Returning to the photograph the man on the right-
meeting on March 24, 1869. At that time they had hand side is Sergeant 229 James Copping, the
to meet in the Whitehall Inn because there was Hipperholme Police Section Sergeant. He had joined
nowhere else. Looking back, you can now perhaps the West Riding Police in 1875 and after serving in
appreciate why so many of their meetings would a number of communities. He was promoted to
have gone on and on. Sergeant on in 1891 and transferred to Brighouse
and in 1898 he made his final move to be in charge
The first Chairman of the Hipperholme Local of the Hipperholme Section. He retired on January
Board was Jonas Foster of Cliffe Hill, Lightcliffe a 31, 1901.
position he held until 1874. He was followed by
Joshua Smithson of Lydgate who had business The first police station was one of the houses in
connections in Halifax at the bottom of Horton Roydlands Terrace and then at Brookeville Avenue
Street. He was followed by William Wood, George and Brooklands.
Watkinson Jnr, James Bentley, Thomas Brown,
J.W.Collinson and finally it came to T.C.Dawson With new owners I wonder what will now become
of the old town hall library?

10

Looking back at the early days of Wellholme Park Childrens’ Centre

Saturday 12, September 1942 was a special day in I got to know Kenneth and his wife Dorothy when

the Brighouse calendar. It was the day the they lived in Smith House Lane during the 1980s.

Chairman of the Brighouse Health Committee, Kenneth could remember the days when he had

Alderman Ben Asquith opened the Wellholme Day finally drawn up the plans in April 1942 along with

Nurser y. He was supported by the Mayor, the costings for all three nurseries, which amounted

Alderman Herbert Womersley JP. to £5,533.00 which if calculated at 2022 values

With the outbreak of war in 1939, when once supplied by the Bank of England would have cost

again the young men of Brighouse and the £289,600.33. The final contract was awarded to
surrounding communities were once again taking up George Dew’s builders in Oldham.

arms, more and The featured photo-

more women were gra p h s h o ws t h e

joining or wanted children at the children

to join the ranks of who attended in 1952.

the employed, The second photo is

whether it was to where the builders

help with the war have made a start on

effort or working to the construction of the

keep their family new nursery building.

going whilst Dad Looking at a set of orig-

was away fighting. inal plans which Ken-

However, for neth drew up for this
project shows he had
most women the incorporated plenty of
facilities for the
greatest thing to The children of 1952 at Wellholme Children’s Centre.

prevent them from mothers and children.
doing this was not the inability at finding a job but

who would look after their children whilst they were On arrival mothers could leave their prams in a

working a full day. specially built pram shelter. Once inside the new

The answer came from the Borough Council – in building there was a reception area which led to
1942, t h e c o u n - the Matron’s office, a
c i l announced staff room, kitchen and
that three wartime even if one of the
children’s nurse- children arrived with
ries would be built. one of those contagious
One would be at ailments Kenneth had
Ogden Lane at made provision for that
Rastrick, another possibility with an
would be in the isolation room.

grounds of Holme The longest section of

House at the building was just

Lightcliffe and a over 80 feet or 24.384

third would be in meters in length and is

Wellholme Park. a spacious toddlers’

The man who 1942 and the builders have made a start on the new centre. nursery complete with

was assigned to this task by the Borough built-in toy cupboards,

Engineer Harold Sneezum was the toddlers’ washing and toilet areas and similar

department’s engineering assistant Kenneth facilities for babies with the remaining area set out

Atkinson. for toddlers. Chris Helme

11

As with all building contracts there was a deadline, General Small comes to town
even back in those days and up to a point Kenneth

was responsible for everything. Drawing up the This photograph was taken at the turn of the century

plans, the costings, and supervising the contractors. and shows Mr Charles Morris with his family while in

Brighouse on tour with a travelling midget exhibition.

Three of the staff and just some of the children
c1943.

As the job got started Kenneth soon realised that Charles Morris, who was professionally known as
the deadline date would be a problem because the ‘General Small’, was born in Alsager, Cheshire and
opening day was already fixed up. Once the builders he was only three feet nine inches tall by the time
finally moved out and handed the building over he was an adult.

Kenneth was left with a major headache. The whole It was said what he lacked in stature he apparently

place was in a mess and clearly not suitable for the made up with being able to tell a good joke. It was

planned grand opening. his ability at being able to make people laugh that

The cleaning up was left to Kenneth and his then encouraged him to join the Wall’s Animatograph
girlfriend Dorothy. Both worked tirelessly with mops Exhibition, a group of travelling shop people.

and buckets to get it ready in time. Thinking back to It was while with the Wall’s group that he met his

my visit to Kenneth’s house all those years ago. future wife, Minnie Goddard, who was half an inch

They had been happily married for a least 40 years smaller that he. The couple travelled throughout the

when he related this story to me - smiling at each country and for as number of years were part of the

other Kenneth said: “Now which council architect Hasting’s Midget Exhibition. For all his visits to new

would do the mopping out these days, helped by his towns and cities with the group he always like to

wife to be…” . We both agreed that in those far off come back and perform in Brighouse.

days the Brighouse Borough Council was almost It was on one of these many visits to Brighouse
like one big family and if a job needed doing you that on December 3, 1905, while staying at the
rolled your sleeves up and got on with it, how times Martin’s Nest public house (Now the Thaal Indian
have changed. restaurant) on Bradford Road, accompanied by his

Since that day 80 years ago the Wellholme Park wife and child, at the age of 33 he died. Following

Children’s Centre (A Sure Start Children’s Centre) the local funeral he was buried at Stainland Church.

has seen thousands of In this photograph, along with Charles and Minnie
children passing Morris is their daughter who was also a midget and
through its welcoming said to have only been two feet nine inches when
doors. When their every her father died. The family pet dog was a Pomeranian
need and well-being has that went with them everywhere, but it was while on
been taken care of by a trip to Rastrick feast with the exhibition that the
the caring staff. dog died and was buried quietly somewhere in the

Logo courtesy of Wellholme Rastrick area.
Park Children’s Centre.

12

Flashes Vine Court and the Dark Passage Flashes

On the Sunday evening The name of Vine Court will mean little to the majority May 25, 1951 was a
of January 29, 1961 a of local people today. Equally so the ‘Dark Pas- very special day for 15
combined choir sang sage’ from Elland Road which was the ginnel ac- years old Senior Scout
hymns in St Martin’s cess to the back of the Elland Road properties and Arthur W illiam Sharp
Church. The programme down to Vine Court. That short journey will mean of Oaklands, Rastrick.
even less to many of our readers.
was introduced by He was the only Scout
Dewsbury born actor selected from
Randel Henley of the
BBC and was recorded Brighouse to a t t e n d
t h e b i g international
by BBC Radio.
Scout Jamboree
Miss Bessie Brearley of Once through the passage children at full speed would which took place in
Bethel Methodist Church run down through Vine Court to the canal and bridge at Austria between
conducted the choir. The August 3 and 13. He
organist was Mr Whiteley Ganny Lock. was one 16 Scouts who
represented half of
Singleton, who at the But for all those young children who had to make that
time was the organist at torturous journey from Elland Road to get home via the county. 100
the ‘Dark Passage’ it was pretty scary stuff. With no Scouts from all of the
the Parish Church. lights that short journey brought out all the ghostly, country met Scouts
spookiest things in a child's mind and they would from all over the world.
Billy Wilson was the not have been able to get through fast enough. Arthur attended Rastrick
‘bouncer’ at the Albert Grammar School and
Cinema during the silent joined the Salvation
movie era. His job was Army in 1943 through
to pack in as many his interest in brass
children on the wooden bands. He joined the
forms as was possible. 6th Brighouse Salvation
He would stand at the Army Scout Troop in
end of the rows and
shout out ’Nah then, 1947.
shift, budge up. Ah’ve If Arthur is still around
today he would be 86
telled yer afore’.
years of age. If not
For all his shouting he then perhaps some of
was well liked by all the his family and friends
children, although many
of them did get spells in are still in the area.
delicate places sliding
up and down the forms.
Watching your hero Tom
Mix, take on the Sioux
nation then spells were
the l a s t t h i n g t h e y

were thinking of.

Manuel Numph was a Once back in the bright light and across the bridge
‘tatter’ and seller of things looked more exciting: the canal and river
newspapers on the running side by side. If the children were lucky they
streets of Brighouse might have seen a barge carrying coal and the horse
towing it along the towpath.
town centre. He would
cry ‘Buy a paper!’ If you In the distance was Turner and Wainwright’s and
that all too familiar smell of real toffee. This company
said that you had al- sent tons of slab toffee to the soldiers at the front in
ready bought one he World War One, as a gift from Brighouse.
replied ‘Tha’ll sooin ha’
read it - buy another‘. 13

Oliver Hinchliffe’s - a name that was in Brighouse for 123 years.

September 1987 was a sad time for the Brighouse had been started in 1904 by his father Harry Brown,

town centre high street. Hinchliffe’s a business that who died in 1908.

had been in existence since 1864, finally closed its John’s son J. Roger Brown joined both businesses
Bradford Road shop for the last time.
after he left school in 1960. John died in 1970 with

Oliver Hinchliffe (1841 - 1908) was born in Hightown Roger taking control of both businesses.

and by the 1881 census he was married to Hannah In c1950 John had
bought the shop next
and they had three door - 8, Bradford
Road and then made
children. He was a internal doorways
which effectively
cabinet maker doubled the size of the
shop floor space.
employing two
Roger recalls that 8,
men and four boys. Bradford Road, was
used as a welfare
He established his clinic for the distribution
of dried milk, orange
business at the juice and cod liver oil.
Perhaps one of our readers
junction of can remember the clinic
in those days?
Bradford Road and

Police Street (now

Lawson Road) as

a cabinet maker,

upholsterer and

undertaker. He

later moved his Roger Brown standing outside his shop on the last day
business to 2, Mill of trading in September 1987.

Lane specialising in chair frames.

Oliver died on August 9,1908, records do not With the ever changing shopping habits in the retail
show what happened to his business after 1908. In furniture business ands the advent of the large
1925, it was taken over by the shopfitters and joiners cut-price supermarket-style outlets in or near town
Wilson Hartley Drake and Joseph Henry Haynes. centres, in 1983 the decision was taken to close the
Huddersfield branch and the Brighouse branch
On October 1, 1946, John C. Brown F.A.M.U. closed four years later. Roger is now well into
(Fellow of the Association of Master Upholsterers) retirement and has many happy memories of the
had acquired the business. John already owned a business in Brighouse and in particular some of
retail house furnishers and upholsters - H. Brown & those who worked at the shop.
Son, Huddersfield. This was a family business that
George S. Booth, he was the manager about
Oliver Hinchliffe’s shop premises at the junction 1946 until September 1964, Bill Bradley, was an
of Bradford Road and Police Street (now upholsterer, his role was to do re-upholstery and
Lawson Road c1910. worked in the basement at 6, Bradford Road. He
had also been a salesman and delivery assistant
until 1967, when he passed away, Em Bradley
(Bill’s wife), worked as a clerk in the office and was
responsible for collecting weekly hire purchase
and other payments. Prior to her working a
Hinchliffe’s had previously run a knitting wool shop
in a wooden hut on Bethel Street. This shop has
seen a number of different businesses over the
years from selling cut glass, photographers, and a
pet food shop. Today it is KDM Hair Design.

14

Steve Fairbank, a master joiner, was responsible for This shop became Well’s plumbers run by Jimmy

fitting of all the sales of bedroom and kitchen furniture. and Mary Wells.

He also helped out in the shop from 1984 to 1987. Although the business is closed the Wells name

Another member of staff lives on. Opposite Wellhome Park Jimmy and Mary

was Bill Davis who was the had a bungalow built. Eventually that property was

shop manager from 1966. He replaced with an apartment building and was named

was very well known in after them, ’Wells Court’.

Brighouse particularly in the In later years their shop in Bradford Road became
town centre. He worked for a ’Kitchen Image’ owned and run by Mike Gibbins.
number of years at the When he moved out Ladbrokes Bookmakers moved
Brighouse Co-op mens into the shop.
outfitters (which is now
At No. 10 it was the National Provincial Bank
M&Co).
which in 1970 became one of the NatWest’s group
He was also a published of banks and the bank’s name was changed.
author. In 1965 he wrote a book called Riders in
Rawhide, a cowboy western story. He chose to use Looking out from the shop doorway Roger remembers
the pen-name of Harrison Davis. The book was O.S.Wain’s the men’s tailors and outfitters. The
published by the London based ‘western’ story manager Roger remembers was Harold Bancroft
publishers Wright and Brown. Research would and visiting the shop to get his first new suit,
suggest this was the only book he had published. although 10 going on 11 the suit still had short
trousers. The suits were all laid out in drawers
Over the years Roger recalls many of the rather than individual hangers.
businesses in Bradford Road that were his neighbours.
Close by was Sladdin’s tailors, this was a
At No. 2 was Lennard's florists which had operated business that had been in Brighouse even longer
under a number of different owners, including Brian than Oliver Hinchliffe’s.
Clarke, Mr ands Mrs Maude and Pauline Finn. It
was then taken over by Webster’s Kitchens. Since H. Marsden, the jewellers which was run by the

those days it has also been a pram shop and is now late Glyn Foster and his wife Julie. Glyn was a familiar
face on town centre committees. He was always
Alexander’s Bar.
No. 4 was the locally famous Penny Denham’s toy looking to promote the town centre at every opportunity.
Behind Hinchliffe’s was a yard which they shared
shop, with its unusual walk around market stall in
with Police Street plumbers McNulty and Walker, a
side the front of the shop.
name that will be known to some of our readers.

Roger has many outstanding memories of the
years that he worked and ran the family firm, and
the sad days, particularly when he announced the
shop would close for the last time in September
1987. He recalls the many friends he made,
generations of customers and fellow traders and
those involved in the furniture trade.

It may be 35 years since Roger closed the shop
but the name of Oliver Hinchliffe is not forgotten.

The unusual market stall style walk around counter
in what everyone knew as Penny Denham’s toy
shop at number 4 Bradford Road - seen here in a
dilapidated state, the shop closed c1958.

Oliver Hinchliffe & Co Ltd letter head October 31, 1901.
15

Memories from Brighouse Rush - August 1833

What was happening in Brighouse in 1893? That is Mr Aspinall recalled the only thing he could

an easy question to answer with there being available remember from the play was Mariah’s ghost appearing

so many publications and newspapers for that year. in the barn.

But, if you wanted The seats were
to go further back planks set out on
in t im e sa y to barrels and were
August 1833, now borrowed from
it becomes more Johnny Hepworth,
difficult. the town centre

Thanks to a beerhouse keeper.

scrapbook of Old Wild played

cuttings I have we the clarinet inside

can have a look the Black Swan

at that time and two others

thanks to a man played bugles.

called William There was a mari-
Aspinall who gave onette show in the

an account of the This c1915 image of lower Briggate illustrates just where the 1833 coach house of the
celebrations for Brighouse Rush celebrations took place outside the Black Swan (now
‘Brighouse Rush’ Black Bull by Ned
known as Millers Bar.
Nicholson from the
that he attended in 1833.
Royal Vauxhall Gardens, London. Also a magic-

Brighouse rush-bearing occurred on the first lantern show.

Saturday after the second Thursday in August and To attract customers a man stood on top of
the celebrations traditionally lasted for four days, Anchor Bridge sounding off his bugle. He would
with maypoles, folk-dancing and no doubt a great then run along the battlements and dash off into Bull
deal of drunkenness as well. Yard (near to Bull Fold and the Black Bull).

The original rush-bearing festival in Brighouse had Next to the town pump were two sets of swing
died out by the middle of the 18th Century. However,
a fair on the associated dates continued to be held boat rides. Each boat held four children at a half-
penny a ride.
in Swan Field, which lay alongside the still extant
On the vacant land near the Anchor pub were
Black Swan pub. The feast would attract such an
influx of gypsies, fortune-tellers and peddlers. By merry-go-rounds or as most people referred to them
as Harry Wood-leg Riders.
1855 it had outgrown Swan Field (the site of the

Sugden’s grain silos which are now part of the

ROKT climbing gym) and was moved to the Black

Bull cricket field. Following that move all manner of

attractions began to appear.

William Aspinall recalls there were side-shows and
caravans outside the Black Bull. These caravans
contained dwarfs and other curiosities and a peep
show. Old Wild’s show was inside the Black Swan
barn, which by 1893 was used as a slaughterhouse.

The stage was in one corner and the drop scene The Anchor Inn date between 1881 and 1887 when
was a dirty old sheet. The performance was the Arthur Barraclough was the licensee.
murder and burial of Mariah Martin in the Red Barn
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYYjhbpqKQs).

16

The owner was called Harry and he did have a Long service awards a thing of the past?
wooden leg. There were none of the (then) more
modern palatial swings or steam inventions which How times have changed in 25 or so years. There
was to become all the rage. The fair extended was a time which does seem not that long ago
from the grocers shop in Briggate all the way to when every week newspapers would be featuring
the Black Swan. The stalls near the canal were that someone has retired after many years at one
selling nuts, gingerbread and raisin loaves. Oppo- particular company.
site the Black Bull was a large bazaar belonging to
Jonathan Oxley, on which were displayed a very
choice and large selection of toys, boxes and
dolls.

Joe Jowett, a conjurer from Leeds, did some
clever conjuring tricks in a shed at the Black
Swan. The entrance fee was one penny. There
were more stalls and trays where a stick of toffee
and a wine-glass of pink coloured sugar and water
was sold for half a penny.

As the day turned to evening the large rooms at These days presentations for long service almost
the Black Swan, Black Bull and the Anchor were seem to be a thing of the past. With people moving
cleared ready for step-dancing. Fiddler Jack from from one job to another and sadly sometimes
Scotty Croft fiddled at the Bull and a man from having long gaps between jobs. Someone being at
Elland with a wooden leg fiddled at the Anchor. a company for 25 years or more of continuous
service has become a rarity.
The ladies visiting the Bull liked to drink black
beer and rum hot with sugar. In the 1960s Blakeboroughs were presenting
certificates for 25, 30, 40, 50 and I read that two
In those days William our story teller recalled employees received certificates and presentations
that wages for a skilled workman were from 15 gifts for 60 years service at the company.
shillings to 18 shillings per week. Domestic
servants earned between £5 and £6 a year. In this featured photograph is one of those often
reported retirement presentations that appeared in
He could remember Waddington’s field, which the Brighouse Echo. With this one dating back to
became Mill Royd Street and where Alexandra December 1995.
Mills was built, but burnt down in 1903. In the field
before it was developed was where the biggest This retirement presentation is for Trevor Clay
travelling showman appeared in the town, George (left) who is retiring from Robinson's Electrical; Mrs
Parish from Bilston in Staffordshire. His show took Rene Clay (centre) and (right) Mr William Robinson
up at least one quarter of the field and took three the owner of the company is making the
days to erect. It was here where Brighouse presentation. Back row, sharing the moment are
residents saw a trapeze artist for the first time. John Harley; Sean Clayton; Alan Senior and Mrs
Floating through the air with the greatest of ease, Margot Robinson.
one of those beautiful folks on the flying trapeze
and that was from poles 30 feet high. Sadly since this happy occasion Robinson's
electrical has faded into the history books of the
Our storyteller recalled sitting and watching this Brighouse business community.
spectacle. It was the only time the travelling
showman George Parish came to Brighouse. I received my police Long Service and Good
Conduct medal after 22 years service in 1991. In
Just who our storyteller William Aspinall was the 2010 a national campaign was successful to
scrapbook does not say. But what a wonderful in- make it 20 years, to bring it in line with the other
sight to what would have been the equivalent of emergency services. All the military and emergency
Brighouse Gala 189 years ago. services still present these medals.

17

Flashes Notes from the Council Chamber 1941/42 Flashes

What happened to the On September 21, 1942 the Parks and Cemeteries On June 13, 1896,
Norwood Green chippie? Committee met and the Chairman, Alderman Joseph Drury of Rastrick
Joseph Ellis reported that Mrs Lena Newton, a
In August 1958 the long member of the Women’s Land Army, was was driving through
wait was finally over employed in the Parks and Cemeteries Department. Bowling in Bradford with
Applications had been received from other his wagon when a snake
Norwood Green was to members of the Women’s Land Army, who also came down with the rain
have its very own chippie. wanted to work there to give additional assistance
in the department. into the street. The
The village had been On November 3, 1941, the Welfare Sub-Committee reptile was still alive, but
without a fish and chip held their regular meeting at the Town Hall. The
Town Clerk, reported that he had requisitioned the Mr Drury soon put an
shop for five years. house ’Stoneleigh’, 39, Halifax Road, Brighouse for end to its life with his
the housing of evacuees, and the premises 59, whip. He brought the
Mrs Mildred Crowther Commercial Street, for the storage of furniture from snake home with him.
was opening on Monday houses damaged in air-raids and also reported that The snake was about 20
he proposed to requisition the house at No. 2, The inches long and was
September 1st. The Crescent, Hipperholme. At this time the property is beautifully marked. He
shop will be in the former vacant for the housing of evacuees. handed it over to the
Lane Ends Inn on Rastrick and Brighouse
The matter was authorised and the Town Clerk Naturalists Society. This
Village Street. could proceed to requisition the property in The was a local society that
Crescent. was formed in 1894 and
There are no records meetings were held at
available to show just No.2, The Crescent , Hipperholme, is at the bottom of The Star, Rastrick. All
how long the shop was these houses. their stuffed birds and
trading. It opened 64 animals were transferred
years ago, there may be The Water and Baths Committee held their last to The Rydings in 1898.
some villagers who can meeting of the year on December 22, 1941. One
remember visiting item for consideration was a letter from The third United Kingdom
Norwood Green’s very Mr R. G. Andrews who was applying for a water Parliament was dissolved
supply with a tap to the Scout Hut at Broad Oak, on April 29, 1807. The
own chippie. Hove Edge. The letter indicated that the Scouts
were prepared to dig any trench that was necessary. new Parliament was
I wonder what the good The Water Engineer reported with regard to the summoned to meet on
people of Clifton thought arrangements which could be made for the supply.
on Saturday August 22, The Town Clerk was asked to inform Mr Andrews June 22,1807, for a
that the committee would sanction the laying of the maximum seven-year
1908, when they saw pipe at the expense of the applicants and then term from that date.
Lieut George Philip make a nominal charge for the water supply.
Lempriere about to Between May 4 and
make a enforced landing June 9, 1807 an election
took place. Voting took
in a field. place at York in the Castle
Yard and the number of
This was Lieut Lemopriere people registering a vote
the Birmingham balloonist. from Brighouse was 16.
He was making a flight
There was an improve-
from Burnley when he ment at the 1848 election
made a forced landing at
with 60 people from
Clifton. He went on to Brighouse voting. In
have many more 1859 voters had to go to
successful flights in his
Halifax to vote.
gas balloons

He died on the February
20, 1949, aged 94
years, and was in-

terred at the family grave
in Handsworth New
Cemetery.

18

All aboard for the annual outing.

Back in the early 1960s one of the places I used as David took this photograph as the Laburnum

a playground was a new sheltered housing development residents club members got on the coach in

on the site of the old Lower Crow Nest Farm, in preparation for their annual outing, on this

Smith House Lane. The new bungalows once occasion to Wales, in 1981.

finished were given the street name of Laburnum Those waiting to get on included I see a number
Grove. As soon as the building site was finished, of familiar faces, which include Bill Sidebottom and
that was another playground gone. Henry Martin. I am sure some of passengers will be

Little did I know that in 1975 I would be back as familiar to some of our readers If I visited any of

the community policeman for the Stoney Lane the centres and it just happened to be the day after

estate, the same estate I grew up on from being a the trip – everyone was full of, what they did, the

child. Part of my café was rubbish, it

duties was to visit chucked it down all day.

the various Yes, it was generally all

c o m m u n i t y cen- complaints, but I would

tres to give talks on say’ Well didn’t you enjoy

local crime issues it,’ ‘Ey I it were grand,

and the preventa- can’t wait for next year’s

tive measures they outing’.

could take to stay It’s funny how us Brits
safe. It was also to have a funny way of ex-
foster community pressing our selves when
relations. On we arrive back from a
these visits I was holiday, ‘Did you have a good time,’ ‘Not bad,’
always included in the afternoon raffle and having ‘What was wrong with it’ ‘Well nowt.’
visited many times over the years, t o w i n t h e

o d d t i n o f c a r r o t s o r b e a n s w a s considered It is the same kind of response if you asked them

a big win. if they had been out for a meal ‘It want bad’ – ‘so

Mind you, I remember visiting another centre and what was wrong with it’ – ‘nowt it was great.’

won a prize on their raffle – ‘Go on lad choose You try it and ask the same questions and you will

som’et off’t tray.’ This meant perusing what was on get the same answers, what is often considered to

offer, ‘I’ll take this packet of jelly,’ is that alright I be the stock answer from Brit. I suppose that is

asked. ‘Ey, you take it.’ It was a long time since what makes us all a bit different.

we’d had a jelly at home. Mrs H agreed when I got

home that we would have it on Sunday. But oh dear,

when it came to have it, she quickly pointed out that

the sell by date was five years out of date. ‘Ah well,

never mind’ Mrs H said ‘It’ll be OK.’ So we had it,

and it was fine. But after that I always checked if I won

something, or politely refused.

Before my talk to these groups the secretary would Laburnum Grove residents during the 1980s holding
go through the business of the meeting. This would their table top sale which helped to raise funds for the
be followed by a discussion about what was one of annual trips. Some more familiar faces from over 40
the highlights of the year – the annual outing.
years ago.
Our featured photograph was taken by the Courier /
Echo photographer, David Green, someone who
was well known to all the community groups in and
around Brighouse.

19

Working lives —Those were the days

In 1992 the Calderdale Library Service produced a to get into this. I remember going for a job at the
book titled: Memory Lane, Recollections of Co-op and there was a long queue all along King
Brighouse, Rastrick and Hipperholme. The book is Street, round the back and up the stairs. We were
a compilation of personal memories which the interviewed at a long table, with all the committee
library service collected from 184
local people. All the individual men round it asking lots of
memories are anonymous but questions. I got into the last three
perhaps you may remember and was very disappointed not to
contributing to this publication. get the job.
Here are just a few of the
contributions. These are from the My brother came home one day
working lives section. and said that he wasn’t going
down the mines ever again. He
My father worked at Farrar’s went to London and became a
stone quarries, at Rastrick, from bellboy in one of the big hotels.
the very early 1900s. The quarry The chef suggested he got a job
was situated behind Ogden on a liner. Not long after, a letter
Lane. There were stone quarries arrived home. My brother was half
all around this area. We were way to Australia, working on a liner.
told that a l o t o f t h e s t o n e
went to the stables at In Australia, he and another boy
Buckingham Palace’s Royal had their photos in the newspaper,
Mews. He helped to cut the very big stones. These as the tallest and shortest bellboys
were taken from Brighouse station to London, by on the ship. He was only 15 at the time.
train. This was in the 1920s, not long after the First
World War.

My father ended up sawing stone, (yes, it was actually
sawn with long flat blades) for stone lintels used in
doorways and windows.

One piece of stone could weigh anything from RMS Empress of Britain in Japanese waters 1934.
three to five tons and it took a team of four horses (This image is in the public domain)
to pull the wagon that carried it. On one occasion
when a large load of stone was being carried down Later, he joined the Empress of Britain and sailed
Brooke Street to Brighouse the driver realised the around the world three times. He did very well for
brakes were not working. Whilst the driver jumped tips as he was so little and cute. The next he came
clear his mate was not so lucky and was killed by back to Brighouse to visit he was wearing a suite
the cart running over him. from Savile Row. I borrow his bellboy’s uniform for a
fancy dress day at school.
The gelignite used for blasting the rocks was
supplied by John Francis Brown’s ironmongers
shop in Briggate, just before the Anchor Bridge.
The gelignite in those days was kept in a cellar
under a large stone slab.

I was interested in knitting and sewing and wanted
to be a dressmaker or milliner but it was really hard

20

From Brookfoot to Hollywood

Brian Clegg of Well Gove, Hove Edge, has sent a The Volga Boatman. The star of this movie was a

story he would like to share. His story takes the young actor called William Boyd, the film was highly

reader from Brookfoot to California at the turn of the successful, turning him into a matinee idol overnight.

nineteenth century. It’s a story that includes The filming location was Wood Island, near Rio

Hollywood, Cecil B. DeMille, the famous actor Vista, California in 1925.

William Boyd and the man who was executed for William Boyd became even more famous as the
kidnapping the baby of the air ace Charles Lindburg popular Hopalong Cassidy, who will
in 1932. be remembered by those visiting the

Brian’s great uncle, Irvine Saturday matinee at Brighouse

Mellor, left his home in cinemas.

Brookfoot to start a new life Another actor well known from
in the "The Land of Milk those days was Adolphe Menjou,
and Honey," state of who was involved in more than 100
California, America. movies from 1941 to 1946. It was

Brian’s parents Harry and this actor that gave permission for his

Mary Clegg kept in touch chauffeur to drive his studio car and

with Irvine and decided show Harry and Mary the sights of

they would like to join him. Hollywood, which included the

Irvine arranged for his Hollywood Bowl and Grauman’s
friend Bruno to meet them Chinese Theatre.

on their arrival and direct In 2013 this was converted into a

them across country to Los custom-designed IMAX theatre and

Angeles. Bruno sent a letter seats 932 people. It features one of

to their home at Brookfoot the largest movie screens in North

with a photograph of him so America.

they would be able to On another occasion they camped-out in the Mojave
recognise him once they get to the US. In the letter Desert to witness a great gathering of the native
he introduced himself as Bruno Hauptmann. Americans tribes.

Very soon Brian’s parents set sail from Liverpool Harry and Mary decided after a few years to return

on their journey of life-time, but on arrival Bruno was to Brighouse. Harry started working at Brookfoot
no where to be found. This resulted in them having Dyeworks and Mary trained as a confectioner whilst
to make their own way to California.
working at Eddie Aspinall’s Brookfoot bakery shop.

Initially they lived at Laguna Beach, a small In 1932, a few years after their return from

coastal city in Orange County, California. From here America an event was reported throughout most of
they moved to Santa
the world as ’The Crime of the Century’. In which
Monica, another coastal
city which is west of the 18 month old baby of the famous aviator
downtown Los Angeles. Charles Lindburg was kidnapped and murdered.

Harry started work at A man was arrested, tried and found guilty of
being involved in the crime and was sentenced to
the Hollywood Studios of death in the electric chair. He was executed on
the film director Cecil B. April 3, 1936.
DeMille and was involved
in the props and scenery This man was none other than Bruno Richard
department. At this time Hauptmann, the man who should have helped
a new silent film was in Brian ‘s parents on their journey.

production titled

21

Railway Sawing Mills, Huddersfield Road, Brighouse

Standing on the corner of Huddersfield Road and the Friends Meeting House, Brighouse National

Gooder Lane it is difficult to imagine that here there Schools and the schools at Bailiff Bridge and

was once a huge Longroyde.

and thriving saw mill The company
business. was also

Looking at the mod- involved in the

ern image of that building of

corner there is an many of the

office which has larger Victorian

been used for a homes of

number different members of the

businesses. But now town’s promi-

look at the old illus- nent families.

tration you can see Thomas Bottomley’s Railway Sawing and Planing Mills c1895. These
the same office included, the
building, c1895, Headmaster’s
which was the main house at
office for the saw mill. Rastrick

The mill was originally owned and operated by Grammar School; Lands House; The Oaks in

Thomas Bottomley and Richard Greenwood in Huddersfield Road; Greenroyd and many others.

1836, at Ball Flash, Bradford Road. Ball Flash was They were also involved in the construction of many

the stretch of road between the Yorkshire Building of the town’s mill buildings: Calder Bank; Snakehill

Society and Lloyd Bank. In 1848 Richard Greenwood for Peter Allatt; Brighouse Corn Mills for the Clarke-

retired leaving Thomas Bottomley to run it on his Thornhill Estate near Mill Royd Street; a 94 quarter

own, when he transferred it to the corner of G o o d e r malt kiln also in Mill Royd Street; Prince of Wales

L a n e a n d Huddersfield Mill in Birds Royd Lane;

Road. Alexandra Mill; Crowtrees

When Thomas retired the Mill; Badger Hill Mill;
business was run by his Rosemary Mills; Belle
son Councillor James Vue Mill on Bradford
Bottomley Brighouse Road and many more.

Borough Council member The Gooder Lane saw

1893-1900, Alderman from mills occupied a site of

1901 to 1914. He died on 3,300 sq yards.

Christmas Day 1914. James Bottomley, like

The company was one of his father, took a keen

the oldest in Brighouse and interest in public life. He

was highly respected. was elected to the Rastrick

As well being a thriving ©Courtesy of Humphrey Bolton (2007) – the former Board in 1892 and was
timber merchants the company offices of Thomas Bottomley’s Railway saw mill. then a member of the

became one of the largest construction businesses first Brighouse Borough Council in 1893.

in the area. They were also major joinery and He was an active member of the Bridge End

carpentry contractors. Some of the commissions Congregation Sunday School where he was a

they received for joinery and woodwork included: teacher and the treasurer. Did the saw mill continue

Brighouse Town Hall; Oddfellows Hall; St Paul’s after he died in December 1914? Further

Wesleyan Chapel; St Joseph’s Catholic Church; research will be needed to answer that.

22

The Calder Navigation Society

The Calder Navigation Society (CNS) was formed in and Hebble Navigation was seriously under threat of

1969 as an association of boaters, ramblers and abandonment.

others who are interested in promoting the use and Something had to be done!
sympathetic development of the waterways in the

Calder Valley. It was the Halifax Civic Trust and the Inland Waterways

The aims of the Society are: Association (IWA) jointly who did it and a public
meeting established that there was a body of support

To stimulate public for promoting and

interest and developing the

appreciation of Navigation for

t h e waterways of leisure purposes. In

the Calder Valley. April 1969 the CNS

To promote and was born.

encourage the use It was agreed that

of all such water- IWA would produce

ways for the benefit a guide to the

of the public. Calder and Hebble

In furtherance of The official re-opening of the Elland Road bridge in 2017 after Navigation and CNS
the above, but not being rebuilt due to the flood damage of Boxing Day 2015. There would acquire a
otherwise: boat. The purpose
of the boat was to
To encourage boat run trips to demon-

owners and hirers look to be a few dignitaries on board. strate to people liv-

from other parts of the ing in the Calder Val-

waterways system to cruise along the length of the ley that they had a navigation which was worth
Calder and Hebble Navigation and the Huddersfield keeping.
Broad Canal.
The guide was expected to attract boaters from
To promote the use of waterway’s for commercial further afield. The boat was called Doreen, an ex-
carrying, leisure boating, angling, rambling and Windermere launch constructed of wood. This
other compatible activities.
became extremely labour intensive and was

A brief introduction to the Calder Navigation eventually replaced by a steel vessel, the current
boat, Savile, which was built along the same lines
Society.
as Doreen.
In 1952 the Rochdale Canal was formally abandoned
If you want to see a lasting memorial to CNS
and the next year the last remaining regular Calder
and Hebble Navigation traffic above Brighouse, coal activities on those early days, go to Ganny Lock in
Brighouse. One Sunday morning an enthusiastic
to Sowerby Bridge, ceased when the gas works
CNS gang used rubble to build the dry stone wall
closed. Although there were probably still some
occasional ‘one-off’ loads, commercial movements which is still there today.

were in serious decline. The upper reaches were There are also various plaques commemorating

still maintained after a fashion by the then British CNS activities along the waterway. There is also a

Waterways but the future would have seemed far plaque on the Huddersfield Road Bridge in Brighouse

from rosy. where CNS is mentioned as is another at Tuel Lane

So it remained until the 1960s when British Rail- Lock at Sowerby Bridge. Had the campaign to save
ways set ‘Beeching’ all over the place and, encouraged the Calder and Hebble failed not only would the
by the Government and not to be outdone BW set upper reaches have been lost but it is likely that
out on a similar course. The top end of the Calder closure of the rest would have followed too.

23

April 2019 saw the 50th Anniversary of CNS where The age of the tram arrives.
plaques were unveiled in Mirfield and also at
Brighouse Basin. It was in the same year where I was recently asked about the tramcar network
CNS instigated and with the Canal and River Trust from Brighouse to Bailiff Bridge, which started in
organised volunteers which resulted in the refur- 1904.
bishing of Ha’penny Bridge at Battyeford, where 46
souls came together. After suitable preparation they Let us go back a few years earlier than that, to
succeeded in painting the bridge structure. This re- when the tramcar extension from Stump Cross
sulted in CNS being recommended for an award was approved and was started in 1902. It was
and the Society was delighted to be notified that we decided by the Halifax Corporat ion that the
were selected for the “Above and Beyond” award by
My Mirfield Community & Business Awards.

Members and guests at the canal basin to unveil a Men working on laying the new tram tracks along
plaque to celebrate the society’s 50th anniversary in 2019. Braford Road in August 1904.

None of CNS’ founding members are still with us, tram route would be extended from Stump
however the Society remains and continues to pro- Cross through to Hipperholme and then on to
mote the waterway. In order to continue operating Brighouse via Hove Edge with the terminus outside
Savile we need your help and support so why not the George Hotel. This route was completed in
join us? We particularly require boat skippers and February 1904.
crew so please speak to Avril Davies – our Mem-
bership Secretary. It was then decided to extend the tram route
from Brighouse to Bailiff Bridge. Here are a gang
Email: [email protected] of track-layers working on Bradford Road. There
was no time to waste with the route planned to be
We are currently based at South Pennine Boat opened in October of 1904.
Club situated at Battyeford, just outside Mirfield.
The club very kindly provides moorings for Savile Here are some of the track layers taking time out
for which we are very grateful. for a well-earned drink at the Martins Nest, but
before that there is still time to have a group
Savile is very popular during the spring and summer photograph on the pub steps to record the occasion
months in running day trips for families, groups of for posterity, and here they are 118 years later.
colleagues and friends etc. We also like to attend
events at Brighouse such as the popular ‘40s week-
end where we offer half hourly trips on the canal.

Peter Davies

Chairman

Calder Navigation Society

24

Brighouse at Work - From a small hamlet and a bridge, the town of
Brighouse in Calderdale grew rapidly with the building of the Calder and
Hebble Navigation in the late eighteenth century. This led to the development
of the town’s successful textile industries. This is a book where almost a
few lines will tell the reader something about the industrial heritage of
Brighouse and its surrounding communities.

The book is £14.99 + £3 postage packaging, for overseas orders please
contact the author. PayPal is available as are cheques.

All in a Day’s Work — During the 1950s, Chris Helme was often
asked by relatives: 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' A
policeman was always his answer. A child of the Fifties, he was
brought up to respect the local police who seemed to know everyone.

All in a Day's Work: 30 Years as Brighouse Bobby is his journey to
achieving that ambition culminating with being awarded the British
Empire Medal for services to his community in 1990. A local bobby had
to deal with everything that happened on his 'patch'. This book takes
the reader through a catalogue of sad, humorous, and almost
unbelievable incidents in the life of a local policeman. £12.00 + £3 p/p.

This is now also available as an audiobook at Calderdale Library
Service and other audiobook sources on the internet.

Brighouse Through Time - 96 pages of both black and white and
coloured images of aspects with views of Brighouse and its surrounding
communities. Fascinating scenes displayed in a of 'then and now'
format. £12.99 + £3.

Sunny Vale Pleasure Gardens, near Brighouse, opened as a
garden in 1880 but with the inclusion of amusements in 1883 it
became a hugely popular venue for Sunday strollers, local Sunday
School groups and day trippers from around the north of England for
the next seventy-five years. This collection of more than 180 images,
complemented by detailed captions and reminiscences of the Gardens
throughout their long history, will delight all who remember visiting as a
child and provide a fascinating insight into this vanished, but
not-forgotten, institution. £12.00 + £3 p/p.

All these books can be purchased through www.chrishelme-brighouse.org.uk
from the on-line shop or by contacting Chris Helme email:

[email protected] — or by telephone 07854-755756
and Harrison Lords, Bradford Road Brighouse. If you wish to advertise your
book on the website or in this magazine please contact the publisher.

Back page outer cover : This photograph is dated c1970 and is taken from Ganny Lock looking up towards
the back of the properties on Elland Road. The properties on the first floor behind the railed balcony were back

-to-back homes whilst the ground floor properties were called under dwellings.

These properties were all demolished as part of the town centre redevelopment scheme during the early
1970s. It was in this row of properties where the Dark Passage was, which is featured on page 13.