Brighouse and District Heritage Newseum No. 15

BRIGHOUSE & DISTRICT

Heritage Newseum

Issue 15 Winter 2021

Edited and Published by Chris Helme

This image is by John Wills and Sons, Architects, Derby. Between 1878 and 1913 they were the
architects of 39 Methodist churches throughout England and Wales. This image shows the new

Bethel Methodist New Connexion Church, Brighouse, as it was shown in ‘The Building News’,
on November 3, 1905. The church was formally opened in 1907.

© 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: We don’t see weather as bad as this too often, but when we do the roads are soon almost at a
standstill. This is the Halifax side of Hipperholme crossroads with tea time traffic battling through

a blizzard with the snow appearing to be getting deeper. This scene dates back to January 1995.

BRIGHOUSE & DISTRICT

HERITAGE NEWSEUM

From the Editor Issue 15 Winter 2021

Welcome to the Winter 1 Notes from the Editor.
issue. Another year seems 2 Fenny House, Hipperholme Sale of 1934.
to have flown by, I suppose 4 A Shaky start of the Salvation Army.
it is two years really as we 5 Brighouse Table Football Company.
are now just beginning to 6 The Golden Restaurant at Clifton.
come out of repeated
lockdowns and slowly going 7 Rastrick Rugby Memories - 1949.
back how things used to be with some overriding 8 All Aboard for the Mystery Chara Trip.
safety conditions. Is this now the new normal? 9 Southowram Reflections.
10 Letters to the Editor.
We have another eclectic mix of stories in this 11 Notes from the Council Chamber 1972/73.
edition: history and nostalgia about the people 12 In the Public Eye - Robert Thornton JP.
and places within Brighouse and its surrounding 13 Rastrick soccer team stripped.– 1980.
communities. 14 The Night the Clock struck 13.
15 The Best looking shop Window in 1954.
In this issue we have covered everything 16 The opening of the British Legion Hall.
from a house contents sale 87 years ago at 17 Who can remember Hagenbach’s?
Hipperholme, to the night the St Matthew’s 18 Superintendent John Hopkinson.
Church clock struck 13 times at midnight 19 BAODS - The Merry Widow cast of 1966.
and saved the life of one young lad from 20 Charity was the Only Objective of Rag Day.
Rastrick. 22 Recollections of some old Whitaker’s pubs.
23 A Letter from The Netherlands.
Did anyone go to the Golden Restaurant
at Clifton or get your weekly bread from Remember to look at our website where you
Hagenbach’s on Commercial Street or even can also contact the editor and you are
remember the day when some football kit or able to purchase various local books, including
the lack of it was featured on the pages of some that are no longer in print, through the
the Daily Mirror in 1980?
online shop, where PayPal is available:
We are featuring another story from Philip www.chrishelme-brighouse.org.uk
Tordoff, looking back at Whitaker pubs in
the area. What a mischievous lot the girls were
at Brighouse Technical School Students
Association in 1939. A report in ‘The Raggle’
the school Rag Week publication shows what
they were up to, but all in the name of charity.

We are always pleased to hear from
readers who would like to share their
memories or photographs… Enjoy!

Chris Helme

1

An interesting two day sale when 584 lots went under the Hammer

On March 7 and 8, 1934, one of the most important Dyson’s were involved in the alterations to
property and contents sale took place in Hipperholme. Southowram Church and the erection of
The property was Fenny House which is at the Lightcliffe new church (St Matthew’s) and Bramley
bottom of Kirk Lane. Lane Congregational Church.

The contents were spilt into 584 lots with the It was Joseph Brooke who founded his business

house itself; being available for sale, rent or be split at Lightcliffe in 1840. He quarried and sometimes

into a number of smaller homes after the contents mined the local hard Yorkshire Stone. The lowest

were sold. The house was the home of Mrs Rebecca stone beds were some 80ft down and exceptionally

Brooke who died in 1933 and was the widow of hard wearing and gritty and ideal for staircases and

Aspinall Brooke who had died in 1922. paving.

Aspinall Brooke was the oldest son of Joseph and It was about 1870 when Aspinall started the new
Grace Brooke and was a member of the Brooke business with his brothers Newton and Willie. The
stone business family. He was born in Queensbury new company was called Joseph Brooke and Sons,

quarry owners, and were soon involved in local
developments, supplying materials for the Wyke
Viaduct, one of the first. Following the death of Willie
Brooke, the eldest son of Joseph and Grace in a
railway accident at Lightcliffe railway tunnel in 1903,
Newton became the head of the business.

The new business expanded into manufacturing
glazed bricks and fireclay goods. Further expansion
included granite quarrying in Norway, Sweden, the
Channel Islands and north Wales. Aspinall was
also a director of Brooke’s Chemicals.

Members of the Brooke family from the left Newton, In 1899, Aspinall Brooke married Rebecca Crossley
his wife Edith, son John, Rebecca, Hilda, Aspinall, of Cleckheaton. Just when Aspinall and Rebecca
Newton’s brother and husband of Rebecca, the two moved into Fenny House without further research is
proving quite difficult. But what is certain following
boys are William and Edward, Newton’s sons. my recent visit to Fenny House is what I always
thought to be one singular property at the bottom of
and by the time he was nine years old the family Kirk Lane it is quite clearly not.
had moved to Hipperholme.

Aspinall served his apprenticeship with Dysons
the Brighouse contractors.

St Matthew’s Church, Lightcliffe as shown in the This photograph was taken in 1906 and shows what
Building News publication dated May 17, 1878. became the Brooke’s new office in 1891. Today, it is
the Hipperholme Hair Boutique, 27b, Halifax Road

and the site originally formed part of the land
connected to Fenny House.

2

Having met one of the owners it soon became Whilst a number of other items were sold for more
apparent that in this small area at the bottom of Kirk than £20 the vast majority were sold for as little as a
Lane there are a number of properties that have all few pence. One item that is not shown in the
had connections with the original Fenny House. catalogue but is on a separate contents inventory is

All the original land is a large painting of the house.
believed to have been There is no indication what
part of the Lister family happened to that.
estate of Shibden Hall
and the earliest property Although I have not found
deed I have been any confirmed evidence to
shown does suggest support this story some
the Brooke family information suggests that
became involved with troops were there at some
Fenny House in 1888, as point during the Second
there is a reference to World War and also during
John Lister. this time a number of evacuees
were given temporary residence at the house.

The present occupiers at Fenny House By the 1950s the house appears to have been in a

have certainly a mammoth task on their hands. poor state of repair. According to the Brighouse

They are determined to retain as many of the original Council Minutes of April 16, 1957, there was a

features as possible but also incorporating elements serious problem with a roof that saw water pouring

of modern living as well. into both the kitchen and hallway.

On this photograph of the frontage a number of Under the Public Health Act of 1936, the owner

major changes have taken place. The large new had 28 days to get it repaired. This might suggest

porched frontage is believed to have been added on the house was being rented to someone at the time

by the Brookes. It is also noticeable that at the side and the tenants had complained and the owner was

of the house to the right of the porch, is a two storey served with the notice to get it repaired.

extension. That is now a separate house which

retains the Brooke connection, being named Brook

Holme.

Further research will be needed to ascertain who
the subsequent owners/tenants were after the sale.

Returning to the sale catalogue lots were offered

for sale from the keeping cellar, scullery, bathroom,

a front bedroom (which was over the cellars), a back

bedroom which was over the kitchen, another bed-

room was over the dining room. There was a closet

and another front bedroom over the lounge, back Fenny Cottage pre 1914. This property is behind
bedroom over the breakfast room, hall, stairs and Fenny House.
landing, billiard room, the vestibule and
entrance hall and then the outside of the house. By There is no doubt that with so many lots for sale
the end of the two-day sale the contents that were and the majority being sold this at the time was a
sold, and not all were, raised £388.17.04. On local sale of a number of quality items owned by
today’s values this would have been £29,176.53. one of the community’s prominent families. I wonder
how many of these items have stood the test of time
As with all house content sales a few star items and are now the proud possessions of another local
will stand out. A full size mahogany framed billiard family.
table and all its associated equipment was sold for
£39.18.6, which on today’s value would be almost I hope to be able to produce a comprehensive history
£3,000. of Fenny House and all the related properties in this
small area of Hipperholme in a future issue.

3

From a shaky start it all ended with loud cheers

During the nineteenth century, life for the older Thankfully, their first meeting did eventually take

residents was far from being easy because other place in a building at the rear of the Black Swan

than poor relief, which was, introduced in 1834, (which is now Miller’s Bar and Restaurant).

there were no state benefits. However, those attending quickly became

The first state pensions were paid to people who disillusioned and left the town not long after.

had attained the age of 70 from January 1, 1909. Even after another attempt at trying to establish

On that first day, themselves, it was

250 claims for the not until 1888 that the

new five shillings Salvation Army was

a week pension finally accepted. No

had been made doubt to the personal

in Brighouse. The satisfaction of

first person in William Booth who

Brighouse to had been in Brighouse

receive the new from 1857 to 1858,

Old Age Pension at whilst a Preacher at

Park Street Post the old Bethel Chapel

Office was a man in Bethel Street.

called Mark Clayton. The large crowd surrounding William Booth’s vehicle outside The Salvation

Before the new the Albert Theatre in 1905. Judging by the smiling faces they are Army’s help to the
state pension all pleased to see him on his return to Brighouse.
needy was seen

became available in 1909, welfare and social many times and always well appreciated, probably

services were very much based on charity and none more so than when they began supplying

handouts. In 1895, at Lower Edge, a soup kitchen and serving free breakfasts and dinners to the

was established for the quarry workers who were poor children of the town and outlying communities

laid off for weeks during the extremely harsh in 1907.

winter of that year – if you did not work then there The scenes that greeted him were very different
were no wages.
from those that greeted him on his first visit

In 1903 charitable help was on hand following when the Army was practically driven out of the

the Alexander Mill fire which saw hundreds of town.

people put out of work. As was common on those The Army’s first home was in Stott’s Mission,
occasions many of the people put out of work Bethel Street, but their first real home was built for
included children, parents and grandparents from £2,000 and opened on September 3, 1910, by
the same family, who all suddenly found themselves Mayor Robert Thornton, what is now the dry cleaning
without money to buy the basics in life. business at the corner of Bethel Street and the

In 1913, an outing was arranged by the Brighouse entrance into the Bethel Street canal-side car park.

Motor Club to take 50 crippled children on an outing This opening was a major turning point for the

to Bolton Abbey. This event was soon to be an Salvation Army in Brighouse.

annual event on the Brighouse calendar and When the old St Paul’s Sunday School at the
annual trips were run into the 1950s. end of King Street finally closed its doors as the

Amongst all these charitable activities by worthy Brighouse Magistrates Court covenants would

people and organisations was the Salvation Army prevent it from selling alcohol. I recall someone

which had arrived in Brighouse in 1881. Their first even suggesting that the Sunday school could be

meeting took place in the now-demolished demolished, and the new convenience store rebuilt

Oddfellows Hall, but it had to be abandoned owing on the car park and the Sunday school site would

to a large number of demonstrators. become the car park.

4

Where have all the years gone?

Where have all the years gone? That is a good
question. It is 28 years since the Hove Edge
Annual Old Folks Treat tea came to an end. This
was a tradition in Hove Edge that dated back into
the nineteenth century, an occasion that was often
described as the event of the year for those older
residents who lived on the right side of the Hove
Edge boundary.

The crowds gather outside the new Salvation Army Those who helped at this event and those who
Citadel with the Mayor Robert Thornton JP standing in attended or whose parents did will recall it was held
the doorway addressing the crowd before he officially at the Zion Chapel up to it closing c1982. It was
then transferred to Waring Green Community
open it. Centre. Here we have two photographs taking us
back to the highlight of the Hove Edge calendar.
This rather fanciful plan didn’t go any further than
just talk. Nevertheless, the Salvation Army saw it as
an opportunity of expanding its premises and activities.
After many hours of hard work the new premises
were ready and became the new home of the
Brighouse Salvation Army in 1995.

Serving tea is the Treat President the late Edward
Whitehead during the 1990s on the occasion of its 98th

birthday.

The Bethel Street Citadel saw many happy events and
celebrations during its 85 years and for many of its
members was a second home.

A Mystery Medallion on eBay

The latest find on eBay is this Brighouse Table
Football Co. medallion. It is currently for sale at
£3.99, but it is as yet unsold.

We have not found any Here just some of the helpers at the Waring
history about this company Green Community Centre during the 1980s. These
or been able to confirm it is ladies and of course the men who were involved as
even our Brighouse. It is well were the backbone of this event. Throughout its
believed to have closed history without these loyal organisers and helpers it
down during 1980/81. If you
have further information about would not have lasted as long as it did.
this company it would be
most welcome.

5

The Golden Restaurant at Clifton

How long as the Armytage Arms at Clifton been a Along with his wife he employed 26 members of

pub with a restaurant facility – 10 years, or is it 20 staff.

or maybe 25 years? However long it has been it is a The opening night must have been something
busy and popular place these days. It is difficult to really special with dancing throughout the night to
imagine that the car park was once the Clifton Harold Betts on the organ. The opening was carried
Private Bowling Green Club which was based at the out by Councillor S.E.Bickle, a former Mayor of
pub. Ossett who was assisted by his wife, both being

Many readers will have been to the Armytage friends of ‘JC’ and his wife.

Arms and enjoyed a meal in their restaurant. I recall Whilst the grown-ups were having their good
when it first introduced full table meals many thought times the youngsters of Clifton were also having
this was something new for the village. But, the some fun with a performance of Aladdin on

village has seen it all before. Wednesday 16, January of 1952.

This was the annual Clifton Methodist Church

Sunday School production which was held in the

The Armytage Arms was run by members of the school room.

Ramsden family for almost 70 years. Before the It was of course the traditional story and opened
Second World War the then dark gloomy building to a good audience of both parents and grandparents
underwent a major refurbishment during the tenancy of those children taking part. This successful
of Mr and Mrs Fred Eastwood. They had plans to production was credited to Jack Bray, the Sunday
open it as a big modern roadhouse, or service School Superintendent, who had not only written
station which would cater for passing trade as well the show but directed it and played the part of the
as the locals. But with the outbreak of the war and Dame as well. Jack was also a familiar face working
petrol shortages these plans were put on hold. in the menswear department at Brighouse Co-op for

After the war different licensees came and went many years.

but no one in those early post war years picked up In the title role was Kathleen Batty, the Princess
what the Eastwood’s had started.
was Mary Quarmby, Betty France and Dennis

That was until the early 1950s when Mr Nicholson also played leading parts.

J.C.Ingleby took over the license and really got Other members of the cast included: Brian Rukin
things moving. He opened what he called ‘The (Abanazar), Malcolm Whitaker (Emperor), Peter
Golden Restaurant’ after a huge make over and the Wood (Grand Vizier), Joyce France (Bo - Peep),
opening of his new restaurant upstairs. Anne Holgate (Fairy), Anne Field (Genie), David

The restaurant was decorated at a cost of £2,000 Shillitoe (Ling) and Shirley Clay (Lady-in-Waiting).

in gold leaf, hence its title. New coloured lighting The ‘Sunbeams’ were: Hilary Whitaker, Ann Gilroy,

together with a rock pool and fountain which added Jean Gannon, Leslie Battye and Sylvia Dixon.
to the classy feel about the place. ‘JC’ was taking in
If you were on stage that day all those years ago
dinner and supper parties and with its new licence we would be pleased to hear from you.
was able to serve supper drinks until 11pm.

6

Rastrick Rugby Memories

I am sure that the lads appearing in this 1949 So who started the club? Well that too is a bit of a
photograph of the Rastrick Rugby League Club mystery. The only information I have been able to
would never have dreamt how the world of rugby glean is that it was probably just a few lads getting
was to change. together and over a period of time their efforts were
built on, until a degree of proper organisation was
added. There was no sponsorship back in those
days nor had any of the large local companies got
involved by forming a team either. Finding money to
run the club was no easy task back then.

The early teams played on a pitch just off Carr

Green at Rastrick on land which was developed for

housing and which we call Wentworth Court today.

The days of Brighouse Rangers attracting several

hundred to their Waterloo Road ground at Lane

Head is still remembered by a few. But, how many

Those present include: (back L to R) Jack Garfield, Bill can recall the days when the Rastrick team attracted
Greenwood, unknown, Joe Cocker, Brian Tunnally, crowds often in excess of a thousand.
Peter Lyth, Arthur Sugden and Jack Van de Gevel.
This featured photograph was taken in 1949 on a
Front: unknown, Albert Sugden, Bob Hume, Brian day when the team was playing Langworthy
Hirst, Roy Hollings, Eric Ashton and Donald Stirzaker.

Juniors, who were a strong Lancashire team.
No doubt those involved today at the different levels
will have their own view as to whether the game of The Rastrick team played in the Huddersfield
rugby has benefited as a whole from the changes or League but owing to their being too few teams they
just the teams at the very top, just as the old timers had to apply to the Halifax League as well, just to
will have their views on these changes since their make up a reasonable fixture list for a season.

playing days. These lads rarely lost a match and swept the

One thing is for sure though the memories these board in all but a few of the annual competitions: the
players will and have carried with them whether Courier Cup from the Halifax league, the Charles
they are from the old days or from the world of Sykes Cup in the Huddersfield League and the L. B.
modern day rugby will last forever. Holiday Cup (Huddersfield). Winning the annual
Huddersfield league knockout competitions was the
‘..We are the Champions..’ were the words that bread and butter to this team of local rugby giants.
were echoed around Rastrick during the heyday of

this Rastrick team, whilst the very mention of rugby

in Brighouse tends to be synonymous with the old

Brighouse Rangers team. The old Rangers team did

have its successes but like most teams also had its

inevitable ups and downs as well. However, up at

Rastrick things seemed to be going from strength to

strength.

Just when the Rastrick club was formed is still in The Rastrick team of 1967 (Back Row) L-R: Mel Green,
some doubt but there was probably a team of lads unknown, Peter Kelly, Mike Shaw, unknown and Brian
playing the game towards the end of the nineteenth Hinchliffe. (Front Row) L-R: Gwyn Merrifield, Alan Carter,
century. With few records still surviving of the club’s Robin Slater, Peter van de Gevel, Ernest Smith, Malcolm
history, some records do indicate that whilst other Broadley and David Martingale. Absent David Horton,
similar clubs were falling by the wayside, in 1908 Geoff Watmough, and Bill D'Arcy who joined the team not
the Rastrick club was one of the few left to be able
to put out a regular competitive side. long after this photograph was taken.

7

All aboard for the mystery chara trip

Pub trips, summer outings and mystery tours were In October 1928, the licensee was John Exley

just some of the events looked forward to every Dyson and he was there when the licence was

year by countless local organisations. This annual cancelled in 1931 and it closed in December 1932.

trip from the late 50s early 60s shows the men of The premises were later re-developed as the

the Old Pond Inn at Hove Edge, during the tenure of Hove Edge Post Office. Following a spate of local
licensee Charles Holdsworth and his wife Marjorie.
Can any one remember them and do they have any post offices being closed, in 2008 Hove Edge joined

family still living in the area? The men posing for the

photographer outside the front door, are any of

them your relatives, are about to set off on their

annual trip on a Ripponden and District coach - any

bets it was a day at the races?

Some will be surprised that whilst there is now
just the Old Pond and the Dusty Miller pubs and of
course the Hove Edge Bowling Club there was a
time when the village had two other pubs.

The Broadoak Inn was in Brighouse Road and The Joiners Arms, Halifax Road, Hove Edge. It was
was closed in 1935 having lost its licence the August 12, 1904, when Hannah Greenwood became
year before. Not having been bought by the then the licensee and on this photograph it is her name on the
mighty Websters from the Shibden Head Brewery
could even save it. This old well established hostelry sign over the door.
had been serving the local quarry men from at least
1873 when Crossland Robertshaw was pulling the the list. For many years the area behind the Post
pints. In 1936 the empty building was bought by an Office and barn building next door was known locally
Arthur Greenwood. as Pop Yard. This was where William Ganson had
his aerated water (pop) works and storage facility.
I am sure many readers will recall the
Hipperholme Motor Company. This petrol station Returning to our coach outing – I am sure many
and car sales garage was built on the site of the will recall the days of the mystery chara trips just as
Broadoak Inn and then in 2008 it was sold and I do. Whilst these outings were advertised as a
demolished for re-development and is now a block mystery trip everyone knew where they were going
of apartments. – more often than not - to Bolton Abbey. And then
of course there had to be the mystery supper on the
way home. Some mystery supper – Harry
Ramsden’s at Guiseley as usual.

The second hostelry that is no longer in Hove Edge The coach party pose for the photographer outside the
is the Joiners Arms in Halifax Road and was next Old Pond Inn, Hove Edge, before they set off for their
door to the Dusty Miller. outing which would have probably been to the races.

8

Southowram reflections

Many of our local communities started local groups Here are a group of Southowram youngsters who
and clubs back in the 1950s – the new spirit of were all part of the Cinderella pantomime at St Anne-
community after the difficult wars years and rationing.
Clubs started included Hipperholme Good in-the-Grove Church in 1993.
Companions, Hove Edge 65 Club, Golden Link at
Rastrick, and the Good Companions in Brighouse
town centre.

Many of these clubs were soon all boasting
memberships into three figures. Norwood Green
soon followed and in 1955 Waring Green Forget-
Me-Not Club, the Silver Lining Club at Bailiff Bridge
and another club at Lane Head and of course
Southowram with the Sunshine Club joined the
growing number of community social clubs.

Here are the members of the Southowram club A view looking from Southowram towards Elland Road
celebrating their Christmas tea in 1983. where very little appears to have changed.

These clubs served a very useful purpose and gave On May 14, 1940, the Secretary of State for War,
Anthony Eden, made a broadcast inviting those
many older people particularly those who lived thousands who had been asking what they could
alone somewhere to go and meet friends, share do, to join the new defence force which would be
conversation, catch up dare we say on a little local named Local Defence Volunteers (LDV), which later
gossip and of course go on trips and be entertained became the Home Guard. The appeal was aimed at

by a weekly speaker or entertainer. men between the ages of 17 and 65 those

Having been a guest speaker at all these groups interested should report to a police station. Within 24

over a period of 40 years I know at first hand the hours 250,000 had volunteered. In the Halifax and
pleasure the weekly meetings brought to the members. district area more than 800 volunteered —
Southowram Home Guard.
I remember speaking to Darby and Joan Clubs,

numerous branches of the Townswomen's Guild

and the Mother’s Union meetings. The members

were always very appreciative and always enjoyed

the reminiscences I shared with them.

Sadly, most of these clubs are no longer with us
but those who went to them will all have many happy
memories from their weekly visits.

It was not just the older members of the Southowram
community who like to get together. Like most small
communities there were groups for all ages.

9

Letters to the Editor Collinson’s & Sons Ltd

Thanks to regular subscriber Mrs Betty Rukin, we In the last edition of the magazine I referred to the
can share a letter her family received in March photograph below as being Collinson’s shop.
1943. It was sent by her father L-Bdr. Alfred Owen Thanks to one of our regular subscribers who
Johnson of the local Territorials, who was on spotted this and pointed out that it was in fact
wartime duties in North Africa and was published in Central Mart, the shop next door to Collinson’s.
the Brighouse Echo.

I am sending just a few lines you may print them in

the ’Echo’. They come from myself and others of

the local lads from Brighouse. We had just finished

our dinner meal today (February 17) when suddenly

the cry went up from the wireless operator, ’Hey

lads, your band’s on the wireless’. We have a series

of extension from the wireless and all of us made a

dash for one of these extension lines. I was one of

the fortunate ones, and I must say that the thrill of

hearing our own band on the air brought that little

extra beat somewhere under the waistcoat and

believe me the reception was really great. After further research I am grateful to the subscriber

We lads here in Tunisia were very proud of our for pointing out the error. Looking at another photograph
band and they deserve a pat on the back for that where the Central Mart shop can be clearly seen on
rendering of the first piece Light Cavalry, it was the right. Collinson’s is the tall building behind it.
indeed superb. Then came the Snow White selection. Under close inspection there is a sign in the window
Fancy us ‘whistling while we work’. Our hands and that offers customers the opportunity of ’tasting’
feet could not keep still, we were all bandmasters. before they buy.

You should have heard the row which went up
when someone cut us out in the first few bars of the
march Sons of the Brave. Murder him and strangle
him, we all shouted. Anyway it was good whilst it
lasted and hearing our band as I heard it lifted us
just that little bit extra.

We of the local Terriers are all well out here and

our people and friends way back in Brighouse may

rest assured we are looking forward to the day when

this ’bit of a do’ is over and we are back with them.

L-Bdr J. Stirzaker, from Lightcliffe Road is with me The Central Mart shop was owned by Mr Thomas
and I pen these lines and his brother Granville is not Clayton who had opened a small shop in Briggate
c1880. As his business grew he opened a larger shop
far from us. All are quite fit and well. My home address at 20 and not long after 21, Commercial Street.
is Half House Lane, Hove Edge. Only the other
Following further expansion he opened the
night when out on patrol we met another of our
shop in the photograph mistaken for Collinson’s.
locals who serves in another regiment, they call him With being in a corner position with Thornton Square it
Jack Wood, one of our local postmen in peace days.
He would like to be remembered to all back home. too was very popular
Another one George Hopkins has just arrived on his selling hats, caps
motorcycle and would also like his name mentioned. and socks.

I close this letter wishing all in Brighouse the very Thomas Clayton

best. L-Bdr Alfred Owen Johnson was born in 1859

and died in 1931.

10

Flashes Notes from the Council Chamber 1972/73 Flashes

July 21, 1901, the first The Highways Committee met The Wheelers Club,
service was held at on May 10, 1972 and a decision founded by James
was made that following a Balmforth in 1890 in
Lightcliffe Old Church in quotation being submitted by Huddersfield Road was
27 years. the Borough Engineer the a cycling club but by the
Committee agreed to purchase a 1930s it was a working
June 10, 1903, Brighouse number of electronic desk man’s club. The club
Council decide to borrow calculators at a cost of £207. only had a six day
£40,000 to build a public The council were now moving into the electronic licence and the council
age, 16 years after the first desk calculator was who owned the building
market, construct new invented. It was in 1956, the Bell Punch Co, of would not allow the club
sewers and carry out Great Britain set out to diversify from manufacturing a seven-day licence
street improvements. ticket punches by producing a commercial electronic although the council had
desktop calculator codenamed the ANITA. According increased the rent. The
December 6, 1904, to the Vintage Calculators Web Museum, the club insisted it could not
Winston Churchill MP vacuum tube–based calculator was released in keep going without the
addressed a Liberal 1961, under the name ANITA MK-8. extra Sunday opening.
meeting in Brighouse
Town Hall. After the The Highways Committee also met on May 16, August 12, 1896, the
meeting there was loud 1972, when a major decision was taken about first wedding at a
and prolonged applause advertising hoardings at the junction of Bradford Primitive Methodist
and cheering and a Road and Martin Street. In March 1971 a licence Chapel took place at
rousing chorus of ‘For had been granted to Howard Cook Advertising to Lane Head. The old
He’s a Jolly Good Fellow’. erect hoardings at this junction for 12 months at a chapel was not licensed
cost of £50. The company had made an application for this happy event
June 1, 1907, The stone to renew the licence. With the imminent work start- which resulted with the
laying ceremony was ing on the new bypass the company was granted service being held in the
held at the site of the a new licence on a week by week basis at a cost new building. The bride
new Mission Church in of £1 per week. This was to be until the starting was Miss Rose Wood of
Norwood Green. date of the bypass being constructed. Rastrick Common and
the bride-groom was
December 12, 1913, the In this photograph dated 1972 are the hoardings John Charnock Rayner
first Speech Day was that were at the junction of Bradford Road and from Gooder Lane,
Martin Street. Including the hoardings and all the Rastrick. Being the
held at the new Brighouse property to the left (the tall building is the tradition on the first
Secondary School for Girls. Oddfellows Hall ) would be demolished once the marriage in a new chapel
work on the new bypass started. Some readers they were presented
December 2, 1918, a may recall the row of shops where the hoardings are. with a Bible and Hymnal.
Gun Week was held in At the conclusion of the
Brighouse and raised service the happy couple
left the chapel under a
£43,000.There was shower of rice . The
great celebration in wedding reception was
Thornton Square. held at the home of the

November 28, 1919, the bride’s father.
Halifax to Leeds express

train wa s d er a i l ed
n e ar Hipperholme.

October 7, 1922, the
new Hipperholme and
Lightcliffe Conservative
Club opened and was
the first local political
club to admit both sexes.

11

In the Public Eye — Mayor Robert Thornton JP.

Of the 42 Mayors who were in office during the life over the Chairmanship.

time of the former Borough one of the longest serving During the seven years he held the position of
was Robert Thornton who served the town from Mayor he would probably have remembered three
1909 to 1916. But who was
this man someone who was events more than any others.
often called Mr Brighouse on
more than one occasion In 1910 he read out the procla-
during his life time. mation of the new King in the
Borough Market in front of one of
Robert was a descendant the largest gatherings the town
of John and Mary Thornton had ever seen.
of Fixby who were born during
the late seventeenth After what many people
century. The family tree is described as the non-event of the
accurately documented in year in 1907 when Princess Louise
Horsfall Turner's ‘…History visited the town he had the distinc-
of Bridge End Chapel...’ one tion of welcoming King George V
of the rarer local history to Brighouse on his 1912 visit to
books about Brighouse. the West Riding. The King, having
made his way to Brighouse via
He first became interested Cleckheaton and Clifton, was met
in local government with the by Robert Thornton outside the
old Rastrick Local Board and served on it for 14 railway station. At the station the
years. Most of his adult working life however was in King was introduced to the important people of the
business with a cousin at the Grove Mills in Elland. Borough whilst the Territorials stood rigidly to attention
in Gooder Lane. Once these were over the King

When the old Rastrick Board was merged into the and his party walked on to the platform to the sound

new Incorporated Brighouse Borough in 1893 he of the Brighouse Temperance Band playing what

decided to withdraw from public life. He was however was described as appropriate music - this second

still very active with Grove Mills and in addition to royal visit was described as a resounding success.

his day to day working routine he was also the The third event which will see his name remem-
Chairman of the Elland Gas Company and had bered probably for ever is Thornton Square in the
been a director for twenty eight years. town centre. Owing to what the council minutes of

In 1902 Councillor Samuel Edgar Hirst was the the day declared that the town centre traffic was

town's Mayor and was installed as an Alderman finding that to get from Bethel Street into Briggate

which created a vacant council seat in the town's via Union Street the narrow bit of road between the

South Ward. In looking for a potential new councillor Town Hall and Holroyd Buildings was becoming

to contest the vacant seat Robert Thornton was more and more of a bottleneck and something had

invited to stand at the election as the Liberal to be done. It was decided that Holroyd Buildings

candidate. The election was won and he was duly had to go and in 1913 demolition was completed.

elected as Alderman Samuel Hirst's successor. The vacant space was never built on again and

As well as being involved with the Elland Gas was given the name Thornton Square after Robert

Company he was for many years a director of the Thornton who in that year was the appointed the

Rastrick Gas and Water companies. Mayor and was to be accompanied by Mrs John

After 10 years’ service, in May of 1902 he was Atkinson of Springfield, Huddersfield Road.

elected chairman of the Halifax Board of Guardians The name of John Atkinson I am sure will still be

and was involved in the administration of the Poor remembered in the form of the John Atkinson Prize.

Law for many years and was considered to be a His wife decided at a meeting of the Brighouse

very thoughtful man and just the right person to take Technical and Evening Schools Committee to grant

12

£250 in order to commemorate the memory of her Rastrick soccer team stripped
late husband. The money was to be utilised for the
purchase of prizes for nominated students and to In September 1980 the Globe Inn at Rastrick hit
be known as the John Atkinson Prizes. the national news, and this was half of page 19
in the Daily Mirror.
A further lasting memory to Robert Thornton was
w h e n M r s Atkinson had four cottages built in The Globe public house, Rastrick Common taken in
2009 and courtesy of Betty Longbottom.
1922 on
Thornhill Road It was reported that the lads of the pub football
at Rastrick team, who had been new members of the local
which were to Sunday League for almost a year, was having
be known as the serious problems.
Thornton
Cottage Homes, The results had not been going their way, in
at the corner of fact they were losing every week. Something
Ridge View. had to be done.

Robert Thornton The pub regulars, with the support of Nelson
died on October Doggett, the licensee had a whip round to raise
26, 1918, at his enough money for a new kit. The licensee was
home Highbury sure that if the lads played in the national team’s
in Rastrick aged colours, all white, it was sure to change their
82, after 50 fortunes.
years of public
service to Brighouse. His form of relaxation was to be With all the lads provided with brand new kit
the President of both Rastrick Bowling Club and you would think that things would start to look
Rastrick Cricket Club and having a life long up, but no. Before the first game the team’s new
connection with the former Bridge End Chapel. shorts were all stolen. Wearing emergency
shorts did that help; - they crashed 9 - 3 and
A timely reminder of Robert Thornton is the Town followed that losing 8 - 4. Things got worse when
Hall clock in Thornton Square known as 'Owd Bob' they lost 13 - 1.
and the balustrade on the top of the frontage.
These were further lasting gifts he gave to his home The photograph in the newspaper shows the
town just before the First World War. team without their shorts but all made sure
they looked decent for the photographer. The
Thornton licensee as the weeks went by was keen for their
bad luck to continue, spectators were attending
Square since in large numbers just to watch them lose and he
was selling much more beer.
those times has
In recent years The Globe has been rebranded
been the focal and now known as The Red Lion. This is the name
it was up to c1870. It started life as three cottages.
point for many The history books suggest that it was haunted
c1906 during the tenure of licensee Albert Marshall.
events including

the annual

switching – on of

the Town Centre

Christmas tree

lights, the now

familiar annual

brass band

contest or on a

Mayor Robert Thornton at a Brig- more serious note
house Rangers match and about to War Weapons

kick off on September 6, 1913 at Week back in
1941.
Lane Head.

13

The Clock Struck 13 and that was enough to save
a young life from the Gallows

What is the connection between the old Dumb Cleckheaton, where some new machines had
Steeple at Cooper Bridge and St Matthew’s Church been installed.
at Rastrick? The answer
is the Luddites — the At 20 minutes to midnight the
machine breakers. This order went out to march towards
story is based on a piece Roberttown and over the hill to
written in May 1980 by the Cleckheaton.
late Ralph Wade who
contributed to the weekly As the gang moved off one of the
Brighouse Echo for many last was spotted running away and
years. jump over a wall in the opposite
direction.

The year was 1811, six This person was a young lad
years after the Battle of called Rayner, who had only joined
Trafalgar and it was to be in a fit of haste.

another four years before Rayner was 20, of athletic build,
Waterloo and the final slim and wiry, he was also a good
defeat of Napoleon. runner having won races for his

This was a time when speed.

there was little social He ran as though his very life

justice in the country. The depended on it, little did he know it

law of the day was very did that his life was on the very edge.

matter of fact and the He ran back on Wakefield Road, over the bridge at
author ities seemed determined to execute the Bridge End, up Rastrick Common and up the hill at
criminal classes. Ogden Lane. To catch his breath he walked along

The law recognised capital offences when a man Church Street wanting to just to get back home to
could be hanged for almost anything, including for see his widowed mother.
being a Luddite.
But, something happened at the top of Ogden
The Luddites were inspired by the deeds of Ned Lane. As he approached the gate at St Matthew’s
Ludd of Nottingham who broke into a house and the old sexton was just locking up. As Rayner
smashed up with a large hammer two knitting
passed him he wished him a good night and the
frames which could knit stockings a hundred times sexton returned the greeting.
quicker than by hand.
He recognised young Rayner because he attended
The West Riding was a perfect gathering ground the church quite often. The sexton explained that he
for gangs of men, who were determined to protect was late locking up tonight because ‘Old Skelton’, a
their jobs at any price from the growth in the use of Brighouse clockmaker had been working late on the
new machines. Smash them all, if they were to church clock.
displace human labour.
Just then the clock began to strike the midnight
The area around the Dumb Steeple was a lonely in hour. Now both noticed the sound was rather
those far off days and the perfect gathering point for strange. The sexton counted the strikes, on the 13th
gangs who came from Halifax, Huddersfield, Elland strike both looked at each other in surprise. The
and Brighouse. At 11.30pm, Saturday, April 11,
sexton pointed that he would have to get ‘Old Skelton’
1811.
back to sort it out.

Those who attended were well armed with hammers, As the days and weeks went by all Rayner
iron bars and other weapons of destruction. The wanted to do was forget all about it.
target was Cartwright’s Mill at Rawfolds,

14

But Rayner was not aware that the attack and a The best looking shop window
murder at Rawfolds had actually taken place. The

authorities, led by the Huddersfield magistrate This was a big day for the Brighouse Cooperative

Joseph Radcliffe, stepped up their investigations. Society’s fruit and fish department in King Street.

Hundreds of troops were called in and it would have This was c1954 when the department was separate

seemed that the area was under martial law. from the main store.

Rayner was hauled up before Squire Radcliffe,

probably at Milnsbridge House, Huddersfield, where

others were taken and interviewed in what became

known as the ‘Sweat Room’. He was determined to

wipe out the Luddites. In September 1813, he was

made a Baronet for his public service in bringing

the Luddites to justice

It was now that Rayner found out he had been They had won a window dressing competition and
spotted amongst the 100 members of the gang at the plaque on display is headed by the familiar
Cooper Bridge. His only means of proving he was Beehive and reads ’Co-operation the hope of the
not at Rawfolds was what happened at the church. world .Fellowship is life and lack of fellowship is
death — and the deeds we do upon the earth it is
The times were established when the gang were for fellowship sake that ye do them’.
at Cooper Bridge and after Rayner gave his
explanation the ‘Old Sexton’ was sent for. The staff posing outside with the award include
Albert Jakeways, who was the society’s manager/
The Old Sexton attended and gave evidence, buyer, Winnie Kernall, Edgar Robertshaw, Ernest
supporting Rayner’s account. However, the Craven, Lewis Aspinall, Unknown, Leila Broderick
Magistrate did not believe this incredible story and and Unknown.
sent for the clockmaker.
There was a time
He attended the hearing and confirmed that he when the only horse-
had indeed been working on the clock and had to power the Co-op had
return the following day because it had struck 13 came on four legs. The
times at midnight on the night in question. society bought their
first horses in 1874
As much as the Magistrate wanted to deal with and by 1876 they had
this alleged Luddite with the evidence brought 15.
before him there was no way that Rayner could
have been at Cooper Bridge at 11.45pm, then gone
to Rawfolds in Cleckheaton and have been outside
the church at Rastrick for midnight.

This left the Magistrate no option but to discharge They were used for
Rayner and he was free to go. delivering coal and

During the Luddite period 1811-1813, a number of supplying the branch
them went on to be tried at York, the outcome being stores. Bigger stables
a number of them were executed by hanging, soon followed to stable
approximately 30 were released through lack of their 24 horses.

evidence many others received sentences of Penal The last two seen here were sold in 1954, ’Bob and
Transportation.
Daisy’. Bob was sold for 43 guineas to a

Suggested Reading: Huddersfield based horse slaughter house, but
Daisy was sold for 63 guineas to a Cleckheaton
The Rising of the Luddites — Author Frank Peel — coal merchants.
Published 1895.
This was now the end of an era and certainly a
The Machine Breakers — Author Angela Bull — way of life with the arrival of the motor lorry.
Published 1980—ISBN 978-0001952232.

15

After 36 years the British Legion Hall is opened

Saturday, May 18, 1957, will go down as a memorable Over the years many changes were to take place,

day in the history of Brighouse. It was on that day for example, a benevolent fund was started by the

that the town saw its new purpose built British Mayoress (Mrs George Frederick Sugden) who went

Legion Hall in Bradford Road finally completed and on to raise money from a stall in the market and was

formally opened by the Earl of Scarborough. It had later to be known as ‘The Mayoress Fund’.

been a long wait for this momentous day, a wait that After the Second World War numbers were
began some 36 years earlier. thriving but the organisation was beginning to struggle

It was Brigadier-General Richard E. Sugden who, with an all too familiar problem. When it was

following a meeting that was held on the November announced that they were having trouble in finding

8, 1921, at the Wakefield Road Drill Hall (this property people who would become active committeemen

is behind RA Technology, Wakefield House), made and that was even with a membership exceeding

the initial announcement. He said that following a 500.

proposition made by Major Chambers and seconded It was not long after the Second World War that
by Mr Boothroyd the meeting had formally agreed to an active membership was beginning to dwindle.
accept the rules and constitution of the British Legion Not because of any real lack of interest or commitment

but with the council’s large-scale post-war housing

development programmes many of the members

were moving out from the older traditional town

centre terraced properties to the borough’s new

outer green field communities at Lightcliffe, Rastrick

and Southowram.

In 1943 the branch reached a turning point when it
was decided to form a ‘Headquarters Fund’ for the
purpose of buying their own premises.

With local donations and countless fund-raising

The Earl of Scarborough is the officer on the parade social events the money soon began to roll in. In

and is standing in the grounds of the house on the 1945 a joint meeting was held with the Women’s
corner of Bradford Road and High Street as the section concerning a second-floor room at the
Wheelers Club, in Huddersfield Road, which had
parade marches to the new headquarters. become available. The meeting unanimously decided
that both the men and women’s groups would
and begin proceedings to formally start a branch of
the British Legion in the town.

Following this announcement Brigadier-General establish a new headquarters at the Wheelers Club.

Sugden was appointed the first President and in It was following the appointment of Mr L.T. Dyson

January 1922 Mr A.C. Kear was appointed as as Branch President that it was decided to make a

Branch Chairman with Mr C. Stead appointed as the start on finding a suitable site for their own purpose-
first Branch Secretary, Major Chambers the first
built headquarters. Once a potential site for the new
Treasurer and Captain George Turner MC, was headquarters was found and with the fund raising
appointed as the Branch Vice-Chairman.
having reached £1,200, negations were soon under- way.

This fledgling branch began like most other groups The big day finally arrived on May, 18, the parade
and organisations in the town with only a few assembled in Birds Royd and was led by the Band
members to begin with, but from the initial 19 and Corps of Drums of the 12/13th Bn, the
members it grew to an incredible 416 within the first Parachute Regiment, T.A. The parade made its
12 months. In those early years meetings were held way along Huddersfield Road into Bradford Road to
in the Drill Hall. The members held their social Wellholme Park and finally to the new headquarters
gatherings and events at the Dyers Club, which at the side of J.C.Bates Garage.
today is being developed for housing.

16

Mrs J. Morel was the first Here are more town centre changes from
President of the Ladies the 1970s you may remember
Committee in 1957. Her
members included: Mrs A. This is Commercial Street in July 1973, at a time
Bentley (Assistant Secretary), when the town centre was going through a major
Mrs F. Clayton (Secretary), redevelopment. Many properties were swept aside
Mrs J. Wolfenden (Chairman), for the new bypass that was to be cut through the
Mrs J. Morel (President), Mrs town and other major changes.
F. A. Ives (Vice Chairman),
Mrs G. H. Booth (Treasurer), The only property that was not demolished in
Mrs H. Holroyd, Miss R. this photograph is Hagenbach’s Bakery shop.
Mrs J. Morel Thornton, Mrs A. Squire, Mrs Everything to the right of it was replaced with the
N. Howard, Mrs A. S. Sellwood, Mrs N. F. Ozanne, Mrs Wellington Arcade and pathway through to the
E. Thorpe, Mrs R. Walton and Mrs D. Ellam. Post Office. Hagenbach’s who were a Swiss
family originally, started their bakery and
catering business c:1911 in Horbury. The
business eventually had 40 shops and
restaurants and was one of the biggest bakeries in
Yorkshire. It was sold to Allied Bakeries in 1957.

The Hagenbach shop today is Kash News at 51,
Commercial Street.

Members of the first ladies committee in 1957.

Here is another part of the town centre being
swept aside as part of the re-development
programme in the early 1970s. If you look
carefully at the line of four chimney pots in the
distance those shops are still there today. In
front of the shops is the Oddfellows Hall built
c1850, that too went as part of the new bypass.

The parade finally assembled outside the new British
Legion Hall on Bradford Road and was addressed by the
Earl of Scarborough who carried out the formal opening.

The Brighouse British Legion Hall was closed
c:1988 and has been used by a number of different
private businesses since.

17

Memorable Events Superintendent John Hopkinson Memorable Events

September 12, 1897 During the late nineteenth century John Hopkinson The residents at
there was a fire at Wilkin was one of the best known residents in Brighouse Southowram were to
and had more than a local reputation from his have often said they felt
Royd Mill which was association with fire brigades. This was over a isolated in their hilltop
owned by Messrs Wood period of 50 years. community. But in 1898
the Southowram Urban
and Robinson, silk His service began in 1855 when a fire brigade District Council came up
spinner. The estimated was established by Samuel Baines at Victoria Mills
damage was £3,000. (Sainsburys Supermarket stands on this mill site with the answer.
now). This was shortly after the mills had been
October 14, 1868 the built and John Hopkinson was appointed the first The council tried to
Brighouse Town Hall Superintendent and was responsible for the daily persuade a business or
was opened. This building possible other interested
is now the Brighouse supervision of party in the creation of a
his Brigade of rack and pinion railway
Civic Hall. volunteers. from Beacon Hill up to
the village. In 1901 two
October 31, 1875 Tolls Every fire schemes were put forward.
were abolished at that was
reported in The first was from
midnight on the Bradford the town he Holmfield to Southowram
and Huddersfield Turnpike attended and via Godley Bridge. The
personally
Road. This road was directed his second idea was from
created in 1823. In 1878 men. Elland via Siddal to
the Clifton Toll Bar was Southowram
abolished and in 1880 Amongst
Tolls were abolished on the more The Holmfield to
notable fires Southowram was
Elland Road. he attended were two at Mill Royd Mill, Huddersfield preferred and the Light
Road (the Mill Royd Apartment site) in 1868 and Railway Commissioners
October 30, 1900 the again in 1874, Hollands Mill at Slead Syke in 1870, approved the scheme.
Southowram ratepayers Badger Hill Mills at Rastrick in 1881, Stott’s Mill at All that was needed was
approved the proposal Bailiff Bridge in 1883 and a disastrous fire at the money but it never
Perseverance Mill in 1870. This mill was up until materialised and the
to join Halifax. recently the Prego Restaurant. idea was left on the

November 3, 1882 the His interest in the welfare of firemen was drawing board.
Zion Chapel at Hove evidenced by his association with Henry Jocelyn
Edge was formally Barber and a number of other people by forming Another idea put forward
opened with the Rev. J. the Yorkshire Fire Brigades’ Friendly Society, was a light railway from
Myers was the presiding where he was the treasurer for more than 30 Holmfield to Southowram
years. To honour his long service in that position but just to carry stone
minister. he was presented with a silver tea and coffee
service and a gold commemorative medal. and other minerals.
December 1, 1887 a Once again it was
new Mission Hall was Before Brighouse became a Borough, in 1893, considered by the
opened in Martin Street. he served for 17 years as a member of the Commissioners but like
The Rev. Pigon D.D. the Brighouse Local Board. many other ideas of the
Vicar of Halifax was the time that too was left on
guest preacher for the He lived at 6, Mill Lane, Brighouse, and died on the drawing board.
afternoon and evening November 24, 1903, aged 76.

services. 18

December 21, 1898
there was a large fire at
Atlas Mills, Brighouse.
James Arthur Nuttall (19

years) died from his
injuries.

Brighouse Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society 1966

Throughout the years I presented local history The advertisements are an integral part of the 52-

classes in Brighouse (1979-2006) I always knew page programme and a vital source of income

the class would be fascinated looking at some generation for the society. Whilst a number of the

original documents, the older the better. One of the advertisers which are shops and industrial

things that created the most interest was when I businesses are still in Brighouse, many familiar

took along some maps. names have disappeared

The map that created from our high street.

the most interest was a Whiteley’s, newsagents

1900 Ordnance Survey and tobacconist shop

map. This covered an dated back from being a

area from the top side of newsagent to reinventing

Northowram to the far itself into a travel agents,

side of Southowram and but the shop is now the

everything in between. home of a Ladbroke’s

This map measured 12 betting office. Many

feet square when it was readers will remember

laid out flat across nine visiting the Universal

desks. The members of Radio and Cycle shop

the class were so Some of the cast members in Brighouse Amateur Operatic which was in the Savoy
engrossed at studying and Dramatic Society’s 1966 show The Merry Widow. Buildings (which is now

this huge large scale map the Civic Hall), Bradford

I could have probably disappeared for an hour and Road, where you could buy all your small

they would not have noticed my absence. electrical appliances. Then at 15, Bradford Road,

Other things I took were items that are referred to was Marguerite, the florist shop, one of at least
three in the town centre.
as ephemera, or pieces of written and printed

matter which were never intended to be kept. The With Kosset Carpets, Davison’s luxury coaches,

word ephemera is derived from the Greek word Frank Harrison’s garage on Richard Street, Wil-Be-

which means things that were intended to last no Fort, another name many will remember is Tommy

more than a day. These can sometimes include Joy’s. Others were, Brighouse Co-op, O.S.Wain’s

what today in some cases are described as highly mens outfitters, Granada TV rentals, Grenville

prized collectible pieces of ephemera. Collectables Thornton’s butchers shop, Kilburn Plumbers,

that include advertising trade cards, airsickness R. S. Bainbridge, newsagents, which was on the

bags, bookmarks, catalogues, greeting cards, ground floor of the Oddfellows Hall, George Tinker

letters, pamphlets, postcards, posters, prospectuses, photographer, fruit and veg supplier Frank Stocks,

stock certificates, tickets and programmes. It even Firth’s Carpets, Blakeboroughs and Woodcock and

includes the decks of personality identification playing Booth.

cards from the war in Iraq as a recent example. These were all household names throughout the
Some people do collect the strangest of things Borough and employed many people as well as

It is the programmes that I find the most fascinating supplying generations of shoppers with all their

because they not only advertise the event but they families’ needs.

also give an insight into what Brighouse was like at Year after year these businesses and many
that time. others would willing advertise in the programme to

The featured photograph is taken from the 1966 support this popular society.

Brighouse Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society Advertising to support local organisations has
always played an important role in helping to keep
programme for the Merry Widow. It proudly points them afloat. And, when the financial climate for
our that it is the society’s 41st production which was local businesses long may it continue.

held at the Albert Cinema in March of that year.

19

Charity was the first and only objective of the students’ Rag Day

With kisses for sale at one shilling per smack, Mr The school was built to have 150 students but even
Raggle is in town so spot him and you could win in those early days there were complaints from the
ten shillings and the kidnapping of just some of County Council. These included inadequate ventilation.
the Town Hall nobilities. What’s this all about? All Interestingly for fee-payers it cost six guineas a
quite harmless student fun. year.

These were just some There were 115 applications

of the activities for the for the head teacher’s

Brighouse Technical School position with Miss Clara

Students Association Hurst Bannister of Newnham

‘Rag Day’, which was College, Cambridge, being

held on June10, 1939. chosen. She Graduated

Looking back at the with a BA (Class III) in
history of this school we 1897.

have to go back to the In 1912 Miss Bannister

1902 Education Act which resigned and Miss J. Flemming

saw the responsibility f or was appointed. By this time

secondar y education the school had 77 girls with

being placed in the 45% fee payers and 55%

hands of the County free. The first school

Council. Speech Day was held in

In this area there was a July 1913 and the Old Girls
distinct lack of a girls’ Association was formed in
secondary school. After the same year.

numerous meetings, Councillor Hardaker as

analysing the potential Chairman of the Governors

costs and site visits to resigned in 1915 and John

where such a school Brighouse Technical School Students Association Mollett of Hipperholme
could be built, by 1908, it magazine. This is the first edition of The Raggle became the new Chairman.
became apparent to the
council there were no published in 1939. Was this the only edition or did In 1930, two daughters
suitable premises available. others follow?
of Siegfried Wagner, the son

of Richard W agner who was one of the world's

The only option was to build a new one: possible most influential composers attended the school.

sites included Wellholme Park and the Manor Consideration was given in 1931 about building a
House. After protracted delays plans were finally new school at Slead Syke. This would free up the
prepared. Manor House site for use as a technical school but

In June 1909, work finally started, with a stone- after much debate the idea was shelved.

laying ceremony with C.P. Trevelyan MP in In 1927, Miss Edith Mary Scott who had been the
attendance. Stones were laid by Councillor Dennis head teacher following Miss Flemming leaving in
Hardaker and Mr John Mollett. Under Hardaker’s 1921, inaugurated the founders’ day ceremony to
stone were copies of the Brighouse News, Echo commemorate those who had worked so hard during
and Yorkshire Post, a list of governors and a the first 10 years of the school. Sadly, in 1936, Miss
description of the school. Scott died suddenly and was replaced by the

The final cost of the school was £12,721 which Deputy Head, Miss S. Ford.

was shared between the County Council and Following the 1944 Education Act the school was
Brighouse. By May 1910 staff recruitment was well re-named Brighouse Girls Grammar School. In
under way and on September 6, the new school 1959 Miss Ford resigned and the new head was
was opened. Dr. G.M.Owen and after a couple of years she was

20

replaced by Miss Marjorie Lorna Howarth and the After the Rag Queen was crowned it was time for

last head of the school was Mrs Barbara Thompson. Murder ! Bloody Blood! This was when a number of

It was then all chang e in 1985. Following notabilities were kidnapped from the Town Hall. No

reorganisation of education in Calderdale, it then doubt money would have to be paid to encourage

became Brighouse High School, a mixed compre- their release.

hensive school and it was the new school built at At 4pm, there was a Death-Defying Chariot Race,
Slead Syke, Brighouse. the programme does not say where this race would

The old school on the Manor House site is now take place. But with expressions such as death –

the Brighouse 6th Form defying, the roar of the engines and betting with the

College. bookies with a maximum of 200 to 1 odds as the

Returning to the Rag maximum. There would be little chance of it being
Day activities of June down the length of Commercial Street.

10, 1939. The most surprising part of the whole event came

The day started at at 4.25pm. The programme says .Bombs over

1pm - Rendez - vouse Brighouse, the throttling grip of deadly gas, the shriek
of Bandit Parties, the of diving planes, the exploding force of long kept
Witching Hour and the beer bottles; Love in the Gas, gas you can’t turn off.
Hour of Doom for many. Brighouse Bombed! Death stark and staring ! - Can
We Deal With It ?. And that was just three months
Pay to Live! That is
before the declaration of the Second World War.
YOUR creed for the

10th of June, or that With a Rag Vaudeville held at the Sugden Memorial

may prove your Swan Hall with its all star programme. It concluded with a

song. The trigger fingers of the Bandits are very torch light procession from the hall to Thornton

nervous and at the last compunction will fire. Humour Square where community singing took place until

them, treat them kindly, but for Heaven’s sake, do midnight which brought the day to a close.

not arouse their wrath or… WOW…! With the war a matter of months away was

Those are the opening words of the programme another Rag Week held after 1945? We would be

and sets the tone of what to expect. pleased to here from any of our reader who knows if

At 2pm there was the Grand Parade of Youth a similar event has ever taken place. Or if any

Bodies. Tradesmen, Comic Tableaux, Fancy Dress, photographs of the 1939 event still exist.

Comic Demonstrations on Route. The parade route This is just one

set off from John King (Halifax Road), along Briggate of the many

into Commercial Street, Police street (Lawson Road), advertisements in

Bethel Street and then into Thornton Square. Leaving the 32 page copy

the town centre the parade crossed over into Bridge of The Raggle.

End and at the top of the hill it was a sharp turn left The editor of this

into Good Lane and then another left into Huddersfield magazine is shown

Road on through the town into Bradford Road and as Mr W. Ewart

then finally the parade would end at Waterloo Road. Holroyd. The two

At 3.45pm was a highlight of the day certainly for sub-editors are
one young lady. It was the crowning of the Rag Harold Brook and
Queen at the entrance to the Borough Market, near Joan Hopkinson.

Martin’s Bank. That superb beauty, that dazzling The page in the

exhibition of female loveliness, will be crowned with programme is written by the General Manager and

the Crown of Honour, the crown at which all men Publicity Agent Norman Booth. He send his thanks

kneel and bow in humble supplication…and it goes on behalf of the Rag Week committee for everyone

on. Not the language of 2021, but it was 82 years who took part and for their help. He sent a special

ago when the world had not yet got to grips with thanks to all the local tradesmen.

political correctness.

21

Some local Whitaker’s pubs recalled by Phillip Tordoff

Around 1960, in my home town of Cleckheaton, it Also in the town centre was the Round House which

was estimated that at least 70% of the beer drunk took its name from the unusual semi-circular shape

there was brewed in Halifax. In Brighouse the which resulted in a unique layout inside. When it closed

percentage would have been even higher. the building was eventually sold and was adapted

The situation arose because there were three for other purposes.

highly respected and long established breweries in The third pub,

Halifax, sadly all suffered takeover or closure in the Royal, which

the 1960s. stood on

The first to go was Thomas Ramsden’s Stone Huddersfield
Trough Brewery, a stately building situated at Road. When
Wards End, but was demolished to make way for the new bypass
the enormous Halifax Building Society premises. and town centre
Beers thereafter were brewed by Joshua Tetley in The Royal Hotel c:1961 with its redevelopment
Leeds. swinging pub sign on the right. took place in the
early 1970s the
The next to follow was Richard Whitaker’s Cock pub became a victim and now no trace of it remains.
o’the North Brewery in the late 1960s, when the
brewery was taken over by the giant Whitbread and The fourth pub, the Victoria Tavern, was not
was subsequently demolished. The brewery itself easily spotted, lying a little way along Mill Lane just
was very quaint and full of character, situated on off the town centre. It was delightfully unspoilt and a
steeply sloping ground near the North Bridge. very welcoming place. Known today as The Barge.

Finally, Samuel Webster had a large brewery at In Rastrick the pubs were more widely spaced,
Ovenden Wood, a mile or two out of the Halifax with the White Horse being the first you encountered
town centre in a rural location. Initially the takeover going up Rastrick Common. It had an extraordinary
was by Wilsons, then Watneys yet the name deep cellar, and the beer froze during the cruel winter of
lingered on to the present day. The beers brewed 1963. A heater in the cellar then made the beer too
by all three breweries were totally different from warm! This pub is now closed.

each other, Some distance further up was the Greyhound,

and each had which later became the ‘Crow Bar and Kitchen’,

its own which stood proudly on a street corner, while further

regular up still lies the Sun Inn, which is still active today.

following. A left turn at the crossroads takes you on to the

Whitaker’s Roundhill, taking its name f rom the small ,

was the distinct hillock nearby. The pub stands back from

smallest of the main road and could be easily missed if driving

Whitaker’s Ring o’Bells pub in the three past. It is warm, comfortable and well run.
Commercial Street 1972. Halifax
breweries, Whitaker’s draught beer range up to the time of
closure consisted of a now very rare Dark Mild,
with a total of 140 pubs, ranging from outposts at Best Mild and the XXXX Bitter, which had a very
distinctive flavour. Bottled beers included the Light
Doncaster in the east to Rochdale in the west. Shire, the Strong Shire, Standard Stout and the
strong Bantam, the labels all portraying the Cock
These were identified by their very attractive large o’the North symbol.

blue signs, which could be heard creaking as they Losing so many beers all at once was something
of a disaster. It is now over 50 years ago with few
swayed in strong winds. Some of them were pub goers able to remember those days.

mounted on enormous girders. Phillip Tordoff

Of the four pubs in Brighouse, the most central
was the Ring o’Bells, which was not so near the
Parish Church, despite its name. It was a true ‘spit
and sawdust’ place, a type not often found today.

22

A Letter from The Netherlands

I was born in the house of my Na-Na (my mother’s to stay in Blackpool with mum, dad and my cousin

mother) at 1, Crow Nest Cottages, Lightcliffe. Later Nancy. We went to see a new group at the Tower

my parents moved to 20 Ripley Street, Ballroom called ‘The Rolling Stones’.

Lightcliffe. Granny lived at Hill Top, Lightcliffe. They caused a riot and my

Number 20 Ripley parents were dismayed to find

Street was a the street filled with ambulances

wonderful place for and police cars when they came

growing up, right at to collect us. This resulted in

the end of the row of the Stones’ being banned from

terraces and Blackpool for 50 years.

surrounded by the

fields belonging to On the way to see the Rolling

Green’s farm. I Stones concert at Blackpool

Crow Nest cottages, a row of four spent much time Tower Ba l lr oo m ,1 9 64 . These

properties in the foreground, with playing out in the photographs were taken in one

historical links to the Crow Nest fields there and in of the ‘Photo Booths’ that were
Estate, which was the the winter sledging popular at that time.
nineteenth century home of down Jasper
Sir Titus Salt. Hill. School was Later, I would go with friends to
‘The Plebs’ in Halifax, and then other discos which
Lightcliffe School, either walking there, or paying usually involved dancing with friends around our
handbags. I was, I suppose, a ‘Mod’.
2½ pence on the bus. I remember both at Na-Na’s

house and granny’s it was a pot under the bed. After St Martin’s I went on to g a i n s o m e

At Na-Na’s house we used to go mushroom picking s e c r e t a r i a l qualifications. I also worked as a
in the fields behind her house (now the golf club) Saturday Girl at Brown Muff’s store in Bradford -
and making Sarsaparilla in the cellar. Granny’s
what a tragedy when it closed. We used to go
home at Hill Top was just a very small house and I
was recently surprised to see has now been ingeniously shopping every Saturday, and I also remember going
doubled in size by building over the garden. with mum up to Busby’s to buy herself some
fantastically designed 1960s hats.

Younger readers may be interested to know that At the age of 18 I qualified and decided to be a
when Granny died my parents sold her house on secretary in London. I was attracted by the big
rental purchase, which was quite common at that lights and the trendy scene that London was
time. No Mortgage! famous for. The 1970s were famous for industrial

At the age of six I was diagnosed with nephritis strikes. At every opportunity some Union or other

and was sent off first to Halifax Infirmary, and then would decide that it was time for its members to

for a year to recover at the Isolation Hospital at strike.

Todmorden. Being an isolation hospital visits were As soon as I arrived in London, they had a postal
limited and it was too far away for regular visits, strike. So, I thought it might be a sensible idea not
mostly once every weekend. A lonely life for a six to go at first for a secretarial job, as I thought they
year old. might not need so many secretaries if you couldn’t

In 1963 we moved to Bradford Road, Bailiff Bridge, post a letter.

and I carried on to my secondary school, St Martin’s in So I decided to take a job as a cinema usherette. I
Brighouse, which had a well deserved bad reputation. It was provided with a uniform with ‘ABC Cinemas´
was a question of ducking and diving through it. What written on the pocket, with underneath a fake
doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, as the saying blouse with frills and a fake bow tie. If this wasn’t
goes. bad enough, the second day they put a big tray

In 1964 when I was 12, I remember going on holiday filled with ice-creams and lollies over my neck and I

23

had to walk down the steps from the back to the I now live on the top floor of an old house in a very

front of the cinema with the spotlight following me. I lively part of the old City. The staircase leading to

died of embarrassment and never went back. my flat is very steep (houses were built like this

The next job I took was at a place called ‘The because of the acute shortage of land; more has
Office of Manpower Economics’ as a secretary. Its since been created by reclaiming land from the
role was a pay body for workers, teachers, nurses, sea). The modern apartments are more spacious.

etc. I remember when we were working on the Miners’ In 1995 I was accepted for a place in the Photography

pay during one of the miners’ strikes, we were Department of Amsterdam’s Gerrit Rietveld Academy.

asked to work overnight so that the nation could get I was accepted on the basis of some socially-

it’s lights on again. inspired photos of Bradford and environs I took to

After a few years my interview.

of living in London, After graduating in the millennium year I was

after working in granted a stipendium (twice) by the Netherlands

Bradford for a Department of Culture which gave me an income for

woollen company a few years and the time to concentrate on my

and Jersey renting photography. Unfortunately owing to my rapidly

out hire cars, I growing ill health this became difficult.

decided to apply for As my sickness was not a recognised one I was
a job in Amsterdam, not entitled to sick benefits (The Dutch social system
friends of mine had
Boating on the Serpentine, Hyde already got jobs in had by this time become much less socially inspired),
Park, London 1970. Holland. By chance I so took a job with a
care organisation
got a job as Secretary to The Representative for
helping the old
the British Council in Amsterdam. It was like
people with their
being a secretary on ‘Yes Minister’.
daily tasks. The old

When I arrived in Amsterdam in 1979 it was more people were often

of a village and the hippy culture popular at the time healthier and more

was everywhere. The culture was very socially energetic than me

inspired, Marijuana everywhere, my partner growing but somehow with

it on our balcony. holidays etc. I

A n extraordinary number of people were Louise with her daughter managed to keep going
on social security. This was readily tolerated by Amanda.
until my retirement.

society. Amsterdam has since metamorphised into Since (thankfully for all concerned) retiring I have

the s o p h i s t i c a t e d international city it is today. become quite the Nerd, I have also become a

At the British Council in 1981 we all toasted the representative for the company selling the break-
happy couple Charles and Diana with Champagne through product for cellular health which was
on their marriage, and I fell off my bike on the way instrumental in me recovering my health.

home and ended up with a black eye having Who would have thought that I would have

imbibed a bit too much Champagne. progressed from disco-dancing with friends around

In Holland women were encouraged to give birth our handbags in the 70s to being a nerd in the 20s?

at home and painkillers were not given during the How could I have imagined that from using a

birth. I can bear witness to this having received chamber pot in my childhood I would now be living in

silent congratulations by way of bunches of flowers such a technological age with computers? Somehow I

from all the neighbours the morning after giving birth preferred my earlier simpler life.

very noisily to my daughter Amanda at home in Louise Ford
1984. The Netherlands
(Louise can be contacted through the Editor)
My partner and I have now gone our separate
ways.

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 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 photograph: The first Smith House Estate Community Queen 1952 Miss Pat Owen.
The attendants are Miss Joan Collins and Miss Dorothy Ellis, the Page Boy is Master Roy Wood.