The changing face of Bradford Road
THIS week's featured photographs are probably some of the most recent I have shown for quite some years and reflect the changing face of 1970s' Bradford Road.
For those traders who were around 35 years ago it must have been their every nightmare come all at once – with the town centre in turmoil and trying to run their businesses and customers attempting to make their way through a town that was different every time they ventured out.
Looking at the first photograph where the buildings are standing – I am sure many readers will remember the view as vividly as I can – the single-storey building standing at the junction with Martin Street has certainly seen some history over the last hundred years.
It was at the bottom of Martin Street where the police stood in May 1882, linked arm in arm to ward off the rampaging mob who were hell bent on burning down the Catholic Church at the top of Martin Street.
These were difficult times in our local history – particularly after the news of the assassination of Lord Frederick Cavendish MP in Phoenix Park, Dublin, found its way to Brighouse. Lord Cavendish was the MP for the part of the West Riding that included Brighouse.
The police held the day and other than all the windows being smashed, church was not set alight. Father Morgan had removed all the altar cloths and valuables for safe keeping, but was pleased to return them when the local problem had subsided.
The single-storey buildings many readers will recall housed the Bendix Laundrette, the first laundrette in Brighouse. In more recent times it was the greengrocer's. Now was it owned by Mr Hall, who later had his shop at the end of King Street, where the taxi office is now?
But going back 100 years, the shop on the corner of Martin Street was owned by the Liverpool Fresh Meat Company and one of its butcher's shops was there. Next door was Sutcliffe's gramophone shop and then the third shop in the row was Leach and Co, photographers. Many years later some may remember the days of the Orthochrome Photographers in this shop.
The house next door was occupied by William Womersley – here I claim William as a relative of mine. He was a farmer and had a number of horses, which he had at the back of the Oddfellows Hall.
The Oddfellows Hall, number 37 Bradford Road was opened in 1850 and was the first available venue for a concert. Even the great Miss Susan Sykes, who later became Mrs Sunderland, the Yorkshire Queen of Song, when singing in her home town had to either sing in church or in the upstairs room of large Victorian pubs. For many years it was the home of Brighouse and Rastrick Band and where summer evening band concerts were held if the concert had been rained off in Wellholme Park.
On the ground floor of the hall was number 39 which was Marsden's Homoeopathic Stores which also doubled up as the town nuisance inspector's offices and then at 41 was Briggs and Co newsagents and stationers.
Prior to all this property being demolished to make way for the new town centre bypass the ground floor of the Oddfellows Hall was R. S.
Bainbridge's newsagents, who when the demolition men finally moved in, the shop moved about 100 yards away on the other side of the new bypass.
Looking at the photograph showing the new bypass under construction, you can see Blakeborough's Club on the left which is the building with the flagpole on its frontage. During the 1882 problems this building was the Brighouse and Rastrick Liberal Club. There is a gap then across the road to the back of the Co-op with a number of small streets having been swept aside. Who can remember Hangram Street, Water Street and Dale Street?
This new bypass was generally criticised by many people at the time as being a waste of money – "Why do we need one?" Looking back now can you possibly imagine what the town would have been like if the bypass had been left on the drawing board?
Today the town centre is choked now at the best of times, and is basically a one-way system all the way round. At times there isn't anywhere to park.
The third photograph was taken a matter of just a few hours before the Oddfellows Hall was demolished reminding us of the occupants of 37 Bradford Road.
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Weather for Halifax
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -2 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light snow
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
