Halifax History Blog
Halifax Town Crest
Sunday 1st November 2009 2:13 PM
Except The Lord Keep the City
The name Halifax is said to be a corruption of the old English words for Holy and Face, part of the local legend that the head of John the Baptist was buried here after his execution. The legend is almost certainly mediaeval rather than ancient, though the town's coat of arms still carries an image of the Saint. Halifax Parish Church, parts of which go back to the 12th century, has always been dedicated to St John the Baptist. (The church's first organist, in 1765, was William Herschel, who later discovered the planet Uranus.)
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Halifax Piece Hall
Monday 1st December 2008 2:15 PM
Halifax Piece Hall was opened on 1st January 1779. It was built as a place for handloom weavers to sell their pieces of cloth, hence the name, and was a replacement for an earlier, smaller, Cloth Hall. More about the pre-Piece Hall period and the earlier Cloth Hall Although we tend to talk about "woollen cloth" there was a variety of cloths made from wool.More about woollen cloth It has also been called the Manufacturers' Hall and the Cloth Hall. At one time there were a number of such buildings in the North of England, although none quite like the Piece Hall. More about the Piece Hall in the 18th Century
Major towns in the West Riding all had Cloth Halls. Leeds Mixed Cloth Hall opened in 1758; Huddersfield was next, opening in 1766, followed by Bradford in 1773, another Cloth Hall in Leeds in 1775, and lastly Wakefield in 1778. None of these have survived.
The Piece Hall might not have survived either. The factory system meant that merchants could buy all the cloth they required from a few mills; the Piece Hall trade declined More about the Piece Hall in the 19th Century
Eventually the building became a wholesale market.More about the Piece Hall as a market At some time around the turn of the century, the Piece Hall Handprints appeared. The 1976 cleaning has made them much harder to see - in fact the left one seems to have disappeared completely - but the story of the marks left by a murderer goes on.In 1928 the Piece Hall was officially recognised as an ancient monument but it was not until 1972 that the decision was made to restore the building. The extra buildings which had been erected for the market were all removed and the building was restored, cleaned and the ironwork was repainted. Part of the first floor was made into an Industrial Museum (now closed) and Art Gallery, for some more of the space and the rest was converted into shops
The original 300 shops were rationalised into larger retail spaces more suited to modern conditions; when full, the Piece Hall will house over 50 small retail shops although at present there are some vacancies. The courtyard houses a fleamarket on Thursdays and an open market on Fridays and Saturdays. In addition, there are a number of special events (see What's On for a list of coming events and Piece Hall Shops for more details of shops).
More about the Piece Hall since 1976
The Piece Hall has a unique 18th century atmosphere and has been used in several T.V. programmes and feature films, including the film "Brassed Off".
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Victoria Theatre Halifax
Wednesday 1st October 2008 2:10 PM
Victoria Theatre Halifax
Since 1974 Halifax has been the centre of the metropolitan district of Calderdale, part of the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire. Halifax has given its name to a bank Halifax plc which started as a building society in the town. Halifax is a twin town with Aachen in Germany.
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The Post In Halifax
Monday 1st September 2008 1:08 PM
By Geoffrey Washington
Sending written messages has been done by one method or another since around 3,000 B.C, but surviving records from our area are much more recent than that. Oliver Heywood (1630-1703) a former Vicar of Coley, was a prolific letter writer and his first reference to receiving a letter by post in 1682. A letter from Jeremy Lister in London to his brother is dated 1684.
In 1759, three deliveries of post arrived from London each week carried by horse drawn carriages travelling at 3-5 m.p.h, with the journey taking around three days. Horse drawn posts were armed as they were very vulnerable to attack and had frequent encounters with highwaymen, even the environs of Halifax. In those days, the White Lion Inn in Silver Street was used as a collection and delivery point.
The earliest record of a post office in Halifax dates from 1770 when the office was on the site of the present Bowling Green public house in Winding Road which is curiously very close the present sorting office at the bottom of Gaol Lane.
The first Post-mistress was Mary Wainman, who was paid the handsome sum of £60-3s-4d per year for her labours. This, in comparison with similar positions elsewhere in Yorkshire at the time was considered to be a high salary. Subsequently, the Postmaster at the Winding Road Office was John Bagnold, followed on his death by his wife Tabitha.
By 1823, the Halifax Post Office had moved to 6, Westgate, when one postman was sufficient to deliver all the mail in Halifax. However, a second postman was required in 1837 at which time the premises were at 10, Cheapside, and by 1840 a third man was appointed. This reflected the growing postal business in the town.
However in the period 1847-1851 there developed among the business fraternity a widespread dissatisfaction with the postal facilities in Halifax, so much so that in 1849 the Halifax Courier suggested a subscription list should be opened to pay for better premises. Hence in 1851, new premises financed by private subscription were taken up at 6, George Street, adjoining the Union Bank, (later Somerset House) The public entrance was in George Street, but the mail was brought in through a yard behind the Griffin Hotel. It was said that Halifax had one of the most commodious and convenient Post Offices in Yorkshire. Not only that, the public enjoyed the benefit of a well regulated and illuminated clock in the doorway of these high class premises.
By 1859, the postal staff had increased to four clerks, a stamper, and an outdoor delivery force of eight postmen with 22,000 letters being delivered per week. But the work of the Post Office was growing. For example, the Post Office Savings Bank was established in 1861 and was administered from George Street, as was the newly developed telegraph business in 1870. The increased load made these premises inadequate for the purpose and new accommodation was sought.
So it was in 1887 that the present purpose built General Post Office was opened in Commercial Street, an area which was just developing as a commercial centre of Halifax. The new building also provided for sorting arrangements and a telephone exchange above the public counter. Subsequently, several alterations were made, in 1909/10 the sorting office was extended and in 1927 the extension into the Old Cock Yard was made.
Since 1927 various modifications have been made to the Commercial street office, but the most fundamental change was made in 1972 when the purpose built administrative offices and sorting office were opened at the bottom of Gaol Lane, so near to the first known Post Office in Halifax over 230 years ago. So far as can be ascertained, most, if not all of the sorting is now done in Bradford or Leeds.
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Hope Hall
Friday 1st August 2008 1:06 PM
By Geoffrey Washington
Hope Hall is a distinguished Eighteenth Century Halifax House which is situated in Clare Road close to the Halifax swimming baths. The Hall was built for David Stansfeld during the year's 1762-1765 and was one of the several imposing mansions erected in or near the town centre around this time. Unlike the Yeoman Clothier's houses of the previous century which were scattered over the surrounding countryside eighteenth century houses built for manufacturers, merchants and bankers were more in the classical style. Frequently they had offices and warehouses attached to the main building.
David Stansfeld then the owner of Hope Hall was a merchant in the clothing trade who moved to Halifax from Leeds and whose father Ely Stansfeld was part of a family who played an important role in the history of Sowerby.
The face of the building which can be seen from Clare Road was originally the rear of the house. It has an attractive stone porch containing four columns, over which is a Venetian window. In front is an extensive forecourt provided with an entrance and exit for carriages. The Front of the building had a magnificent two way winged staircase which led into a large garden containing conservatories and fruit trees which stretched down to the River Hebble. Above the staircase was a large Venetian window, which is still which is still intact, although alas the staircase has gone, and only the outlines of its former presence can be seen on the eastern wall of the house. Attached to the hall on the north and south ends are two projecting wings, which originally would have been used as stables and a warehouse for the merchant's goods. On the south side of the building were cottages provided for the residential staff of gardeners and coachmen, whilst servant's quarters were in the upper rooms of the house.
During its lifetime Hope Hall (at one point known as Hope House) had many distinguished residents but none more so than Christopher Rawson who moved there is 1808 following his marriage to Mary Ann Brooks at St. Margaret's, Westminster. As a Lieutenant in the service of the East India Company he had a distinguished career at sea and was offered a knighthood by George III which he turned down on the grounds that he was not in a position to maintain such a status. He returned to Halifax to join the family banking business in Royds house (now known as Somerset House) and lived in Hope Hall until his death in 1849.
Other well known residents included Sir Henry Edwards, an MP for Halifax for 5 years who subsequently moved to the family seat at Pye Nest. He was followed by Samuel Waterhouse, a former Major of Halifax and a prominent citizen, who along with his brother John gave the land on Harrison Road where the Bluecoats School and Almshouses were built.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century the effect of the Industrial Revolution left its mark on Hope Hall and its estate. Successive owners could not resist the temptation to sell off land t the encroaching industrial developers for factories, housing and the railway. The garden disappeared and the two wings of the house were sold of separately. For a while the house was unoccupied and it seemed likely that the place would be demolished. However in 1906 it was purchased by a gentleman's club named the Albany club, formerly meeting in premises near the Town Hall. This was the saviour of Hope Hall and over the year's the place has been renovated and relatively recently it has been very tastefully re-decorated. It contains many superior facilities and is now much used, not only as a club but also by local organisations for regular meetings and social activities.
The fate of the wings has been rather different. The Northern wing was purchased by the CRS and was allowed to gall into dereliction, despite efforts by the Halifax Civic Trust to acquire and restore it. However recently this has been purchased and converted into accommodation by a member of the Albany Club. The Southern wing is at present used a doctor's surgery whilst the adjacent cottage is preserved and lived in.
Hope Hall is a Grade 2 listed building and along with the outbuildings its future is assured.
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Halifax Building Societies
Tuesday 1st July 2008 1:12 PM
By Geoffrey Washington
Prior to the last quarter of the 18 th century a person wishing to borrow money for the purpose of buying or building a house, did so on a private basis through a money lender or a mortgage provider, although some Friendly Societies such as the Loyal Georgian Society did lend money to their members for these purposes. The first large scale Building Society was started in the Birmingham area in 1781, soon to be followed by others of a similar nature.
Several Building Societies were formed in Halifax with the intention of financing specific building projects such as the Halifax Union Building Society, also known as the 'Go-Ahead' Building Society (1845) with Edward Ackroyd and Frank Crossley amongst its Trustees the West Mount Building Society (1870) and the Halifax and District Perfect Thrift Building Society (1894). However these all ceased to exist once their particular housing projects had been completed and were known as 'terminating societies'.
In 1853 several members of the Loyal Georgian Society met in the Oak Room of the Old Cock Hotel in Southgate and from this meeting the Halifax Permanent Benefit Building Society was born. Its first office was over a shop in the Union Cross Yard, Old Market and opened for business in February 1853. Branch offices were soon opened in neighbouring districts and in 1854 the Head Office moved to a single room in Waterhouse Street where the staff comprised the Secretary, six clerks and an office boy.
Jonas Dearnley Taylor was the first Secretary a position which he held until his death in 1902, when he was succeeded by Enoch Hill. The latter became Managing Director in 1917 and President in 1928 in which year he was knighted.
In 1873 the Halifax Permanent Benefit Building Society opened its first purpose built office at 7 - 9 Crossley Street on the corner of Princess Street and by 1918 it was the largest Building Society in England. In 1919 the York building in Commercial Street was acquired and became the Head Office. This building had been erected in 1903 for Alexander Scott Ltd a firm of silk mercers and drapers. Subsequently these premises were altered and considerably enlarged when they became know as the Permanent Buildings. Meanwhile in 1871 the Halifax Equitable Building Society had been formed with its Head Office at 9 George Street although this subsequently moved to larger premises at the corner of Silver Street and Central Street later to be occupied by Martins Bank.
By 1927 Halifax possessed the largest Building Society in the world (the Permanent) and the second largest in the UK (the Equitable) and in that year the two Societies merged to form a financial giant The Halifax Building Society with its head quarters in Commercial Street.
Subsequently a new and much larger administrative office was built on the site of the former Ramsdens Stone Trough Brewery which was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 November 1974 whilst the Commercial Street building became the Halifax Branch Office.
The Halifax merged with the Leeds Permanent Building Society in 1995 and with the Bank of Scotland in 2001 to become the Halifax Bank of Scotland.
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Halifax Town Hall
Sunday 1st June 2008 1:15 PM
By Geoffrey Washington
In the days of the old Town Trustees there was talk of the need for a Town Hall in Halifax where civic business could be conducted. This matter became more urgent following the incorporation of Halifax as a Borough in 1848. Although the newly formed town council initially met in the Old Assembly Rooms near the Old Talbot Inn in Woolshops, this was soon found to be unsuitable and Kershaws Warehouse at the junction of Union Street and Westgate was acquired and converted for the purpose. However, this soon became incapable of holding all the civic departments (including the police) and the decision was made in 1853 to build a Town Hall.
Several proposals were considered on different sites and by various architects, from such eminent citizens as Edward Ackroyd and John Crossley. Much controversy ensued, including public concern over the cost of the enterprise to the ratepayers of the town. Finally, Sir Charles Barry was commissioned to design a new Town Hall on the Crossley Street site for an estimated cost of £17,000. When Sir Charles died, his son E. M. Barry continued the work and the building was finally completed at a cost of £50,000 in 1863. The building was opened on 4 August 1863 by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII and an estimated 100,000 people were in Halifax for the event. A triumphal arch was erected in Princess Street and large decorated platforms and galleries for public viewing lined the streets.
Exterior Features
The exterior is in the North Italian Cinquecento style and is entirely made of stone from the Ringby quarries on Swalesmoor. There is a profusion of stone carving throughout the building, most of which was done by John Thomas, who had also worked on sculptures for the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and the Free Trade Hall in Manchester. The gigantic stone tower and spire, rising to a height of 180ft, are decorated almost from top to bottom. Four 7ft high angels guard the base of the spire and four figures, representing four continents, look down on the streets of Halifax (Europe - Princess Street, North America - Waterhouse Street, Africa - Broad Street, Asia - Crossley Street). The portico outside the main entrance contains on three sides the old 1848 Halifax Coat of Arms, never officially recognised but much used. These are surmounted by heads representing Wisdom, Justice and Mercy, together with appropriate profound exhortations to the citizens of Halifax.
Interior Features
The entrance from the portico leads to the main staircase which is illuminated by light from a large coloured glass dome. An abundance of ornate plasterwork meets the eye here, with the 'H' motif appearing frequently. At the head of the staircase are three large paintings, presented to the town by Sir Savile Crossley in 1911. The Victoria Hall is a large central space, with a roof consisting of panels of stained glass. The walls contain many examples of the old Halifax Coat of Arms and the floor has a large centrally placed mosaic version, approved by the College of Heralds and placed there to mark the centenary in 1963. The Arms of Calderdale appear above the various doorways. An upper gallery with an ornamental ironwork balustrade and portraits of previous Mayors leads to the Council Chamber and Mayor's Parlour.
Originally the Council met in one of the smaller rooms, and it was only in 1901 that the present Council Chamber was created by adding an extra floor partway up the high courtroom. It has a fine stained glass ceiling , which was originally meant to be seen from much lower down and is panelled in beautiful dark mahogany. The Mayor's Parlour is used as a reception room for visitors and as an office for the Mayor. It contains various items of Calderdale's silverware, civic equipment and other memorabilia. The cellars were originally used to accommodate the police, including short stay cells, until the new Police Headquarters were opened in Harrison Road in 1900.
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The Borough Market
Thursday 1st May 2008 1:13 PM
By Geoffrey Washington
Markets have always been an established part of the scene in English social history regulated by Royal Charter, the earliest of which was granted to Taunton traders as far back as 904 AD. In the mid 19 th century a red brick Georgian market place (built in 1790) stood on the site of the present Halifax Borough Market with a slaughter house close by (previously animals were slaughtered in the street adjacent to the butcher's stall).
Referred to as the 'New Market', the market place was run by a private company until 1853 but it became inadequate as stalls overflowed on to footpaths and highways. Also included in the 'New Market' was a covered area known as the 'Low Market' which was situated (until 1968) on the bottom side of Market Street. Consisting mainly of open stalls trading only on Fridays and Saturdays, one could buy hot black puddings, tripe, cow heels and elder, not to mention such diverse items as puppies and second hand magazines. In one entrance was sited a weighing chair where weight could be checked for one penny (240 pennies = 1 pound). During the 1939 - 45 war the place was used as a British Restaurant for cheap and cheerful lunchtime meals.
The 1853 Development Act enabled the newly formed Halifax Corporation to take over the market and the running of it. In 1890, the Markets and Fairs Committee decided that the 'New Market' should be replaced so local architects, Joseph and John Leeming, were engaged for the purpose and one year later, the Corporation took out an initial loan of £50,000 (the final cost climbed to about £130,000). The foundation stone was laid in October 1892, however, progress was slow and it was not until July 1896 that the place was officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of York (later to become King George V and Queen Mary). On the same day they also opened the Royal Halifax Infirmary, so thousands turned out for the combined event to enjoy the floodlit buildings and firework displays.
Architecturally the Borough Market is a mixture of styles but all seem to blend very well to make the building a most elegant and attractive feature of the Halifax townscape. It is constructed of stone with very fine ornamental detail including several slender Baroque turrets. There are no steps despite the sloping site, a feature appreciated by the disabled. The focal point of the interior is a superb octagonal dome, or lantern, supported by decorative cast iron pillars rising 60 feet above floor level. An ornamental clock, which can be seen from most parts of the Market, is at the centre of the dome. This combined feature is a superb example of Victorian grandeur and 'Under the Clock' has been a rendez-vous for many Halifax folk for generations.
Around the perimeter walls were 43 shops originally all occupied by butchers - many still are - whilst wide aisles facilitate pedestrian traffic. The Fish Market, originally indoors, was partitioned off with access from the Albany Arcade, until the fish shops moved outside into Albion Street and their number reduced accordingly. The outside perimeter of the market building was filled with shops looking into the streets (except for Albion Street until the fish market was moved) and above the Southgate and Market Street shops was living accommodation where many former traders lived. The Market Inspector had the upper rooms on the Albion Street side from whence he could survey the whole market.
Three public houses, the Wheatsheaf, the Saddle and the Peacock, were built into the Market Street side of the building. The first of these was re-named the Portman and Pickles following a public competition despite the sheaf of wheat carved into the stone front of the building. Both were nationally known Halifax men, Eric Portman being an actor and Wilfred Pickles a broadcaster. The Saddle at the Russell Street end was demolished in the 1960's and replaced by a building (designed as an early supermarket) totally out of character with its environment. The Peacock, at the bottom of Albion Street, was converted into a shop and a fourth public house, the Boar's Head, Southgate, is where the office of the Bradford and Bingley Building Society now stands.
Initially, water was not laid on to stalls and had to be carried by bucket from a well near the Market Street entrance. The market was unheated and stalls had to provide their own means of keeping warm; it was not unusual that a bucket of water left overnight froze by morning. In 1954 a few experimental gas operated heaters were installed which were not welcomed by some butchers who most likely did not have their own refrigerators. In the absence of refrigerators it was essential that all meat should be sold by Saturday night, resulting in butchers shouting out their progressive reduction in prices before closing time and many bargains were to be had. Closing time varied with initial opening hours as Monday to Wednesday 8.00am to 8.00pm, half day closing at 4.00pm on Thursday, Friday was 8.00am - 9.00pm and Saturday 6.00am - 10.30pm. How these have changed over the years.
In our time the appearance and purpose of many of the shops has altered and most of us will have nostalgic memories of stalls and their keepers now gone. But the market atmosphere, which still remains, is not found elsewhere. It is appreciated not only by us locals but also by countless visitors to the town. At least when other West Riding towns have demolished their Victorian markets and Cloth Halls those of Halifax stand as a permanent reminder of our distinguished heritage.
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Our Early Railways
Tuesday 1st April 2008 1:10 PM
By Geoffrey Washington
The year 1825 was a very important year in our history for it was then that George Stephenson personally drove his steam engine 'Locomotion' on the line from Darlington to Stockton, hauling 33 wagons and 300 passengers. He went on to pioneer the building of the first serious public railway from Liverpool to Manchester which opened in 1830.
George Stephenson surveyed the route from Manchester to Leeds in the 1830's, but objections from the Rochdale Canal Company and the Rochdale and Halifax Turnpike Trust delayed the proceedings. However the Manchester and Leeds Railway Company formally opened the line in 1841, although problems had arisen with the construction of 2885 yards long Summit tunnel.
The route came down the Calder Valley, but by-passed Halifax which meant that passengers and goods had to start their journey at either Sowerby Bridge or Elland. Geographically, Halifax was difficult to reach, as it is 200 ft. above the Calder Valley. Consequently it was not until 1844 that a single branch line from North Dean to Shaw Syke was opened and for a time this was the terminus for Halifax.
Subsequently the line was extended to the site of the present station although between 1850 and 1855 a temporary wooden platform was used, whilst Shaw Syke became a goods depot. The present station opened in 1855. In 1851 the Halifax Vicarage just across the road from the Parish Church was put up for sale and land was developed for sidings, mainly for handling of coal. A more direct link from Halifax to Sowerby Bridge came in 1852 when the 23 arch viaduct at Copley was completed followed by the station at Copley in 1856.
The entrance to the original 1855 train station was via a carriage drive down to platform level through an entrance to the right of Horton Street which can still be seen. The present arrangement of a bridge as continuation of Horton Street to the station forecourt was completed in 1886. In the meantime, work was going ahead to extend the Halifax branch eastwards and post 1855 the line went through Beacon Hill tunnel to Hipperholme, Lightcliffe and thence via Low Moor to Bradford and Leeds.
Subsequently other branch lines were planned, for example, a line was opened from North Dean to Stainland in 1875 (closed to passenger traffic in 1929 and to all traffic in 1959) and another, from Halifax via North Bridge and Ovenden to Holmfield and Queensbury, and thence a line to Keighley and Bradford was opened in 1879.
The last extension to the local network was the High Level Railway which was opened in 1890. This took off from Holmfield, tunnelled under Ovenden and emerged in the Wheatley valley where there were sidings to Samuel Webster's brewery. The very last passenger train ran on this line in 1953, although there was a special tour arranged by the Stephenson Locomotive Society. The last regular passenger train ran in 1916 and special excursions were organised at holiday times by local firms until the outbreak of war in 1939.
The last goods train ran on this line in 1960. A very ambitious scheme was proposed in 1865 to take a branch line from Sowerby Bridge up the Ryburn Valley and reached Rishworth in 1881 (closed to passenger traffic in 1929) The arrival of this branch line coincided with Sowerby Bridge station moved from the western side of the bridge over the road to its present site.
Alas, as road transport prospered and Dr Beeching's axe fell, all the branch lines disappeared and in present day we are left with a bare skeleton of a service through Halifax. A station which originally had six platforms now only has two, and most of the former railway property has now been acquired for other usage such as Eureka! the Museum for children
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