Southowram Notes

WALKS ROUND HALIFAX

From Halifax GUARDIAN, 26 November 1898

WALKS ROUND HALIFAX

HISTORICAL NOTES ON SOUTHOWRAM WARD.

[By J. LISTER, ESQ., M.A.]

We enter the old township of Southowram by Lily-lane and Bridge,

LILY MILL

Why Lily Bridge and Lily-lane? In 1608, Sir Edward Waterhouse, of Shibden Hall, sold to Sir A. Ingram one water corn mill and two "walk" or fulling mills in Southowram, one of the fulling mills being occupied by a tenant of the name of Edward Lilley. In 1665 this mill was still agoing, when Widow Mitchell and John Robinson, occupiers of Lily Mill, paid 5d. and ½ d. respectively for it towards what was called a “Royal Aid to the King's Majesty” - a special tax laid upon the “inhabitants of Southowram, owners and occupiers of land, tenements, goods, and chattells.”

The total contributed by the township of Southowram towards the sum of £1,125,000 required was £8 14s. 6d., and this was employed in fighting the Dutch. From this date, says Hallam, it became an undisputed principle that supplies granted by Parliament were only to be applied for particular objects specified by itself.

In 1677, the occupier of Lily Mill also contributed towards “the speedy building of thirty ships of war” the sum of 4d. It appears that in view of a war with France, the Commons had voted a subsidy - or extra tax - for the use of the navy, which they ordered should be paid into the hand of their own receivers. The total tax paid by the owners and occupiers of lands, housing, and stocks in this township was £4 14s. 9d., being its proportion of £584,978 2s. 2 ½ d., laid on the West Riding, granted to the "Merrie Monarch" by the Parliament.

Again, in 1692 Mr. Robert Ramsden, of Stoneyroyd, contributed, on account of the mill, 4s. 1d. towards a subsidy granted by Parliament "for carrying on a vigorous war against France." In this case the total amount contributed by Southowram for this laudable object was £69 15s.6d.

In 1723, we find the old mill still occupied, and used for its original purpose. In 1814 the place belonged to the Marquis of Hertford - the representative of the Ingram family.

There is still existing a last century brick-built mill here, which, however, presents no features of interest.


WATERSIDE- BROOKROYDS.

Passing along Water-lane, we come to an old fashioned stone mullion windowed house, now known as the "Ship Inn.” There seems to be no date about it, but its architecture tells us it was built in the 17th century. Now called Waterside, this house and the pleasant “ings” that once lay around it were known to our forefathers as "Brookroyds" - the clearings by the brook.

In 1570, Brookroyds belonged to or was tenanted by a family of the name of Maud -Alice Maud, widow, and Robert Maud, her eldest son, owning it; but before 1595, the Gibson family had taken up their abode there, two Richard Gibsons, father and son, being then its owners and occupiers.

In the 27th year of Queen Elizabeth, Agnes Gibson, of Southowram, widow, granted to Richard Gibson, son of Richard Gibson, her son, a rent of 1s. out of a close in Siddal.

In 1622, Richard Gibson assigned to Thomas Lister, of Shibden Hal1, a close called Wheatclose, abutting upon one lane leading to Blaithroyd. The term of the lease was 200 years, and Thomas Lister paid £30 for same. A close in which wheat was grown, near Blaithroyd, sounds strange in our ears to-day.

This Wheatclose is also stated to have joined up, on its south side, to the lands lately Richard May's. Richard May belonged to a Halifax family, of whom little is known. But a few extracts from his will, dated 1611, may he of interest. He gave and bequeathed to his nephew, James May, all the ranges, glass, and “seeings” in and about all his house and buildings in Halifax, and also all the racks and mangers within his stables there - also one great new table standing in the great chamber, and one bedstead standing in the next chamber to the said great chamber. He also gave to his brother John, his best cloak, jerkin, dublett, and breeches, and to his brother Charles his next do., and to his brother Robert his third cloak, jerkin, dublett, and breeches. He seems to have had considerable property in Halifax, and his possession of three complete suits of apparel is in itself the token of a man of considerable substance, in those days when clothes formed a part of the family property.

TOBY BARRACLOUGH, A WEALTHY LANDOWNER.

The next owners on record of Brookroyds after the Gibson's are the Barraclough's. I find, from his will, dated 1649, the year of Charles I.’s execution, that Toby Barraclough, gentleman, had become the owner of the Brookroyds, consisting of one messuage, one laith, two ings adjoining the house, and one other ing which he had bought of Mrs. Maude, of Wakefield. He also possessed two other closes that he had purchased of Thomas Lister, of Shibden, called Capon Heyes and Primrose Close, and several other closes of land there unto adjoining. He also owned one lane in Southowram called Green lane (alias Savile lane), leading from Ramsden Spout to the High Field, and all the mine and mines of coal there. He moreover owned the moiety or half part of the lordship of Southowram, which he states he had of the gift of Anne Oates, the relict of James Oates, younger, deceased.

COAL MINING

in Northowram and Southowram had been carried on from a very early date. In 1401, Richard, of Mekesburgh, was fined at the Manor Court, for opening the ground in Shibden, and taking sea coals therefrom without license. In a lease of Upper Dove House, in Shibden, in Southowram, the tenant is empowered by his landlord "to dig for his own coals" in the land, but not sell to anyone. When Sir Edward Waterhouse, in 1608, sold Shibden Hall, mention is made of a lease of "a certain piece of land, with liberty for opening the ground and taking of coals there." In 1659, Toby Barraclough, owner of Brookroyds, and son of Toby whose will we have quoted, and Thomas Lister, of Shibden Hall, had an interesting and doubt less costly suit; in the High Court of Chancery anent their mines. The question in dispute was whether Toby, who was the defendant, was liable or not to pay 50s. A year, and three horse loads of coals weekly to Thomas Lister, in consideration of the latter's being at the expense of opening and cleansing of a “sow” or “watercourse” in the parties' coal mines at Blaithroyd and Stonyroyd, in Southowram, according to articles of agreement alleged to have been made between Toby's father and Thomas Lister in 1637

But returning to Toby senior's will. It will be remembered that a lane is mentioned called Green -lane, leading to the Highfield. The Highfield was otherwise known as the Townfield, and was originally occupied and cultivated in common by the tenants of the manor. Each landholder or occupier had the right to pasture his cattle there. But the number was limited in every case, according to the Size of the man’s holding. In old deeds we constantly meet with mention of this right of "kine gates", as they were called in the Town Field. Toby Barraclough tells us in his will that he owned half the manor of Southowram. I do not exactly know how this could be, because the half of the manor seems to have belonged at this time to another man.

Toby Barraclough, sen., was an important personage in his day in the parish, He was churchwarden of Halifax in 1633, and high constable in 1641. When poor Isaac Illingworth, of Ovenden, was beheaded for stealing over 13½.d. worth of goods, at the Halifax Gibbet,

in that year, Toby must perforce have presided in his official capacity of high constable at the melancholy and, tragic performance. Besides owning Brookroyds and the property named, Toby Barraclough was the possessor of a house, barn, and four closes of land in Siddal, a house, barn, and four closes in Southowram, also a close of land at Ramsclough, adjoining upon "the way in the bank there leading betwixt Halifax and Wakefield." He owned besides a very large amount of property in Halifax, including the "Swanne." Toby was twice married, and his second wife and widow, Mrs, Lucy Barraclough contributed 8d. to the Royal Aid for fighting the Dutch in 1655, a Mr. Dolliffe also paying 1s, for Toby Barraclough's lands. She also paid 9d. towards the same object on account of Bailey Hall. Toby Barraclough, son of Toby sen., was one of the two largest taxpayers in Halifax, in 1664.

THE RAMSDENS

In 1677, when it was necessary for this country to speedily build 30 ships of war, we found that John Ramsden is described as of Brookroyds, and that he paid 1s. 3d, tax on account of the same. This John Ramsden, I take it, was one of the numerous family of Ramsden, of Stonyroyd, Siddal Hall, and Park Nook, of whom I shall have more to say when we come to those places. He and his mother paid 3s. 9d. in 1665 to fight the Dutch, and she is entered as paying 4d. Besides “for her stock.” Stock is, of course, the old term for capital. We learn from this and other sources that the duty of furnishing the needful for our wars was not in these old days laid exclusively upon the owner of real, i.e. landed property, but that the owners of "stock" were also bound to contribute.

How long Brookroyds remained, in the family of the Ramsdens I cannot say, but towards the end, probably, of the 18th century it passed into the hands of the Caygills - who gave their name to Caygill's Walk - and in 1809, under the name of Bank and Waterside, it had become the property of Lady Ibbetson and paid 10s. to the Lord of the Manor. With Brookroyds was associated some land formerly called "Hall Green Land." Whence the name I know not.


- - - - - -


If you have enjoyed your visit to this website, please spread the word by clicking the 'like' and 'share' buttons below. Thank you