... Calverley

Calverley Old Hall


or High res' version 73k

Calverley Old Hall considered one of the best preserved mediaeval manor houses in West Yorkshire. After the Calverley family moved to Esholt Hall in the late 17"' century the old hall was divided into cottages so escaping any Georgian or Victorian `modernisation'.

 The oldest part is the Solar (with the gable end to the camera) which dendrochronology dates from around 1380. It was originally timber framed, later being encased in stone.The Great Hall (to the right of the Solar) was built later, dated around 1485, replacing a former, narrower, Hall and Chapel (which can just be seen on the left of the photograph). There was a private gallery for the family accessed from the Solar. In 1981 the whole property was bought by the Landmark Trust who halted its deterioration.

St.Wilfrid's


or High res' version 74k

 This view of St.Wilfrid's, Calverley's Parish Church shows
the chancel after restoration in 1844. It had to be almost completely rebuilt 25 years later due to faults caused by the slope of the ground and had workmanship. The glass in the east window is one of the church's greatest treasures. After numerous earlier attempted repairs and a complete removal for safety during World War II, it had to be taken down and comprehensively restored inYork in 1992. The considerable cost of the work was met by an appeal to the whole village. The glass is now a wonderful kaleidoscope of colour with fragments from at least six former windows in the church and dating from about 1340 into the following century.

The Thornhill Arms


or High res' version 69k

The Thornhill Arms, at the corner of Blackett Street and Town Gate,
is Calverley's oldest inn. Inside is a datestone inscribed' 1673 WC',
 the latter being the initials of Calverley's Lord of the Manor, Walter Calverley The Cuttell family were landlords for a number of generations, to be followed by the Spence family.
Until 1834 the hostelry was known as The Leopard but in that year
it was rebuilt and the name changed to The Thornhill Arms,
the Thornhills having acquired the manor from the Calverley family

The inn has traditionally been used for gatherings such as the Calverley Church Bellringers' dinners, and meetings of the Ancient Order of Shepherds' Friendly Society. In the 1870s, under Joseph Woodhead,
it was advertised as having good facilities for'pic-nics'
with'water-cresses grown on the premises' and 'pleasure gardens complete with a croquet lawn'.

Town Gate and the Post Office


or High res' version 70k

Situated on Town Gate, the first Post Office from 1840 to 1909 was part of a group of six cottages in what was then the centre of the village. Mr Benjamin Rushforth was the sub-Postmaster and when he retired in 1930 he and his family had served the village for 70 years. It was from here that postcards could be sent to a local relative informing them of an intended visit in the afternoon of the same day, knowing that the card would be delivered before your arrival, all for the princely sum of a ha'penny. Post could also be collected from here on a Sunday morning.

All the cottages were demolished just before the start of the First World War, though the remains lingered for many years until the
Town Wells gardens were made.

Carr Road corner


or High res' version 71k

A magnificent example of Georgian architecture can be found on Carr Road. It stands foursquare on the sweeping and potentially dangerous bend by the Parish Church. Part of this large pair of splendid early semi-detached residences was once a farm with outbuildings, the other part being used by the Church. It is possible that they were first owned by the Calverley family, and subsequently by the Thornhills. Notice the sash windows to the front with several side windows having been blocked up, and the identical central doorways.

Woodhall Road


or High res' version 67k

This is man on a cycle is at the junction of Woodhall Road and
Thornhill Street in Calverley. For some time this image was on
our website but we did not know the location, then an email
arrived with an answer to our "mystery", the solution became more
interesting than the question... read on

Lydgate Mills from the air


or High res' version 79k

This aerial photo shows Lydgate Mills' 120 foot high
chimney and the mill complex behind. This impressive chimney was demolished, along with the mill in December 1976.

For at least a period of 700 years village life in Calverley had been intimately bound up with the production of woollen cloths and in 1265 Calverley was already noted for being a centre for the fulling of woollens. Sadly all four of the local mills had, for a variety of economic reasons, ceased production in the 20 years preceding 1976.

The Toll Bar


or High res' version 69k

 In this interesting picture a well-dressed family pass through the Toll Bar for Calverley Old Bridge, after paying the allotted fee at the lean-to `office' built on to the Bar Keeper's cottage. Just above the lean-to can be seen the tariff board displaying all the different rates payable before you were allowed to use the road. Additional costs were a serious business for some — the toll charge added four old pennies to the cost of each ton of coal for Holly Park Mills.

The Needles Eye


or High res' version 72k

 The Needles Eye, also known as Apperley Lodge and Thornhill Lodge, was the most impressive of the lodges providing a grand entrance to the proposed estate of private villas. The Cutting was properly called Honoria Drive and linked Calverley to Apperley Bridge. Local people remembered how the caretakers would warn trespassers not
to enter the private woodland.

It was condemned on health and safety grounds and demolished in 1965/6 despite many villagers petitioning against it.

A cow in Calverley Cutting


or High res' version 64k

Calverley Cutting was created in 1856 by the Thornhill family to replace the old packhorse track through Calverley to Apperley Bridge. This ancient way wound through the woods which the Thornhill family intended to develop with superior villas — it therefore had to go despite
objections being made at a public meeting. The remains can still
be traced in Calverley Woods.

The replacement 'Cutting' was well named as it cut through solid rock before dropping very steeply down into the valley. Complaints were
made that 'it was almost impossible for a weakly person to ascend' whereas the old winding way through the woods 'was pleasant and
 had some of the finest prospects in Yorkshire'.