Brighouse and District Heritage Newseum No. 14

BRIGHOUSE & DISTRICT

Heritage Newseum

Issue 14 Autumn 2021

Edited and Published by Chris Helme

A poster for the 35th Annual Brighouse Swimming Club Gala held at Millroyd Street swimming baths.

© Christopher D. Helme (2021), 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, crit icism, review or as other wise 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: This photograph is looking down Halifax Road at the Lane Head Primitive Methodist Chapel
frontage. The first Lane Head Chapel was built in 1864 at a cost of £811 and incorporated an existing
Toll House. The one in this photograph was built in 1889 and closed in 1982 and became part of the
Brighouse Central Methodist Church, with Lane Head being demolished in 1985 and the site redeveloped.

BRIGHOUSE & DISTRICT

HERITAGE NEWSEUM

From the Editor Issue 14 Autumn 2021

Welcome to the Autumn 1 Notes from the Editor.
issue, which has another 2 Brooke’s Nonslip Railway and Locomotives.
eclectic mix of history and 4 The Big Day at Cooper Bridge.
nostalgia stories about the 6 The Birth of Adult Education in Brighouse.
people and places within 8 It’s Party Time 1936.
Brighouse and its 9 Plans for the Future But what about the Past.
surrounding communities. 10 Costa Coffee Corner!
11 Notes from the Council Chamber 1937/38.
In this issue we have covered everything 12 A Postcard from Hipperlight ?
from the Cooper Bridge Sewage Works to a 13 The Original Convenience Stores.
1936 childrens’ party and Kathlyn Hobson’s 14 The Kathlyn Hobson School of Dancing.
dancing school. 15 From a Reading book to an Audiobook.
16 From Vaudeville to the Silver Screen.
After the story we had in the last issue 17 The Silver Jubilee Bank Account 1935.
about September 11 being the new date for the 18 School’s Out at Brookfoot County Primary.
Brighouse Gala, sadly it has been 19 Memories from Parsonage Lane.
announced that it is now cancelled for this 20 Old Newspapers’ Local History Memories.
year.
21 Town Centre Memories 1940 - 1965.
We are featuring two stories from readers 23 A Letter from Texas.
in this issue. Mrs Jean Buck recalls her
younger days spent in and around Brighouse Remember to look at our website where you
town centre with a fascinating account of can also contact the editor and you are
the shops and sights from the days of the able to purchase various local books, including
Second World War days through to 1965. some that are no longer in print, through the

And we have memories from Dom Turner online shop, where PayPal is available:
about his local history school project as a www.chrishelme-brighouse.org.uk
pupil at Lightcliffe C of E, an interest he still
has today. An advertisement
for Regal Taxis in
Whatever happened to the Brooke’s
Stone Company’s locomotives? How many 1963, when the
readers can remember seeing the man in proprietor was
Halifax Road, Hove Edge standing in the
middle of the road waving his red flag? G. Ramsden

We are always pleased to hear from 1
readers who would like to share their
memories or photographs.

Chris Helme

Brooke’s Nonslip Railway and Locomotives

Driving down Halifax Road from Hipperholme today During the company’s history it had about eight

it is difficult to imagine now in the 21st century that miles of track. However, when it closed down the

just over 50 years ago as you approached the centre track was down to about four miles and was sold at

of Hove Edge you could have been faced with a £1.25 per yard for scrap.

man standing in But how did it all start

the middle of the and what happened to

road frantically the locomotives? The

waving a red flag first locomotive, which

instructing you to was made in Leeds,

stop. As you was given the name

slowed down it Silex and arrived at the

was then you Lightcliffe works in

realised why, one 1897. It was in daily use
of Brooke’s stone and in February 1934,

works locomotives having served its

was going to be Just a small section of the Brooke’s sidings with the mainline to purpose, it was
driven across the its right. The gable end property in the distance on the far right scrapped by Thomas
road. There were
is Brooklands, Hipperholme. Ward Ltd of Sheffield.

no electric signals or bells and there were no The following year a contractor was disposing of

automatic level crossing gates. Many years ago I
heard that during the history of Brookes’ there were his locomotive Harry Brooke’s bought it and then
changed the name to Nonslip the name of the
three separate tracks crossing Halifax Road.
company’s artificial stone. In 1911 Nonslip left

Lightcliffe and was transferred to the Shap

Granite Company. Whilst this was an independent

company its directors were members of the Brooke

family. This locomotive was to be renamed

Vulcan. Its working life at Lightcliffe did start again

when it was brought back in 1916. By the 1920s, it

was back at Shap and scrapped not long after.

Locomotive Silex II crossing Halifax Road in 1967. The In 1911, a new locomotive was delivered and was
driver would probably have been Herbert Ward. called Nonslip II . Mrs Brooke stood on the footplate

Whilst that was only one locomotive travelling
across the road, the company had as many as 10
during its life time.

The history of Brooke’s internal railway network is
believed to date back to 1896, the year a sidings
agreement was signed with the L&Y (Lancashire
and Yorkshire Railway). This and other agreements
existed until March 18, 1969, when the company
closed and the last load of bricks was sent out from and christened the new locomotive No. 1803, the
the works. Shortly after, British Rail recovered above image. Having broken the ceremonial
and removed materials from the now defunct sidings bottle of wine the locomotive was taken for test run.
and this brought to an end the 73 year history However, Nonslip II was not very successful and
of the regular sight of the company’s locomotives. in January 1917 it was sold.

2

During the First World War new locomotives were
needed and once again Mr Newton Brooke was in
touch with the manufacturers Manning Wardle
Co. in Leeds. New orders were placed in 1915.

These new locomotives included Silex and two Conway, a locomotive which was used at the North
in the name of Brooke’s Chemicals Ltd 1) Nitro Wales Granite company. It was brought back to
and 2) Azo. It is reported that there was consid-
erable discussion before these two names were Lightcliffe owing to the lack of work in Wales. It was not
finalised. Other names considered included: Amino, suited to working at Lightcliffe and in 1930 it was sold to
Benzidi, Diazo, Methyl, Nitrate, Nitric, Phenyl and T.W.Ward’s for scrap. This image shows it in storage at
Toluic.
Lightcliffe waiting to be removed by the scrapmen.
Silex was damaged in 1915, after it was hit by a
runaway wagon. It would be almost 12 months The same fate fell on Azo and Silex, both being
before it was taken to Leeds for repair and was scrapped on site in 1934. The arrival of Silex II and
returned to Brooke’s in early January 1917. Nonslip III. A new locomotive Brookes No.1 arrived
in 1941, there was no naming ceremony, it was just
named after the company. Nonslip III was sold in
1942 to the Ministry of Supply for £1,840. Silex II
required extensive repairs and it was out of service
for a long time. In 1956 Nonslip Stone arrived.

On July 17, 1969, the company was closing down

and everything was auctioned off. Nonslip Stone
Left to Right: Locomotives Azo, Silex in side the shed was sold. The auctioneer told the crowd that who
and in the foreground Nitro in 1917.
ever bought the Nonslip Stone could have Silex II
Nitro arrived in February 1916 and Azo the following for the same price. They were sold at £1,325 each
month. These two locomotives were christened and an effort to buy one by Mr William Brooke and
by William Aspinall Newton Brooke and his
the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway was
brother Edward on March 25, 1916. This was the unsuccessful, losing out to the scrapmen.
time when Brooke’s Chemicals produced
explosive material for the war effort. Brookes I was sold for £1,410 and was saved
from the scrapmen. Philips Electronic and Associated
Nitro proved to be a disappointment, needing Industries planned a small museum relating to the
regular repairs which saw both Nitro and Silex having history of Brooke’s but it did not happen. The
to be returned to Leeds for major repairs. During locomotive languished in the Brooke’s railway shed.
the mid 1920s Nitro was transferred to the Channel It was finally purchased by a Mr A. Hall who wanted
Island Granite Company in Alderney. During the
it to run on a quarter-mile track. On September 19,
German occupation of the Channel Islands Nitro 1971, it was taken by road to Delph Station.
disappeared. It is likely that from being used in the
preparation of munitions at Lightcliffe it was This brought an end to the Brooke’s steam
probably scrapped and turned into munitions. Azo locomotives. They had been approached in the
stayed at Lightcliffe until it was scrapped in 1950s about switching to diesel but they always
February 1944. insisted it would be too expensive.

In November 1924 Newton Brooke was looking to Brooke’s I can be seen today and enjoyed at the
buy more locomotives. Another was needed at Middleton Railway, Leeds. It is a far cry from hauling
Lightcliffe and a second one for the company’s new stone to now giving children a journey to remember
Tarbitumac works at Stoke and possibly a third one on what are called ’Thomas Tank Engine Days’.
for Alderney. (Extracts from Brooke’s Industrial Railways)

3

The Big Day at Cooper Bridge

The recent publicity about major changes being reported for depositing offensive matter in the
considered at Cooper Bridge at a reported cost of streets. Night soil had to be removed during the
£75m reminded me of another day when a huge night and the habit of butchers slaughtering animals
sum of money was spent. in the street outside their shops had to be stopped.

We have come a long The collecting of night

way since our streets soil had its problems

were once described as particularly when washing

open sewers. lines were fastened up

Before Brighouse CoCohpreisr HBerildmgee iCnodlaleycstiownhen the Dumb Steeple formed the full width of the
became industrialised the roundabout. This photograph is certainly pre-1914. narrow often back-to-
the then rural parts of back streets. New laws
the town and its made it an offence to do
surroundings could that as it prevented the
manage with the primitive Night Soil collectors
sanitation facilities that travelling up and down
were available, with the streets. The new law
fewer dangers to the made it an offence to
population’s health. place a washing line out
beyond the middle of the
However, once the street. This would enable

industrialisation of the town was near to saturation the collector and his cart to drive up one side freely.
point, with countless high rise mill buildings, each
discharging vast amounts of filthy waste products By the 1860s the water supply was failing and the
and human waste from the close proximity of row existing drainage facilities on one occasion failed
after row of back to back houses. The primitive altogether when churchgoers walking up Church
sanitation facilities were totally inadequate and Lane were met by a tidal wave of slime, human
people’s health became a great concern: this meant waste and everything else you could possibly imagine.
something had to be done. It slid down Church Lane and formed a solid mass,
similar to the remains of a volcanic eruption, in
Many of us have walked through graveyards and Commercial Street. The illnesses this caused in
seen the huge number of child and infant deaths the town, and remember in those days the town
recorded on headstones. Very few of them reaching centre was well populated with people living over
their early teens and quite often both parents and their shops. This took on a new meaning and the
more often than not families from five to 10 children work the Commissioners had previously done had
were interred within a year or two of each other. All little to no effect.
were victims of the pestilence of the nineteenth
century. In 1865, the Local Board (forerunners to the eventual
Borough Council) took over from the old
An excellent book to read about the poor health commissioners and sweeping changes were set to
of Brighouse is John Brooke’s publication ‘When take place. Plans were drawn up to provide a new
Panic Seized the Town’, which tells the story of
drainage system on the town’s major streets and in
Brighouse and district during the 1892 smallpox particular the heavily populated areas.
epidemic. There is also his book on West Yorkshire
epidemics ‘Cruel Lives’. The birth of the borough it is said came about
because of the town’s need for a reliable sewerage
The responsibilities of cleaning up the town fell to system. The only way to dispose of the sewage in
the commissioners. The first serious and major the nineteenth century was in the River Calder and
efforts to clean it up followed the passing of the
with it looking more like a swirling river
Nuisance Removal Act of 1855. People were

4

of oil that made the whole town smell vile, plans the sewage problem and its debt took a back seat to

were drawn up for a new sewerage works on some the more pressing problem of the time.

land at Cooper Bridge. Since those far off days the

By 1894 plans were all original Brighouse Corporation

ready under way. A 55-acre Sewage Works has been

site had been bought from Sir closed and replaced by four

George Armytage for £15,000 major works at and around

and with a loan of £95,000 Cooper Bridge.

construction got underway. The opening ceremony of
The machinery needed at this the Brighouse works took
new work amounted to £1,569 place at 3pm, on 23 June,
and would be supplied by 1900. Arrangements had
Hughes and Lancaster, a been made for the Lancashire
specialist company in this and Yorkshire Railway
area of manufacturing, who Company to attach extra
were based in Wrexham carriages to the special train

Here is the programme for leaving Brighouse station at

July 23, 1896, when the 1.59pm for Cooper Bridge.

Mayor, Richard Kershaw JP, Those gentleman who would

cut the first sod. It is interesting arrive in their own personal

to read that Martin Manley carriages were asked to leave

was on hand to record the event by photographing them near the works entrance in Leeds Road or

the proceedings. Sadly, those images appear to Wakefield Road.

have been lost. I do know being told many years At exactly 3pm the officials, guests and general
ago that many of his glass plate negatives were onlookers were all assembled at the Engine House.
found in a dustbin. Alderman Richard Kershaw opened the meeting

Although the work was slow the big day came and asked the Town Clerk James Parkinson to read

when the new Brighouse Corporation Sewage to the gathered ensemble the Resolution of the

Works was opened on June 23, 1900. The Mayor, Committee, and asked the Mayor Alderman John

Councillor J.W.Clay, officiated at the opening of the William Clay to formally open the works and Mr

new sewage plant. As with many largescale building A.M.Fowler, the works engineer to make a

projects it was not that long after it was opened they presentation to the Mayor.

were seen to be too small. The reason for this was The Mayor opened the Engine House door and
the miscalculation of the outer districts’ sewage declared the works open. Mr Fowler and his assistant
disposal needs. Mr Nicholl then gave a guided tour. A marquee had

With ever increasing costs the total had now been erected to allow the guest to take refresh-

spiralled to £150,000, with a new extension in 1912 ments. It is interesting to note that to gain access to

which amounted to another £18,500. These were the refreshment marquee was by ticket only and

much needed improvements but the local populace these must be handed in before leaving the site.

just saw it as another cost added to their rates. With the proceedings concluded the arranged

Some consideration was given to a German train would be leaving be leaving Cooper Bridge at

invention of converting sewage to gas and the profit 6.46pm.

from that would offset against the debt. Sadly, for I suspect both the 1896 and 1900 programmes I

what seemed a good idea then it didn’t take off. But, have for these two events will be the only ones in
how things have changed with that process being existence and to have stood the test of time. That is
common place not just here in the UK but around unless you know of any others that are still around?
the world.

By 1915 the First World War was fully underway and

5

The Birth of Adult Education

In the early nineteenth century when children were Broughton, the owner of Kirklees Iron Works:

put into employment at a very young age, their W.A.Parry who was a teacher; Benjamin Hamer;

education needs would have had a low priority for Benjamin Crowther; Thomas Chadwick; and William

the long term, particularly amongst the so-called Wood. All these men have in their own way contributed

working classes. Opportunities for educational to the development of Brighouse.

advancement in adult life simply did not exist. One of the committee’s first problems was the

In 1823 that was about to change when a accommodation for the meetings, a problem that

movement was started in London called the would cause difficulties many times over the next 50

Mechanic’s Institute, which introduced opportunities years.

never seen before for adult education, particularly in On October 10, 1846, a general meeting was
technical subjects for working men.
called in the schoolroom of Thomas Whiteley, in

Similar organisations are sometimes simply called Church Lane. At the end of the meeting the paid-up

‘institutes’ and were quite often funded by local membership was 46, the Institute was now

industrialists. It was felt they would benefit by having established.

more knowledgeable and skilled employees. The By Christmas of 1846 the Institute’s first lecture
mechanics' institutes were used as ‘libraries’ for the was to take place when W.M.Nelson from Leeds
adult working class, and to provide them with an spoke of ’The Rise and Fall of Napoleon’, at the
alternative pastime to gambling and drinking in pubs. conclusion of this first event a tea party was organised.

Looking through the original Minute Book at the

inaugural meeting of the new Brighouse Mechanic’s

Institute on September 22, 1846, which I have, that

first meeting was held at a warehouse in Robert

Newton’s Victoria Mills. This was the same man who

introduced the silk industry into Brighouse, some six

years earlier.

The lower end of Briggate c:1908, with John Francis
Brown’s ironmongers on the left. The Conservative

Club is where the arched window is on the right.

By August of 1847 they had to move into Commercial
Street. In 1854 they had to move again and then in
1858 they moved into the Conservative Club in
Briggate. This was part of Holroyd Buildings.

Part of Victoria Mills after the disastrous fire of 1905. But this did not last long either. A move to Hird’s
Almost a century later this would be completely Buildings, in a room above a pork butcher’s shop,
demolished and become the site of the present day came next This was just one of the many passages
Sainsbury’s Supermarket. that ran off Commercial Street.

That first meeting unanimously passed the following A notable first for the Institute was the start of the
resolutions: Brighouse and Rastrick Penny Savings Bank in
1858. From when it opened and up to 1892 it had
1. T h a t a Me c h a n i c s’ i n s t i t u t e b e f or m e d i n over 10,000 accounts and deposits of £80,000. It
Brighouse. 2. That a committee be formed consisting closed down in 1892 under new rules the Savings
of seven members: Robert Newton, Charles Heward Bank Act introduced.

6

Saturday evening entertainments became a regular classes. During 1886 and 87 the following classes

feature by 1865. These were held in the upstairs were being taught to members: Elementary chemistry:

room of the Brighouse Co-op in King Street. advanced chemistry, laboratory practice, drawing —

In 1866 the question model, freehand, geometry,
of a new Town Hall perspective, building
being built was raised construction, and drawing:
and the Mechanic’s The Institute still held elementary
Institute committee classes for reading, writing,
were approached arithmetic measurement,
about taking on some geography and English
of the proposed grammar.

upstairs rooms as A number of different subjects

their new premises. were add each year, including

The new Town Hall languages (French) and

was built on the corner shorthand, magnetism,

of Bethel Street, electricity, dressmaking,

where the Yorkshire woodcarving, various continua-

Building Society tion classes and many more.

offices are now and In 1856, the library had 543

included what was books and that year there

later to become the were over 3,000 issues. From

Savoy picture house The Town Hall in 1907, the day Princess Louise visited the early 1850s there had been
and even later the the town as the first Royal visitor. The upstairs rooms a news room which was open
Civic Hall. This was were occupied by the Mechanic’s Institute from 1868. to both men and women
the ideal move for although reports say very few
until 1893.

the Institute and made the move in October 1868. women used it. The number of newspapers not only

One of the objects of the Institute was the holding covered the local titles but also many of the major

of occasional lectures. The one held in 1847 about cities along with numerous magazines and periodicals.

the rise and fall of Napoleon those listening to Mr In 1893 the Institute was on the move again with
Nelson’s lecture were charged 3d and 6d, at the end their current location being condemned as unsuitable.
of the evening the meeting made 19/- shillings. From Members of the committee made contact with the

the outset meetings with guest lecturers were held on Trustees of the late Thomas Sugden about the possible
a regular basis, covering every subject imaginable. purchase or rent of parts of the Perseverance Mill

When the institute first started classes were estate. A rental was agreed for Perseverance

formed for the teaching of reading, writing and House to be let as three dwellings. At the 47th

arithmetic. Misbehaviour was not tolerated by any of annual meeting the Institute was in good spirits and

the members, in April 1848 two prominent entered a phase of prosperity and an expectation

tradesmen were reprimanded and one was fined 6d. that it would see an increase in members and students.

In July 1849 it was decided to form a music class Sadly, by 1910, the end of an era was coming

and any member could join and not have to pay closer. After the final exhibition of technical work

extra. Also in the same year, consideration was and a period 64 years of ups and downs the Brighouse

given to forming a cricket club and a number of Mechanic’s Institute finally came to a close.

members were tasked to look into the possibility. Many regretted its passing as it had been a place

Over the next few years a number of other classes where they could go and read newspapers in the

were started including: Grammar, Geography, Drawing much appreciated reading rooms and an alternative

classes were started in 1857. In 1868, science to walking up the steep John King Lane (Halifax

subjects were taught and by the end of the year Road) to go to the library. In 1911 there was

chemical classes were also held. By now the enthusiasm for a reading room in the town centre.

Huddersfield Borough analyst was teaching the

7

Margaret Ibbotson’s Big Day — Party Time in 1936

What a happy crowd of children these are: looking of 1936 the town centre saw a first in
at the girls gives it away a bit. It’s party time and Commercial Street when the Mayor, John Cheetham,
they are all dressed in their best outfits. These children opened Kendall’s milk bar.
were caught on camera in 1936 in the front room at
Margaret Ibbotson’s (front row left) home on her Council house building was the topic of heated
birthday. conversation at the Brighouse Borough Council

These children were Housing Committee
to grow up and see meetings in 1936. Houses
many changes in were eventually built, and
Brighouse during the it was discussed that the
85 years since this use of local men on the
was taken. site would help to reduce
the unemployment level.

The big news of that The first houses were

year was the procla- built in Rastrick and then

mation of two kings ontheJuly15, Hipperholme

with the abdication UDC decided they too

of King Edward Vlll Here are the 12 party goers in 1936, how their young lives would build some houses
sending shock waves will change as the dark clouds loom over Europe with the in their area. These
throughout the decisions triggered other
country, the Second World War just around the corner. councils to follow suite,

Dominions, and the British Commonwealth. with the Halifax Rural District Council deciding to

Hipperholme Urban District Council had a build 30 new homes at Clifton and Southowram
celebratory spoon made that was to be distributed UDC followed suit: all three stating the building
to each child in the council area. However, following would start when suitable sites had been found.

the announcement of the abdication, the spoons But these party-goers in this featured photograph

were quickly, or so the story goes, destroyed and were not interested in any of that, the party at

were not given out. Or were they? I was given one Margaret's house was the only thought on their

many years ago and the person who gave it to me mind. All these children were pupils at the Victoria

told me he had it given by one of the Hipperholme Central School, and all sung in the St Matthew's

councillors and since then through the benefits of the Church Choir and their local church at Rastrick.

eBay internet auction website I now have a second in its Those attending this special occasion are, back
original presentation case. This suggests perhaps row from the left: William Ibbotson; Betty Holmes;
they were not all melted down. It was pouring Connie Muff; Mabel Radley and Kenneth Stake.
down with rain when the new King George Vl was Middle row: Jean Mitchell; Barbara Kitchen; Audrey
proclaimed locally on December 14th. Venetia Binns and Muriel Harrison. Front row:

Locally, 1936 was the fourth time in five years that Margaret Ibbotson; Mary Kershaw and Betty Muff.

Brighouse and Rastrick Band won the September It's thanks to Jerry Lefever for the use of this
Belle Vue contest (now known as the British Open photograph - Audrey Binns was his mother and was
Championships) with conductor William Halliwell. born in 1925. She passed away in 2006, she was

Whilst the dark clouds over Europe were interred in Rastrick Cemetery. It is likely that all

gathering there was a sense of renewed optimism these children would have been of a similar age

in the town. Local trade was on the increase and and have been neighbours and school friends –

the Co-op saw the signs of improvement with the happy days!.

building of a new emporium in King Street, which

was officially opened the following year. In December

8

Plans for the Future But what about the Past?

An application has appeared in the Council the annual Christmas Party for the members’ children.

Planning Department’s listing of plans submitted

for consideration.

This plan referred to the former Elm Royd Nursing
Home which closed down in 2017. An application
received was to demolish the property and build 37
new apartments with appropriate parking spaces on
the site.

The Dyers Club Christmas Party of 1957 — Happy Days.

Other organisations meeting at the club included
their own Dyers Club Orchestra.

Elm Royd in all its glory —The home of the Ormerod
family.

But what is the history of this old former mill owner’s
house?. Here is just an outline of its history.

The earliest reference I have found connected to Dyers Club Orchestra — the young trumpet player on the
Elm Royd dates back to 1879 when Thomas front row is James (Jim) Nuttall who went on to play Flugel
Theodore Ormerod lived and died there. The Horn with Brighouse and Rastrick Band in the 1930s.
Ormerod family took an active part in the development
of modern Brighouse.

This family is often discussed by local historians:
they had mills in and around the town. But Thomas
Theodore owned the wine and spirit merchants H. & T.
T. Ormerod which had operated for many years.
Even today some of the old bottles appear on eBay
the internet auction website.

One of the last important nineteenth century

political guests to visit the house was Lord Frederick Brighouse Boys Brigade was formed in 1900. Here
Cavendish, the local Member of Parliament, who in are the members in the grounds of the Dyers Club.

1882 was assassinated in Phoenix Park, Dublin. The club closed in during the 1980s having become

In 1920 the house was sold by Charles Ormerod, unviable. The house and surrounding land was sold
who moved to Scarborough. The property was then off to be redeveloped as a Retirement Village. The
bought by the Bradford Dyers Association and house was sold again and became a residential
became known as the Dyers Club.
home for the elderly which was closed in 2017.

Over the years the Dyers Club became very Once the building has been demolished it will be

popular and some readers may remember attending the end of 150 years of history.

9

The New Costa Coffee Corner Café The Travelling Bus Station

The Wellington Arcade was part of the major town When local transport was very much in its infancy
centre re-development plan of the 1970s, with the there seemed little point in having what we would
arcade being named after the former Wellington call a bus station in the town.
Inn public house which stood on the site.
The George Hotel terminus had served the town
well enough from the day the first tramcar entered
the town centre in 1904.

Gradually, as the tramcars faded into nothing but
a memory and the appearance of buses became
more familiar, the need for a bus station grew. For
a time it did not cause too many problems of buses
simply parked almost anywhere in the streets or
used Thornton Square as the temporary terminus.

The vacant site where the Wellington Inn had stood
for about 100 years.

This inn had stood on the corner of Briggate and
Commercial Street from at least 1845, but was
closed down in 1946 and was demolished c1949.

Whilst many shops have come and gone

they have always ensured their window displays

were eye catching to the town centre shoppers.

The building’s drabness did not help the shops to

look their best. To the casual passer-by or visitors But, as the number of buses grew, the problems of
to the town, it always looked to be a breeze block where to park and where the general public could
lining waiting for its outer skin to finish it off. expect to find the bus they wanted became an

Once the old pub had been demolished for many increasing problem.

years it was the site of the town centre memorial In the short term, Owler Ings Road was tried until

garden with the gable end being the Busy Bee somewhere better could be found. In 1941, the

butchers shop. One of the other shops was for some decision was taken that as a temporary measure
time the BOP Centre (Brighouse Old Peoples’
buses would use the borough market site on Market
Centre). I can recall some of the council Street. With the exception of Saturday it had been
dignitar ies laying poppy wreaths at a ceremony used as a car park since 1926.
here at the gable
This temporary site was made permanent in 1951
end of this
when the borough market was resited in Back
green town
centre oasis. Bonegate.

Today, this Our featured photograph is dated August 8,

corner is 1970, not long before the new bus station closed

occupied by the on what was the old borough market site. With the
town centre going through another period of
Costa Coffee
café. Perhaps redevelopment, it had to go. Once completed,
one day it will be this area became the site of the present day
known as the Wellington Arcade. The bus station was on the
‘Costa Coffee move again, this time to behind Commercial Street
where the even newer bus station is now.
Corner’ ?

10

Flashes Notes from the Council Chamber 1937/38 Flashes

In 1950, Len Hutton, On October 28, 1937, a Special Sub-Committee met March 17, 1909, the
who was knighted in to discuss the installations of new traffic signs. Empire skating rink on
1956 was one of the
greatest batsmen the Following site visits by members of the Sub- Atlas Mill Road was
game of cricket has Committee, Halt at Major Road Ahead and Slow opened. It extended all
produced came to signs, at 14 locations were approved including one the way from Atlas Mill
Brighouse. He was invited at Hangram Street at its junction with Bradford Road.
to speak to the members Road almost to the
of the Brighouse Rotary For those not familiar with Hangram Street, it no river’s edge. It was
Club and their meeting longer exists but since the town centre redevelopment made from corrugated
held at the Royal Hotel. iron. When the craze for
He told the meeting that of the 1970s it now forms part of the roundabout skating finally came to
18 years ago he had and dual-carriageway outside Tesco’s Supermarket an end it became a cinema
played here and made and part of the Ludenscheid Link. The tall building and held vaudeville
87 runs and had never
looked back since. on the right is still present today and was the performances.
rear entrance to Brighouse Co-op. Hangram Street
In 1957, the Rev. Arthur ran parallel with the Co-op building. This photo was In 1967, Alderman Herbert
Paul Leavey who was taken not long before the demolition and Redfearn was elected
the Vicar at St. John’s Mayor. On the matter of
Church between 1944 re-development work started. roads he said the first
and 1949, was lost at
On March 21, 1938, the Library and Art Gallery priority was for Brighouse
seaonhiswayto Rangoon. Committee received proposals for the lighting and to have an east-west
Before his appointment heating of the Norwood Green Branch Library. It bypass, which would
was also reported that Miss Watts, of Rookes Lane, cost £750,000 and
at Rastrick he was a Norwood Green, had agreed to act as a part-time would involve the
Chaplain in the Forces. Librarian at this branch for a renumeration of £6.6s.0d demolition of 240
In June 1948, he was per annum. The library was in Village Street almost properties. By 1976 the
appointed an Inspector construction of the
of Schools and when he opposite Watford Avenue and closed c:1959. bypass was well under
left Rastrick in 1949, he way.
was appointed as the On June 16, 1938, the Highways Committee
Chaplain of Lincoln Prison. discussed a letter the Borough Engineer had In 1977 there was big
received from Nathan Whitehead. He was requesting trouble at the chippie! In
In 1943 the news came that the street on the easterly side of Victoria Street, 1976 there had been a
through that 231 Battery Clifton, where he was building a number of houses, potato famine and chips
be called Victoria Avenue. The committee agreed to were being sold at 12p.
of the 58th Anti-Tank the request. If you live in Victoria Avenue, now you
Regiment, with many But in 1977 there was
from Brighouse in its know the origins of its name. one almighty row
ranks, had clashed with
German amour in North The Parks and Cemeteries Committee met on brewing. With potatoes
Africa and acquitted itself December 20, 1937, to discuss the plan submitted back to their pre-famine
to construct a shelter in Bramston Street Recreation prices the price of chips
well. Ground for aged men. The estimated cost of between
£225 and £250 was accepted and approved. These did not come down.
In 1925,Herbert (Bert) shelters were often referred to as an ‘Old Man’s
Wood of Greenroyd, In 1892, the captain of
Huddersfield Road, Parliament’. Brighouse Rangers ,
Brighouse, presented Thomas Henry Hughes
the town with a Rolls married Louisa Clayton
Royce ambulance. The at Brighouse Parish
widely held view by local Church. In 1905 he was
people at the time was ’It the licensee at the
was a pleasure to Commercial Inn,
Huddersfield Road. Every
be ill’. Christmas he gave his
regular customers a cigar,
making him very popular.

11

A Postcard from Hipperlight ?

There are not many school projects that stand out in We turned right out of the school gate and down

my memory, especially from junior school. However Wakefield Road to the lovely old graveyard and

one that does is the project we did when I was church tower which I remember was fascinating and

perhaps nine or ten at Lightcliffe C of E School interesting. One of the girls, Leanne Ives didn’t think

about the history of the local area. so and was quite scared I recall. We came back up

No doubt I wasn’t particularly interested or excited past the Sun Inn and at St Matthews Church taking
by this when our teacher in the old gatehouse to Crow

Mr Woods announced Nest Mansion and discovered

this forthcoming educa- about Sir Titus salt and his

tional treat: however by involvement with the area. After

the end I was and having a little look down the old

indeed still am fascinated Coach Road and those lovely old

by local history. gate posts at the top we
discovered there was once a
I recall the class-
railway station at Lightcliffe and
based learning involved
were shown one of the old
looking at some lovely
entranceway gates.
old photos and post-
cards and we were also treated to a slide show by Sutherland Road and the Cenotaph
the Headteacher Mr Brooke and local Vicar Rev. on the Stray were next on the tour followed by a
Wilding. I am pretty sure a certain Mr Chris Helme walk along Leeds Road and having a look at the
came into school to give us a chat on the subject lovely big old houses on there and The Crescent.
but maybe I’m confusing his presence with my Then it was back down Knowle Top Road, past
cycling proficiency test and lessons up and down Perth Villas and down Cecil Avenue before returning
Knowle Top Road we did with him at about the — probably worn out — back to school, which was
same time. of course and is another place of great historic
interest and importance to us all and our project.
We drew our own pictures of the old buildings in
the village and designed our own postcards along Our expert local history guides informed us of
with pieces of writing about the subject and different former residents and interesting stories of all the
aspects of the project. All this was put together into places we saw on our travels.

a small booklet, which with a stroke of genius I must Presumably not all my classmates took quite so

say I decided to call it ‘Hipperlight History’...to be much interest in the project as I did and probably

honest most of the class used the same name, so I even less are still interested in the local area and its

don’t know if it was my genius or maybe it was history as I am today. For me it was a turning point

someone else’s ...I’m going with the former. in my life and became a 30 plus years hobby and

Now of course the best part of a school project is passion and I often think of the area, what it would
the potential field trip and day out which given the have been like and to live in a 100 plus years ago

subject of the project wouldn’t really be a day out I just hope that some of these buildings and

more a two-hour wander around the streets which places of interest are still around in another 100

was all good to me. Every day since 1979 I had years for future generations to enjoy and learn

probably walked these same streets or travelled in about.

my pram either to and from school or playgroup at It’s something I would love my children to take an
the Scout Hut or the United Reformed Church, interest in as it’s all relevant to their family history
going to play and sledge on the Stray or to visit the and story and even if they don’t it’s something they
parade of shops at Hipperholme on a Saturday will remain a passion for me and I’m always looking
morning with my mum. But this was the first time I to learn more about the fascinating interesting and
had been taught about and taken notice of the buildings. varied history of Hipperlight. Dom Turner

12

The Original Convenience Stores

'Don't forget the Co-op number', as my mother In the first of these three photographs taken circa
would always say and then off I would go saying to 1899 we see the old branch number nine and I am
myself 14910, you dare not forget it or else. Back in sure some Hove Edge readers will recognise the
those days the divi (dividend) money often paid building. It was opened by the Brighouse Co-op on
for those extras that normally many of us would not April 25, 1881, at the corner of Halifax Road and
have been able to afford. In some cases, it paid for Half House Lane, but these days having had a
a day out in the summer, perhaps the only holiday variety of different businesses it is now an
many would have. Whilst to others it was the one accountant’s office.
time of the year when a few debts could be paid off.

Shopping in those days didn't involve a Friday trek
to a supermarket somewhere but more of a dash to
the local branch of the Co-op. This was more often
than not a daily or may be every other day. You
didn't have enough money in those days to go and
buy a trolley load for the forth-coming week.

From its founding in 1856 the Brighouse Co-op The Norwood Green Co-op branch c1899.
rapidly expanded throughout the outer districts.
Now a days memories of the Brighouse Co-op are In our second photograph is the Norwood Green
rapidly becoming a distant memory and it has long branch and you will just be able to make out the
since been confined to the history books. shape of the manager’s white apron as he stands in
the doorway. This branch was opened on January
The Hove Edge Co-op branch c1899. 16, 1888. After closing down it was a small private
village shop for a number of years but after that it
too closed it was redeveloped into a house. Over
the doorway is the familiar site of the beehive - 'As
Busy as a Bee' an appropriate insignia for a business
that did so much for many, particularly at the time
when so many had so little and needed so much.

The local community Co-op branches were eventually
sold off to become what we refer to these days as
the local convenience store or redeveloped for an
alternative kind of business. As shoppers became
better off they found it more convenient to visit the
supermarket in the town or to what are often
referred to now as a hypermarket or a Mall in the
middle of nowhere.

The corner shop was gradually seen off by the in- The Waring Green Co-op branch c1899. Opened on
town supermarket. Naturally the corner shop owner January 4, 1875, but was demolished about a century
saw their livelihoods threatened when these began later. Described as causing a road safety hazard in
to appear. Even now some of the in-town su- respect of sight-lines . Today, the site is still vacant and
permarkets are suffering the same fate by being the over grown shrubbery now causes sight-line problems.
threatened with the out-of-town shopping centres.

13

Were you a student at the Kathlyn Hobson School of Dancing?

It was only a couple of years ago that I spotted and Rastrick Common, with her widowed mother.

bought another gem of local history from eBay, the During the war years she was a member of the

internet auction site. It was a programme for the AFS (Auxiliary Fire Service) and an ARP (Air Raid

Eighth Annual Dancing Display by the pupils of Precaution). From the available records she has

Miss Kathlyn Hobson. This show was held at the shown herself three years younger, born in 1908.

Sugden Memorial Hall on Saturday April 27, 1935. In October 1937, she was one of the cast a

But who was Kathlyn Hobson, someone who was ’Portrait of a Lady’ which was a radio play written

very well known in by Brighouse

local dancing circles? author and play-

Information seems to wright James R.

be very limited but Gregson. Another

thanks to Sandra member of the cast

Horsfield and Ras- was Wilfred Pickles.

trick historian Andrew In 1969, aged 64,
Eccles we are able to she married Charles
share a small part of H. Herbert of Halifax.
Kathlyn’s story.
In July 1972,
From the available there is a record of
an obituary for a
material I have Kathleen Herbert
aged 64, born July
learned she was born 16, 1905, I believe
this to be the same
Kathleen Hobson on This was taken during the early 1950s - From the left: Elaine person.
July 16, 1905, and Leaver, Jean Belcher, Denise Sugden, Sandra Brook, Not Known,
was the daughter of Ruth Aspinall, Anne Shackleton, Stella Freeman, Pauline Freeman,
Percy and Ada
Patricia Webster and not known.

Hobson of Fartown, Huddersfield. In 1911 the
family were living at 388, Bradford Road, Fartown, Sandra Brook (nee Horsfield) joined Kathlyn’s
display in the summer of 1953, aged six, and left
Huddersfield. Her f ather was descr ibed on
the census as a musician. Between 1919 and in 1961 aged 14. She recalls always being
1935 the family lived in William Street, Rastrick. excited and nervous before going on stage at the
start of each show. She was taught tap dancing
Percy passed away in 1937.
and for that reason the sailors hornpipe was one of
By 1927 Kathleen, now known as ‘Kathlyn’, was her favourite memories.

teaching at regular dance classes. The 1935

programme I have is shown as the Eighth Dancing

Display and was held on April 27, 1935, and was

held at the Sugden Memorial Hall.

The senior class members on this show included: Taken c1957/58 in a room above the Brighouse
Margaret Turner, Eileen Fitton, Margaret Crowther, Magistrates Court. From the left: Denise
Joan Hopkinson, Margery Yandell, Nancy Sugden, Jean Belcher, Sandra Horsfield (nee
Johnstone, Doreen Berry, Kathleen Cartwright, Brook), Ruth Aspinall and Unknown.
Olga Atkinson, Bessie Hartley, Muriel Stanton,
Patricia Ward, Jean Rigby, Anne Batt, Catherine
Crowther and Vera Stanton. It is now 86 years
since this show took place: perhaps one of these
young dancers would have been a member of your
family.

In 1939 Kathlyn was living at Ivy House, 60,

14

A Brush with the Psychic... From a Reading book to an Audiobook

Garry Kirk was born in Denholme, but lived in lt is over 25 years ago when I first had the idea of

Brighouse for more than 50 years, at Healey Wood creating an audiobook. With the help of the Calderdale

and Woodhouse Lane. Talking Newspaper the cassette tape with 17 stories

Sadly, Garry passed away in 2007, aged 77. which I had written went on sale with half the

Throughout his life he had a sales receipts being donated to the Talking News-
fascination with the para- paper. I decided then that another one would follow.

normal and hoped one day That was in 1995 and that second audiobook has

that using his own experi- finally come to fruition. Only this time it is a

ences and what he had professionally produced digital audiobook.

discovered throughout this In 2015 I was commissioned to write about the
life long interest he might lighter side of my policing service. This book was
be able to write a book. published and is still available. Just over two years

Garry’s widow Margaret ago I decided to look into the possibility of creating

knew and appreciated just a new audiobook from my ’All in a Day’s Work’

how much time he had police book. With the help of ’The Studio’, a

spent on writing and researching this subject, also professional recording studio near Barnsley the

hoping that it might be published one day audiobook is now finished.

However, with Garry’s passing he did not fulfil
his desire and hopes of having his book published.
Margaret had painstakingly typed his notes and
manuscript into a readable format and decided that
she would do it for him.

The book covers his visits to mediums, Spiritualist

Churches and much

more including

Regression and

Reincarnation and

the ‘Return of Cynthia’,

a cousin who died at

the age of 23. The next challenge was to get it published. Having

Garry’s interest in investigated the market it is the American company
the paranormal started ‘Findaway Voices’ who have now published the
at a young age when almost six-hour recording and it is available through
his father spoke
40 audiobook retailers around the world.
about hypnotism.
The audiobook has an Introduction, 12 Chapters
He was a qualified and finishes with an Epilogue. The question I am
architect with a now asked is’ Will it sell’? The quick answer, ’I don’t
private practice in Dewsbury. His main interests
know but it has been a wonderful two year
away from the paranormal was recording old experience producing it and finally seeing it out in
buildings in the West Riding, including Brighouse. the audiobook world’.

Margaret is sure that Garry would be pleased that The Introduction and Chapter One are available
she has published his book, which is available from on my website: www.chrishelme-brighouse.org.uk
PN Books by post, priced £9.49 + p/p. It is also The full audiobook is now available through
available through Amazon and various other Calderdale Library Services.
websites.
Chris Helme

15

From Vaudeville to the Silver Screen

In 1999 a booked titled ‘The Cinemas of Halifax — to specialise in animated pictures, which had been

and Surrounding Area’ was published by Stuart R. produced to a very high quality and these were

Smith and Brian Hornsey in conjunction with the always popular with the audiences. These were

Mercia Cinema Society. The book is well out of interspersed with vaudeville acts as can bee seen

print but currently there are two for sale on on this 1914 Empire poster.

www.abebooks.com. From the operating box to the screen was a

The book has a detailed section in respect of distance of 144ft (almost 44

cinemas in Brighouse and it is the history of two metres). The manager of the

cinemas in particular - which are often the forgotten cinema was Mr M.J.Seymour.

cinemas - that this story from the book will highlight. There was also an orchestra band

The first was owned by the Brighouse Empire of nine musicians which added
Company, which was registered on December 5, greatly to the films.

1912, with a capital of £3,500 to convert a skating During the interval there were

rink into a cinema. two variety turns which included

Volvo the ventriloquist. When the

theatre was full it would hold 1,780

people.

The cinema closed after three
months and had to have 12 radiators
installed. In June 1913 Clifford
Ruddock was a p p o i n t e d a s
manager and introduced some of the best
vaudeville acts and best films.

Empire Theatre skating rink, Atlas Mill Road pre 1912. The Empire closed in 1918, it is said on the death
of the owner. It is now the home of the fairground
Unlike the skating and roller hockey of that time community who live on Atlas Mill Road.
these were fads that did not last long, the cinema
was here to stay. With skating gradually fading in The second forgotten cinema is The Marquee
popularity it left quite large buildings empty. The Cinema which was in Wellholme Park. This operated
shareholders in these vacant premises were by Stephen Henry in the summer of 1912.
starting to worry about their investments. The
directors of the Empire Company were all from It did not last long, but it did have 600 garden
Barnsley. seats at 3d. If there was inclement weather the
audience had to make their way to The Oddfellows
With almost 1,000 people attending the opening Hall in Bradford Road, which was situated where
of the Brighouse Empire on December 26, 1912, the bypass was cut through Bradford Road.
the transformation to this new cinema impressed
everyone. The old skating building was converted
into an up-to-date picture and vaudeville palace.
The complete internal make over had cost £3,500.

No expense had been spared for the luxury of
seating for the patrons.

The general manager was Frank Seymour who

was well know and under his supervision the The back of the Empire Theatre with its curved roof next
Empire’s future was set. The management intended
to the river.

16

The Silver Jubilee Bank Account of 1935

May 6, 1935, Silver Jubilee Celebrations of His have either got lost or the recipient has died.

Majesty King George V. Deposit of one shilling To celebrate the silver jubilee in the March, a
made by the donors, conditionally upon it remaining Silver Jubilee Committee was formed to ensure the
in the Bank until the depositor attains the age of 16 event didn’t go unnoticed.
years’.
It was decided that a number of events would be
Now, I wonder how many readers ever remember held throughout the Borough, beginning on Thursday,
seeing one of those
bank books as a May 6, and going on
family keepsake ? through to Sunday,
But, how many of May 12. To help offset
you still have it the costs the Mayor,
tucked away some- Councillor Arthur
where in the dark Reeve, opened a
corner of a cupboard subscription fund and
or a shoe box up in to start the fund off the
the loft. council donated £300
from the rates.

I have a couple of Rather than try and

these which shows hold it at one huge site

the account was at for the whole of the

the Yorkshire Penny Borough it was decided
Bank, 16, Bradford there would be two

Road, Brighouse. sites with events being

This bank went on Have you got one of these at home? The Silver Jubilee Yorkshire held simultaneously.
to be the Yorkshire Penny Bank celebratory gift of one shilling (5p today) to local For the Rastrick side

Bank and is now school children. events were to be held

part of Virgin Money in Longroyde Park and on the other at Lane Head

and since the branch closed in Brighouse the Recreation Ground.
nearest is in Cleckheaton.
Friday, May 7, 1935, will still be in the memories of
Each child who was on the registers of all the a small number of readers as they may remember
Elementary Schools within the Brighouse Education that was the day when countless young children
went down to celebrate at Sunny Vale.
Authority area had
a n account opened in The Saturday was for the old folks when the

their name. whole of the town held a series of Old Folks Treats
at numerous venues and to complete the celebrations
The gift of one shilling a civic service was held on the Sunday.
was from County Alderman

G.B.Lomas JP and his The 1930s were difficult times for families but the

friends on behalf of the committee made provision and help to those who

West Riding County
Council and was intended were unemployed by supplying them with jubilee
to encourage ’industry food parcels.

and thrift’ amongst the I did ask the Yorkshire Bank staff some years
recipients. ago if the account holder could actually draw out

Mayor Arthur Reeve JP. It would be interesting to the modern equivalent of the one shilling. No,
know, if it were possible, how many of these one the shilling they explained could only be
shilling accounts were opened and what happened withdrawn if they had actually added to the original
to all those shillings when many of the pass books amount.

17

Community Focus School’s Out at Brookfoot Community Focus

The internet auction The Brookfoot County Primary School closed in Readers of the last
website eBay had another 1974 due it being in a dangerous condition. Those issue will recall I gave a
children who attended the school will have happy
interesting piece of memories even now almost 50 years since it closed. short story about the
Lightcliffe local history soprano vocalist from
Lightcliffe, Elizabeth
recently Priestley. Following up
on a request for further
It is Interesting and highly information one of our
collectable, large subscribers has told us
that Elizabeth’s parents
Edwardian sterling silver were possibly from the

The last children to attend the school will now be Wyke area.
almost 60 years old. Many will still remember waiting
for the school crossing warden to escort them across In later life Elizabeth,
the busy Elland Road. But what was her name? who was known as
Bessie to her friends
goblet hallmarked Judging from the number of things lying around this married George Carter
Birmingham 1907 by was obviously a very busy classroom. The class and lived at Leyburn
Fattorini & Sons. The photograph (below) is dated July 1973. Avenue in Lightcliffe.
goblet is in repousse George and Elizabeth
(hammered reliefs) style
with a floral decoration. It had an adopted
was produced for the daughter Avril Rosemary.
annual Lightcliffe She was last heard of
Congregational Institute in the Kirkburton area
billiards handicap
competition. It was of Huddersfield and
hoped this item would known to give piano
achieve its opening asking
price of £385. It was then lessons to local
reduced to £345, but at children.
the time of publication
has not yet been sold . Both Elizabeth and Avril
were obviously talented

in the world of music
and this talent was
shared with many local
people, with both their
performances and tuition.

An advertisement from 1963 An advertisement from 1910

18

Coronation Celebrations of The Town Centre at yet Another
1952 at Waring Green Cross Roads of Evolution

Here we have a group of children from New Street For those girls who attended Brighouse Girls
Place at Waring Green celebrating Queen Grammar School I am sure many of them will
Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953. New Street Place remember walking down from school from the
used to be off New Street, when all the old properties back gate into Parsonage Lane down the hill and
were demolished a number of flats were built on the walking across to the bus station (where the
street name was replaced with the name St Martin’s Wellington Arcade is now).
View.

Coronation celebrations at New Street Place in 1952. The Crossing Patrol Warden, perhaps better known
as the Lollipop Lady, stands waiting for a break in
This rare photograph was kindly loanded to me in the traffic before allowing the girls to cross. This
2002 by the late Dave Ellis. He was someone who junction was with the top of Briggate and it was very
was very well known in local football circles. busy in 1970 when these schoolgirls were caught
on camera. Can anyone remember the crossing
The page boy kneeling down is Dave aged five. Lollipop Lady’s name?
Sadly, we have not managed to identify all the
children taking part. But amongst the group are The differences between the second photo-
Peter Ellis (Dave’s brother), Colin and Ken graph are plain to see. All the trees have gone on
Holdsworth and the Coronation Queen is the right along with the house and the top of the
thought to be Pat Hargreaves. lane is now a dead-end except for the subway. The
key date is 1970, which was during the time
If you can name any of these children we would when Brighouse town centre went through it
be pleased to hear from you — 07854-755756 or largest ever redevelopment programme. According
[email protected] to the press reports another will be coming quite soon.

A typical Brighouse Advertisement for 1957.

19

Old Newspapers are a Treasure Trove of Local History

Have you ever spent time looking through an old Church at Norwood Green was laid on June 1, by

newspaper just for curiosity? Most people have a Mrs George Watkinson. Costing £1,000 this new

fascination with old newspapers church was considerably cheaper than the Bethel

Looking through the old newspaper spending two Chapel.

or three minutes finding the bit you are looking for Amongst the more surprising events of that year

and then spend the next hour looking at everything was a beauty competition. On Saturday, May 25, a

else in the news- large crowd gathered at the

paper. Sport, Albert Theatre (now the

adverts, births, Calder Pub and Restaurant)

deaths and to watch this event. My

marriages, the research does not show

headlines and all what the 18 entrants had

the small bits of to wear.

social news which The competition was

are basically news organised by the manager

items that makes in conjunction with the touring

the town tick week group who were appearing

by week which in 'Triumph of Truth' at the

sadly is news not Grace Stocks (nee Clegg) and Alexander Oldfield Stocks Albert. When it actually came

available anymore. I can always spend a good hour to the 'beauties' appearing on the stage only seven
going through a newspaper line by line. turned up. No doubt all the others in those early

Take 1907 for example, the newspapers were full post Victorian days probably lost their nerve at the

of doom and gloom when it seemed mill premises last minute. The judges were four men selected

were burning down almost every month and reports from the audience with a fifth being picked from the

of industrial accidents appeared almost every week. theatre staff.

Amongst all the bad news there were some good The first round of competitors were reduced to

news reports, for example J.C. Collins the instructor four. The final round saw the 1st prize being awarded

at Brighouse Church Gymnasium won the individual to Miss Annie Carter of Manley Street who received

gymnastic championship of Yorkshire. a three-guinea costume. The 2nd prize went to a

On March 2, the new Methodist New Connection Miss Sykes who received a gold bangle valued at
Bethel Chapel (which is now the Central Methodist £2.10 shillings and the 3rd prize going to a Miss
Church) was opened. The new spacious building Aspinall who received a rain proof coat valued at
was built at a cost of £10,000. £1.10 shillings.

Miss Bryden, the Headteacher at Longroyde Winning beauty competitions was becoming a
School, was presented with a silver tea service, a habit for the Carter family as Miss Carter's younger
gold brooch set with sapphires and diamonds on sister had won a 1st prize at a similar competition
her retirement after 22 years loyal service. She the year before at Sunny Vale.

retired on the same day as Miss Sladdin who had In November, Alderman Alexander Oldfield

been at the school for 15 years. She was retiring to Stocks J.P was elected Mayor and his wife Grace

get married and was presented with a set of steel the Mayoress. Many photographs would have been

engravings by the scholars, teachers, and taken of them at the many functions they had to

members of the Education Committee. attend. It just goes to show that old newspapers are

Of course, as many of you know, the new a wonderful source for local history research.

Smith Art Gallery was opened by Princess Louise The two photographs show the Mayor and

on May 22, 1907. Mayoress, Alderman Alexander Oldfield Stocks JP

The foundation stone for the new St George's and his wife Grace, whose period of office was from
1907 to 1909.

20

Town Centre Memories from the Post-war Era

I lived in Brighouse from the 1940s until 1965, Opposite Collinson’s would be Bank Buildings,

when I moved away. One of my earliest recol- which had been a branch of the London City and

lections was going into Brighouse town centre shop- Midland Bank. In the upstairs flat in this building

ping with my mother at the early part of the Second lived Alderman David Crowther Holmes, the Mayor

W orld W ar. I remember going with her into of Brighouse 1919/1920. Other shops in Briggate

Collinson’s, which was just behind the Town Hall in included Earnshaw’s Jewellers, Tidswell’s stationers,

Briggate. Wyman’s book shop, then a toy shop followed by

Mrs Moore’s, another ladies’ outfitters. Next was a

hairdressers and then Bower’s lending library and

finally arriving at the Astoria Ballroom.

Collinson’s, Briggate during its demolition. The property The interior of Timothy Whites & Taylors Chemist at
just visible on its right is what until recently was Barclays’ the corner of Park Street which is now the Tui Holiday

Bank. Store.

The floor in Collinson’s was made of wood with At the top of Briggate on the opposite side of the
shelving on one wall which was set at an angle so road was a row of three shops one of was a
tins of biscuits could be displayed and the contents butcher’s shop, I cannot recall the middle shop but
could be seen through their lids. There was no the third one was Foster’s fireplace shop.
health and safety in those days, no rubber gloves
nor washing your hands after serving a customer. The town centre had two branches of Timothy
Whites and Taylor’s. There was one at the corner of
After slicing, bacon, cheese and butter all being Park Street, which is now the Tui Holiday Store
cut to weight by a wire, followed by sugar, flour and travel agency, Mr Scargill was the manager of this
many other good all weighed out in the scale pan branch and Mr and Mrs Mann worked at the branch
before being poured from the pan into different in Thornton Square.
coloured bags. All this was 80 years ago.
Walking to Victoria Central School, over the canal
In 1952, from the bridge each day was always an experience. Watching
Black Bull public the canal barges unloading at the Wharfe behind
house along Briggate the Black Horse public house (now known as Miller’s
to where Wilkinson’s Bar and Restaurant).
is today, I remember
Pollard Ives, then On Bethel Street there was Brayshaw’s who sold
Barnett Bros which pies and cooked meats, next door was Renshaw’s
in those days was and between the two up some steps on to the first
managed by a Mrs floor was a hairdressers. This was owned by
Hoyle. This shop Mr Sharp, he always cut my mum and dad’s hair.
sold haberdashery
downstairs and was Further along there were two small shops one
a ladies’ outfitters selling knitting wool and the other selling sweets.
upstairs.

21

A favourite shop on Bethel Street was Kay’s. They Walking back along Bradford Road towards George
sold lovely leather purses, handbags and the old Corner there was a cycle shop, Marsden’s Jewellers
style school satchels. I remember in the back half of and the Savoy picture house (now Brighouse Civic Hall).
the shop which lead out into Back Bethel Street
(now called West Park Street).

On Commercial Street I recall the shop that sold
everything to do with sewing. Needles, pins, sewing
cottons, embroidery silks, lace, coloured ribbon in
every colour and widths. This shop was run by Miss
Kershaw and it was very popular.

There was a good selection of shoe shops with
George Mitchell’s, which sold good quality shoes
and sandals, Freeman Hardy and Willis and a Stylo
shoe shop as well.

Some readers may remember Gillson’s Café King Street c1958 and not a car to be seen. This was the street that
which was set back a little from Czerwik’s and was was considered by many to be Co-op street with it being dominated
next door to Mrs Robert’s shop. She sold lovely by the Co-op Emporium on the left and the self service supermarket
coats and dresses for children.
style shop on the right, which opened in 1956.
I remember on the lower side of Commercial
Street was Frank Stocks greengrocers and J.P’s On the opposite side of the road looking towards
(who was known as The Great Provider) shop selling Mill Lane were all the tall mill buildings and the
Royal Hotel. On the corner was the florists, then
Oliver Hinchliffe’s furniture shop, followed by the
banks and finally the Co-op.

On King Street was the Co-op Café which had a
function room and was where my cousin’s wedding
reception was held.

One lasting memory about the Co-op was when
you were inside the ’Emporium’ as it was always
called. At the cash out your money was put into a
tube and it disappeared up a chute and sucked up
and sent to the cash office — this was magic to
children.

Mr George Stevens who worked at Frank Stocks greengrocer’s shop for Back into Commercial Street, there was White’s
a short while. In his later years he became part of the family that Florists and next to the George Hotel was a barber’s
owned the Service Garage on Wakefield Road. shop run by Mr Blackburn. I understand he only
knew one style, a very short back and sides.
confectionary downstairs and they had a café upstairs,
where as a treat, we had beans on toast. To close I would like to ask readers if they could
remember a blacksmith’s which was somewhere
At the top end of Market Street was Woolworth’s between Sugden’s Flour Mill and Huddersfield
side entrance, a health food shop and Miss Road?
Cartwright’s milliners shop.
Jean L. Buck
I do have happy memories of the Albert Cinema
(now The Calder, pub and restaurant) when it was This story has been written by a regular
used twice a year as a theatre, when musicals were subscriber to the magazine and hopes that these
performed by the Brighouse Light Opera Society. memories will remind other readers about Brighouse
Whiteley’s Corner, the fish shop a few doors away: town centre between 1940 and 1965.
all wonderful memories.

22

A Letter from Texas

This letter chronicles my life from my hometown of In my early teens I went to Park Church Youth Club

Brighouse, to my current residence in the USA. I (now Wetherspoons) and met up with some mates

live in Seabrook, Texas (approximately 20 miles who were in the St. John Ambulance Brigade Band.

south of Houston and two miles from the NASA They invited me to a band practice where I signed

Johnson Space Centre). up as a member. I started on the drums, then after

I was born at Halifax General the band changed from bugles to
Hospital in November 1944, to trumpets I played the glockenspiel
Lawrence and Madge Jackson. for a short while and finished as a
We lived on Crown Street before trumpet instructor.

moving to Lister Street, both in My parents had sent me for piano

the Lane Head area. My earliest lessons in my early youth, which I

memories are seeing my Dad was not too keen on, but at least I

coming home from World War II, learnt the basics of music and began

ration books, the outside toilet at writing harmonised fanfares and

Crown Street, the Coronation, the marches for the band. During my

ascent of Everest and Roger time we won every band contest

Bannister’s four-minute mile. championship in England, some

My brother Ian was born in several times, and went to Holland

1953. I attended St. Andrew’s and Germany to take part in the

Infants School before moving on Darts champion at the Albion Inn c:1965. European music festivals. playing
to St. Christopher’s School, which My other love was football

was at the Friend’s Meeting House, Huddersfield for a while both at school and for the Hopkinson’s

Road, and then to Kayes College in Huddersfield. works football team. I became involved with the

I come from an engineering background, both my Brighouse Sunday Football League, as League
father and grandfather worked at Blakeboroughs. I Secretary. The League was made up mainly of
took an apprenticeship at Hopkinson’s Valves, pubs and a couple of local companies, the band
which was based in Birkby, Huddersfield. During also had a team for a short while.

that time I went to Huddersfield Technical College When the League started, we had a shortage of

on a ‘block release’ basis, studied and qualified in qualified referees to take our fixtures, so following a

Engineering, and in later years was accepted into cartilage injury, I decided to stop playing and

the Institute of Measurement and Control, a division become a referee. Trust me, this can be the loneliest

of the Engineering Council. job in the world as everyone is against you and

Growing up through the 50s, 60s and 70s there constantly challenging your decisions.

were many changes in UK culture and music. I saw In the early days of the Brighouse Sunday League

my first Beatles concert in 1964 at St George’s Hall, we were lucky to get someone to be linesman, field

Leeds. At that time, it was Acker Bilk, who was a markings were bad, and very often clubs had no

very successful traditional jazz clarinettist, who goal nets. You can’t believe the amount of abuse

topped the bill, but everyone was there for the lads you get during a game, only to go back to the pub

from Liverpool. after the match, and everyone comes up to you and

As a youngster, most of my spare time was tells you what a good game you had!

playing in the Lane Head area, football on the During my early 20s I joined a newly formed control

Recreation Ground, Lane Head Youth Club and valve company called Introl Ltd. Now after mergers

playing around in what we called Freeman’s Wood. and acquisitions, it is known as Koso Kent-Introl. I

This was a small, wooded area that you entered off owe so much to the owner, Edward Singleton, who

Elland Road, opposite to the old Kosset Carpets was my mentor during those early days for the

factory site at Brookfoot. success of my career.

23

I progressed to become Chief Draughtsman, I am now semi-retired but undertake some
Service Manager, and finally promoted to the consulting work and have my own speciality valve
Management Committee as Chief Engineer. company called CPE-USA.

My duties were primarily to look after the Life has its ups and downs, but generally, it has

after-sales, warranty issues and take the lead on been good to me with plenty of opportunities. It has

new projects. This took me for the next 15 or so taken me around the world, and I have seen many

years to more than 40 places. I would never have

countries, as far apart thought as a youngster from

as New Zealand and Brighouse, that I would end

Alaska, the Middle East, up settling down in Texas. I

Asia, Africa and of often wonder if my Dad had

course Europe. I got to an influence, he always

meet Harold Wilson and spoke of Texas cowboys

later the Duke of Kent, and gave me Lone Star

when they visited Introl cowboy outfits and cap

to open the new factories guns. This was at a time

on Armytage Road. when I grew up that all I

Finally, in 1989, I wanted to be was a cowboy.

agreed to a two-year We watched Roy Rogers

secondment to the newly and Hopalong Cassidy in

opened Kent-Introl US black and white on a 12”

Operation in Houston, screen! Although we do not

Texas. It was this move live far from San Antonio, I

which changed my life Happy days for Peter and Renee. On a memorable have visited the Alamo, but I
…. five hours after I got trip to Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas to see Rod have never been to the
off the plane from England Stewart in Concert. World-famous Houston

I met someone who was to be my wife, Dot. Livestock and Rodeo. Shame on me.

(Dorothy). We were married for almost 21 years, Here are some of the favourite things I miss: family,

then she lost her five-year battle with cancer. Before of course, Mum, Ian, Lynn, and Claire’s family. Best

that time Dot and I would visit Brighouse to see my Friend: Peter Prest … who is still going strong !!
mum and meet my old buddies. She loved going to Some of the pubs and shops are still strong in my

the pubs in and around Brighouse, and places like memory, including Laycock’s fish and chip shop at

the Piece Hall, in Halifax. Lane Head, the Albion pub; the Sun Inn at Rastrick;

That was nine years ago, and I have since pork pies from Brayshaw’s on Bethel Street and the
re-married to another wonderful woman called Bow Window in Briggate.

Renee, who was in a similar situation to me having I certainly miss my favourite football team

lost her husband also to cancer. I never had any Huddersfield Town and have memories of some of

children of my own, but now have a stepdaughter its former players including Dennis Law and Frank

and two beautiful grandchildren. Renee has also Worthington. I have many happy memories of my

visited Brighouse seven times, loves the area and years with the St John’s band but as you get older

visits with my old friends, and the quiz nights at the your musical tastes mellow with age and whilst I

Round Hill, Rastrick. would always stand almost to attention when that

Our favourite place which we keep returning to is kind of band passed in the street in a parade. I
Gordale Scar, near Malham and we try to make it would get equal satisfaction and pleasure listening
there every time we visit. Ten years ago, my to the Beatles and Queen.

partners Clint and Debra, formed a company called All happy days to look back on.

Delta Valves and Controls. Delta is the US Master Peter Jackson
Representative for CVS Controls, a control valve

company based in Canada.

24

What a pleasant surprise walking along Commercial Street and finding yourself faced with a very
large coloured image of Commercial Street c1905. This image can be found in ‘Final Cuts’ the Barbers
Shop at 9, Commercial Street, which opened in 2019. Imagine sat in the Barber’s chair and seeing this
image as the reflection in the mirror.

Interestingly, when the 1905 image was produced 9, Commercial Street, is shown in a trade directory
as a wine and spirit merchants and a wholesale drysalter owned by a David Pearson, since 1905 the
street numbering may have changed.

The horse and cart on the left are directly opposite Park Street, you can just make out the sign over
the shop on the corner of Park Street, ‘Gallons’ the grocers shop. Some years later it was a chemists
and now it is a Tui Holiday Store. Next time you are in town shopping take a few moments to look at this
image which is almost the full width of the inside back wall of the shop.

Final Cuts - 01484-715489 or Email: [email protected]

Back page outer cover image: This is what postcard collectors would call a multi-view. These are familiar to postcard
collectors, but this one in the shape of the United Kingdom with five different views of Brighouse, whilst not a rare
style of postcard it is a little unusual and a local collectors item. The Art Gallery is highlighted which indicates the

age of the postcard after 1907, and looking at the style of clothes I would guesstimate the card is c:1918/20.