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Around Gildersome

Branch End & Town St.

Turton Hall & College Rd

The Green & Finkle Ln.

Town End, Harthill & Bottoms

Street Lane and The Street

Gelderd Rd & Railway

Odds & Ends

Church Street  to Moor Head                                                                                ©  17/07/19 by Charles Soderlund                                  

Springfield House:

Springfield House from the air. A portion of Springfield Mill can be seen on the right edge.

Major's Farm:

Joshua Greathead's House on Church Street otherwise known as Major's house and farm, the farm extended to Farnley Wood Beck and contained Majors Wood, This photo was taken before 1900, after that, the old house was demolished and later a new house was built that fronts along Church St., approximately where the constable is standing. Still in existence, the new house is called Church Farm House.

St. Peter's Church:

The first St. Peter's after its destruction by fire.

Another view from Church St.

Inside the 2nd Church.

Circa 1980 courtesy of Mark Brier

The Old Church School

The Earl of Cardigan's Coat of Arms on the Old Church School

St. Peter's Parish Church. Above was the 2nd Church built on the same spot in 1873 as the original that was built in 1777.  It was demolished  during the 1980s due to structural damage. The original was destroyed by fire.  (The top photo courtesy of Margaret and Alan Kirk) 

There are only two photos of the original St. Peters known to exist and both were shot soon after it was destroyed. It was built in 1787 and consumed  by fire in 1873 (see: above). Recently, and fortunately, I was contacted by Ms Gillian Magee, she sent me the images of two 1867 drawings of the old church, below. They were found in her Great Aunt’s belongings in the York area. She's not sure what the family connection is or why they were in her aunt's possession.

Poplar House, Rock House and Spring View (left to right ):

Spring View, Rock House and Poplar House (right to left)    Courtesy of Gildersome Past, Present & Future.

Spring Avenue, probably taken circa 1935:

The "New" Church School:

St Peter's "New" Church School, demolished in 1984. The new school was built on the site of the Bolton Hargraves Charity cottages and out of sight, behind the school, sat the Bolton Hargraves Charity school founded in the 1760s. The first gate on the left of the photo leads to Spring View House whose corner is just visible.  The building at the road's vanishing point is Mt Pleasant and the man on the right is standing at the boundary of Major Greathead's Farm and the New Inn Property.

The chimney on the right is the B. Hargraves school.

The New Inn (before Art Deco):

Andrew Hill Farm:

Andrew Hill Farm: Located across from Moorfield House and the Baptist Chapel. An old barn at the entrance of the Farm and Annie Pratt nểe Hemingway stands before the farm house.     (courtesy of Alan Pratt of GPP&F)

Moorfield House:

Gildersome Baptist Church:

The Baptist Church at Gildersome is one of the oldest Baptist Churches in the country. Baptist assemblies were held at Gildersome as early as 1663 and in 1706 land was purchased on which a small chapel was erected in 1707. In 1749, a new chapel, shown above, was constructed to accommodate the area's burgeoning congregation.

The Old Chapel

Above are three illustrations of Gildersome's Baptist Church are taken from the pages of the "History of the Baptist Church at Gildersome" and depict the evolution of the church as it was originally built in 1749 (Old Church) and after it was rebuilt in 1866. The Memorial Hall was used as a Sunday school known as the British school. The interior shot was taken in 1868 upon the occasion of the completed installation of the pipe organ by Joseph Booth (1769-1832) renowned organ-builder of Wakefield, Yorkshire.

Ancient Cottages:

Church St Cottages. I'm not certain, but I believe these cottages were located at today's 66 Church St.

 Metcalfe's, or the Westend Stores:

Circa 1950s

Present site, the wall remains.

Mount Pleasant:

Scott Green:

Scott Green Farm, at or near the site of Ashwood Parade Shops.

Aerial view of Scott Green. Scott Green Farm is near the centre of the photo.

Houses recently constructed at Scott Green (circa 1930). Looking in the direction of Church Street. Mt Pleasant can be seen in the distance on the right. The drive to Scott Green Farm can just be seen on the right.

Gildersome Lane:

Looking toward Farnley on Gildersome Lane. Some of Booth's Moorhead Mill is just visible in the distance on the right. 

Royal Oak: 

Royal Oak. Some believe that the building in the photo on the right to have been of great antiquity. 

Barker Hill Farm. Technically in Drighlington.

Moorhead Mill:

Two aerial shots of Booth's Moor Head Mill.

Cockersdale:

​"Take your Girlie where the Bans is playing Tyrrells Berry Gardens again. Don't go to the seaside, the weather is too cold and changeable. Save expense and come to:Tyrrells Berry Gardens Cockersdale DrighlingtonYou will be sure to enjoy yourselves. The best place for a Good Tea. Resfreshments, Meat Sandwiches, Pies Buns etc. Try us. WE OPEN FOR THE SEASON ON GOOD FRIDAY.ON EASTER MONDAY AND TUESDAY A BAND OF MUSIC, engaged for selections and dancing - afternoon and evening (weather permitting) Come early. Bring the children, they love to come. Come in thousands, we can supply you all. Good Shelter. Pleasure Boat, swngs and Ranty. Admission one penny on these two days to meet the expenses of the Band. Free when no band. Remember Tyrrell's Gardens. the Berry Gardens are the MIDDLE GARDENS. Ask for the Boat, and you will be right."