Brighouse and District Heritage Newseum TEST

BRIGHOUSE & DISTRICT

Heritage Newseum

Issue 1 Summer 2018

© Christopher D. Helme (2018) Tower House, Holme Mews, Wakefield Road, Lightcliffe, Halifax, West
Yorkshire HX3 8TY. This publication is copyright and apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of study ,
research, criticism, review or as otherwise permitted under the Copyright Act no part including text and
/ or photographs and / or other images may be reproduced by any process without written permission. All
enquires and payments should be directed to the author and publisher.

Published by: Mews Publishing (Lightcliffe), Halifax HX3 8TY - Tel: 07854-755756

E-mail: [email protected] www.chrishelme-brighouse.org.uk

Frontispiece: Part of Commercial Street opposite Park Street c:1905

BRIGHOUSE & DISTRICT

HERITAGE NEWSEUM

Issue 1 Summer 2018

Welcome to what is the first 1 Introduction and subscription details.
issue of my new publication. 2 The Lost Generation — Lightcliffe and

This was something I originally the First World War
intended publishing five years 4 Waste Paper Recycling
ago, but owing to other projects 5 Let There be Light
I decided to shelve the idea. 7 Town Centre Changes 130 Years Ago

With the recent turn of 8 RMS Empress of Ireland story
events with my weekly column
in the Brighouse Echo coming to an end, I decided it was 9 A Gift from the Worthies
the right time to go ahead and publish the magazine.
10 End of an Era at 54—58 Briggate
At this point I would like to thank all those readers of my
weekly page in the Brighouse Echo who telephoned, 12 The Pub House Rant
emailed, wrote to me and even stopped me and members
of my family in the street. All were asking why my weekly 13 A Quarterly Pub Visit - The Star Inn
piece was no longer being published. Everyone expressed
their thanks by saying how much they looked forward to it 14 The first Take Away in Brighouse ?
each week. No one is indispensable, so for me it is onward
and upwards. 15 A Much Travelled Clock

My hopes are that I can develop what was my weekly 16 Down the Decades
’Looking Back’ page in the newspaper into a full scale A4
16 page local history magazine. At this stage I intend to Remember to look at my new website where
maintain the 16 page format. If the level of interest is the you can also contact me through the contact
same as I had with my newspaper column then I do
intend to gradually increase the number of pages to 28. section page:
www.chrishelme-brighouse.org.uk
I will look forward to readers contacting me as they did for
all my years with the Brighouse Echo. Readers are Copies will also be available through my
encouraged to contact me share their memories and on website where payment can be made using
the magazine content. Your contributions will always PayPal and the magazine will be posted. Postal
be considered. Contact details can be found on the in- copies can be purchased via email, telephone or
side front page. by writing to the publishers. All these details can
be found inside the magazine.
There are a number of ways where you will be able to
get a copy of the magazine. In the town centre Harrison The magazine already has two orders from
Lords (Bradford Road) and Kitson’s Newsagents expats who now live in Greece and The
(Commercial Street), Kershaw’s Garden Centre, Colin’s Netherlands. I look forward to hearing from many
Newsagents (Hipperholme) & Bailiff Bridge Post Office. more expats who wish to be reminded about their
old home town.

and finally Please tell your friends about this new
magazine.

Thank you. Chris Helme

1

The Lost Generation — Lightcliffe and the First World War

It was in 1917 a year after the Somme that the Reverend John Michael Stanhope Walker, whilst addressing
a large gathering of fellow clergy somewhere in England, summed up his experiences of that unforgettable
five months of death and destruction. During the first three months of the battle he and his colleagues buried
over 900 who had died at the casualty clearing station they were working at.

Thornton Square was used as a focal point for recruiting during the war and as seen here to remember
those who did not return after the war

It was estimated they had 1300 casualties enter The Reverend Alban Bodley Mace, CF, 3 October
the station in a twenty four hour period and on one whilst acting as the Chaplain at Salonica. The
night over 700 were taken in after 11pm. Reverend Mace was the Curate of Brighouse and
had earlier been the Curate at St Matthew's during
Such was the destruction of life that between the 1 1910.
July and 16 November 1916 the British lost 420,000
casualties, the French 200,000 and the Germans Whilst at Lightcliffe he was lodging with Miss Mary
420,000. There were more British soldiers killed on Waring at one of Crow Nest Cottages and was 31
that first July morning than there was during the whole years old when he died. He was nephew to Sir
of the Battle of Waterloo. Algernon and Lady Janet Firth. On 5 May, 1918 a
special service was held at St James Church to
Brighouse like every other town, city and village dedicate a stained glass window in his honour.
was to lose many of its young men during that five
months. Second Lieut John Andrew Benjamin Jolley 13
October, Sec-Lt Harold Hoyle 23 July, of the
On 3 November, 1918 a memorial service took Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He was 26
place at St Matthew's Church, Lightcliffe and of the years of age and was the only son of Mr and Mrs E.
46 men being remembered many of them had been Hoyle of Glen Terrace, Hipperholme; Sgt Harry
killed at the Somme. It would appear from newspaper Stuart Riley 23 July of the Lancashire Fusiliers and
records there were others who were not mentioned lived at Ripley Street, Lightcliffe; Corporal Joe Willie
on the service sheet. Some of those also being Shaw 8 October.
remembered at the memorial service were not all
killed at the Somme included. 2

Cpl Fred Booth 26 October; Private Harry E. Minnet was one of those killed on the first push 1 July, he was a
member of the Royal Fusiliers and lived at George Street, Hipperholme; Pte Reginald Naylor 18 July;
Pte Bertram Wood 4 September; Pte Aaron Sucksmith 4 September of the Durham Light Infantry, 27 years of
age, who lived with his parents in St Giles Road; Pte Thomas Stocks 18 September Gordon Highlanders, from
22, East Street; Pte Richard Greenwood 3 October; Sgt Horace Shaw 3 September and Corp Herbert
Aspinall 3 September.

During the 1914-1918 many casualties were sent to local Military Hospitals to recover, such as at Boothroyd
and Longroyd House at Rastrick or Holroyd House, Priestley Green there under the Commandant Lady Janet
Firth 900 soldiers pass through the hospital during those four year, Lady Firth was also Mentioned in
Dispatches.

Lady Janet Firth Holroyd House June 28th 1917

Reverend Alban Bodley Mace, 31 years, was appointed on the 15
May, 1915 as Temporary Chaplain 4th Class . Attached 2nd Bn.
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. He was killed in action whist
acting as Chaplain to the forces in Salonica 3 October, 1916.
He was interred at the Struma Military Cemetery, Greece

He was the son of the Revd. and Mrs J. C. Mace, late of Hawley,
Hants, husband of Evelyn Mace, St. Mark's Road, Alverstoke, Gosport,
Hants. He was a nephew of Sir Algernon and Lady Janet Firth
(T.F.Firth’s Carpet Company, Bailiff Bridge).

On the 5th May 1918, a special service was held at St James
Church Brighouse to dedicate a stained glass window on the
north wall in his honour. This and other commemorative windows
are now at Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley following the demolition of
the church.

Reverend Alban Bodley Mace, CF

3

Waste Paper Recycling

Sunday at our house invariably involves a trip to The late Bill Redman for one. He was known by
the council tip and this Sunday was no exception. everyone and if you wanted a new bin you could
Well it’s that time of year when cutting back the be sure Bill would sort you one out - he was the
shrubs and bushes is a chore but has to be done. foreman. Then there was Bert Booth who drove one
of the refuse wagons for more years than most could
remember.

Saving waste paper is not a new s c h e m e in
Brighouse. Many years ago it was such a success
that on 18 October, 1952 the official opening of a
new waste paper recovery unit at the Atlas Mill Road
works took place and was carried out by Mr J. C.
Dawes, CBE, M.I.Mech.E. With him looking on, and
no doubt very pleased were all the members of the
H e a l t h a n d Cleansing Committee which included:
Mayor Councillor George Turner M.C, J.P.

Atlas Mill Road council waste paper plant 1952

I think most of us will remember when everyone
seemed to be collecting waste paper and then
taking it for recycling to raise a few pounds for a
good cause. Almost every organisation seemed at
one time to be saving newspapers. Saving them in
every nook and cranny of their meeting rooms or
members’ garages and hoping the insurance man
didn’t find out or the fire safety officer for that matter.
Then just as everyone began to make money the
value of waste paper hit rock bottom and for what
had become a real money spinner for many a
struggling group wasn't worth the effort anymore.

Some years ago waste paper, or just certain types Councillors:- Lloyd Kaye B.Sc, Edwin Hinchliffe,
of waste paper, was back in the news and worth Emmeline Tattersall, Wilfrid Whiteley C.B.E, Lewie
collecting once again. The Sonoco Board Mills, a Binns, George Albert Stillingfleet, George Leo
waste paper company in Stainland, was even able Enright, Ernest Green, Frank Harrison, Leslie
to help many of Elland town centre traders to get rid Hulme, Herbert Redfearn, John R. Liddle the Town
of their waste paper. The company was even pay- Clerk and Cyril Moss M.B.E., F.Inst P.C., F.S.I.A.
ing them for it as well whereas traditionally they the Chief Sanitary Inspector, Public Cleansing and
had to pay the council to collect it and take it away. Salvage Officer for the Borough Council along with the
With the changes coming in relation to the amount representatives from Sharp and Waller the architects.
of recycling that each council must carry out. The
introduction of the ‘green bag’ for waste paper has 4
been a good start.

Visiting the Atlas Mill Road site always reminds
me of some of those who used to work there and
were familiar faces to all who called in at the tip.

The original Atlas Mill Road refuse works had been The council representatives were so impressed with
built in 1926 and opened on the 1 of August. what they saw that the after reporting back. The
full Brighouse Borough Council approved spending
£6,037 on a new waste paper recovery building plant,
as well as a further £500 on a new approach road to
the site.

Once the site was in full operation it was one of the
old Borough Council’s success stories. It was
calculated that between 1926 to 1951 (pop:30,587) the
waste paper recycling plant had made almost £42,720
and a further £28,000 from other salvaged materials.

Such was the success of the waste paper operation These days we all take recycling as part of the daily
that as part of the Council’s 1948 Civic Week a routine of disposing of our household rubbish. But,
looking back Brighouse was certainly one those towns
council wagon loaded with waste paper was used who saw a profit in waste paper rubbish and ahead of
to promote the scheme. Not the prettiest of sights its time.
but it sent a positive message to the town’s rate
Own a Donkey for 10 seconds !!
The basic principle of waste disposal in the 1920s
was separation, salvage and incineration. A market
to re-sell waste paper didn't appear until 1933.

The council entered into its first contract with the
Thames Board Mills of Purfleet in Essex who agreed
to pay the council twenty-five shillings per ton for
clean baled newsprint and twenty-two and six pence
per ton for baled mixed waste paper. So successful
was this contract it was re-newed in 1938, 1943 and
1948.

To encourage householders to save their waste Once it had been established where the local military
paper the council would periodically distribute leaflets hospitals would be organisations in and around
telling rate payers just how much their waste paper Brighouse all rallied round to raise funds. This was to
was helping the council's finances. help pay towards certain treatments, medical supplies
and a few luxuries whilst the service men recovered
In 1934 the council's early days of waste paper from their wounds.
collecting saw them sell 180 tons making the
council £192 The ticket price to own a donkey for ten seconds is
shown on the above ticket as one shilling which today
However, once they were properly organised and is a five pence piece. However, the value of a 1916 one
had gradually built up the amount of paper. By 1951 shilling today would be worth just over £3. I have seen
they were handling as much as 466 tons which these one shilling coins for sale on the Ebay auction
increased the council coffers by £7,580. website from £3 to £20.

It was on a visit to Dewsbury Council's refuse plant
in 1951 that representatives from the Borough
Council first saw the new up to date grading and
sorting conveyor and Powell Power P r e s s which
they had installed.

5

Flashes Let There Be Light Flashes

In February 1895 Councillor In May 1884 the Brighouse and District Industrial Tuesday 5 April 1977
James Dyson at the Society, King Street switched on its new electric lighting Gilbert Lawson OBE
system for the first time.
weekly Brighouse town passed away. Mr Lawson
Council meeting objected The electrical energy was supplied from the plant that served on the Brighouse
to the payment of £17.15s had been built behind the old Co-op premises by
for the purchase of a gown Mr A.B.Brook. He was an electrician with his own Borough Council from
business premises in Hall Street, behind what is now 1929 to 1937 and was
and wig for the Town the Civic Hall. then appointed as an
Clerk, James Parkinson. It Alderman of the Borough a
would appear that in the For the technically minded reader the plant position he held until his
consisted of a Crossley’s Otto gas engine of 49 IHP retirement in 1969. On the
early days of the new (Indicated horsepower). It was fitted with two fly wheels
Borough Council some of and electric light governors and running at 160 6 April 1964 he was
revolutions per minute. awarded the position of
the newly elected Freeman of the Borough.
representatives of the The engine drove a 400 light dynamo by a powerful link In the 81 years of the
people, not a little elated belt manufactured by Messrs Fairburn on Birds Royd. Borough Council he was
by their dignity, decided to The dynamo was fitted with a balance wheel 4ft diameter one of only eleven people
go in gowns to their office. and ran at 900 revolutions per minute and was fitted on given this honour, It is
When the Town Clerk’s sliding rails for tightening the drive belt. On one side often written that it was
of the engine room the switchboard made of polished through his work on the
robes came to be walnut with mounted indicating instruments and
considered, there seemed switches which were all polished brass. council Housing and
to be some doubt whether Property Committee,
The engine room was nicely finished with varnished mainly as its chairman,
he should or not wear a wood covering the walls and ceiling. It was illuminated by that we do not have any
wig. One member pointed four 16 candle power incandescent lamps. Incandescent high-rise multi-storey flats
lamps were fitted throughout the premises of 16 and 32 in the old Borough area.
out that the illustrated candle power. Some were in clusters of three and five Having seen many other
papers always showed light brass chandeliers which were in some of the towns with he high-rise
Town Clerks wearing wigs rooms. There were two lamps each with of 1500 flats and the problems
when they presented candle power and were intended to light the front they have had his
addresses to Royalties and of the new building, the entrance arcade and the yard determination that
other public functions. The beyond would be lit by six smaller arc lamps.
Brighouse Council did not Gilbert Lawson MBE
want to be out of order if All the fittings and the construction of the
they ever had a Royal complete installation was carried out in accordance with Brighouse would not have
visitor. It was decided to the rules of the Society of Electrical Engineers and the them was a triumph. In his
send a telegram to the rules of the Phoenix Fire offices. younger days he was t h e
Town Clerk of a neighbour- captain of the Brighouse
ing borough. ‘Do you wear 6
a wig?’ was the terse Harriers Athletic Club
message. This Town Clerk between 1913 and 1920.
resented this prying into
his personal affairs. The In his honour Police
final decision was to vote Street in Brighouse town
in favour of the Brighouse centre, where the police
Town Clerk wearing a wig station had stood from
and to accept the best 1865 until its demolition
quote for supplying the almost a century later, was

said wig. re-named as Lawson
For many weeks this Road.
created a lot of fun and
jokes at the Town Clerk’s

expense.

James Parkinson

Town Centre Changes 130 years Ago

This scene of almost 130 years ago has
changed almost beyond all recognition. Long
gone have the road setts to be replaced with
tarmac. In the fact this street (Union Street) is no
longer there.

The only building of the three still standing
today is the tallest one on the left handside. It
is Barclay’s Bank branch and a clue to its age is
high up on the front elevation — 1875.

The bank was built on the site of the old Manor
House which was demolished to make way for
what was the new Halifax Commercial Bank.

The old Manor House was the home of John Bottomley, a Maltster (Maltster—Brewer, made or sold
Malts). For generations the Bottomley family were involved in the public affairs of Brighouse.

The old Malt Kiln building stood next to the bank, I can reassure readers that the men on the roof are not
stealing the slates. It was part of the demolition process to make way for the new town hall which was built on
the site and opened in 1887. When Brighouse became part of Calderdale in 1974, over time the old
Brighouse Borough Town Hall was surplus to requirements and was sold. Today, it is the home of Town
Hall Dental practice. Whilst it is no longer a public building many of the features of this old building have been
retained. I was pleased to have been invited to produce a story-board illustrating the history of the town hall for
Dr. Imran Rangzeb. the principal dental practitioner. The completed story-board is now on display inside and
available to view whether you are a dental client or not.

The shop is T (Tom). A Fox, stationers and newsagents with Tom standing in the door way, no doub t
discussing the town centre changes with a few of his regular customers.. One of them is David Crowther
Holmes who was later a member of the town council, an alderman and mayor of Brighouse (1919-1920).

The cobbled street disappeared when Holroyd Buildings, which was opposite these three buildings, wa s
demolished in 1912, leaving an open space which today is the more familiar Thornton Square.

From Maypole Dancing to Wetherspoon’s Beer Garden

This is nothing more than being the Park Chapel backyard but
members of the Sunday school dance round the Maypole as part of
the chapel’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations on 5 July 1938. Those
taking part are: Mabel Radley and Stanley Wardingley; Nora
Sutcliffe and Cyril Hill; Irene Hardcastle and Walter Vickerman;
Margaret Preston and John Gregory; Nancy Lancaster and Walter
Austwick; Rhoda Knight and John Whittingham; Ada Brook and
Gordon Taylor; Jean Mitchell and Arnold Brooke; Dorothy Drake
(pianist) and Muriel Cogan, Irene Goldspink, Margaret Chapman and
Marjorie Westmorland.

How times have changed over the last 76 years. Not only has the

back yard of the chapel gone but the chapel has as well. The

backyard now forms part of the Richard Oastler pub which opened

on November 23, 1999 and is part of the J.D.Wetherspoon’s pub

chain. 7

The Sinking of the RMS Empress of Ireland

RMS Empress of Ireland was an ocean liner which sank near the
mouth of the St. Lawrence River, Canada. This tragedy occurred after a
collision in thick fog with the Norwegian coal freighter the SS Storstad in
the early hours of May 29, 1914. Although the ship was equipped
with watertight compartments, and following the Titanic disaster two
years earlier it carried more than enough lifeboats for all onboard, the
ship foundered in only 14 minutes. Of the 1,477 people on board, 1,012
died, making it the worst peacetime maritime disaster in Canadian
history. However, to most residents in Brighouse this news may have
initially meant little.

On the June 5, 1914 the Brighouse Echo reported the tragic loss of this
ship and in particular its local connections to Brighouse.

Thomas Furness, the father of John William Furness (photograph) had
initially opened a music shop in Bethel Street and then some years later
moved to Southport. His son John William was born over the family shop
in Bethel Street. He was educated at St Martin’s School in Church Street.

When the family moved to Southport around 1897 he was also a chorister at St Andrew’s Church. There he
joined his elder brother John Noble Furness who, prior to his move to Southport, was a piano tuner living and
working at 31, John Street, Waring Green.

John William went on to be a fine violinist and was in great demand in the music circles of Southport,
the surrounding towns and communities. His musical career then saw him playing on the steamships
‘Amazon’, the ’Romanie’ and the ’California’. His final job as a steamship bandsman was on the ill-fated RMS
Empress of Ireland. He had been booked to play at the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Mornington Road,
Southport once his trip across the Atlantic had been completed. An engagement he was unable to attend.

Of the 1012 people on board the ship who lost their lives were two members of the five piece ship’s band
George R. Baxter , the pianist and John William Furness 1st violin.

There were 1,057 passengers on board which included 138 children.
It also included around 170 members of the Salvation Army, on their way
to London for a conference. 840 passengers died, 217 survived. Only four
of the children survived, and around 124 members of the Salvation Army
lost their lives. Of the 420 crew, 172 died and 248 survived.

In April 1914 John Furness had made a pilgrimage with Anglican
Church officials to visit the grave of John Law Hume, one of the members
of the band on the RMS Titanic. At the Fairview Lawn Ceme-
tery in Halifax, Nova Scotia and pay his respects, little knowing that he
himself would perish only a few weeks later when Empress of
Ireland sank.

Along a coastal road near the St. Lawrence River in Pointe-au-Père in
Rimouski, Quebec is a picturesque stone sculpture carved with a
wreath and inscribed. It is a monument and mass grave commemorating
Canada’s greatest peacetime maritime disaster and the lives lost when
two ships collided in the St. Lawrence River in thick fog.

8

A Gift from the Worthies

Whether it be a church or a chapel most would The Brooke family which included John Brooke

claim to have a number of people who would be (Senior), lived at The Rydings (which later became

best described as the Brighouse Library)

'worthies'. People and was born in

would fit into that 1784.He had been

description for any a Corn miller in

number of reasons. Brookfoot but in 1826

They might be what moved his business to

many organisations Brooke's Mill, Badger

would describe as Lane , Rastrick near

'doers', I think most to Bridge End.

would agree that St James’s Church from Bonegate Road in 1910 His son John and his
every organisation wife Emily were also
have their fair east window. . responsible for
share of both doers donating money to
and those who like buy the magnificent
to watch the doers.

Or it might be that they may have given a Samuel Henry Byrne was the son of Henry Byrne who

generous donation towards the cause or the lived at Slead Hall and was a partner in the local wire

organisation itself. drawing company Ramsden Camm. It was Samuel

Perhaps the nineteenth and early twentieth that gave the west window. He died in London in July
centuries saw the term 1892.

'worthy' given to people far The Barber family led by
more than today. Joseph, Solicitor (1805-1862)

Looking amongst some gave the first reredos. His son
notes I was given recently William (1833-1896) gave
about the old St James‘s the church its font.

Church, where it is interesting The Ledgard family were the
to read about their oldest family to donate to the
'worthies' and why some of new church. They gave the
them were considered to Chancel painting that was
have deserved that title. given in memory of William

Mrs Anna Maria Camm of Ledgard who had been born at
Wellholme must be considered Bonegate House in 1813.

the person most thought of William Camm son of Alfred

when the early discussions Demolition c:1972 and Anna Maria (nee Brooke)

about this church started. It was her family that sold was the voluntary organist and principal choirmaster.

the piece of land for £600, a plot that was described It was under his direction, and that of choir mistress

at the time as being very close to the former Miss Fanny Byrne that their boys choir became the

Bonegate Toll-Bar. first surpliced choir in the district. In later years

M a n y s u b s c r i b e r s w e r e required to William gave a new window in memory of his late
raise the thousands of pounds to erect the church. mother.

Some of the notables who gave generously included These were just some of the major donations given to

the Aspinall, Camm, Barber and Byrne families. the church.

9

End of a Era as one of the Oldest shops in the Town Centre Closes

In April we saw one of Brighouse
town centre businesses close its
doors for the last time. Oddjobs, the
hardware and everything that is DIY
shop has been an institution at its three
storey shop premises in Briggate for
more years than most shoppers
can remember.

Before John Summerskill
(photographed), one of the director’s
closed the doors for the last time I
took the opportunity of asking him
how and when did it all start for him?

John's involvement with the business that was except for the odd wall taken down to make rooms
known to everyone as John Francis Brown's dates slightly bigger and a staircase widened. The shop is
back to the 1980s. John and his brother-in-law almost as it was when they moved in 35 years
Graham Purdam opened their first shop also ago, whilst I called it comfortably old fashioned
called Oddjobs in Chapel Hill, Huddersfield in John thought it more as being functional.
1980. This was a period of time when the DIY
market was in the midst of a boom period. With Oddjobs has always had long serving and helpful
both John and Graham having been in the building staff. This has been very noticeable as the world of
trade it was this knowledge that was key to the DIY shops changed with more and more house-
success of their new business. holders doing more of the jobs at home themselves.
Help was always on hand for the less experienced
In 1983 they became aware that John Francis DIY customer. J. F.Brown’s did not start 35 years
Brown's shop in Brighouse was on sale. With the ago and, we have to go back into the nineteenth
DIY trade still doing well John and Graham having century to trace the history of the man who opened
investigated the business decided to buy it. With this town centre ironmongers.
the Huddersfield business being called Oddjobs it
seem an obvious choice of name for their new It was c1859 when John Francis Brown rented
Brighouse shop. two cottages, 33 and 34 Bethel Street. At that time
both cottages had front and rear gardens, nothing
The shop itself had had no connection with the like the Bethel Street of today. He soon set about
Brown family since the early 1960s. Since then it converting the cottages into a shop, offices, a
had been owned by a consortium who had decided showroom and storage space at the back of the
to retain the familiar and friendly name of John shop. He opened the shop as John Francis Brown
Francis Brown. — Ironmonger and General Furnishings Warehouse.
From the available material it is believed that he
When customers visited J. F.Brown’s you could opened the business to the public in 1865. If this
practically buy anything and if they had not got it in year is accurate the business is 153 year old.
stock invariably within a few days they would have
for you. Most of the local customers thought the Looking through the old trade directories it
shop was comfortably old fashioned, unlike the less appears that John Francis Brown traded in Bethel
personal large DIY stores of today. John explained Street until his death in 1892. The shops were then
that very little had changed since the day they took tenanted to his wife and business partner.
it over,
10

At that time he was living in High Street, whilst in Towards the end of John’s working life at the shop
his younger days he lived at Spring Gardens, he declared that he was retiring early ! Whilst he
Waring Green. Following his death his widow Annie, should have finished on the Saturday, took early
with John’s business partner Joe Naylor and her retirement and finished on the Friday. Just one of
son Charles Francis Brown kept the business the many characters who worked at the shop. Then
going. Although her new husband Samuel there was Peter Hey who joined the company
Turner Shaw, following their marriage took no straight out of his army service. Gordon Grady,
part in the business. Interestingly John and Harry Sykes, Cyril Mortimer and Frank Firth. They
Annie’s son George Henry Brown married Mary were just some of the fireplace fitters who worked
Ann Crowther, the only daughter of local cotton from the shop. At its peak the shop would employ 15
spinner William Crowther on September 10, 1913. people at any one time.

April 15, 1903 was an important development It was a long time before a female worked in the
in the business, that was the day the it moved shop. The first was Delia (Pip) Brearley, the office
from Bethel Street to the more familiar and current girl cum secretary for Dennis.
premises in Briggate. The business became a
limited company in 1907. The Brown family The next was Dennis’s daughter Cathy who
retained ownership until William Brown sold the it started as a Saturday girl. The male customers
in 1962. would not allow her to bring heavy boxes of nails up
from the cellar and went down to bring them up for
Someone who was at the shop shortly after the her.
family sold it was Dennis Oldfield, a working
director. Now well into retirement he has many Now the business is sold what the future
happy memories from the 21 years he worked holds for the building John Summerskill does
their. During his time at the shop he recalls many not know what plans the new owners for the building.
of the staff: Cyril Wilby the cashier who joined the John is looking forward to a new life of retirement
company straight from Rastrick Grammar which is to involve more family time, learn French
School was at the company until he retired aged something he has always wanted to do but working
65. and John Aldred the ironmonger. He was time kept that on hold for the future. Travel is
employed at the shop from being 15 until he something else he will now have time for including
retired again aged 65. cycling and then driving across USA,

These are just some of the things he has on a
list of things he wants to do. On behalf of us all we
say thank you to John and all his staff for many
years of service and wish them all well for the future.

I think that whatever the future does hold for
number 54-58 Briggate it will always be remembered
as both John Francis Brown’s and Oddjobs in the
minds of all Brighouse residents.

A busy day in Briggate c:1910. J. F.Brown’s This is a nameplate from a Yorkshire Range fireplace
shop is on the left supplied by John Francis Brown’s company. The
complete fireplace can be seen at the Grassington Folk
Museum. For further information please visit the museum

website https//:grassingtonfolkmuseum.org.uk

11

The Pub House Rant

One day while strolling round Brighouse, As the SHIP lay at ANCHOR,
and not knowing wherever to go, The BLACK SWAN flew,
I thought that I would visit the pubs, Over the FOOTBALL field near the VINE
So I’ll tell you just what I saw; Old NEPTUNE was sitting beside the WHARFE.

I saw the WHITE SWAN flying onward, With the WOODMAN, drinking his wine,
And alight on the ROYAL OAK spire, ‘WHO WOULD A’THOUGHT IT’ the JOINER
The RING OF BELLS they were pealing, Said that day, as I sat at the tiller,
As WELLINGTON sat by the fire; The POND’S run dry, that’s what I’ve heard,
From my friend, the DUSTY MILLER.
The PRINCE OF WALES, a real British sportsman
By the CLIFTON ARMS, I chanced to meet; On my way back home again,
Then I saw the STAG & PHEASANT I met some children playing hockey,
While strolling along Bethel Street. And who should pass, while standing there,
But the famous HORSE & JOCKEY.
Near the ROYAL, I met FREEMASON,
With his old pal GEORGE by his side; I had just one drink at the ALBION,
The ROUND HOUSE lights they were gleaming, Then I made my way to the CROWN,
As the EMPRESS was taking her ride. And I thought I’d just POP INN
To the NEW INN a bit further down.
Near STOTT’S ARMS I met bold ROBIN HOOD,
The leader of that noble band, The ENGINEERS were stationed in Brighouse,
But what puzzled me, instead of arrow and bow, When the BLACK BULL rushed from the fold;
He’d a MALT SHOVEL stuck in his hand. So I made my way to the MARTIN,
And there, I had one glass of old.
VICTORIA they say, she sells very good ale;
The DUKE OF EDINBRO’ is still on the march, I finished at the PUNCH BOWL at eleven,
And the COMMERCIAL traveller may often be seen Then back home again I wended my way,
Sat beneath the RAILWAY arch. And I slept like a top till next morning,
Then I woke, it was closing day.
The WHITE HORSE goes trotting round
With the Landlord and his DOG AND GUN,
The STAR shone bright, as the DUKE OF YORK,
Stood on the BRIDGE with his son.

There are almost 50 pubs in this very old rant – who wrote that? We don’t know but it has been around for
many years. It has even been used as a quiz question by many organisations. If you know who wrote it please
let us know.

It’s 26 years since this group of keen gardeners
were caught on camera at Kershaw’s Garden
Centre. It was Friday, May 29, 1992 for the
start of the Organic Gardening weekend.

Here are just a few of the many people who
called in to see just what was on offer and for
many of the less experienced gardeners an
opportunity to see what organic gardening was
all about.

Since that very busy weekend Kershaw’s
has evolved, with many of its outbuildings having
been transformed and many new businesses
moving on to the site. From being a garden
centre it is now Kershaw’s Shopping Village.
Are you one of these visitors ?

12

When it became known that I was going to The Star was the only inn is the district where a
produce this publication I was asked if I could newspaper could be found. The morning of publication
include a feature about individual public houses the Star was full of people, between 30 to 40 people
in and around Brighouse. I am hoping to produce was not uncommon with each taking it in turns to read
the publication four times a year and have the latest news and local goings on.
decided to have a feature on public houses in
each issue of the magazine. John Exley Dyson was responsible for rebuilding it
in 1885 and his name can still be seen on the glass
We start with the Star Inn at Bridge End and panel above the main entrance door. It was one of
illustrate it with this letterhead from the late the earliest inns to have electric lighting.
nineteenth century. The letterhead dates back to the
1890s and was originally sent to the Brighouse and Previous owners have included a number of prominent
Rastrick Naturalist Society which was formed in local families. The Denham’s and then through one of
1894 and held its meetings at the Star. This group the daughters marrying into the Ormerod mill owning
along with its stuffed animals and birds moved to family. The property was with this family for a number
The Rydings in 1898 and used it as its new meeting of generations . Through John Exley Dyson’s wife it
place. also had links to the Lords, an old Brighouse family.
The origins of Lords Lane perhaps ?
The earliest available opening date I have for
the Star is 1794, which makes this the oldest The Star Inn is currently (April 2018) for sale at
hostelry in Rastrick. Situated at the point where £250,000 and is shown below on the right c1910.
Rastrick joins with Brighouse the inn is ideally
placed for potential customers walking across the
river bridge.

The Star came into its own following the passing
of the Stamp Act in 1712. This was a new tax on
publishers, particularly those of newspapers. All
newspapers were taxed which increased the price.
This hit all newspapers particularly the cheaper
ones.

13

The First Take-Away in Brighouse

It is almost forty years since an institution closed in From 1949 the business had only been opening

Brighouse. An establishment that had been open for three days a week which compared to its heyday

almost a century and was known across the generations. when it would have been opening six days a week

A business whose door was first opened it is said by a and quite often until very late at night. Such was the

lady known locally as ‘Sausage Sarah’. Someone businesses popularity even the three day week still

who quickly provided him with

established the a nice living.

business gaining ‘The times are
a reputation changing’ —
par-excellence for

her home cooked Something we

peas and sausage say all to often,

Premises that can even these days.

be referred to as The days of

Brighouse’s first stepping down

take-away. from the road side

‘The Bow Window’ on to his wooden
72, Lower floor and eat as
Briggate.
one regular once
put it ‘eat as much

Sausage Sarah as you can for a

first opened the bob’ (five new

business c:1864. pence). The days

It was when the of children calling

Stake family took The old Bow Window where you were always assured of the best peas and in with their own
it over that its sausage in the town centre closed its door for the last time in 1959. Genera- basins to eat
reputation grew tions of Brighouse families will remember the days when it was the place to go
far beyond even a portion of peas
for ‘a ha’poth, two and a muff’ and sausages had

their expectations and its town centre customers. It become a thing of the past.

was c:1895 when Helliwell Stake bought the business

and was later joined by his younger brother Harry.

Harry realised the potential of this little shop in and
went on to open a similar shop in Huddersfield under
his own name.

Helliwell was later joined at the Bow Window by his
son Edmund and as the years went by this little shop
just over the Anchor Bridge became a household
name.

In October 1959 after a life time of serving the ‘a Stake brothers proudly boasting through this advertisement
ha’poth, two and a muff’ or to the uninitiated an order customers will certainly put some weight on. Not the kind of
once translated which meant a half penny worth advertisement that would be appreciated or possibly even be
of peas, two sausages and a tea-cake that Edmund
Stake decided that time was catching up and it was allowed these days.
time to retire
. 14

The Much Travelled Clock

Things seem to have a habit of turning up in the unlikeliest of places. Take this wall clock, for example. Its
very existence only came to light following an e-mail from Alan and Jo Gianoli, who are based
in Columbia Falls, Montana, USA.

Twenty five years ago Alan purchased the clock whilst in California. The clock is an American
made octagonal Ansonia Regulator long drop wall clock. The Ansonia Clock Company was one
of the major 19th century American clock makers. It produced millions of clocks in the period between
1850, its year of incorporation and 1929. It was during that year the company went into receivership and
sold its remaining assets to Soviet Russia.

After being used by many different manufacturing companies, since 1982 the factory has been
used as residential apartment property. It is now called ‘Ansonia Courts’ in Brooklyn, retaining a link
to the name of its original owners.

Inside the clock casing is a label - "Made for F. Murgatroyd. No. 2, Police St., Brighouse." Alan was
obviously curious as to why there was no Police Street on the present day
town maps he had found on the internet. Many readers will know in the early
1970s that Police Street was renamed Lawson Road.

But, who was F. Murgatroyd and why should he have had this clock made for
him ? That is the question. The 1891 census shows that 44 year old, Warley
born Frank Murgatroyd lived at number 2 Police Street along with his wife
Mary, and his eight children, who were all born in Brighouse, Bailiff Bridge or
Rastrick. It appears from their occupations to be a hardworking family em-
ployed in a number of different mill related employments.

Alan says the clock was probably made to order in New York and shipped to
Mr. Murgatroyd to hang in his home. What a journey the clock has had crossing the Atlantic twice in two
different centuries. Alan wonders why it wasn't it kept in the family. The clock is 32 inches long, and is
described as being fairly typical of clocks that hung in offices and banks. It strikes on the hour.

Can you help Alan – are there any relatives of Frank Murgatroyd still living in Brighouse and why would
a clock from America be made for a family man in Police Street of the 1890s?

A Sign of the Times !

Here are a few sad faces following the council
having decided to erect a ‘No Ball Games’ Sign
in Summerfield Avenue.

Interestingly under the 1835 the Highways Act
banned children from playing in the street. In
1859 it was reported that 44 children were
imprisoned in London and Middlesex for playing
in the street. Thankfully that does not happen
anymore but these old regulations have been
brought up to date.

It is always easy for the council to erect a sign
of this kind but rarely did they give a
thought to the children that actually lived there.

15

Down the Decades A Small Housing Development with a Forgotten History Down the Decades

1900—1910 Walk along Bradford Road towards Bailiff Bridge and 1900—1910
you will find the small housing development of
The new twentieth century Oakroyd Close. It is difficult now to imagine how that site It was June 1904 that the
started well in Brighouse was once the thriving nursery business of Lister old Bethel New Connexion
with Brighouse Rangers Kershaw. Chapel in Bethel Street
closed for public worship
‘A’ winning the Halifax Lister Kershaw originally started his business in
Charity Cup in the final 1847 at Waring Green. This small business developed - prior to the building of
with Halifax ‘A’ by one to such an extent that he very soon had to look for a the new and present day
new and larger site. In 1860 he purchased the
goal to nil. Bradford Road site and not long after he also purchased Central Methodists
further two plots at Lightcliffe and Clifton, a combined Church. On that last day
The sad news of Brighouse acreage of fourteen acres.
soldiers being killed in there were special
action in the Boer War He took the decision not long after starting his business church services to mark
to open a seed and flower shop business in Brighouse
was also reported in that town centre. A site he occupied for almost twenty five the passing of the old
first week of the new years and it was only a short time before his death in church which had been a
century. Private Sam 1891 that he moved this part of his business to new
place of worship and
Wilkinson who lived on local land mark of the
Wakefield Road and a town centre since it
member of the King’s
Royal Rifles died in the opened in 1811.
defence of Ladysmith,
The event that was, or
aged 25. should have been, one of
the happiest occasions in
2 February 1901 the
Brighouse Echo reported the 1907 calendar was
the first member of the
the death of Queen royal family to visit the
Victoria and publicised town. Princess Louise
that a national day of the fourth daughter of
mourning would be held. Queen Victoria had
accepted the invitation to
Most of our local open what was described
churches held special
services. On the 6th the as the ‘Jewel in the
Echo reported on the Crown’ gift to the people
proclamation of King
Edward Vll in the Borough of Brighouse by the
Market that was read out Mayor William Smith JP
by the Mayor Alderman
– the Brighouse Art
J.W.Clay. Gallery, today it is called

1904 the new century Lister Kershaw’s nursery greenhouses on Bradford Road the Smith Gallery.
was bringing its first
benefits to the public with At anyone one time the business was reputed to Well wishers wanted to
the opening of the have over 200,000 plants in stock. Almost every fruit tree get just a glimpse of her
tramway extension in imaginable was cultivated on his nursery sites.
February from Stump but were left very
Cross through to Another aspect of this considerable business disappointed with the
Hipperholme, down was landscape gardening. Some of the work included carriage curtains being
through Hove Edge and the laying out of Bowling Park, Bradford, the closed. She spoke very
into the town centre with municipal Park at West Hartlepool and Devonshire few words at the opening
the terminus being out- Park at Keighley. The business was awarded many ceremony inside the art
side the George Hotel. financial prizes for its work in public parks. gallery and left almost as
The route was extended quickly as she had ar-
even further when the In later years it was used as the offices and depot of rived. The carriage cur-
link to Bailiff Bridge was John Jagger's, builders. In c:1995 the offices and tains were still closed
completed in the October. builders yard was sold and was then redeveloped for and what should have
housing and on completion was given the name been a great day for
The Old Rastrickians’ Oakroyd Close. A small cul-de-sac with a long and Brighouse turned out to
Association. The old almost forgotten history.
boys from Rastrick be so
Grammar School first 16 disappointing.
met on the 18 February
1904, and still hold their The Mayor was not best
annual gathering today. pleased, he was so
disappointed he broke
with protocol and
declined to escort the
Princess back to the

railway station. That task
was left to the town clerk

For Sale

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
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All in a Day’s Work — During the 1950s, Chris Helme was often
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policeman was always his answer. A child of the Fifties, he was
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All in a Day's Work: 30 Years as Brighouse Bobby is his journey to
achieving that ambition culminating with being awarded the British
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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

Brighouse Through Time - 96 pages of both black and white and
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Sunny Vale Pleasure Gardens, near Brighouse, opened as a
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the next seventy-five years. This collection of more than 180 images,
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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
07854755756 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: T.F.Firth’s Carpet Company Bailiff Bridge. Machinery at work in the
Wilton Square Weaving Department — 18 October 1948.