... Farsley past and present

Town Street, Farsley
about 1900

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In the centre of the picture, set against the sky, is the tower of the parish church of St John the Evangelist which was consecrated in 1843. To the right can be seen an outsize top hat which was the sign on the shop of C.Lee and Sons, Merchant Tailors, Hatters and Costumiers.
The small shop to the right, with the bow-window, is reputed to be the building where Samuel Marsden was born on the 28th July 1764. The Revd Marsden must surely be one of Farsley's most famous sons, for it was he who brought back the first bale of Australian wool to England, an act of farsightedness that created one of the world's wealthiest trades.

Charlie the fire engine
mid 1920s

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Farsley firemen and their engine "Charlie" in Town Street, Farsley. The engine, based on a "Model T" Ford, was nicknamed after Alderman Charles Threapleton who was instrumental in it's purchase. The fire superintendent in the silver helmet is Willie Jeffrey, the driver is Jack Coulter and the fireman is Joe Fenton.
The building in the background is the Wesleyan Chapel, built in 1866, which for the last 40 years has been a School of Dancing run by Mrs Porritt.

Lower Town Street
early 1900's

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This view looking north at the lower end of Town Street shows how much interest a photographer could excite in local children at the turn of the century.
Behind the horse and cart can be seen the end of a street, this was Paradise Street, yet what is in a name for it was made up of such "mean and poor houses" that today we would consider it a total misuse of the word. Beyond this street is a small building at the entrance to Sunnybank Mill established in 1832. Next door, in the centre of the picture, is a building that contained two public houses, "The Rose and Crown" and "The Commercial".

First World War Tank
about 1920

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A British Tank from the 1914-18 World War was brought to Farsley as a "memento" about 1920. It was placed in front of the Council Offices at bottom of Town Street. This photograph of the tank being placed in position was taken by local artist Jack Calvert when he was a boy.

Bagley Lane, Farsley
about 1900

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Bagley Lane is at the north end of Farsley and leads to Rodley, when this photograph was taken it was a very industrialised area of Farsley being in the centre of a number of large mills, one of the largest of these, Springfield Mill built by Reuben Gaunt in 1864 is just behind the houses on the left of the picture.
The large building on the right of the picture was the first chapel in Farsley, the Baptist Chapel (Rehoboth). This chapel is part of a long tradition of Baptist ministry in Farsley, stretching back to the 1770s. The chapel is now used as business premises.

Middle Town Street, Farsley
about 1900

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The tall buildings in the centre of the picture - 4 storey to Town Street and 2 storey to rear - are of early 19th century or late 18th century origin and were handloom weaving buildings. Around 1900 the road was lowered allowing the cellars opening onto the street to be made into shops
Lower down on the right hand side is the Bay Horse, previously called the Bay Mare, where in 1832 a plot for the attack on one James Benson and his sister was hatched. The two Bensons worked in the top storey of one of these buildings. The Clothiers' Union had declared a strike but the Bensons had continued at work and were declared "Black Sheep". On their way home on 5th December they were attacked by 30 strikers and stoned. James was killed but fortunately his sister escaped. No one was apprehended.

Harvest time at Wood Nook Farm
about 1960

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This attractive photograph was taken for publication in the local newspaper "The Pudsey Times".
Wood Nook Farm was located on the southern edge of Farsley and remained a working farm until around 1990, when this very rural way of life eventually gave way to pressure from a hypermarket complex and other development close by.
Photograph reproduced by courtesy of Ackrill Newspapers Ltd

Sutcliffe's shop, Farsley
circa 1921

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Hiram Sutcliffe stands in the doorway of the greengrocer's shop in Town Street, in his arms is baby Sydney who was his grandson. He began his business with a horse and cart, but the family now have two shops in the village. Sydney's father was Raymond who ran the shop for many years.

Middle Town Street, Farsley
present day

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This rather surreal image of Farsley as storm clouds gather was taken from a similar position to the 1900 photograph above.
In the course of a hundred years many things have change, not all for the better. It is interesting to note that the road works in the foreground are the installation of the cable television system for the area, it appears that the 21st century in knocking on Farsley's door.

Farsley from the air
around 1932

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This early aerial view of central Farsley clearly shows Town Street running diagonally across the picture, from the Church on the left to the Council Offices on the top right. A major feature in the centre of the photo is Sunnybank Mill (later called Woodhouse Mill) which was established in 1832.
The open countryside to the north continues to Rodley and the Township of Calverley.