Batley is a very old town in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It was mentioned in the Doomsday Book in 1086 and was listed in the 1379 Poll Tax. The parish church, All Saints, dates in part, to the 15th century.

When we visited in 2002 very little remained of very old Batley.

There are still some vacant mills from the early 1800s and some Victoria buildings. The market square is still cobbled. Many of the buildings, both commercial and residential, are new.

Several generations of my ancestors were born and raised in Batley. Law Land and Elizabeth Sykes, both born in the parish, left Batley for Ontario, Canada circa 1881. Law Land's father, John Land died in Batley in 1877. Law Land's mother, Lydia Law Land, left Batley with her remaining children and immigrated to Philadelphia in 1883. Elizabeth Sykes' father, George Stell Sykes, died in Batley in 1898. Elizabeth Sykes' mother, Sarah Walker Sykes, died in Batley in 1910.

Photo courtesy of © Kirklees Image Archive at Kirklees Image Archive

The smoke stacks are gone and the air is cleaner.

"The Mills at Batley were still working well into the late 60's. When a Police Officer wanted a cup of tea he always sought out the places working late at night or with a watchman on duty. I used to call in and watch the workings which fascinated me. Particularly one or two Mills that were weaving carpets! The Police Station was in the Market Sq."

The church tower dates from the 13th century while the main body is 15th century. The graveyard was extremely crowded and the jumble of tombs and gravestones were reorganized under a scheme that unfortunately used many of the inscribed markers as paving stones for the walkways, eroding the inscriptions that were written on them.

Lydia Sheard, the second wife of Benjamin Law, was baptized in this church in 1781.

Benjamin Law and his first wife, Rachael Stubley, were married here in 1791.

All of the children of Benjamin Law were baptized in this church.

The memorial stone of Benjamin Law and his wives, Rachael Stubley and Lydia Sheard, was leaning against the last buttress at the back of the church.

An enlargement of the above photo shows the memorial stone.

To read the inscription go to Memorial Stone of Benjamin Law

Posted in 1904

Posted in 1924

Not posted

Tomb of Mirfield at Batley published by Robinson, Son and Holdsworth Leeds and J Hurst Wakefield March 1, 1816

Photo courtesy of © Kirklees Image Archive at Kirklees Image Archive

St Thomas Church Batley. Not posted.

St. Thomas the Apostle 1868

Intersection of Grosvenor Road and Rutland Road.

Not posted

Posted 1912

In March 2009 Janet wrote:

"I was interested to see the old photos of Commercial Street in Batley, on the first one, my uncle is the little boy on the left hand side.

His name is Joshua Craven and he was born in Batley and lived for most of his life on Cross Park Street. I have the same picture of him at home. I was born in Batley in 1951 but have not lived there for the past 35 years.

My grandfather worked in the Co-op Laundry and fell into a spin dryer whilst cleaning it and was "spin dryed" to death leaving my grandmother with 13 children. Most of my aunts worked in the mills and I remember the long hours and the bad conditions they worked in and the stories they had to tell. One particular story about a mill fire always sticks in my mind. Mill fires always drew a big crowd and my aunt remembered watching a fire in Taylors Mill, the roof crashed in and the windows blew out and suddenly a pack of hundreds of rats burst out of the building and filled the street running towards the beck. I have lots of old stories about Batley, photos and postcards and a lot of happy memories.

Not posted

The Batley Town Hall on the right of this photo was first erected on this site in 1853. In 1905 it underwent major renovations.

Cooperative Batley. Not dated.

The Zion Methodist Chapel was built in 1869.

The following quote comes from The Dalesman, Places to Visit (This web page is no longer active at the address where I originally found it or this articles has been replaced by another, June 2011.)

"BATLEY SHODDY TEMPLE This title refers to the Central Chapel in Batley square. The word "shoddy" indicates a type of cloth produced from new wool and old rags. It is claimed that many "shoddy" deals were performed on the church steps after Sunday services."

Not posted

The Old market hall was opened in 1878 on Market Hill. It was a covered market that contained shops and offices as well as 6 butcher shops and 28 stalls. The building was torn down in 1905 but the clock tower remained standing until the library was built.

Not posted

Town Hall & Market Place, Batley

Not posted.

The original Town Hall was housed in the former Mechanics Institute; built in 1853. The main entrance was on Commercial Street. When the Town Hall was damaged by fire plans were made for a new Town Hall. In the end the old building was renovated with an extension and new entrance on the Market Square. It reopened in 1905.

Postmarked 1929

Postmarked 1914

Not posted

Batley Library

Batley Library opened in 1907. It was build with help form the American millionaire, Andrew Carnegie

Not posted

"Healy Lane is a courious mixture of old and new houses with the odd warehouse and a row of shops thrown in for good measure.

There is a row of cottage shops thought to date back to the 17th century when they were mill workers' houses and these tiny builings now house a pet shop, a wool shop and hairdressers'

Nearby, and standing on its own, is Cyril Collet's shop which sells furniture and other items perchased form homes where people have died."

Batley paper - date unkonwn.

The Blackeridge Mill dates to 1845.

Norman Ellis says

Most processes were carried out at the mills, from raw wool to finished cloth and, particularly in its early days, the firm was involved in rag grinding

The mill is on the right.

The houses are very similar to those on Blakeridge Road.

Posted 1905

"West Riding Union Bank, Batley Mssrs Sheard and Hanstock Archts, The Architect Jan 12, 1878."

Mr. Shread was Michael Sheard (b. 1833) was the son of Michael Sheard and Sarah Newsom. See Michael Sheard and Sarah Lister

Looking towards the Blakeridge Mills and the center of town.

The cemetery was laid out in 1865.

The mill lies in the valley between Blakeridge Road and Bradford Road.

Another view of Victoria Mills with older houses on Bradford Road and newer houses on the hillside.

"The building on the top of the hill is Batley High School which was opened in 1959.

The houses lower down are built adjacent to or on the old railway line from Batley station to Birstall. See Lost Railways Yorkshire "

Richard Bell, September 9, 2008

In the 1861 census John Land and his wife, Lydia Law, and their children, including Law Land, were listed at Wheats Croft. Lydia's parents, William and his wife, Marie, and their children were also listed at Wheats Croft. John and Lydia were listed at Wheats Croft at the birth of their sons Percy in 1862 and Arthur in 1864.

Wheats Croft was located just off Wellington Street to the south, about where this modern building stands today.

In August 2008 Richard Bell wrote:

"I remember "Wheat Croft" as a path that ran along the boundary of Fox's Biscuits from Purlwell Lane down to Wellington Street. The track of this path is at right angels to Wellington Street. It was just wide enough for two people to pass each other. There was a high wire mesh fence on the Fox's side and waist or chest high garden walls on the other side. Near the bottom just before Wellington Street there was the stone side wall of a mill about two stories in height and opposite the wire mesh fence. The position of this path should still be evident from the position of the existing boundary beyond, which is about 30m to the right hand side of the building in the picture. I will try to locate its position on the 1956 OS map and forward it at a later date. Regards, Richard Bell. (I lived in Batley from being born in 1947 to 1971)"

"I forgot to mention that the houses with the garden walls marking out the Wheat Croft boundary have been demolished along with all traces of the path.

It's possible that there may have been a house named Wheat Croft that predated the path. I will try to find out from the library."

From the National Library of Scotland Yorkshire Sheet CCXXXII.SE Revised: 1948 Published: 1949 - Yorkshire Sheet CCXXXII.SE Revised: 1938 Published: 1946 - Yorkshire Sheet CCXXXII.SE Revised: 1931 Published: 1931 - 1905 map - The 1895 map shows the same configuration.

Wellington Street can be seen on the map.
Looking at the letter "I" in Wellington:
A mill is below and just slightly to the right of the mill is a footpath.
This is the start of Wheatcroft.
Following this south it runs past the mill and the the next block of buildings is a row of terraced houses.
At the end, the footpath takes a slight kink and comes out on to the road.
As can be seen from the contour lines (300 ft) at the southern end and between 250 ft and 225 ft at the northern end there is a drop of about 75 ft from south to north.

Foxes Biscuits is just to the right of the footpath and shares the same boundary.

The mill and terraced houses have now been demolished and replaced by modern housing.

On the 1905 survey map the mill is labeled "Wheatcroft Mills (woolen)"

The Lands were at Alma Terrace at the birth of their son Law in 1858 and their son Albert in March 1861. Alma Terrace is designated "Alma Ter" and located to the left of Preston Street and Wheats Croft.

William Law and Lydia Sheard

John Land and Lydia Law

Benjamin Law lived on Wellington Street.

Wellington Street is just three blocks long. These buildings on Wellington Street, just below the building pictured above, were among the oldest looking buildings that we saw in Batley. Everything else on Wellington Street is new.

Posted 1909

The Batley Grammar School located in Carlinghow Hill was a free school founded in 1612.

Batley Grammar School

Leonard Bower, born in 1920, was art master at the Batley Grammar School from around 1949-1958. The photo was shared by his daughter Jane. Mr. Bower suggested that this photo was taken when the extension to the school was buing built.

Posted Batley 1906

Message (in part) to Miss M Elliott, Flatgate, Howden, E Yorks

Dear Maud

The third form the end the one with the blind down in the bedroom is our house.......

Dora

Photo courtesy of © Kirklees Image Archive at Kirklees Image Archive

"Benny" Parr was the brother-in-law and partner of of Benjamin Law. Benjamin Law's second wife was Lydia Sheard. Lydia's sister, Elizabeth, married Benjamin Parr. They also had a son named Benjamin Parr. I do not know who the woods were named after - the father or the son.

1912 postcard

Canadian Textile Journal vol 37 published in 1920 stated:

"Howley Ruins mark the place where tradition say that shoddy first was made, and that a small place in the immediate vicinity is still called "Benny Parr Wood". This is supposed to commemorate the name of the man, Mr. Benjamin Parr, who first succeeded in reducing cloth to fibre." From the very beginning the opposition to the new trade was fierce and long continued. At one time shoddy was widely known as "Devil's Dust," the name invented by a person who laboured with much zeal, much ignorance, and, fortunately, with entire futility, to destroy the growing trade of Batley and its neighbourhood. Economic laws were working then, as they are now, and in spite of Mr. Ferrand, the Batley district is now being supplied with rags from every part of the civilized world - and from some parts we regard as uncivilised."

Not dated

Not dated

Chris Yeates of the Kirklees Image Archives suggests that the Benny Parr Woods was most likely what is now Howley Mill Lane. Chris emailed in September 2007

"Interestingly I haven't been able to find the name on any map, and yet it was clearly well known as is attested by all the postcards ..... you often find in this area that the name on the map is not that which the locals use"

"I suspect that the 'wood' was never much more than a relatively narrow band of trees, but it is interesting that it should appear on so many postcards"

"the ruins of the nearby 16th century Howley Hall were a popular weekend/bank holiday site in the past and it may well have been that the walk out from Batley took in Howley Mill Lane."

"Undated. The path to Benny Parr Wood by the side of Howley Beck on which Howley Lower Mill is situated. In the distance is the railway banking with the tunnel on the road cut through. The photograph is taken looking at the back of the mill with the dam in front of it. Before being made into a steam-powered mill, Howley Lower Mill was run by a water wheel which was connected to an outlet at the front of the dam and coupled to machinery in both main parts of the building. Although never an imposing, large textile factory, this mill was important as the place where Benjamin Law and Benjamin Parr discovered the concept of recycling old cloth e.g. rags or tailor's cuttings and making new threads from it by spinning fresh yarn, i.e. the beginnings of the shoddy cloth industry. Although the mill was partly in Batley and partly in Morley, because the beck was the boundary between the two townships, the mill had many more links with the Batley trade than that of Morley, though the discovery made there eventually became crucial to the Morley trade as well. Photograph from the David Atkinson Archive."

In March 2016 Gary Riley wrote that the train tracks in the background is the main line from Huddersfield to Leeds. He does not know what the tower like things in the distance are. He said that the area was all fields and a few farm houses at the time.

"April 1965. Howley Lower Mill was a water-powered mill later converted to steam, on Howley Beck, the boundary between Batley and Morley which flows through Birkby Brow Wood, Benny Parr Wood and Soothill Wood. It was here that two Batley manufacturers, Benjamin Parr and Benjamin Law, laid the foundations for the local shoddy trade by inventing the machinery for grinding up rags (rag pulling machine) and then tearing the fibres into more manageable material (willeyer) that could eventually be respun after scribbling and carding into reconstituted wool. All this happened about the year 1817 though the processes were kept secret for quite a time. As can be seen from the photograph half of the mill building has been converted into a modern bungalow, but the part on the extreme right is still somewhat dilapidated. Photograph from the David Atkinson Archive."

In the History and Antiquities of Morley (1876) William Smith describing the boundary line between Morley and Batley stated:

The boundary line is then along Alice Wood to Howley Old Mill. (page 18)

Howley Lane definitely ran through through Benny Parr Woods as attested by several local inhabitants.

Benjamin Parr and his family were listed at Howley Mill in the 1841 census.

http://www.morleyarchives.org.uk/p_mills_GP.html lists

Howley Lower, Howley Mill Lane best known owners Benjamin Law and Benjamin Parr

Notes on Textile Manufacture: Former corn mill leased by Law & Parr (Batley clothiers) to produce shoddy from rags - about 1813 to 1820. This with cotton warps was the essential ingredient of Morley Union cloth.

Use of site in 1995: Low single storey building across Howley Beck has been converted to a high class dwelling house. A large lawn occupies the site of the old mill dam.

Canadian Textile Journal vol 37 published in 1920 stated: "Howley Ruins mark the place where tradition say that shoddy first was made, and that a small place in the immediate vicinity is still called "Benny Parr Wood". This is supposed to commemorate the name of the man, Mr. Benjamin Parr, who first succeeded in reducing cloth to fibre." From the very beginning the opposition to the new trade was fierce and long continued. At one time shoddy was widely known as "Devil's Dust," the name invented by a person who laboured with much zeal, much ignorance, and, fortunately, with entire futility, to destroy the growing trade of Batley and its neighbourhood. Economic laws were working then, as they are now, and in spite of Mr. Ferrand, the Batley district is now being supplied with rags from every part of the civilized world - and from some parts we regard as uncivilised." see Shoddy

The History and Antiquities of Morley, in the West Riding of the County of York By William Smith (F.S.A.S.) dated 1876 listed: Parr, Benjamin P. Listing Manufacturer, Howley, near Morley and Law, Edwin, Howley Mill, Morley. Edwin Law was the son of Abraham Law and a grandson of Benjamin Law. He married his second cousin Elizabeth Parr, the daughter of Benjamin Parr and his wife, Sarah.

Records of the parish of Batley in the county of York: historical ... By Michael Sheard 1894 listed Parr, Thomas S Broomhill Terrace, Batley

See Elizabeth Sheard (1779) and Benjamin Parr under Michael Sheard (1742-1811)

See Hanging Heaton War memorial

In the 1881 census Lydia Law Land and her children and Law Land and his wife, Elizabeth Sykes, were listed in Carlinghow. Today most of the buildings in Carlinghow are new.

According to Norman Ellis

"The original hall, build in 1521, had twenty-five apartments and oak panelling. Much of it was demolished in 1800. By the time this photograph was taken, the remains were in a sorry plight, but some of them lasted until 1969"

In the 1881census in Batley, Lydia Law and her children were listed in Carlinghow. Four of her children were listed with the following ocupations: Albert, son, age 20, piecer in woolen mill, Percy, son, age 18, piecer in woolen mill, Arthur, son, age 16, cloth finisher, and Harry, son, age 14, mechanic spinning machine. In that day and age most people lived close to their work making it possible that the Land boys were working at Carlinghow Mill.

John Blackburn Old Mill, Batley established 1850. John Blackburn also had mills in Germany. He was mayor of Batley in 1901. He married Eliza Rebecca Sheard, daughter of John Sheard and Sarah Ward. See Michael Sheard and Sarah Lister. and Wendy Rose's transcription of a 1909 Batley News article

According to the 1905 Ordnance Survey Map Spring Mill was located on Carlinghow Lane in Carlinghow.

Mike writes:

"The founder was mine and my 2 brothers great grandfather, Frank He started out in Ossett as a rag merchant, moved to Cut End Mill in Dewsbury and bought Spring Mill in 1903. He lived in the house next door (right on the billhead). A new engine was installed in March 1912, built in Heckmondwike, and named Sarah (Frank's wife.)

There was apparently a family fall out and Eli Townend (one of the sons) went off to Ossett to build his own business at Healey Old Mill. He dumped lots and lots of buttons near the mill which were found a few years ago.

Frank jnr continued the tradition of Frank's involved in the business. He served in the First World War - getting shell shock as the result of field punishment from his own side. His stammer continued with him until he died.

The mill remained in the Townend family, Eric, Frank (another one) with Joe Atkinson (cousin) until 1973 when the mill was sold. It was in use as a mill until demolition c1986. Housing occupies the site.

The mill itself was built in 1836 as a 'company' mill by Ellis Purdy & Co. It gave scribbling and fulling facilities for the clothiers in the district ie a number of clothiers clubbed together to build the mill (a sort of co-op) and offered to rent the space (later replicated in Lancashire by Room and Power companies.) The cottages on site were occupied by the owners and continued to be until the 1980s. They never had a back door.

After Ellis Purdy, the mill was occupied by Taylor & Co then Frank Townend & Sons.

My own memory of the mill is the massive dyeing vats and the dye room which had a huge dresser, full of glass bottles of chemicals. I remember seeing my father sucking these up through a pippette...not healthy. Also, the smell - a mixture of acid, dyes, oil - not unpleasant but one which you remember.

As the textile industry was declining, my dad Eric, as one of three in Yorkshire who could dye vicuna and mohair. All done in the 'old' ways. Not bad for someone who left Batley Grammar School with few qualifications, served in WW2, and was one of the salt of the earth blokes. Died 2009.

The mill was on Carlinghow Lane, just after Chaster St"

George Sheard's "Mansion" is now the Bagshaw Museum. It was originally build by George Sheard the ninth child of Michael Sheard and Sarah Lister who became a prominent Batley manufacturer. See Sheard for information on the Sheard Family in Batley/Birstall. See Michael Sheard and Sarah Lister for more information on George Sheard.

The Bridge Batley posted 1924

The Woodlands, Batley Park

The Bandstand, Baltey posted 1924

The Bandstand, Batley. Not posted

Not posted.

The Building News March 26, 1875

NEW HOUSES, BATLEY YORKSHIRE

We illustrate on one page two houses recently built at Batley, in Yorkshire, by Sheard and Hanstock, architects, Batley. One of the houses is built for Mr. George Sheard, and is situated on the hill-side about 1¼ miles from Batley. The ground it occupies is 4½ acres. The house is built of Delph wallstones all round, and covered with Westmoreland slate in two colors."

Sheard

George Sheard (1835-1902) the son of Michael Sheard and Sarah Newsome married Ann Whitworth They had Fanny born Dec 11, 1857, Percy Sheard born 31 May 1861 and Florence Sheard born about 1864.

George Sheard became a prominent local mill owner with interests in coal mining. He built Woodlands (now the Bagslaw museum in Batley) in 1875/76. He died in 1902.

The Building News March 26, 1875

The home of S. Senior Esq was build of Huddersfield ashlar and local stone with Westmoreland slates for the covering, 13 foot ceilings, central hall of pitch-pine lighing "similar to Mr. Sheard's". The was a lodge and "extensive stabling" in the back. Estimated cost, £ 8,000.

S. Senior was Samuel Senior born in 1835 the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Senior, clothier. By 1851 Benjamin Senior was a "woolen manufacturer" employing 74 men and 33 women. Samuel Senior married Elizabeth Brierley daughter of Robert Brierely another local woolen manufacturer in 1859. By 1881 he was living in Upper Batley age 45 retired from the wool manufacturing business with 5 daughters age 8 to 20 and his wife.

John Heaps sent the following comments on the above images in April 2006.

I am a bit too young to have any really historic recollections but perhaps it is worth commenting on the contrast between the grimy image of industrial Batley on your first post card and the two views of Upper Batley.

During the second half of the 19th century, successful businessmen chose to build their houses on the southern slope of the town to get out of the crowded valley. The wealthiest made it to the top of the hill, creating Upper Batley, out-of-sight of the mills but only half a mile away for a daily commute.

The first view is looking up Upper Batley Lane. The building in the foreground is one of the three gatehouses that guard entrances to the parkland surrounding "The Rookeries". This could be the biggest house in the area but it is difficult to tell since the only part of it visible to the passer by is the top of a masonry tower above the trees. In the left foreground are the gates "Alton Lodge' and then to the left of this, high walls hiding other lesser villas from view.

The cottages on the second Upper Batley card give a hint of what the area was like before the big houses came. The trees on the right of this view belong to The Rookeries and sweep round to the gatehouse in card one, more or less opposite the cottages. The Gateway on the left of this view is the entrance to "Uplands", then above this you can see the substantial bulk of The Vicarage, home of the vicar of Batley who seemed to be sharing in the prosperity of the town.

The Lodge, Batley Park

Chris Madden sent this lovely photo in September 2010:

My great, great Grandmother had a dressmakers shop (worked from home ), the address: 84 Upper Road, Batley. The flags and bunting are on display outside the house and because I know the age of the residents, the photo was taken in 1897."

1891 Census: 84 Upper Road, Batley, Albert Howden, Head, Male, 49, Liversedge, Yorkshire, Mary Howden, Wife, Female, 49, Ossett, Yorkshire, Albert Edward Howden, Son, Male, 15, Batley, Yorkshire, Edith Mary Howden, Daughter, Female, 9 Southill Yorkshire

Close up of above image.

Mary Howden (age 55), Albert Howden (age 21) & Edith Mary Howden (age 16), 84 Upper Batley Road.

Chris wrote:

"Albert Howden married Emily Popplewell on 3rd July 1897 and Norman Howden was born in 1899. Norman died in 1920 aged 20 (influenza epidemic) but attached is a scan of a school class photograph taken in 1903. Norman is seated far right, 3rd row from the top (with large frilly white collar). As the family lived in Beckett Road (Batley), just a stones throw from Upper Road, I believe the school is Carlton Junior & Infant School, Upper Road, Batley. I do not know if Carlton School was known under a different name at this period in time."

1901 Census: 3 Wood Hill Terrace, Howden, Albert E age 25, grocer's assistant, Emily, age 24,, Norman age 2

"The pictures are dated 5/2/50. Marshfield was on the top of the hill, Carlinghow Lane. It is above the hospital, on the corner."

"the corner of Upper Batley Low Lane and Carlinghow Hill."

Richard Whitehead, May 2011

In March 2011 David Bevan wrote to identify his grandmother, Emily Bevan

"She was the widow of the Batley Rugby player Ivor Bevan. This photo must be the early 50s because in her 60s she made tea for the mill workers at the end of her road: Amber Street in Carlinghow, Batley. Right opposite Carlinghow Primary School. I wonder if the decorations were for the Coronation (1952) or possibly a centenary celebration for the mill?

Emily Bevan is the lady with glasses on the far right of the photo. She's wearing black with checked sleeves. No idea who the others are. I would only be about 5 or 6 when I went with Emily on her "tea run".

In April 2011 Richard Whitehead, who originally sent the photo, says he thinks the image was taken at a Christmas Party circa 1950 to 1952.

Close up of above photo

Batley Rugby Team 1914

Ivor Bevan - middle row 2nd from right, dark hair middle parting.

Ivor Bevan was born in Wales where he played for the Mountain Ash Rugby team. He was listed in the 1911 census as a miner. He came to Batley to play for the Batley team in 1913. married Mary E. Grayson in 1914.

Ivor Bevanborn born 1886, of 10 Amber street, Batley died March 29, 1940 at Cheapside Mill Batley widow Mary Emmily Bevan

Aberdare Leader, SATURDAY 27TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1913

Apropos of the departure of Ivor Bevan, the star of Mountain Ash three quarter, to the Northern Union, it now transpires that Bevan has been secured by the Batley club, for shom he has already played his first match with conspicuous success.

Another mill photo

Close up of above photo.

Mending department at J T and J Taylors, Blackeridge Mill, Christmas 1928. Louie Crossfield, Alan Cardwell's mother is in the white blouse, centre back row.

J. T. & J. Taylor, woolen manufacturers, was established in 1845.

Sarah Lobley at her loom J T and J Taylors c 1901. Alan writes: "She came back from Germany c 1895 and was now a widow after her husband Alfred died in 1896."

Kathryn Sykes wrote in February 2009

"The photo is of a junior class at Carlinghow Primary School, Batley, West Yorkshire. I am on the second row from the front 4th from the left. Batley Grammar Schools were single sex schools, one for boys and one for girls. At the present day the boys' school is now fee-paying and mixed and has a junior department and the girls' school is no longer in existence. Carlinghow primary school is a new building and is named Carlinghow Princess Royal School. I taught at Carlinghow Primary School from 1961-1996 so have had a long association with the school.

Best Wishes Kathryn Sykes (nee Stubley)

"I just recognised my older brother in this photo. He is sitting cross-legged on the front row with blond hair and is on the right of the photo as you view it. His name is Julian Farrar and he lives in Perth, Western Australia. Our family emigrated to Melbourne, Australia in 1959. My older sister Patricia and my younger brother Ian and myself all attended this primary school. Julian and I then both attended Batley Boys Grammar School. Regards, John Farrar

"I was just surfing the net for something related to my time in Carlinghow in the mid 1950's, when I noticed the picture of a class at Carlinghow Primary School which had been sent in by Kathryn Sykes (nee Stubley). I remember her contemporaries being Christine Fozzard, Peter Ramsey, Terry Clayton and John Milnes, who all lived in Horner Crescent, near the top of Carlinghow Lane, where I also lived with my family, the Sheens, and I have fond memories of the many children who lived there playing out in the street in all weathers, as was the custom in those days.

I went to the school with Kathryn's younger sister, Janet, and passed the 11-Plus to go on to Batley Boys' Grammar School but, unfortunately, my family moved back to Dewsbury in 1957 and the local education authority wouldn't allow me to take up my place there, so I had to attend Wheelwright Grammar in Dewsbury instead, much to my disgust (although it was great once I'd got used to the idea!)

However, I have nothing but fond recollections of Carlinghow back in those innocent and, to me, carefree times!

Kind regards,

Greg Sheen"

"WE LEFT UPPER BATLEY IN 1953 AND LIVED AT "MARSHFIELD". YOU CAN NOTE TO GREG SHEEN THAT I TOOK THE PICTURES. OUR HOUSE WAS UP THE HILL FROM THE HOSPITAL, WHICH IS CALLED CARLINGHOW HILL. YOU CAN SEE MY HOME ON GOOGLE MAP. A LOT HAS BEEN CHANGED IN THE MANY YEARS SINCE WE LEFT."

"I see the picture of Carlinghow Primary and begin to recall names and faces.

I was there from 1953 to 1957 and remember well Mr. Parkin - the head (with his violin), Mr. Lodge, Mrs. Dewhurst and Mrs. Turton. Pupils John Tomlinson, Eileen Aveyard, Pat Farrar the list goes on.... One girl on the Photo went on to Princess Royal Girls School in Carlinghow. I knew it well as my father was caretaker there for many, many years Mr. Stanley, I am his son Dennis."

I am very pleased to have just come across the photo of a class from Carlinghow Primary. My two sisters and I all went to Carlinghow Primary. My sister Barbara Thornton is in this photo, 2nd row from front, 4th from right. I also recognise Jacqueline Booth and Molly Newsome, Barbara's friends. Our family emigrated to Australia in mid 1954. I remember Dennis Stanley and his family, they lived across the street from us, I was friends with his sister Rita. Thank you for your wonderful photos they have brought back some happy memories.

Margaret Emery (nee Thornton)

Carlinghow School Batley: Michael Brett send this photo. He says this images must date from 1952 or 1953. He only attended Carlinghow School for a short period and he remembers that he was there when King George died (which was February 6, 1952). Michel is in the back row forth from left.

G. Z. WHITEHEAD
GENERAL MANAGER
JOHN FENTON & DAVID BRADLEY MILLS, LTD
WOOLEN MANUFACTURERS

Managing Director

In January 2007 Robin Tindale wrote to share the following wonderful Batley photos.

"My father Frederick Tindale was born in Batley in 1903, my mother Hilda Moizer was born in Halifax in 1903, but later moved to Batley.

The first three photos are of Harvest Festivals, probably in a Chapel or Church Hall, I think they were taken in the early twenties, the first two are the same year, and were taken by James Glen Photographic Artist Batley. The third photo was taken by A Foster Photographer, Hanging Heaton, but the venue appears to be the same.

Photo No. 1-
2nd left my grandmother, Stephenus Moizer
4th left my grandfather James Edward Moizer."

"4th top left Doris Moizer (aunt)
5th top left Fred Tindale my father
end top right Hilda Moizer my mother
bottom left stood Lily Moizer (aunt)
6th left seated Evelyn Moizer (aunt)"

"My grandfather Fred Tindale who I believe was a Batley Fire station Officer, with his wife Ada and their youngest child of ten, Agnes, standing in front of a fire engine. This was taken in 1921.

In July 2014 Lorraine Wadelton shared two photos of her mum, Jean Polwin.

1938 production of Snow White.

Production circa 1950. Jean is the woman in the light grey dress in the middle.

Lorraine lives in Australia.

In August 2016 John Leach shared the following adorable 1951 Batley photo taken New Years Eve 1951 at the Soothill Cricket club. John is in the third row with the glasses.

In January 2008 John Bastow shared the following splendid Batley photo.

...a charabanc about to leave on a day trip from Pearl St in Batley, probably around 1920. My mother and her mother are on this photo, Minnie Eaton and Ida Eaton respectively.

"my mother is the blonde poser in the white dress and right next to her in the funny hat is her mother, Minnie Eaton.

John Bastow, Janaury 2008

The following five images are part of a series. They are labled BAT 48, BAT 54, BAT 57, BAT 61 and BAT 62. Presumably there were at least 10 more cards in the series. They are quite interesting, as they are obviously not colored photos but black and white photos that have been tinted. The skies are kind of strange backdrops and the edges of the buildings look cut out.

Commercial Street, Batley

The Parish Church, Batley

The tombstone of Benjamin Law can been seen leaning against the wall.

The Wilton Park Cafe, Batley

Town Hall, Batley

The Memorial Park and Library, Batley

This images is of some of the local mill owners meeting at the A Naish Hop Pole Hotel circa 1910.

Mike Gammon's wife, Elizabeth Hirst, is the great granddaughter of George Hirst and Joseph Wilson who were mayors of Batley.

In March 20012 Neil Spotswood pointed out that that this building looks exactly like the Naish Hop Pole Hotel in Ollerton Nottinghamshire. I have to agree that it does. Mike Gammon who send the photo also agrees and added "Presumably the old boys were out for a motor tour from the Batley area - bit of a novelty in those days."

The Hop Hole Hotel is still in existance.

Batley Football Team: Champions of Yorkshire Balck and White April 15, 1899

"The proud title of the "Champions of Yorkshire" has been worthily earned by the team of players representing the Batley Football Club, who have in three successive seasons, twice won the Northern Union Challenge Cup - open competition to clubs in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire."

Their record: - Played, 33; won, 27; lost, 4; drawn, 2.

The Batley Bulldogs are/were a professional rugby team. The club was Yorkshire League winners in 1898/99 and in 1900/01 won the Challenge Cup.

In February 2017 Ian Day wrote:

Front row third from the right is my great grandfather Bob Beevers (b. 1878) - you will see that the clog he is wearing seems to be resting at an unnatural angle and this is because as a young boy he lost his leg just above the knee. The amputation resulted from him paddling in Batley Beck when he stood on a sharp object. The laceration became infected by water from the beck and his leg had to be removed. There were no such things as prosthetics in his day and he walked the remainder of his life with the aid of a wooden stump. The boy front row fifth from the right is his son and my grandfather James Beevers (b. 1904) and as the picture is dated June 10th 1918 we know he would have been have been fourteen years of age at the time.

I do not know the location of the building in front of which the group are standing but the stonework looks familiar and I suspect from its construction that it is probably still standing and I would hazard a guess somewhere in the Hick Lane/Field Lane area.

The number of woman in the picture on the staff of an engineering company may be a reflection of the fact that World War 1 was still being fought at the time. Perhaps some of your site visitors may recognise someone in the photograph or can tell you more about the company.

Bob Beeveres age 23, bachelor, labourer, son of Jonathan Beevers married Sarah Elizabeth Hayes, daughter of James Hayes on Easter Day March 30, 1902 in All Saints in Leeds.

Robert Beevers, age 32, labourer, mason, his wife, Sarah Elizabeth age 30 and son James were listed in the 1911 census on Well Lane in Batley.

1912: The Batley Engineering and Wrought Iron Pulley Co. Ltd. was registered with a capital of 3,000 pounds in 1 pound shares to carry on the business of engineers, iron and brass founders, machine makers, millwrights, metal workers, wrought iron pulley makers etc. (Iron & Steel Trades Journal and Iron Trade Circular, Volume 90)

Kelly directory of 1919 - the Barley Engineering and Wrought Iron Pulley co was listed on "Grange Rd."

1928: The Batley Engineering & Wrought Iron Pulley Co., Ltd. maintain a steady trade in wrought-iron pulleys largely on export account. Egypt, India, South Africa and South America are all good overseas markets for this firm's products.

Howley Ruins c. 1906

This is the old gatehouse of Howley Hall. The sign over the door: "Joseph Milnes, Refreshments, Tobacco and Cigars"

The sign on the right: "Hot Water, Teas Provided"

My ancestors, Robert Walker (born circa 1805) and his daughter, Sarah, (born circa 1829) claimed to have been born in Morley. I have not found the records of their births. Specifically, Sarah said she was born in the Bruntcliffe area of Morley.

"THE woollen trade of Morley is of high antiquity, and has been the staple trade of the town for centuries." The history and antiquities of Morley By William Smith (F.S.A.S.), 1876.

In 1851 Morley had six cloth mills. By 1876 there were twenty-six cloth mills almost all devoted to the manufacture of union cloth (a cloth with a cotton warp and wool weft).

This footnote in the Autobiography of Thomas Wright disceibes Bruntcliffe in 1864.

"The village of Bruntcliffe, in the parish of Batley, is built on the junction of four roads; those leading to Bradford, Wakefield, Leeds, and Birstall. It is only a short distance from Adwalton, or Atherton, and Birkenstiaw; and is seven miles from Bradford. It is sometimes called Bruntcliff Thorn, and is not far from the Gildersome station, on the Bradford and Wakefield branch of the Great Northern Railway."

Autobiography of Thomas Wright: of Birkenshaw, in the county of York. 1736-1797 edited by Thomas Wright, 1864

In 1876 Bruntcliffe was described as a hamlet. At that time Bruntcliffe had a coal mine (the Victoria mine), a stone quarry and a water storage reservoir.

"Bruntcliffe, which is situate a mile from the town, proper, has been, for a century or more, a small and unimportant place, scant of inhabitants, and with but a few straggling houses. During this time many efforts have been made by the various societies in Morley to give religious instruction to the people here, and for that purpose rooms have been rented and services conducted from time to time. Since 1870, two hundred houses have been built in Bruntcliffe and the immediate neighbourhood, and the spiritual destitution of the place demanded that something should be done."

The history and antiquities of Morley By William Smith (F.S.A.S.), 1876

See Robert Walker

Morley Illustrated London News September 11, 1858

"This township, situated in a district parish in that part of the parish of Batley which is in the West Riding, is a populous clothing village or town, on the Leeds Dewsbury Railway, five miles south south-west from Leeds. The church of St Peter at Four Lane Ends (which is also the district church for Churwell) is a plain stone building, having a tower, spire, nave, aisles, porch, chancel, and one bell. There are chapels of Wesleyans, Independents, and Primitive Methodists."

The Old Angel Inn at Bruntcliffe Crossroads - the intersection of the Wakefield and Bradford Roads. The tall building glimpsed on the left is Stephenson's Bruntcliffe Mill built c 1880. Leodis has other images of the Angel Inn at Leodis

EARLY opposite the Old Angel Inn, Bruntcliffe, are two cottages which forcibly remind us of olden days, for these two straw-thatched one storey dwellings form " a bit of old Morley," which seems to have been altogether forgotten in the general march of improvement. They are almost unique at the present day, for though fifty years ago many such homes were dotted about the hillsides of the village, we question whether there are half-a-dozen others left to us at the present time, and these at Bruntcliffe look just as they would do in the good old times "when George the Third was King." We can only conclude that, being out of the village proper, they have escaped destruction; otherwise the mania for improvement and modern utility would have swept them away years ago. But the old cottages, with the dilapidated farm buildings close at hand, all help to carry us back to the country and farm life of half a century ago; and hereabouts, if anywhere in Morley, the conviction forces itself upon us that we have before us one of the few links which bind the past with the present. As we cannot hope to meet in our ramble with any better specimens of the homes which were occupied by the poorest class in Morley, we propose at this point to give our reminiscences of the home life of our ancestors, including, not only descriptions of their dwellings, but of their dress, amusements, customs, and manners.

Morley: ancient and modern By William Smith (F.S.A.S.), 1886

"The living-room was not overstocked with furniture, yet there could be found in it many useful and necessary articles. Opposite the fire stood au old-fashioned oak dresser, with a delfcase above it; and on the top of the dresser the tea tray and a few books, also some small ornaments."

Gildersome is a village near Batley. It was once a thriving coal mining town.

In a survey taken in 1764 there were reportedly 393 people in 166 Church of England families in Gildersome. In 1811 there were 1,409 people in Gildersome.

At the time of the birth of my ancestor, Robert Walker, circa 1805, Gildersome BMD records were kept in Batley Parish. During that period Gildersome appears to have had a close association with Drighlington which was a part of Birstall Parish. Gildersome at one point was in Morley parish. Although Morley had at one point been in Batley parish. All this has caused me some confusion in tracking my family. The name, Walker, was very common in the area. The boundaries kept changing. And to complicate matters further, the family appears to have moved around. In the 1851 census Robert Walker stated he was born in Morley. In the 1851 census his daughter gave her place of birth as Morley in Batley Parish. In 1861 and 1891 she was listed as born in Bruntcliffe (a part of Morley) in Batley parish. In 1881 her birth place was listed as Gildersome (Birstall Parish).

Robert Walker was married in Batley parish in 1828. A son was born in Gildersome (Batley Parish) in 1839. Another son was born in Adwalton a hamlet in the township of Drighlington, Parish of Birstall in 1841. The family was listed in Adwalton in 1841 and 1851. Robert Walker died in Adwalton in 1857.

Bruntcliffe is in the north western part of Morley. Adwalton is in the eastern part of Drighlington. Gildersome lies between the two. They are not far from one another but today Morley is seperated from Gildersome and Adwalton by the M62.

Robert Walker

In March 2011 Edwina Currie Jones wrote:

My husband John Jones was adopted but we have discovered that his grandparents were James Henry Senior ( - 1892), master dyer, and his wife Ethel Mary Richardson (1880 - 1967). The Richardsons were a well-known and quite well off family, with the money coming from dyes and chemicals at Howley Park Dyeworks and a factory in Well Lane. James and Ethel were married in the Cross Bank Chapel in 1900. According to an obituary in the Batley News, James had been a prominent member of Upper Batley Cricket Club; he worked at the Bulrush Mills for Robert Talbot and Sons till about 1918 when he sold up and moved to Ripon.

I went and took pics of their homes - 22 Surrey Street, where they lived in 1901, and 701 Bradford Road, where Ethel Senior lived as a widow for many years. After walking around in some puzzlement, I believe it is the same house as 69 Holyrood Terrace, Carlinghow, which was given as her address when her son was in the army. The front is Bradford Road, while the back faces up what was once a meadow, according to a 1905 map. In 1911 they lived in a 6-roomed house in "Howley View" which no longer exists.

We've traced the family back a couple of centuries - the Seniors were in Heckmondwicke, and in Liversedge and Roberttown before that. Originally clothiers (who wasn't), they became plumbers and glaziers in the 1820s and continued in that trade three generations till James Henry Senior."

"The Value of Money" starring Diana Dors

Malcolm Haigh a local Batley historian has written several books about Batley.

• The History of Batley contains many charming stories about Batley
• Historical Snapshots of Batley and Birstall is a lovely book of old postcards and photos with comments by Malcolm.
• His most recent book, Batley Pride, contains more stories of Batley folks.

64 Solway Road
Batley
West Yorkshire, England, WF17 6HH.

• The History of Batley is available at £12.95p (about $23.00)
• Historical Snapshots of Batley and Birstall is £10 (about $17.50)
• Malcolm's latest book, Batley Pride is £13.95p (about $24.00)

Orders, with sterling cheques can be made out either to Malcolm Haigh or The History of Batley Fund.

In April 2006 Alan Farrar and his daughter took pictures of historical points of interest in Batley. Click on the picture of the entrance to Carlinghow Mills to see Alan's photos.

In January 2011 Mike Gammon graciously shared images of the 1907 Barley Pageant. These images are from the collection of former Batley mayor George Hirst, an ancestor of Mike Gammon's wife.