BRIGHOUSE & DISTRICT
Heritage Newseum
Issue 19 December 2022
Edited and Published by Chris Helme
Huddersfield Road down through the town centre and out again into Bradford Road, September 1976.
Many things have changed in the Brighouse town centre area since this photo was taken 46 years ago.
The mills on the centre right have all gone except for Millroyd Mill which is now the Mill Royd Island
apartments. The arrival of Sainsbury’s supermarket replaced the remaining mill buildings on the site in
2000. High up on the right-hand side are the council offices on Lawson Road with the new
bypass skirting around the back of them. The bypass was not yet completed with the top of the photo
showing the road has yet to be finished.
© Christopher D. Helme (2022), Tower House, Holme Mews, Wakefield Road, Lightcliffe, Halifax,
West Yorkshire HX3 8TY. This publication is copyright and apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of
study, research, criticism, review or as otherwise permitted under the Copyright Act, no part including text
and/or photographs and/or other images may be reproduced by any process without written
permission. All enquiries and payments should be directed to the author and publisher.
Frontispiece: Wellholme Park footbridge during the winter snow of February 1991.
BRIGHOUSE & DISTRICT
HERITAGE NEWSEUM
Welcome to the Winter edition of the Newseum. Issue 19 Winter 2022
In this edition we have
some fascinating stories 1 Notes from the Editor.
and photographs looking 2 A walk through time with the local Bobby.
back at various aspects 4 Brighouse Market — back to the future.
and people of our 6 Looking back, where are they now?
community.
It has been well 7 The Brighouse leather industry.
documented about the 8 Smith House Estate annual panto.
new market the town is going to have and with 9 Brighouse decorator Sam Wilkinson.
that in mind I will take you through the history 10 All change at the Waterworks.
of the various Brighouse markets there have 11 A load of old Bull!
been since 1902. 12 The changing face of Hutchinson Lane.
13 Notes from the Council Chamber 1932/33.
For those who were council tenants back in 14 Reflections from Brighouse in 1905.
the 1960s we are looking back at the tenants 15 A big day for Rastrick Junior FC - 1995.
handbook at some of the rules and regulations all
tenants had to adhere to, or else! 16 The family dynasty which gave loyal service.
With the festive season not far away, 17 The Tuesday club 1963.
children will soon start to think about Christmas 18 Bethel Street through the 1960s and 70s.
parties. These will be at school and some
possibly connected to their dad’s place of work. 19 The council tenants‘ handbook of the 1960s.
21 The Brighouse Press.
As the local policeman for Bailiff Bridge 22 The Christmas party at your dad’s work.
through to Hipperholme for many years I saw 23 Care in the community.
many changes in the community. We have a 24 Some local charities of the past.
story about some of the changes seen by
earlier police officers. Remember to look at our website where you can
also contact the editor and you are able to
With the sad passing of Stephen Firth the purchase various local books, including some that
former editor of the Brighouse Echo, we have a
story acknowledging Stephen and his work in are no longer in print, through the online shop,
the town. It was Stephen who invited me in where PayPal is available:
1986 to write the Echo’s weekly nostalgia
column following the retirement of Rowan www.chrishelme-brighouse.org.uk
(Ralph Wade), something I did for 30 years.
With this we also have the history of the Press in
Brighouse from John Hartley the first editor to
Stephen being the last editor actually based in
the town.
Best wishes for Christmas and the New
Year … Enjoy!
Chris Helme
1
Bailiff Bridge to Hipperholme, as the local policeman saw it
To the countless motorists who pass through Bailiff Bailiff Bridge would at the right time of day take no
Bridge crossroads each day, it is just a means of longer that 10 to 15 minutes. But, bad timing around
getting to the larger towns of Bradford, Cleckheaton the school day both starting and closing, the journey
then on to the M62, Halifax, Brighouse or Huddersfield. would often take much longer.
But, this important road junction was just part of A question I am often asked is where does one
my community policing beat from 1975 through to community finish and where does the other begin.
1990 one part of my area along the A649 Wakefield To find the answer to that question we have to delve
Road. back into the history books.
The full length of my patch stretched from Bailiff History shows that the whole community excluding
Bridge crossroads, through Lightcliffe and onto the Bailiff Bridge was part of the Hipperholme cum
opposite end of the
patch at Hipperholme Brighouse Township.
crossroads.
I exclude Bailiff
As young boys Bridge because it had
began to grow up been part of the North
during the 1950s and Bierley Urban District
60s, the question Council. But, in 1899
often posed by older the Bradford city
members of the boundary was
family ‘...What do you changed and extended
want to be when you to include North
grow up?...’ Bierley but not Bailiff
Bridge.
Back in those days Bailiff Bridge crossroads c1904 and before the tram tracks were The old Hipperholme
the usual response laid. cum Brighouse
included being a fire- Township which had
man, pilot, train driver, and of course a policeman. been in existence for centuries came to an end in
I always gave the answer ‘A policeman’, and in 1866. Brighouse became independent and
1970 my wish came true. established its own Local Board which was the
I served initially in the Leeds City Police and then forerunner to the Borough Council.
at Wyke and Low Moor in the then City of Bradford Bailiff Bridge had a long history connected to the
Police. Whilst I enjoyed working in those areas it carpet industry with the Firth’s company. It actually
was not until 1974 after the amalgamations of both started as the Firth Willans Company in Heck-
the local councils and the police that I was able to mondwike but decided to extend the business to
transfer. Bailiffe (as it was spelt then) Bridge in 1867. They
As a member of the new West Yorkshire Police I bought an old worsted mill at what is now the junction
had the opportunity of transferring to Brighouse. In with Huddersfield Road and Birkby Lane (this corner
1975 my childhood wish finally came to fruition and is now a neglected overgrown wilderness). This was
was complete when I was appointed as the purchased at an auction at the White Swan Hotel
Community Policeman for the three villages on the in Halifax.
A649. Throughout its history the carpet mill went through
These were three contrasting communities and many good times but sadly as with all businesses in
had over many years provided goods and services the modern era some bad times as well. The company
to the public, not only locally and the rest of the was closed in 2000. This brought to an end 133
country, but internationally too. years of a business that had employed generations
of local people and supplied carpets around the
To the casual passing motorist the journey from world.
2
Just one of my predecessors was PC 1398 Joseph was a criminal travelling on the railway network. He
Stocks Fawcett, the Bailiff Bridge village policeman travelled from Lancashire, got off at Lightcliffe
Station with his swag bag, committed the deed and
part of the Hipperholme made his get away by train from the station. He was
Police Section. He was eventually caught when the detectives laid in wait at
known in the village as the station sat around a brazier. He made his
’Bobby Fawcett.’ After he appearance at court and received a stiff gaol sentence.
retired from the police in
1923 he was employed PC Roberts was also there for the on-going problem
in the Time Office at the with the traffic of the day causing major hold-ups and
carpet mill. Woe-betide he had to regularly do point duty at the major
you if you were late, he crossroads junction.
had the authority to have your pay docked for
lateness.
When a new policeman arrives to work in a small
community he was always compared with
his predecessors and the saying I often heard was
‘It isn’t like when Bobby so-and-so was here…’
Moving out of Bailiff Bridge, we climb the steep hill
into Lightcliffe. This is the first problem – where
does Lightcliffe start?
In days gone by, the people of Bailiff Bridge were With the crossroads in the distance this must have been a
quite happy to say: ’It’s at top of t’hill there all toffee quiet day for traffic during the 1930s or is it the 1940s?
nosed up there’. During the 1950s the late Herbert Gooder, who was a
One of the first larger houses at the top of the hill member of the Brighouse Borough Council and a
in Lightcliffe is Holme House, the former home of Sir mayor of the town had a number of on-site
Algernon and Lady Janet Firth: a house that once meetings at the crossroads. Just what can be
hosted not one but two Prime Ministers, Lord Palm- done to relieve the traffic congestion, inevitably
erston for a three day visit and Herbert Asquith 1st leaving the site without finding an answer.
Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC, KC, FRS who
was generally known as ’H.H.Asquith’. PC 138 Tom Reynolds was the local policeman for
Norwood Green as the
Once again Lightcliffe like Bailiff Bridge had its
reign of Queen Victoria was
policeman who can be traced through the history
coming to an end. He was
books from the 14th century Parish Constable to the
then t r a n s f e r r e d d o w n
modern day officer.
to the Hipperholme section.
In 1927 the newly appointed PC 428 John Roberts He was the local children’s
was initially to be posted to favourite policeman -
Morley but at the last minute everyone knew Bobby
that was changed. Why?, Reynolds. On election day the Hipperholme Town
apparently in the summer of Hall (later to be the library and now sold off) was
1927 there were two major where electors went to vote. Tom had to be on duty
problems in the Hipperholme at the polling station, just in case! When the children
and Lightcliffe areas that
finished school at Hipperholme Infants they all knew
needed extra police attention. ‘Bobby Reynolds’ would be there. Who ever
Firstly, there was a serious managed to get there first from the school he would
burglary problem developing at give the first couple of children some money for his
newspaper and a few sweets.
a number of the larger houses in Lightcliffe.
This situation was resolved later in the summer Chris Helme — More policing tales next time...
when an arrest was made. It transpired the offender
3
The many and changing faces of Brighouse Market
With the futuristic plans for the Brighouse market a market on the vacant land and by 1911 a few
having been unveiled, there are going to be some stalls began to appear. This was not an everyday
major changes on the old market and when the stalls
market site. The new were removed the open
Canalside market will cost land was used for a number
£3 million to deliver. This of purposes. This included
will have 40 fixed and a fairground, to the
some pop-up market annoyance of the shop-
stalls with the necessary keepers, and by 1918 the
supporting infrastructure, council made a move to
including new toilets and close down what was
spaces to sit, meet and described as a nuisance.
rest. In 1935, to celebrate and
The funding for this coincide with King George
major transition is from V and Queen Mary’s Silver
the £19.1 million which An artistic impression of how the new market will look. Jubilee a number of new
has been made a va i l a b l e shops were opened in what
f r o m t h e Government’s Levelling Up, Housing
and Communities Department.
With a new market on the horizon let us look back
at the history of our town centre markets.
Available records show that the earliest market
was on the corner of King Street, Dale Street
(Salvation Army car park) and Hangram Street (the
car parking area adjacent to the dual carriageway,
behind what was the old King Street Co-op emporium).
This site also had some shops along with the stalls.
The market in the late 1960s situated behind
Commercial Street and where the present day bus
station is. All the properties behind the stalls were
demolished for the new town centre bypass.
was then formally adopted and named Market
Street.
Brighouse market c1936 in Market Street on the land In 1951 the council decided it was time there was
that was at the back of the Town Hall. a proper purpose-built bus station. This meant that
the market was on the move again. A new home
In 1902, plans were drawn up to use the land at the was found in Back Bonegate (the area around the
back of the Town Hall. present bus station) and the town got its new bus
station in Market Street. To gain access to the new
Initial plans showed there would be both a market site from Commercial Street there is a alley
covered market area, as well as an open air section. way next to the Flower Shop, this leads into what
But, like many plans drawn up by the council they was Ball’s Yard. The sign is still there if you look
were shelved. The traders however began holding closely.
The market stayed there for many years until once
again it was on the move again, only this time it was
4
to a permanent site on the opposite side of the town Here we see, from the left: Mr Donn of Northern
centre and was to run parallel to the canal side. This Markets, who operated Brighouse Market on council
move was due to the decision to create a new land; Roy Feather, who was heavily involved in the
bypass through the town, which meant large parts of process of the town centre rejuvenation as a leading
the town centre would be demolished.
light with the Calderdale Inheritance Project and
Some readers may Councillor Mrs Emma Hions.
not be aware that
Brighouse has had The new market under construction - it had to be ready
two indoor markets. for the arrival of the HRH the Prince of Wales in the
The first was in the summer of 1991.
property w h i c h
had been
Davison’s old coach
garage which is now
the Kwik Fit tyre,
battery and exhaust
company on
Briggate. But this did
not last long and was soon closed.
The second was inside the Park Chapel on Bethel
Street during the 1980s and 90s. But it too did not
really take off and it was eventually closed.
Following the property going through a refit and
conversion it was reopened as a Wetherspoon’s
pub and restaurant. It was given the name ‘Richard
Oastler’ who was known as the ‘Factory King’. He was
involved in the working time changes for children which
when it was enacted by Parliament was the ‘Ten
Hours Act of 1847’. This reduced the number of
hours children could work in a day to just 10 hours.
In 1991 the new canal walk was completed and on
June 12, King Charles III visited Brighouse, then as
the Prince of Wales, to unveil the commemorative
plaque which was set in a
large piece of local stone.
Another commemorative
plaque on the back of the
piece of stone was unveiled
by the Calderdale Mayor
Councillor Tom McElroy on
January 31, 1992.
The canal-side market in 1983 but it was to have a With the market being
complete makeover in 1991. privately owned, when
By the 1990s a new market was well overdue and in Calderdale Council
1991 the work was finally started. Gradually the new promoted the district's markets it did not usually
market took shape, the first one to be purpose built. include Brighouse. Gradually over a period of
At the same time as this construction there was a time the number of stall-holders became fewer in
number, not something that was unique to
new canal side walk created.
Brighouse.
5
Calderdale Council took over the Brighouse Market Clifton Gala fancy dress mystery
in July 2019.
It was 53 years ago during the summer of 1969
David Whitehead, co-chair of the new Brighouse when these two ladies were caught on camera at
Town Deal Board, said to local people: “After many the Clifton Gala.
years of talking about the potential changes to
Brighouse, and asking for the your views on what
you want to see and where, it is an important
moment to finally see what parts of our town could
look like in the future thanks to the £19.1 million
Brighouse Deal investment”.
The Market Revitalisation project will include a Judging by their outfits they are in fancy dress - now
distinctive new market building on the existing I wonder what they are dressed as? The
canal side site with around 20 fixed stalls, each children enjoying their ice creams would now be in
with water, drainage and power, plus a flexible their late 50s and might just have grandchildren of
central space which can be used for events or their own at the same age as they are in this
additional pop-up shops. photograph. They can look back on this event as
one of the many village community events held in
Clifton over many years.
Are the two ladies’ relatives of yours? If they are,
what are their outfits representing and who are they?
Just one of the artistic impressions to show what the St Chad's school sports stars
new market could look like when completed in 2026.
Sports stars of the future at St Chad's School
After moving to different parts of the town since 1902, Hove Edge meet James Fielden a Super League
Brighouse market with the benefit of the new financing trainer on February 11, 1997.
and promises to be a market that local people can The children include: Philip Bradbury; Katie
be proud of and will draw more shoppers to what Garling; Alastair Fox; Deborah Toye; Thomas
both it and the rest of the town will have on offer. Bussey and Amy Noden. It is now 25 years since
that cold day and they will now all be about 35 years
old. Perhaps they are still living in the Hove Edge
area.
I wonder if they have kept up their sporting
activities in their later years?
The market is not the only beneficiary of funding
from the £19.1 million. To find out what the other
plans are have a look at this link: https://
news.calderdale.gov.uk/key-moment-for-brighouse-
deal-as-19-1million-plans-submitted/
To know more about the Big Deal here is the link
to the website https://www.brighousedeal.co.uk/
6
The Brighouse leather industry
In 1857 there was Edward Fairburn & Bros, Corn The finished goods utilised all the skills of their
Millers, and Fairburn Bros who were Card Makers workforce and ensured their goods were sold all
and by 1862 there was E & A Fairburn Corn Millers: all over the North of England and many other parts of
very confusing. the country, ensuring the name of Brighouse was
The Fairburn family were principally Card Makers well to the forefront.
for at least 125 years, with their business being With growing success at both Victoria Works and
initially established by Adam Fairburn at Cooper the Calder Vale Mills the Fairburns decided to
Bridge. It was Edward Fairburn, who having lost his sub-let the old Kirklees corn mill to Henry Dean
father at the age of eight, six years later aged 14 for the remaining period of their lease. When it
began to take a more active interest in the firm. It expired Henry Dean signed a new lease with
was this Edward Fairburn who took over the Sir George Armytage to rent the whole of the corn
Kirklees Corn Mill at Cooper Bridge in 1850. mill site for £111 per year.
In 1878 the business was expanding sufficiently The mill kept on working until 1946 when its life
enough to be able to purchase part of the Victoria as a working corn mill came to end. The Dean family
Works in Rastrick and in 1890 the neighbouring continued to live on the site until the 1980s. With
Calder Vale Mills. In 1894 the Fairburn family the passage of time the whole place fell into a state
changed the use of both these sites into leather of disrepair which resulted in the surrounding
works. woodland almost reclaiming it.
The Calder Vale Mill was turned into the tannery, The Fairburns were not the only family involved
with scouring rooms, drying sheds, rolling and currying in the tanning business. In 1867 James Lee of
rooms, warehousing and large making rooms. Hipperholme purchased Tan House Croft, built a
tannery building and by 1894 he was employing 60
people. The Lee family ran the tannery business on
this site until 1903 when it was sold to the Brooke’s
stone company. The Lee family continued in this
trade at their new premises at Gardiner’s Square
off Denholmegate Road.
Calder Vale tannery c1895, this was shortly after the
premises were converted for use as a tannery.
Their business quickly established itself and even Some readers may also remember Sharpe's leather
won gold medals and certificates at an exhibition works on Park Street/Park Row, opposite the
held in Huddersfield for their speciality work in Brighouse Rest Centre.
leather belting (machine belts).
Whilst the tannery business was just a small part
In the Victoria Works, which in those days was of the overall industrial scene in Brighouse it did
said to be separated only by a small field, was where employ a good number of local people over
the wire drawing and card clothing businesses were. many years. This is another illustration of the
In these premises they had drawing rooms, annealing town’s industrial diversity.
and cleaning sheds, hardening and tempering
rooms and all the latest heavy machinery
that the industry offered for this type of business.
7
Smith House Community Association annual pantomime
The pantomime season traditionally is held over the The television show ran from 1950 through to 1956.
Christmas festive season. It is very much a British Looking through t h e ‘ m o c k - u p ’ programme
tradition and is which was produced
sometimes for this e v e n t b y
referred to as the association
being a little committee, this too
eccentric. They was to be held at the
are nearly always Ebenezer school-
based on well room in May 1955.
known c h i l d r e n ’ s
A notable inclusion
stories such as
on this programme
Peter Pan, Aladdin,
was on the back page
Cinderella, and
where there was a n
Sleeping Beauty,
appeal for volunteers
just to name a
few. to help build a new
community centre on
Pantomimes are The cast list illustrated in the programme for Mother Goose in 1951. the estate.
performed not only
in the best theatres The appeal certainly
in the land but also in village halls throughout Britain. brought the desired result with quite a number of
Whether a lavish professional performance or a people stepping forward to help with the construction.
These included: W. Sidebottom, H. Whitaker, J. Lumb,
hammy local amateur dramatic production, all
S. Cliffe, L.Donson, H. Walker and C.Elkin just to
pantomimes are well attended.
name a few. It was finally completed and served
In 1951 the Smith House Community Association the association and the residents for many years.
held what was its second pantomime ‘Mother But sadly as with many similar organisations of
Goose’. This event did not take place over that that time and what often happens now a days
traditional festive when a small band
season but on of willing volun-
Saturday, April 28, teers which run the
Wednesday, May association eventually
2 and Saturday, decide to retire,
May 5 a n d with f ew offering to
w a s performed in take on the roles
the Ebenezer required to run an
Church school- organisations
room, Bailiff Bridge. gradually its activity
begins to wane.
The community
association was The community
run by a dedicated centre was eventually
demolished following
group of residents Here are just a small number of those who took part in the repeated incidents of
on the estate. pantomime: Sam Rhodes, Jack Rawnsley, Allen Rawnsley, Dorothy damage and with no
Ellis, Rita Lumb, Margaret Dyson, Brian Wood and Michael Mulvenny.
In 1955, what
was then called the Smith House and District effective organisation to repair the
Community Association, put on a show which they building eventually it faded into
called ’Chance of a Lifetime’ which I believe was
the history books.
based on the American television programme of the
same name which was basically a talent contest.
8
Brighouse decorator Sam Wilkinson - 1905
Look through the free magazines, online for individual the First World War and the open space renamed
websites and the recommendations by word of Thornton Square.
mouth. Those are quite often the ways we find a Sam could provide a multitude of services over
decorator these days, except for those of you that and above the traditional paper hanging and painting.
can do a wonderful job yourself. He was a picture frame maker, a gilder, sign writer
Some readers may well remember the days of and if that was not all he was an art dealer as well.
lincrusta wall cover- Sam opened his business
ing, the very thought in Brighouse in 1884 and
of it takes me back he was so successful in
50 years to our first c1903 he had to move to
house. I suppose larger premises in Holroyd
to the people who Buildings. His showroom
put it on the stair- proudly displayed a wide
case walls thought it selection of water colour
was nice at the time. paintings, etchings and
But this very British many engravings.
invention I found to
He also showed off
be a nightmare of a
examples of his own
job to remove.
work in re-gilding
Lincrusta wall
picture frames and
covering was the Sam Wilkinson standing outside his shop at Holroyd Buildings. furniture, sign writing,
brainchild of mouldings, cornice work and even some of his own
inventor Frederick Walton who in 1860 had carvings. His available choice of wallpapers
patented linoleum floor covering or as we
displayed both English designs and for the more
commonly call it ’Lino.’ Lincrusta was launched in selective client a number of French designs were
1877 and was used
in everything from also available.
royal homes to He employed a full team
railway carriages to carry out any decorating
and into our 1930s work that came his way.
house in Bailiff This man was clearly
Bridge. The linseed an artist and just
gel it contains looking at his many
continues to dry for advertisements and his
many years, so the shop windows shows he
surface gets tougher offered a wide and
over time. diverse choice of
Now, if we go back Holroyd Buildings with Sam’s shop clearly visible. services.
to a little over 100
years ago, in Brighouse and the surrounding com-
munities there were 20 decorators advertising their
skills. Some of them could offer more services: as
a grainer, painter, paperhanger and some of them
even sold oils, paper and varnishes.
One of the most well known was Sam Wilkinson,
seen here standing outside his shop in Holroyd
Buildings, property that was demolished before
9
All change at the Waterworks
This group of men are employees of the Brighouse This new water authority was privatised in
Waterworks, which had its offices in Mill Royd 1989 and became part of the Kelda Group in
Street. In 1961 Brighouse council’s waterworks was 1999.
taken over by the Calderdale Water Board. I am sure many readers will remember those
I am sure these men could have told many a tale months between September 1995 and January
or two about working for the water department, but 1996 when reservoirs in the west side of the region
probably none more so than one dating back to had just about run dry and water had to be brought
1899. This story came in 700 tankers in a convoy of
to light in the local trucks with 3,500 daily deliv-
elections of that year. eries along the M62 in a
Joseph Pickersgill drastic emergency measure
who was contesting which cost £3 million a week.
one of the wards in These problems brought
that election raised an the downfall of the chairman
issue about a water of Yorkshire Water who was
leakage in the mains forced to quit after a year of
at Slead Syke. drought and public relations
Pickersgill had estimated the loss to be £130, disasters for the company. The managing director,
but the chairman of the water committee you may also recall. It was his claims during the
Alexander Oldfield Stocks strongly disputed this shortage about not bathing or showering for three
figure. The Echo columns illustrate a series of months. The Press discovered and he had to admit
letters they that he had been crossing
exchanged on the the Yorkshire border to
subject, letters that bathe at his parents and his
have been described in-laws' homes. This resulted
as colourful. The in further ridicule and
editor of the Echo, disbelief about the
commented that it management of the
was practically count y’s water supplies.
impossible to put a The Brighouse Waterworks closes and relocates to The company has since
price on the loss. Thrum Hall in Halifax. built a pipeline to allow
However, he did balancing of water levels to
suggest that it could take place should the need
be quite a large arise.
amount, as the water
committee had paid Some readers may recall
the owners of Clog Sole Quarry £100 as that the engineer-in-charge supervising the
compensation for water damage. department was Fred Womersley, who had
On March 26, 1971, the employees at Brighouse been at the Brighouse office from when the
all received letters pointing out that the Brighouse
Calderdale Water Board was first formed.
office would be closing, and they would all be The photograph shows all the lads who
worked at Brighouse in the dying days of the Mill
relocated to Thrum Hall in Halifax.
Royd Street office Some of those employed along
The Calderdale Water Board came to an end in side Fred when it closed down and transferred
1974 following the reorganisation of the local to Halifax included: Jeff Crawshaw, Ernest
authorities. Our water was then received courtesy Bailey, Eric Wakefield, Frank Norman, Herbert
of the Yorkshire Water Authority following Gibson, Brian Fox, Chris Hirst, Nigel Greenwood,
the enactment of the 1973 Water Act. Clem Midgley and Harry Hirst.
10
A load of old Bull
The little town of Brighouse once had more than 100 which I am sure would have at times had some real
pubs and ale houses for the masses to frequent characters staying the night. If only we knew more
and enjoy a tipple or two after a hard day in t’mill. about those times and customers.
However, many have sadly long gone, swept away Over the years the pub has stood prominently
in the name of redevelopment and only live on as a overseeing many huge celebrations in Thornton
fading memory.
Square, such as the
However, V.E Day in 1945 and
one that still the appearance of
stands and visiting dignitaries or
has done Royalty amongst other
since 1740, things. It still an
standing important and
proudly in extremely busy place
Thornton during the modern day
Square, is the 1940s weekends.
Grade 2 listed Then, like now, it would
Black Bull have been decked out
Hotel. and resplendent in
Not only is The Black Bull c1914 in Thornton Square on the right. Union flags and
it the oldest pub coloured bunting.
in town it’s one Many years ago, in the
of the oldest buildings still standing which is 19th century where the Wilko store now stands w a s
testament to it resilience and importance to the a c r i c k e t f i e l d although who played here is a
good people of Briggus. mystery The Bull would certainly have doubled up
However, despite its age and no doubt chequered as a nice clubhouse for the men in white.
history, finding details and stories is pretty hard to In 1904 the Brighouse magistrates had the power
come by no matter how much research I have tried to close down premises seen as hotspots for trouble.
to do. At that time the town had a real issue with drunks
One thing I do know which I have on good authority and their loutish behaviour, problems that all too
from recent pub operator Libby is that despite its often got out of hand. The Black Bull was a particular
age she doesn't believe it to be haunted as she has hot spot for trouble, so it came pretty close in 1936
never had any experience of the supernatural kind. to being punished with closure only to receive a last
She previously ran the Royal and Ancient in minute reprieve on the condition it cleaned up its act
Huddersfield, so believe me she knows a thing or up and got tough with the trouble makers.
two about haunted pubs and ghostly goings on! I have managed to discover the name of the landlord
I stated that many pubs and indeed buildings between 1822-1845 was one William Aspinall. To
have been demolished over the years in the town me 23 years as landlord seems quite a while so he
and pretty much every building either side of the must have been popular and I’m sure he would
Bull has gone so it is lucky to be still standing . have had some interesting evenings and stories to
tell. I wonder if he still has relatives in the area;
As the name suggests the place was once a hotel maybe they actually go to the Bull, unaware of their
and coaching house which would have served many historic family connections to the place.
a weary traveller passing through the town by horse
and coach. I have been upstairs on many occasions Without doubt many a local chap and lass have
and I can say there is a lot of space and old rooms met in here and after a bit of courtship going on to
be married.
11
There are thousands of tales to tell some that I’m or so the people of Brighouse are still “going ta
sure could never be shared about even in here. Bull” and looking back at the heady days of the
Two features which sadly are no longer present early 2020s.
are the “Black Bull Hotel” large, illuminated sign on The site is now run by Ceejay and Aiden on behalf
the roof and the beautiful old red British Telecom of the Craft Union pub company who also own The
phone box just George on
to the left of the Commercial
entrance in front Street.
of the windows. Incidentally both
I think they pubs have large
would both look old maps of
great if they Brighouse on
had survived. display on their
One thing I walls which are
was reliably fascinating to
informed of look at with or
during my without a pint in
research was hand.
that in the 1970s The Black Bull Hotel in Thornton Square c1950s, complete with the I must add that my
the food served telephone box at the left-hand side of the front entrance. Now, whether wife Emma is the bar
here was very nice manager and has
and even had silver the sign on the roof is the illuminated one it is difficult to say. been for almost five
service at the table and the famous Prawn Cocktail years now.
starter was legendary - how very 1970s! It may be old but the Bull lives on and has plenty
So, it really hasn't changed much as it’s still a more life and tales left in it yet. With the proposed
thriving popular local pub where the generations redevelopment of the Thornton Square area by the
of drinkers have fun together. Brighouse Deal Team it seems once again the Bull
Chatting, dancing, flirting, and watching a bit of will see its fair amount of change but I am sure will
live sport with a bit of local gossip thrown in with again continue to stand proud amongst it all.
your pint…perfect. Let us hope in another 250 years Dom Turner - Hipperholme
Hutchinson Lane from Commercial Street
1920s 2010
Hutchinson Lane is now just a link road between Commercial Street and the bus station with the gable
ends of two town centre businesses at each side. The older of the two photos is c1920 and for many years
was where Noel Fitton’s Ambassador Radio and Television Company manufactured TV and radio cabinets and
electrical chassis. He was an innovative businessman who helped to put Brighouse on the
industrial map.
12
Flashes Notes from the Council Chamber 1932/33 Flashes
At the Highways Committee meeting held on the
May 14 1918, Mr 24th April 1933, the Chairman reported that the 19th June 1897, Rastrick
E.W.Norris of Messrs West Riding County Council had agreed to the celebrated Queen
Hill & Norris, solicitors, demolition of the property on the southerly side of Victoria’s Diamond
Halifax was appointed Rastrick Bridge known as the Duke of York Inn.
clerk to Hipperholme Further discussion also took place about what Jubilee with a monster
Urban District Council. action to be taken about the adjoining property. demonstration of school
This was in succession children at Holly Bank,
A meeting held on the 18th September, it was Field Lane. Sports were
to the late Captain agreed that both the Duke of York and the adjoining
E.H.Hill, who was killed vacant property 77, Briggate, be demolished and a held afterwards in the
whilst on active service. grant of £59 be set aside to make good the gable cricket field at Round
ends of the cottages adjoining the premises.
On the December 18, Hill.
1918, he was replaced by The last licensee at the Duke of York was James
Captain Francis Mariner Bond. He had been at the inn from October 1919 14th August 1895, a
Horner of The Poplars, until it closed on Christmas Eve 1927. huge fire destroyed the
The Highways Committee met on the 17th July Brighouse Corn Mill. The
Lightcliffe. 1933, and made the important decision about a business was owned by
new street name. It was a unanimous decision that Sugden’s and the damage
On July 21 1918, a me- the street leading from Commercial Street along- was estimated in excess
morial tablet to Sec- side the Borough Market into Bethel Street should
be named Market Street. of £20,000.
Lieut. Oswald Sutcliffe,
Kings Own Yorkshire In 1935 the properties on the left of this 1990s 28th October 1684,
Light Infantry (KOYLI), view were completed in time for the Jubilee Year. It Captain Taylor’s wife of
the only son of the late was described at the time as the latest development in Brighouse was buried in
Mr and Mrs Fred Brighouse town centre and contributing to a brighter her garden with her up-
Sutcliffe, Croft Hollow, Brighouse. wards this is mentioned
Rastrick, killed in action intheRevOliver Heywood’s
in France on 3rd Many shops have come and gone over the last 30 years. diaries. The 1799 map of
November, 1916, was Brighouse town centre
unveiled at St Matthew’s show a Captain Taylor’s
Yard was at the site next
Church, Rastrick.
to what became
1st February 1859, this Brighouse Town Hall in
was a big day in the
life of Brighouse Thornton Square.
Railway Station with a
new telegraph being 31st October 1875, road
tolls were abolished at
opened. midnight on the Bradford
and Huddersfield
31st March 31,1899, turnpike road. In 1878
after 3 3 y e a r s a s the Clifton toll bar was
t h e Brighouse Post- abolished, and in 1880
master M r E m m a n u e l they were abolished in
D a l e retired. He died in
Elland Road.
1903.
25th December 1866,
His name still lives, what a day and
having had a street
named after him, Dale Christmas present for
Street, which is now part the residents of
of the Salvation Army
Citadel car park. He had a Southowram with it
successful leather business being illuminated by gas
in Commercial Street. for the first time. A historical
day for the village.
13
Reflections from in and around Brighouse in 1905
Looking back to the local news of October 1905, following year moves were well in hand with a
the month started off in a lively fashion with a Parliamentary bill being supported by the Brighouse
robbery at the Crown Hotel in Lightcliffe Road. Council.
Although the intruder managed to get away with The bill received the Royal Assent in September
£50, it is worth 1906 and everyone at
considering if the Rastrick with an
equivalent value was a i r o f expectancy
taken today and looked out almost
according to the daily for the track
Bank of England it layers to arrive. This
would amount to was until they heard
£7,185. The intruder about the dreadful
was soon caught tramcar accident in
and later appeared New Bank at Halifax.
at Brighouse Magis- A tram had run away
trates Court, he was uncontrollably down
convicted and gaoled. The Crown Hotel in Lightcliffe Road about the time of the 1905 the hill and rolled over
robbery. It is likely most of the people in this photograph are the
Local politics were family of John W. B. Clarkson, who held the licence from 1891. on to its side on North
well up on the news Bridge resulting in
agenda with two According to the 1901 census he and his wife Jane had four two passengers being
daughters, two sons and his father all living at the pub. It is likely
local election that most of them are posing for this rare family photograph. killed.
contests being held The identity of one of the dead passengers was
at the end of the month. Tom Barnett, whose family never established but he was believed to have
had the Fent and Mantel shop in Briggate, was been an Irish labourer. Whilst this was very sad
the successful candidate in the Bonegate Ward there was a lighter
for the Conservatives side to his demise, if
and Sam Helm won we can say that. It
in the South Ward was reported that
for the Labour group. following his death
Tom Barnett was five different women
first elected to the came forward all
council in 1897 and purporting to be his
in 1915 was elevated widow and all
to an Alderman of demanding compen-
the Borough. Whilst sation f r o m t h e
Sam Helm never tramcar company for
made it to the Alder- the death of their
manic benches, he Dore e n a n d D o n M c E v o y , l i c e n s e e s a t t h e C r o w n - beloved husband.
did give 16 years
November 6th, 1990. The aftermath of the
loyal service to
t h e Borough Council. accident resulted in the
tramcar driver being sacked, an action that was to
Another incident which received a good few eventually lead to a strike by tramcar drivers.
column inches of news was the British Electric Initially the strikers thought they were easily
Traction Company which was considering the going to get the management to back down and
opening of a new tram route from Elland down reinstate the sacked driver.
through Rastrick and into Brighouse. By the
14
How wrong they were – with plenty of unemploy- for almost 20 years until it was recovered in a safe
ment the strikers jobs could be soon filled, the place.
threat of recruiting and training new staff to replace This is just a snapshot from of Brighouse and
the strikers would be so easy. Following a meeting district 117 years ago.
of the strikers at the Brighouse Borough Market the
strike action collapsed. A big day for Rastrick Juniors FC
The well-known waggonette proprietor Charles
Wood bought his first motor car about the same This was certainly a big day for these young foot-
time as the strike – was it just a coincidence? He ballers and indeed the club - November 11, 1995.
had however to wait a while before he could ply his That was 27 years ago, where have all those years
waggonette for hire, so he probably missed out in a gone, with these young players now well into their
short-term lucrative opportunity. 30s?
It was also in 1905 and into 1906 that the council
gave serious thought to taxing motor vehicles as a
way of raising money, no doubt something Charles
Wood had not bargained for. When the vote took
place only two councillors voted against it. One of
them was the only councillor owning a motor vehicle
and the second was his friend to whom he gave
regular lifts to all the council meetings.
Throughout October 1905 there were both happy Here are the Rastrick Junior football team members
and sad events, local people getting married at the proudly showing off their new kit which had been
various churches in the Borough. Some of these kindly donated by Millers Oils. Were you a member
people were well known in the business community of this team?
but in the main they I am sure looking at some of the sleeves, mums
were everyday and dads would have been reassuring the young
people. players not to worry it might have been a little bit too
big, you will grow into them — in time.
The death of a
child always received Well done to the two young players on the front
a high-profile news row proudly holding up what appears to be individual
report and this was awards. After all these years I wonder if any of
none more so than these young players are still playing ? Perhaps they
when six year old are now training the young players of the future.
Ethel Cookson who
was tragically killed For more information about the Rastrick Junior
in Elland Road at the football club and the good work they have done
bottom of Halifax since it was founded in 1991.
w h e n s h e w a s involved in an accident.
Have a look at the club's website
The Halifax and Huddersfield Turnpike Act of 1823 www.rastrickjuniorsfc.co.uk
allowed the building of Calder Bridge (now called
Brighouse Bridge) on what was to become the
A641 Huddersfield Road. Tolls were abolished on
the bridge in 1875 and extensive widening work
was undertaken in 1905 and 1999.
Both of these events were commemorated with
dedicated plaques being placed on the bridge. The
original 1905 work had six plaques and for the 1999
work one of these was removed and was then lost
15
The family dynasty which gave loyal service to the town
The family name of Turner conjures up all kinds of Throughout the First World War every ‘Comfort
memories, not just for the people of Brighouse, but Parcel’ that was sent from Brighouse to France
for many people beyond its boundaries as well. contained a slab of Turnwright's toffee, a welcome
gift and a luxury for the lads at the front.
Let us go back to over a century ago when John
Henry Turner and his wife Mary Ann Stone were Sadly, by the late 1920s and early 1930s the
making toffee during the late 1880s in their home. company hit a slump and with many major
In those early days Mary was making what became customers taking their accounts elsewhere the
a real delicacy which she shared with her friends business was on the verge of collapse.
and neighbours, so much that she and John Henry
started a small business venture from her home- However, for a short period of time John Henry
made delicacy. Turner's son George stepped in by
creating the name of Turner and
So successful was their home Wainwright (1933) Ltd but, sadly, it
made toffee that it brought in wasn't enough. The building was
enough extra money to make sold not long after to a Rastrick mill
John Henry think seriously about owner who later sold it to Meredith
leaving his job at the Halifax and Drew, the biscuit firm and the
Co-op and go into it full time. rest as they say is history.
In 1896 he met George How many readers can remember
Wainwright, another employee of going to the waste bins at the toffee
the Co-op and between them works and scraping the bits out, a
they decided to leave the job few I bet, even after all these years.
security and take up toffee making I well remember talking to
on a full time basis. George’s son, the late Dr Derek
From a very small beginning Turner, before he moved to Somerset
the business grew rapidly, so Mayor John Henry Turner JP, was during the late 1980s. He reminded
much so that almost straight the town’s mayor from 1928 to me about when John Henry, his wife
away they had to buy larger 1933. and son George had the remarkable
premises in River Street, Birds escape from being three more who
Royd. But the business was would have probably drowned on
growing and expanding at an the RMS Titanic in 1912. Owing to
almost unstoppable rate, when it John Henry’s urgent business
was not long after that they had commitments the trip had to be
to consider moving again to even postponed. A story that brought a
bigger premises. wry simile to his face and the
In 1908 they moved from River remark, "…If they'd gone the
Street into the empty five-storey chances would be we wouldn't be
Camm's cotton mill at Brookfoot. talking now…'.
They were embarking on an John Henry was elected to
expansion programme which Brighouse Borough Council in 1902
was literally a do or die situation. and served the town until 1932. He
We are talking of course about was the Mayor from 1928 to 1933
the company, which became the and was one of the longest serving
household trading name of Major George Turner MC, JP, was Mayors in the history of the borough.
Turnwright's, the Turner and the town’s mayor from 1952 to The last year of his mayoralty was
Wainwright Toffee Company that 1954. a new and never repeated situation
became a brand name which was synonymous because he was then a non-elected member
with quality.
16
of the council, having been beaten at the polls in Brighouse Tuesday Cricket Club 1963
1932. John Henry died on the November 16,
1939. Thanks to Barry Chapman, who has been an annual
subscriber to the magazine since it was started in
George Turner, his son, was elected as a 2018, we are able to show this 1963 cricket team photo.
Conservative to the council from 1944 to 1954 and
served the town as Mayor from 1952 to 1954. In Barry spotted the Brighouse Tuesday Cricket
1950 he was appointed the Chairman of the photo of 1953 in the last issue of the magazine.
Juvenile Bench. Before he became Mayor it had Moving on to 1960 Barry, then aged 17, made his
been custom that the Borough Mayor would be the debut for the same team.
ex-officio Chairman of the local magistrate’s bench.
In 1952 this practice ceased following the Bench
becoming a County Bench and he was the first
elected chairman, a position he held until his
retirement.
As Sec-Lieut George Turner of the RGA (Royal
Garrison Artillery) during the First World War he was
awarded the Military Cross. His own business
interests were at Owler Ings Mill, which some
readers may recall burnt down during the 1970s -
he died in January 1979.
Back row from the left Michael Ramsden, Bill Hirst,
Kevin Vickers and Gordon Denham
Middle row Barry Chapman, Les Nelson, Jack
Jenkinson, Norman Riley (Captain) and Willie Webster.
Front row Andrew Thompson and ?Medley.
Tuesdays were always half-day closing for shops in
the area which meant that other teams in the league
were mostly tradesmen from Dewsbury, Batley,
Morley, Birstall, Haworth and the West Riding
Police.
Owler Ings Mill, was destroyed by fire and once the Barry has given some more information about the
site was cleared it became the Owler Ings car park. This players on the 1953 photo and the above 1963
image shows the mill burnt out on August 22, 1977. team. Willie Webster was a self-employed milkman,
Ken Booth opened a hairdressers shop in Keighley
Throughout their years of business activities Road, Ovenden, Jack Jenkinson owned the Beef
the Turner family employed thousands of Shop in Market Street, two shops down, was the
Brighouse people. Quite often whole families would Pork Shop which was owned by another player
have worked at either the toffee works or the mill in Reggie Goddard.
Owler Ings. The Turner family will always be part of
the industrial history of Brighouse. Norman Riley after leaving his fish and chip shop
went on to be a salesman for Singer Sewing Machines.
On match days Norman always played under
the name of C. Norman. This was just in case any
of his bosses saw his name in the sports pages of
the Brighouse Echo when he should have been
working.
Camm’s cotton mill Brookfoot c1903, five years The child in the pram is Barry’s brother-in-law Roger,
before it was taken over by Turner and Wainwright’s. who in later life joined the Royal Engineers Band which
did a victory march down the main street in the
Falklands.
17
Flashes Bethel Street through the 1960s and 70s Flashes
In 1919 the Brighouse The first new street in the town centre was Park In 1947 local businesses
Borough Council chamber Street, which initially was a cul-de-sac, except for decided that one of their
pedestrians who could walk through on a footpath duties was to look after
was redecorated. The all the way to Bonegate. Bethel Street was one of the interests of their
council members decided 88 new streets made during the 19th century.
that for the first time the retired employees. In
council chamber should the same year
have portraits of the Blakeborough Veterans’
town’s mayors hanging Association was formed
and a similar organisation
on the walls. These
should be in colour and at Firth’s Carpets
supplied by A.H.Leach soon followed.
and Company. I wonder
what ever happened to The last time a reigning
monarch visited
them?
Brighouse was in 1953.
In 1923 a start was Bethel Street junction with Park Street during the 1960s. The royal train with the
made at clearing up Queen and the Duke of
some of the more notice- The late 1960s with the old Brighouse Echo newspaper
able eyesores in the office and Joan’s Bargain store premises being Edinburgh, passed
town centre. One of demolished with Bethel Methodist New Connexion through Brighouse
these was land that had Church to the left, which was built in 1811, and The station at a high speed,
been purchased by the Coffee Tavern café next door.
West Riding County without stopping.
Council in Park Row for
what was intended to be In 1948 the council
the site of a new police decided to separate the
station and courthouse, parks and cemeteries,
but it never happened.
Once the land had been this meant that local
purchased and the old parks could be looked
obsolete buildings had after and improved. The
been cleared it left a
lingering eyesore. first park to get the
make-over was
In 1944 and the end of Wellholme at a cost of
the Second World War £25,000. In 1957 the
numerous plans were decision was taken to
drawn up by the council build the Woodhouse
to make a start on nurseries in Woodhouse
rebuilding the town Lane at a cost of
centre. One that would £36,000. This would
be fit for the returning allow the council to grow
many of the plants it was
heroes. to use in the parks and
in the town. In 1963 a
Everything looks just as it does today, but does it? further £16,000 was
Check the names of the businesses, all long gone. spent on Wellholme and
this was also the same
18 year that the nurseries
were opened. The
nursery site was sold,
and the site
redeveloped for
housing.
The do’s and don’ts of being a council tenant during the early 1960s
A Borough of Brighouse Council tenants handbook Peter and his wife Alma left their greengrocer's shop
was issued to all tenants. The 1960/1961 issue was many years ago but could often be seen working the
a 44 page booklet which not only contained the fields of their farm in Priestley Green. For those kids
conditions of tenancy but also lots of helpful hints to on Stoney Lane the Gaukrogers’ newsagents shop
the h o u s e h o l d e r a l o n g w i t h a p l e t h o r a was the right place to earn some spending money
o f advertisements . with one of their paper rounds. Back in those days
Looking through some an evening paper round earned you six shillings a
of the advertisements it week, which is 30p today..
is interesting to see The booklet was produced in the days when
most of the business Gilbert Lawson MBE was the Council Housing
names have been and Chairman and Mr Fortune was the housing manager.
gone but many of them As the years went by he was replaced by Frank
are still remembered Clayton and in the Calderdale era it was Barry
today. Parker.
Back in 1960/61 you Barry Parker, a familiar
could still get a three- face in Brighouse council
day laundry service at
the Rastrick Laundry. housing department.
One of their additional Memories for some
services included all readers will date back to
missing buttons would be replaced free of charge. his early days as a rent
It does make you wonder where did they get the collector to ev en tu a l ly
matching buttons from or was it a case that they becoming the housing
would replace the buttons with what they had avail- manager at the Lawson
able. You could also treat yourself to a new carpet
for your new council home from Direct Carpet Road office.
Company when they were still at 36, Briggate, which
was opposite Thornton Square. There were the do's and don'ts, which included
strict instructions that you had not to knock nails
Peter Osbourn was the greengrocer on the Stoney into the walls to hang up pictures. Hinges on doors
Lane estate in those days and along with Jim should be oiled regularly as they could easily
Gaukroger's newsagents and 'Jaynes' the ladies become rusty. Dry rot was a big worry and
and childrenswear shop, Bert’s fish and chip shop tenants were advised this was often caused by
and the Co-op, the tenants of 60 years ago need having oilcloth and linoleum covering the whole of
not look any further for their weekly shopping the floor area. You had to leave a 12 inch gap
between the floor covering and the skirting boards to
allow air to circulate.
You were advised to use your wireless or
television in a considerate manner, so that it will not
be a source of irritation to your neighbours.
Stoney Lane estate shops 1960. The open space in In 1960 many of the housing estates were little
front of shops was initially intended to have a more than 10-years old and for many of their new
community centre built on it but it never materialised. residents it was the first time they had a front and
rear garden and the new experience of inside fitted
baths and toilets.
These were the great days of the Tenant Association
groups which were initially formed to foster good
neighbourly relations and the spirit of friendship.
19
No tenant will be allowed to keep fowls, pigeons or when you would stand there shivering watching as
rabbits which reminds me of the story I heard some the newspaper suddenly burst into flames,
years ago when a tenant received a letter pointing those occasions are still too many to count.
out that he had more than one pet dog which was
against the rules - in fact, this particular resident In the back of the book are a number of useful
had three. addresses, the district nurses Mrs Sykes at
Rastrick, Mrs Rushworth and Mrs Walter for Brighouse
To say he was annoyed was an understatement and Mrs Hopson at Hipperholme. Miss Lister, Miss
to say the least. He replied by saying that he was McCormick, and Miss Duckworth the midwives and
more than willing to get rid of his dogs if the authority Miss Latimer the health visitor. Perhaps some of
applied the same rules to the people who in one these ladies still have relatives living in the Brighouse
case kept a pig in the front garden and a second area .
kept cattle in his back garden - strangely enough
he never heard any more about it. and finally....at the first sign of frost it was the
responsibility of each tenant to turn their water supply
Constructing sheds was not allowed without written off at the mains empty all the pipes by leaving the
permission of the authority and if you lived in a cold water taps on and flush the toilet. Plugs should
house that was built after 1945 you would not be be left plugged in just in case the taps drip and the
given permission. Television aerials were not water pipes freeze and burst.
allowed without permission and if you didn't have
your chimney swept every 12-months you were in Dustbins - These are the property of the council
big trouble. and with the correct use will last a long time. They
should only be used for dry refuse only, do not put
Some readers will remember getting up in those any liquid in them. Keep the lid on - remember an
days on winter mornings and having to riddle the open dustbin is a playground for flies.
fire and empty the ash bin, then make cheap
firelighters by rolling newspaper into loose balls Vegetable matter and waste food should be
and carefully placing coal or briquettes on top of deposited in the Pig Food bins that are provided at
them. frequent intervals along the highway. Tea leaves
should not be put with the pig food nor in the dustbin.
And, on no account use the dustbin for burning
refuse, this will shorten the life of the bin and you
are responsible for paying for any damage caused.
Drawing the fire with a newspaper was never an The is Heathcliffe Grove, one of the new streets built on
easy task with it quite often bursting into flames. On the Stoney Lane estate between 1949 and 1953. The
some occasions the newspaper would be sucked new tenants would have had to abide by their new
up the chimney and set it alight - then you had a handbooks from the council - or else… !
problem. Heathcliffe Grove was a cul-de-sac with Shirley Grove
being a another cul-de-sac. Many years later the two
The worst was still to come when you had to light it
and stand a shovel at the front with an old sheet of were joined together and the name Heathcliffe was
newspaper against it to draw the fire (drawing the dropped in favour of it all being named Shirley Grove.
fire' was the expression used for getting a strong
draught going in the fireplace when you were
lighting a coal fire). The number of times in winter
20
Brighouse Newspapers
For many years Stephen Firth was the face of the Chronicle'. The editor and proprietor of what I
Brighouse Echo. Sadly, it was reported that he understand was to be a monthly publication, was
passed away a few weeks ago, aged 68. He was Jonas Yates and his first issue was on January 1,
first appointed as the editor in 1983 and moved to 1859. This early effort went out of business in May
the Halifax Courier in 1987. In 1997, he was back 1865.
as the acting editor at Brighouse and then in 1998 The Brighouse News followed with the first issue
his role changed once coming out on February 17, 1866. This was initially
again this time back as published monthly by its owner and editor J.S.Jowett
the permanent editor. and then later by his son Samuel. This newspaper
It was early in 1986 later became a weekly publicatio n. This was
when he approached me unrivalled until 1871 when the 'Local Magazine'
asking if I would like to was first published, but this soon disappeared from
take over the role as the the news-stands.
nostalgia writer. Being In March 1873, a Mr Bayes published the first
asked to replace Ralph issue of the Brighouse and Elland Express which he
Wade (Rowan) changed to the Brighouse and Rastrick Express the
following his retirement, it was a great honour just to following year. It was
be asked. published at The Gazette
My first contribution was in January 1986 and it Office at the top of Briggate.
was there every week, until it came to an end in On June 24, 1887, the
January 2018 following the newspaper’s change of Brighouse Echo appeared
editorial policy. I will always be grateful to Stephen under the editorship of its
for the help and guidance he gave me as an owner, John Hartley. In
unqualified freelance newspaper contributor. 1908 the Brighouse News
From the days of showing very interesting old and the Brighouse Echo
photos of Brighouse he surprised my one day when merged. The Brighouse
he asked for ’new nostalgia’. On other occasions News appeared on Wednesdays and the
more than once I sent him what I thought was an Brighouse Echo on Fridays. Eventually the
interesting photo which I believed the readers would Wednesday issue disappeared leaving the Brighouse
equally think so. But no, and if my telephone rang Echo out on its own although during the 1930s it
early on Thursday morning it could only be Stephen. was published under a new title including the name
“Chris this photo you have sent we can’t publish Elland. But that did not last too long and it soon
this, it’s just a demolition site, you have to have reverted back to its more familiar title.
some people in the scene”. I changed it, of course, In 1912 a new publication appeared and was
and that taught me a lesson about the composition called 'The Brighouse Observer’ but like many other
of published photos advice I still adhere to. things it too disappeared during the 1914 - 1918
Stephen will be greatly missed by his family and war.
close friends and work colleagues. He was known by Since that first issue in 1887 of the Echo whilst
many of the ‘Echo’ readers, whether they were based in Brighouse there have been 17 editors
local officials or the weekly readers. He was often including Stephen Firth, all making their own mark on
seen in the town centre greeting everyone who the town and a personal stamp on the newspaper.
wanted to chat or just say hello.
In 2012, Stephen left the company having seen
His name is indelibly etched into the history of the Brighouse office closed and move to Halifax. Whilst
Brighouse newspapers and long line of editors.
the world of printed news has moved on and the Echo
The first newspaper printed and published in has had to be part of that move. For many people it
Brighouse was the 'Brighouse and Rastrick no longer seems to be the local Echo it once was.
21
The Christmas party at your dad’s work
Back in the 1950s and 60s the annual Christmas along, which was often a magician and typical of
party at dad’s work was a real highlight of the year. 10- year-olds they were desperate to see how the
It was the one day in the year when you ate trick worked but the magician was just too good.
more sandwiches, buns, trifle, ice cream and then Mum and dad eventually turned up to collect their
went on to drink more pop than probably the rest of children: what an afternoon it was. Once you got
the year. Then to top the afternoon off Santa home it was time to go to bed, and you didn’t
would arrive with a smashing present for everyone. need much encouragement after all the running
All the large businesses used to have a about at the party playing all the usual games.
social committee and it was the members who If your Dad didn’t work at one of the big firms then
always organise the party. If the company did not you would obviously lose out, but you always had
have a suitable room, they would usually hire one the school Christmas party to look forward to.
at the local Working Men’s Club. I think it was the
In the 1960s the school
bar that probably at-
parties at St Martin’s
tracted the men to
School were held in the
have it there rather
Parish Hall, which was in
than perhaps at the
Churchfields Lane, next
local chapel
to the school. The hall is
schoolroom.
now the doctor’s surgery.
Down in Brighouse
There was always a
all the big firms had a
record player beating out
party for the children,
the 60s hits. Occasionally
and I am sure many
there was a group, I
readers will remember
suppose they would call it
going to one. This
a band these days. I
photograph was
Blakeboroughs Christmas party 1949. wonder who decided to
taken at one of
Blakeborough’s Christmas parties more than 70 stop calling it a group and changed it to being a
band instead? Anyway, the group was quite often
years ago.
Geoff and Johnny Lumb who lived at Hipperholme,
Amongst the children sitting at the front is Mary and a couple of other lads. Whether they were good
and her sister Rosie w e a r i n g crowns. The or bad did not matter at all because they really added
l a r g e t i ck e t s a l l t h e children are wearing were something a bit special to the party.
perforated on each side, one side could then be
What do you remember about your Christmas
torn off to be handed in when it was tea time and
the other side of the perforated ticket was some- parties? How has Christmas changed since you
were a child? Was it an artificial one or did you
thing you had to hand in before you went to see
have a real Christmas tree? And did you have a
Santa for your Christmas present.
mountain of a Christmas dinner and then probably
Can you remember what you got as presents no more than a few hours later you had to tuck into
back in those days? At the party it was usually a a giant tea. Very few people seem to do that now,
small compendium of games which included Ludo, but it was still a time when everyone ate and drunk
Tiddly-Winks and Snakes and Ladders. Sometimes more than they should have done.
it was a pencil case with one of those big writing
pens that had about six different coloured nibs Have you still got any of those childhood presents
inside the one big one. Invariably there was a selection tucked safely away as keepsakes that you were given
box or just three chocolate bars or tubes of sweets all those years ago. That doll perhaps, some ladies
and still yet more fizzy pop than you could imagine. may still have them, and boys may still some of
those annuals we all got. All wonderful memories.
Before the big bun fight tea, the committee would
have arranged for some kind of entertainer to come Yes, those were the days.
22
Care in the community
The Royal Albert Institution was established at For those not fortunate enough to receive this
Lancaster in 1864 for the care, education and training type of help there was always the Halifax
of people who in a 1930 subscriptions booklet I Union which paid out financial relief.
have, were
described as In 1898 there
feeble minded. were almost 350
people or paupers
The building as they were
with its almost described in
palatial exterior those days
was built and receiving relief in
operated almost the Brighouse
totally through Borough area.
voluntary Most of these
subscriptions. It received little
was at the time more than a
t h e o n l y institution of its kind in the North of few shillings per week, which in some cases had to
England which admitted free patients. go around a family of eight or even more.
In 1930 there was a Brighouse branch of the There were more than 30 people in this area who
Halifax District Ladies Association which would were described as lunatics (an antiquated term
collect monies to support the Royal Albert. The referring to a person who is seen as mentally ill)
President of the Brighouse ladies was who were confined to the West Riding Asylum in
Miss Rayner, who at that time lived in Garden Wakefield, three were in an Asylum in South
Road and along with the District Treasurer Lister Yorkshire, two were in Menston, and just one
Brook collected from all parts of the Borough. was in the Royal Albert. The list of those unfortunate
Subscriptions amounted to as little as two shillings people from the Brighouse area who were forced
to the three guineas which the more affluent to reside at the Halifax Union Workhouse was
members of the community gave. considerable.
In 1930/31 the ladies had collected £91.15s.6d There were people employed in each area to
which as part of the £738 that had been collected visit the paupers and were called Overseers of the
since 1923 was in those days a large sum of money. Poor. In Brighouse that job was entrusted to
Looking after people financially who were for Thomas Butterworth and Goldthorpe Broughton; in
one reason or another not capable of looking Clifton it was Charles Ingham and Benjamin
after themselves has been going on for longer Sutcliffe; Hipperholme had Abraham Turner and
than most people might realise. There were of James Bentley; for Norwood Green and Coley it
course the generous handouts from some of the was Joseph Sunderland and Joseph Carter; and
well-off families who owned mills and businesses in Rastrick it was Abraham Brewer and Richard
in the community. Thornton.
I recall many years ago one octogenarian lady The workhouse for the Hipperholme-cum-
telling me when she lived in Bailiff Bridge, as a child Brighouse Township was at a house in Till Carr
she would often have to visit Sir Algernon and Lady Lane, Lightcliffe, until the Poor-Law Act of 1834.
Firth at Holme House to collect an envelope of On July 27, 1839, the Board of Guardians
money. It wasn't until she was much older that she approved the building of a new Workhouse for the
was told what it was for. The Firth's were very Halifax Poor Law Union (this had been formed in
well-respected mill owners at the turn of the 19th February 1837 and the Guardians were effectively
and 20th centuries and looked after their retired the committee that ran it).
employees and their families exceptionally well.
23
Land was purchased between Gibbet Street and linen cloth and the other half to be given for the use
Hanson Lane: 15 medical officers were appointed. in Sunday Schools. However, if Sunday Schools
In 1840 and all the 231 paupers from all the district were to be done away with then the money should
workhouses were moved into the new Workhouse be given out to the poor people of Lightcliffe on
the same year. Christmas Day.
A new Union infirmary was erected between 1897 Not all charity money found its way to where the
and 1901 in Skircoat, Halifax. As well as the usual benefactor intended it to go. Probably the most
‘Nightingale’ type of wards there were two circular notorious local instance of this was Mrs Mary
tower ward buildings at each end of the new Bedford's Charity. In 1735 she gave £200 for the
building. These whilst being different were not running of a charity school. This school was to be
unique, with at least two other hospitals in erected on the land at the bottom of Parsonage
London with similar features. Lane and between the Central Methodist Church car
In 1930, the site was taken over by the Halifax park, with the charitable gift to be administered by
County Borough and became known as St Luke’s her relative George Newstead.
and in 1948 it became part of the National Health The local people were so please about the gift that
Service and was renamed the Halifax General a mason was employed to cut a suitable inscription
Hospital. The new Calderdale Royal Hospital in the lintel above the front door as a means of
opened in 2001 with parts of the old infirmary t h a n k i n g Mr s B e d f o r d . T h e m o n e y n e v e r
being amalgamated into the new hospital. materialised, following George Newstead's
In 1996 the Royal Albert was closed and the disappearance. The locals were so angry that they
building was acquired by the Jamea Al Kauthar took a chisel to the inscription and obliterated it.
Islamic College. Following a refit, it was converted More happier times included the Rev Richard
to become an educational facility to provide Sutcliffe's gift which dated back to 1782. This
Islamic education for girls. involved giving money to needy females on Christmas
The main part of the hospital is recorded in the Day and the Rev Joseph Swaine's gift in 1831, which
National Heritage List for England as a designated was also given out at Christmas.
Grade II* listed building. Brighouse has always supported charities whether
Some local charities of the past it has been the R.N.L.I. or the modern charity gala
which has raised and given thousands of pounds to
Looking through the history books it is interesting to countless organisations and different local groups.
see how many local charities have been established
over the last 200 years or so. Whilst some of these
were set up by individual members of the more well
to do local families for other members of their own
family, some of the charities were established for
the benefit of local the people.
Gibson's Charity was left in the Will of Michael
Gibson on April 17, 1731. The Gibson family were
occupants of Slead Hall from c1691 to 1753 and
were one of the district's most influential families.
Michael Gibson left one shilling per week to be Here is one of the simplest modern day charity
distributed in bread every Sunday between 12 poor fundraising efforts. These three children are raising
persons who lived in Hove Edge and Upper Lane by
the Minister and Chapel Wardens of Lightcliffe money in aid of the blind with their roadside
Church. stall...Well done. But who are these children and are
In 1789, James Gledhill gave by his Will to William they still around? Maybe 25, 30 or 35 years ago.
Walker of Crow Nest £50 to be shared between
eight poor people in the community in the form of
24
Brighouse at Work - From a small hamlet and a bridge, the town of
Brighouse in Calderdale grew rapidly with the building of the Calder and
Hebble Navigation in the late eighteenth century. This led to the development
of the town’s successful textile industries. This is a book where almost a
few lines will tell the reader something about the industrial heritage of
Brighouse and its surrounding communities.
The book is £14.99 + £3 postage packaging, for overseas orders please
contact the author. PayPal is available as are cheques.
All in a Day’s Work — During the 1950s, Chris Helme was often
asked by relatives: 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' A
policeman was always his answer. A child of the Fifties, he was
brought up to respect the local police who seemed to know everyone.
All in a Day's Work: 30 Years as Brighouse Bobby is his journey to
achieving that ambition culminating with being awarded the British
Empire Medal for services to his community in 1990. A local bobby had
to deal with everything that happened on his 'patch'. This book takes
the reader through a catalogue of sad, humorous, and almost
unbelievable incidents in the life of a local policeman. £12.00 + £3 p/p.
This is now also available as an audiobook at Calderdale Library
Service and other audiobook sources on the internet.
Brighouse Through Time - 96 pages of both black and white and
coloured images of aspects with views of Brighouse and its surrounding
communities. Fascinating scenes displayed in a of 'then and now'
format. £12.99 + £3.
Sunny Vale Pleasure Gardens, near Brighouse, opened as a
garden in 1880 but with the inclusion of amusements in 1883 it
became a hugely popular venue for Sunday strollers, local Sunday
School groups and day trippers from around the north of England for
the next seventy-five years. This collection of more than 180 images,
complemented by detailed captions and reminiscences of the Gardens
throughout their long history, will delight all who remember visiting as a
child and provide a fascinating insight into this vanished, but
not-forgotten, institution. £12.00 + £3 p/p.
All these books can be purchased through www.chrishelme-brighouse.org.uk
from the on-line shop or by contacting Chris Helme email:
[email protected] — or by telephone 07854-755756
and Harrison Lords, Bradford Road Brighouse. If you wish to advertise your
book on the website or in this magazine please contact the publisher.
Back page outer cover: King Street was often called Co-op Street because it was the home of Brig-
house Co-op. The Co-op started in Brighouse in 1856 as the Brighouse Flour & Industrial Society. Having had a
name change c1862 to become the Brighouse and District Industrial Society, in the 1950s
the Co-operative Union Committee realised the importance of the word Co-operative on the societies’ shop
frontages, subsequently the name was changed to Brighouse Co-operative Society. Following a meeting
in 1978 when it was decided it would merge with the Bradford Co-operative Society, from 1979 all the
remaining branches including the King Street store were branded ’Sunwin House.’