Historic Boothtown

Historic Boothtown is divided in to:-

North Bridge to Haley Hill
Haley Hill
Range Lane
Woodside
Akroyden
Boothtown Village
Ploughcroft

Historic Boothtown photos start at North Bridge and continue towards Queensbury whilst viewing sites and subjects on both sides of the main road.

All Souls Church and Boothtown from Halifax

View the 1905 Boothtown map

We need to cross North Bridge then turn left

Click on the picture above

Now we have crossed the bridge, New Bank is the wide road facing us, Range Bank Bends round the back oto the left and turn immediate left for Haley Hill and Boothtown

The view back along North Bridge

Range Lane

View Map

Looking down Range Lane and Wood Street

Bottom of Range Lane in 1967 during the building of the flats

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Sunnyside School

Haley Hill

In 1936

1 - Tom Marsh - tobacconist

3 - Albert Firth - jewellers and optician

5 - Willie Jones - Boot and Shoe Repairer

7 - J Boocock and son - wholesale confectioner dealer

9 - St.Bernards Catholic Association

Haley Hill’s Hidden Corner — The Climb Beyond Bowling Dyke

Halifax is full of curious corners, and this one — just beyond North Bridge — captures the town’s layered character perfectly. If you walk past Bowling Dyke, you’ll find a narrow way rising steeply beyond the railway bridge, running parallel with Haley Hill toward the rear of Haley Hill Mill.

The incline is paved with raised stone sets, making the climb safer and giving the path its distinctive texture. At the top, the road bends sharply to the right, leading into a quiet passage that connects back to Haley Hill itself.

Not long ago, a row of houses stood on this very plot — a reminder of how Halifax’s landscape has evolved, where steep cobbled climbs and vanished terraces still whisper stories of the town’s industrious past.

Plan of Haley Hill in 1850

General Baptist Church, Haley Hill, by William Burgess, 1788. The chapel sprang from the evangelistic outreach of a General Baptist society at Queensbury during the pastorate of the Revd John Taylor (1742-1818), supported by his brother, the Revd Daniel Taylor (1738-1816). After cottage meetings in 1773 the fledgling society met initially in a rented room in Gaol Lane in 1775, moving to a new chapel on Haley Hill opened in September 1777. In 1782 when the society formally seperated from the Queensbury society it had a membership of 30 and in October 1783 Daniel Taylor became its pastor for almost two years before reluctantly responding to pressure for him to move to London in the wider interests of the connexion. In 1854 the congregation moved to a more central site on North Parade. (Photograph courtesy of Calderdale Museums Service, Bankfield)

Haley Bank Prefabs — Halifax’s Post‑War Homes

When prefabricated houses were first introduced, they were expected to last only ten years. Yet many have stood far longer, proving their resilience and continuing to serve Halifax families well beyond their intended lifespan.

The first of these “prefabs” in Halifax were built at Haley Bank, completed and ready for occupation in October 1946. There were twenty‑three homes in total, constructed under the direction of Mr. B. C. Hutchin of Hertfordshire — a Halifax native working for the Ministry of Works.

Though modest in design, these homes were a vast improvement over the worn‑out cottages they replaced. In the background of the original photograph stands St. Bernard’s R.C. Church, a familiar landmark watching over the new beginnings of post‑war Halifax.

Today, the Haley Bank prefabs remain a quiet reminder of a time when practicality and hope shaped the town’s recovery — simple homes built to last, and they did.

Victoria and Albert - In between Victoria Street North and Albert Street (off Haley Hill). (maybe a mirror image)

Albert Street North

Dobby Hall — Halifax’s Changing Streetscape

The view of Dobby Hall, with the spire of All Souls’ Church rising in the distance, captures a moment of transformation in Halifax’s urban story. Once a lively district of homes, shops, and churches, Dobby Hall was declared a clearance area under the 1936 Housing Act, marking the beginning of its redevelopment.

The decision, made by the Halifax Town Council, stirred concern among residents who feared the loss of community landmarks and essential services. Yet the resolution passed, driven by the council’s duty to improve living conditions.

In official terms, a clearance area was defined as one where dwellings had fallen into disrepair or where narrow, poorly arranged streets posed risks to health and safety. For Dobby Hall, this meant the end of an era — but also the promise of renewal.

Today, the memory of those stone terraces and cobbled lanes remains part of Halifax’s collective heritage, reminding us how progress reshaped the town’s familiar corners while preserving its enduring spirit.

Coach and Horses - 83 Haley Hill.

All Souls’ Road — The Legacy of Colonel Edward Akroyd

The photograph captures a view over All Souls’ Road, Haley Hill, where sturdy industrial buildings and stone houses reflect Halifax’s proud architectural heritage. Amid the spring bloom stands the statue of Colonel Edward Akroyd, one of the town’s most influential benefactors.

Originally erected in 1876, eleven years before Akroyd’s death, the statue first stood near North Bridge, close to his business offices. As traffic increased, it was moved to its present site in front of All Souls’ Church, Boothtown, at a cost of £700 — a fitting home beside the church he founded.

The monument rises nearly twenty feet, its pedestal adorned with four panels depicting scenes from Akroyd’s remarkable life:

The founding of the textile industry that shaped Halifax’s prosperity
The development of the Bradford and Halifax railway
The creation of All Souls’ Church and School
His leadership in the Volunteer movement

Together, these carvings tell the story of a man whose vision blended industry, faith, and civic duty. Standing proudly above All Souls’ Road, the statue remains a timeless symbol of Halifax’s spirit of enterprise and generosity.

Ada Street — Echoes of Halifax’s Stone‑Built Past

Scenes like this one can be found all across Halifax — rows of sturdy, stone‑built houses that have stood firm for more than half a century. The photograph captures Ada Street, just off All Souls’ Road, where cobbled roadways and old gas lamps still whisper of a bygone era of careful town planning.

These streets, shaped by Victorian craftsmanship, remain a testament to Halifax’s enduring character — practical, proud, and built to last. And as for the name itself, one can’t help but wonder: was there a particular Ada whose memory lives on in this quiet corner of the town?

Woodlands View — The Quiet Edge of Akroydon

One of the most peaceful corners of the Akroydon–Boothtown district lies along Woodlands View, a row of private houses flanking the north‑eastern edge of Akroyd Park. Approached from Haley Hill, just before reaching All Souls’ Church, the steep climb up All Souls Road reveals this secluded stretch framed by trees and stone walls.

In the foreground, the road winds past the park’s edge and the graceful homes of Woodlands View, eventually curving left to end as a cul‑de‑sac at Range Gardens. Along the upper side of the park, Woodlands View connects with a broader council housing area before merging into Woodlands Road — once known as Dutchman Lane, a name still fondly remembered by Boothtown’s older residents.

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All Souls Church - 66 Haley Hill

All Souls’ Church — The Crown of Haley Hill

The graceful spire of All Souls’ Church, rising above Haley Hill, remains one of Halifax’s most striking landmarks. The view, often admired from Akroydon Park, captures the vision of its architect, Sir Gilbert Scott, and the generosity of its founder, Colonel Edward Akroyd.

Described as Scott’s masterpiece, the church stands as a magnificent memorial to Akroyd’s faith and philanthropy. The foundation stone was laid on April 25, 1856, using stone from a Northowram quarry, and the church was consecrated on November 2, 1859 by Dr. Bickersteth, Bishop of Ripon, assisted by Bishop Longley.

Built in the Decorated Gothic style of the late 13th century, All Souls’ is celebrated for its elegance and craftsmanship. Time and Halifax’s industrial air have weathered its stonework, yet the tower and spire still rank among the finest examples of Victorian ecclesiastical architecture.

From pavement to pinnacle, the spire rises 236 feet, a testament to the ambition and artistry that shaped Halifax’s skyline — and to the enduring legacy of Colonel Akroyd’s vision for beauty and community.

Colonel Edward Akroyd — Halifax’s Great Benefactor

In the shadow of All Souls’ Church, Halifax stands the statue of Colonel Edward Akroyd — a fitting tribute to one of the town’s most generous and visionary figures. His influence still shapes the districts of Akroydon, Bank Field, and Haley Hill, where his philanthropy left a lasting mark.

It was Col. Akroyd who built All Souls’ Church at a cost of £70,000, and who created Akroydon Park alongside his model village scheme — a pioneering example of community planning in Victorian England. Among Halifax’s many benefactors, Akroyd stands out for his deep commitment to education and social welfare.

He founded the Shed Schools and the Working Men’s College, helping countless local men gain the skills that advanced their careers. He also promoted the Yorkshire Penny Bank, represented Halifax in Parliament, and directed one of the region’s major manufacturing enterprises.

The statue was unveiled on July 29, 1876, eleven years before his death, originally standing at the north‑west corner of North Bridge. Today, it remains a proud symbol of civic generosity — a reminder that Halifax’s progress was built not only on industry, but on compassion and vision.

All Souls was commissioned and paid for by the local industrialist Edward Akroyd in 1856, and was intended to be the centrepiece of the model village of Akroydon. Akroyd appointed Sir George Gilbert Scott as architect, and the church was completed in 1859. Scott considered it to be his finest church. Scott also designed Akroyd’s own house and garden, the vicarage and houses for his employees.

The tower has four stages, on the top of which is a parapet containing arches, and an octagonal, crocketted pinnacle at each corner. In the upper stage of the tower are double two-light bell openings. The staircase is contained in the wall and the buttress at the northeast corner of the tower. The spire is divided into five stages by moulded bands; in three of the stages are gabled windows. On its summit is a finial and a weathervane. At the west end of the church is a deeply recessed doorway, over which is a tympanum containing sculpture. The south porch contains an arcade of three arches, each containing a single-light trefoil-headed window, and deeply recessed doorways. On the north face of the north transept is a priest’s door. The clerestory has 15 windows on each side.

Internally, between the nave and aisles are arcades with columns made from Derbyshire marble. The piers of the tower and transept arches are made from Aberdeen granite. The church is floored with Minton black, red and chocolate encaustic tiles. The three steps leading from the nave to the chancel are in Nottinghamshire red sandstone. The arcades between the chancel and the chapels are carried on columns of Italian marble. In the chancel is a sedilia, and a credence table built into its wall of the chancel. Between the nave and the chancel is an alabaster plinth carrying an screen in wrought iron. The screen was made by Francis Skidmore.

The reredos is in alabaster and contains niches with statues of the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany, Saint John, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. The octagonal pulpit is in Caen stone on a pedestal of Derbyshire marble. The font is square and has a circular bowl. It is made in serpentine from The Lizard and is carried on a pedestal of Aberdeen granite. All the windows contain stained glass. Some of the windows were designed and made by Hardman & Co., and others are by William Wailes, and Clayton and Bell.

After the church was declared redundant, the entrance doorway in the south porch was boarded up to prevent vandalism. This was considered to be unsightly, and the Churches Conservation Trust commissioned the design and construction of a set of gates. These are made in iron and have been painted in reddish-brown to complement Scott’s design, and the cross and floral motifs have been gilded. At the same time some conservation work was carried out to the surrounding stonework in the porch, and also around the west window. In 2007–08 the Trust carried out more extensive repairs to the church, including some re-roofing to make it weatherproof, and repairs to the stained glass windows and tracery.

Woodside

Woodside Baths - 101 Haley Hill

Woodside Road Dam in 1958, just below the baths.

Donkey Hill from Woodside down to Old Lane, Dean Clough

Woodside — A Name Rooted in Halifax’s Hills

As you climb Haley Hill, the name Woodside appears again and again — on street signs, terraces, and corners. It’s a name that once evoked a rural edge to Halifax, though today the area is far more built‑up.

The photograph shows the point where Woodside Grove drops down from the main road — the heart of a district that proudly carries its shared identity. Within the Woodside area, you’ll find Crescent, Place, Road, Terrace, View, and Mount, all united under the same name.

And Woodside isn’t unique to Halifax. Other towns across Calderdale — Hipperholme, Greetland, and Elland — have their own Woodsides too, each echoing the same sense of hillside community and local pride.

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Boothtown Road — Layers of Time in Halifax Architecture

It’s easy to overlook the contrast between the ground floor and upper levels of Halifax’s older buildings. At street level, modern shopfronts dominate our view, but a glance upward reveals a completely different era — one shaped by craftsmanship and architectural pride.

In Boothtown Road, this contrast is especially striking. The slope of the terrain forces our eyes upward, exposing the elegant detailing of the Akroyd tradition that still crowns many façades. Beneath these refined upper stories, modern shopfronts have replaced the original stonework — practical for display and maintenance, yet often jarring against the heritage above.

This evolution tells the story of changing priorities: convenience for the shopkeeper and accessibility for the shopper, but at the cost of aesthetic harmony. In Halifax’s hilly streets, the clash between old and new becomes impossible to ignore — a reminder that progress sometimes leaves beauty behind.

Woodlands Road — From Dutchman Lane to Boothtown’s Heart

The pleasant stretch now known as Woodlands Road leads into the Woodlands housing estate, its name taken from The Woodlands — the grand house that once stood proudly between this road and Bankfield.

Before the estate was built between 1926 and 1930, the area was open fields, and the road itself was a narrow, muddy track known locally as Dutchman Lane. The name came from its proximity to the Flying Dutchman Inn, which stands at the bottom of the hill on the left‑hand side.

Though the landscape has changed and modern houses now line the route, older Boothtown residents still fondly refer to it as Dutchman Lane — a reminder of the area’s rural beginnings and the community that grew from it.

Woodland Tavern - 40 Boothtown Road

Akroydon - Colonel Edward Akroyd. Akroydon Square, an early example of town planning. The architecture of the houses is "domestic Gothic" and the streets are named after English Minster and Cathedral churches. Building began here in March, 1861.

1877 – Victoria Cross, Halifax, Yorkshire

Architect: W. Swinden Barber

Erected at the cost of Col. Akroyd and published in The Building News, May 11th 1877.

Akroyd Park — A Monument to Faith and Loyalty

Just below All Souls’ Church at Haley Hill stands the statue of Colonel Edward Akroyd, a name woven deeply into Halifax’s history. When Col. Akroyd presented Square Park to the Akroydon estate, he also commissioned a striking monument within its grounds — a Victoria Cross, symbolising faith, loyalty, and devotion to Queen Victoria.

The inscription reads: “Erected as a monument of Christian reverence for the emblem of the Cross; and of loyalty to our sovereign lady, Queen Victoria, by Edward Akroyd, founder of Akroydon, 1875. Fear God, Honour the King.” On one side stands a figure of Queen Victoria; on another, an extract from Wordsworth’s Excursion — a reflection of Akroyd’s deep moral and cultural values.

Square Park was officially opened on April 29, 1876, by Mrs. Akroyd, while her husband was travelling in southern Europe. The park cost over £10,000, with the monument itself — designed by Mr. Swindon Barber — adding another £3,000. Originally intended for the residents of Akroydon, the park was later entrusted to the municipal authorities, ensuring its preservation for future generations.

Today, the monument stands not only as a tribute to Queen Victoria but also as a testament to Edward Akroyd’s vision — blending faith, philanthropy, and civic pride into the very fabric of Halifax.

When Col. Akroyd presented the square park to the Akroyden estate, he also had this monument built. It is a Victoria Cross and bears the inscription 'Erected as a monument of Christian reverence for the emblem of the cross; and of loyalty to our sovereign lady, Queen Victoria by Edward Akroyd, the founder of Akroyden 1875. Fear God, Honour the King.' The square park was opened and presented to the residents on Saturday, April 29th. 1876 the ceremony being performed by Mrs Akroyd, in the absence of her husband, who was travelling in the south of Europe. It was estimated that the park cost something over £10,000, and the monument, which was designed by Mr. Swindon Barber, another £3,000.

The square was primarily intended for the use of residents of Akroyden, each house having a key in return for annual subscription, which was devoted to the cost of gardening and upkeep. Eventually, in the early part of the C19th, the park was handed over to municipal authorities.

Building Boothtown and Southowram Methodist Church

Uttley Street

Parmar Restaurant which had been 'Lock, Stock and Barrel' and 'Foggy's'. Before that it was the Lithuanian Club.

Boothtown’s Butlin Playground — A Gift of Joy

Life was full of laughter for local children when this photograph was taken at the Butlin Holiday Campers’ Playing Field, bordering Grantham Road, Boothtown.

The playground was funded through collections at Butlin holiday camps across the country, with proceeds distributed by the National Playing Fields Association. It was officially opened on October 9, 1954, by Lord Luke of Pakenham, marking a proud moment for Halifax families.

In the background stood the newly completed 78‑unit housing scheme, finished earlier that year in April 1954 — a symbol of post‑war renewal and community spirit.

This field became more than a playground; it was a shared space of optimism, built from holiday generosity and local pride, where Boothtown’s children could swing, laugh, and grow together.

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Boothtown County Junior School — A Legacy of Learning

Boothtown County Junior School holds a proud distinction in Halifax’s educational history. Alongside Queen’s Road School (now home to the School of Art), it was among the first schools built by the Halifax School Board, officially opening its doors on July 20, 1874.

The Halifax School Board, founded in 1871 following the Forster Education Act of 1870, marked a turning point — making elementary education compulsory for the first time in Britain. Within just three years, nine Board Schools were built across the district, including Lee Mount, Siddal, Bradshaw, Mixenden, Pellon Lane, Portland Road, and Haugh Shaw.

The first headmaster of Boothtown’s boys’ department was Mr. A. Greenwood, assisted by Mr. J. H. Maude, who later became headmaster himself. The girls’ department was led by Miss Emily Sutcliffe. Together, they oversaw a thriving school community that accommodated 362 boys and 288 girls — a testament to Halifax’s commitment to education and progress.

More than a century later, Boothtown’s legacy endures as a cornerstone of local learning — a reminder of how the town embraced education as the foundation of opportunity.

Martin Street

St. Peters Street

Mill Lane