Halifax Memories 5a

Halifax Memories 5a - 'Halifax old and new' continued

Barum Top - in 1606 was called Bourame and in 1797 was called Berum.

Barum Top

Beacon Hill - 850 ft above sea level. it is mentioned in Halifax history from 1615. The coiners were hung in chains there (1774-1783). Like many other hills bearing the name in England, it was used in ancient days for warnings, and in later years for jubilations. Payments have been made for providing and watching the beacon lights. It was in 1872 that the pan fell, but it was re-erected for the late Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

Birks Hall was built, or rather re-built in 1699, and was the residence of Dr Samuel Threapland (schoolmaster and M.D.) In 1776, Mr Ramsbottom conveyed to the Halifax Trustees for £300 a spring of water arising in Birks Wood. In 1853, Mrs Lancashire and Mrs Brook gave £400 and land for building Pellon Church and Parsonage.

Blackwood Grove

Thomas Blackwood paid a fine to refuse a knighthood from Charles I in 1627. He built Blackwood House in 1617 somewhere in the vicinity of where Blackwood Grove is situated

Blackwood Grove, just below Mount Pellon Primary School

Boothtown was originally called The Boothes and then Boothstown. In 1687, Dr Jeremiah Hall provided by will for the alms-houses and hence Hall Street. The old mansion dates from 1769 with initials of the Edleston family 'J.N.E'. According to Mr Lister, the origin of the name is from the Boothes. The wor 'Boothes' signifies cots or huts.

Bowman Terrace, off Hanson Lane

Bowman Terrace took its name from Dr.Frederick Bowman, consulting engineer and author, one of the first members of Halifax School Board

Bowman Terrace near Asda, off Hanson Lane

Brinton Terrace, off Hanson Lane

Brinton Terrace, which ran through to Taylor Street was part of the West Hill Estate, developed under the Crossleys. Brinton was the maiden name of Francis Crossleys wife. He married Martha Eliza, daughter of Henry Brinton of Kidderminster. Their son, Savile Brinton Crossley became Lord Somerleyton. This detached single property strikes me as being unusually ‘posh’ for that area. Brinton Terrace was named after Sir Savile Brinton Crossley, son of Sir Francis Crossley.

Broad Street and Waterhouse Street were formed in about 1824 as a result of the 1823 Improvement Act and considered very handsome thoroughfares. Wesley Chapel was built in 1829 and closed down in 1949 and the building was used afterwards as Civil Defence Headquarters.

Bull Close Lane

Caygill Terrace, Skircoat Road, opposite the Shay Stadium, is a reminder of John Caygill, who lived at The Shay and gave the the Piece Hall to the town. Caygills Walk rustick path disappeared when Skircoat Road was made in 1890-91 after tipping across the valley.

Caygill Terrace

Clover Hill

There was a countryside path between Clover Hill (just above the old infirmary) and Well Head (towards Savile Park). This used to be called Laver Hill from the Anglo-Saxon "laefer", a bullrush. F.A.Leyland wrote "We remember seeing bulrushes growing in the once swampy ground at the bottom of this hill". The name change apparently came when the Ordnance Survey Map was first published.

Commercial Street

This street wasn't built until as late as 1880 after being authorized by the 1853 Improvement Act. The name seems to have been a compromise after 'New South Street' and 'Oxford Street' had been turned down and this became the road where most of the banks were built.

See Commercial Street

Commercial Street is where the horse carriage can be seen

Chapel Fold

Area between Nos 28 and 32 and Gaol Lane.

In 1763, Titus Knight established a small independent meeting house in 2 houses here.

There were Common Lodging Houses here [1904].

In 1934, Halifax Corporation decided that it would compulsorily purchase properties in this densely populated part of Halifax, as part of a clearance programme.

In 1936, there were 24 houses in the fold

Chapel Fold ran North to South between Gaol Lane to Wooshops. It was so-called because it contained a small meeting house, the predecessor of the brick-built Square Chapel (Titus Knight) erected at the foot of Square Road in 1772