Shepley

The Sovereign Inn

Formerly "The Royal Sovereign Inn" this was the site of Seth Senior's brewery, established in 1829. Seth was a stone mason and lived in one of the cottages in the block now forming the inn. He was said to have established the business, in his own cottage at first, with a single gold sovereign he had borrowed. The resulting beers were called "Sovereign Ales" and were awarded many prizes through the years. Another brew was known as " Senior's Stingo". The cask beers were delivered by horse and dray. Later the brewery was moved a short distance to Piper Wells, just off the Holmfirth road, as it expanded, and Seth's sons, Reuben and James, joined the business and were gradually taken into partnership. Eventually, the brewery owned 134 public houses in the area, including "The Farmer's Boy" in Shepley. The company also owned its own gasworks, maltings, bore hole for its water supply and its own railway siding. After Reuben's death, his sons Henry and Thomas

became partners. The Senior family built Cliffe House (see later) in the village and owned a shooting lodge and acres of moorland. In 1929 the famous "Sovereign Anthem" was written to celebrate the brewery's centenary, and the much praised "Century Ales" produced, at which time the Roebuck family were tenants at "The Sovereign". In November 1946 the brewery was taken over by Hammonds Brewery of Lockwood. At that time it had 99 tied public houses. This ended the connection between the Senior family and Shepley, although Seth and other members of the family are buried in Upper Cumberworth churchyard.

A stone carving of a man's face can be found on the eastern gable of the inn. App

arently, it is an old Yorkshire tradition to commemorate any builder killed during construction in this way.

The inn is also said to be haunted by two ghosts - a white lady said to be Elizabeth Smith, mother of Sarah Jane Roebuck, a lady well respected for her benevolence during her lifetime. Sarah Jane was the last Roebuck to live at "The Sovereign". The other ghost is said to be that of a drunken customer who fell down the cellar steps and broke his neck in 1965, having mistaken the door for the one leading to the bar.

In April 1866 an accident occurred at Seth Senior's brewery nearby when Matthew Booth, a brewer and long time employee, climbed a ladder to put a strap on an engine drive. His apron caught around the shaft pulling him in. His clothing was badly torn but he managed to escape with his life. He was taken home and attended by Mr Whitehead, surgeon. He suffered a cut to his forehead, a broken right arm and bruised ribs.

Two dramatic incidents involving the pub took place in November 1864. On the 10th an employee of the brewery, a middle aged man named Allen Hirst was accidentally thrown from his cart and died two days later of his injuries. Then, just a few days later, a frenzied attempt was made on the life of the owner, Mr Seth Senior, by a disgruntled man named Alfred Ives. Two years previously Mr Senior had employed Ives during harvest time, but, not being satisfied with his work, had dismissed him. There followed a dispute about wages, with Mr Senior refusing to pay, and Ives had borne a grudge ever since. Seeing Mr Senior at the inn, Ives suddenly grabbed a knife and tried to stab him. There was much commotion and someone managed to knock the knife from Ives' hand with a poker. Ives then produced a second knife and made a further attempt to stab Senior. Ives was again disarmed and restrained until P.C. Chappell arrived to convey him to the Skelmanthorpe lock-up. Ives continued to issue threats against Senior as he left.

The Signal Box House

One day in 1991, quite unexpectedly, on a train journey from Huddersfield along the

Penistone Line, then architect David Gillooley spotted an empty signal box by the side of the line and instantly fell in love with it. Soon afterwards he made enquiries about who owned it and if he might buy it. Several societies for railway enthusiasts were also making enquiries, but Mr Gillooley won out and succeeded in buying the box from British Rail with a view to converting it into living accommodation. He created an access way to it from Copley Lane, which runs between Shepley and Shelley, and began work on converting it. However, to his horror, he turned up to work on it one day only to find the whole top floor burnt out, the victim of an arson attack. Undaunted, he determined to reconstruct it, consulting the National Railway Museum in York for advice on exactly how the signal boxes were originally constructed. This he did, creating a three bedroomed house in the process and converting an area once used as a siding into the property's garden. The date he moved in proved quite ironic - 5th November 1994 - bonfire night!! This converted signal box house is one of only two in the whole of the UK, the other being in Wales. It has since changed hands.

Reverend Ben Swift Chambers

Credited with founding both Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs, Ben Chambers was born in humble enough circumstances in a weaver's cottage in Stocksmoor on 30th August 1845. His parents were Joah and Maria Chambers, and although Joah was working in the textile industry at this time, like so many others, it was not long before he became schoolmaster of the British and Foreign Schools Society's school (which had been built in 1834 and was situated next to the Methodist chapel) in Shepley, with his wife as schoolmistress. The family had moved to live in the school house by 1851. Ben had two younger sisters by now, Martha and Sarah. Ben attended the Methodist New Connexion chapel in Shepley and as a young man taught in the Sunday School there. After that he was apprenticed to an engraver in Huddersfield and did well, even being offered a partnership in the firm, but he turned this down in favour of training as a Methodist Minister and between 1867 and 1869 trained at the Methodist College. Once qualified, he took up posts at Ashton followed by Stockport, Halifax, Barrow and Gateshead. It must have been because he was in post at Halifax that he married Elizabeth Holden there on 9th June 1873, although she is always recorded as being a Shepley lass. Then came Ben's portentous appointment as circuit superintendent and minister of St. Domingo's chapel in Everton, where he was to stay for the next nine years.

At Everton Ben encouraged the young men who attended the Bible Class to set up a cricket club which they did with some enthusiasm in 1878, cricket being the major sport in those days. He seems to have joined in himself at times. Just to keep fit and for something to do in the winter months, the members kicked a football about, soon forming a team and competing in a league. The team improved so much and competed so well that they began to attract players from other teams and so had to change their name from St. Domingo's football club to Everton F.C. in 1879. By 1884 they had moved to a new stadium in Anfield Road and continued to improve, so much so that they were champions of the Football League in 1891, an excellent achievement.

Then came the split! The following year the club's landlord and president, John Houlding, increased the rent on the Anfield stadium so much that most of the committee, headed by St. Domingo's organist, George Mahon, rebelled. Houlding expelled them with the intention of running the Everton club there himself. However, the expelled members appealed, claiming that the name 'Everton F.C.' belonged to them, and their appeal was upheld. From then on the Anfield club was known as Liverpool F.C., whilst the expelled group moved to the Walton area as Everton F.C. and built their new ground, Goodison Park. Throughout this time Ben Swift Chambers remained minister of St. Domingo's, no doubt retaining an interest in both clubs. In 1894, however, he was posted to Headingley cum Burley in Leeds where he lived on Shaw Lane with his wife and three daughters, Maud, Minnie and Dora, who had all been born during his spell at Liverpool, retiring and eventually dying there on November 28th 1901, aged only 56.

In 2008, as a result of author Peter Lupson's investigations into the religious origins of some of our top football clubs, the Reverend Ben Swift Chambers was recognised by both Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs as their founder. On 2nd July 2008, after a ceremony honouring him at Shepley Methodist Chapel, representatives of both clubs walked in procession to Shepley Methodist New Connexion Chapel's graveyard, which still exists off Church Close, although the actual chapel does not. Here they gathered around Ben Chambers grave, which had been restored at the expense of both clubs, for a re-dedication ceremony to honour their founder.

Mr Lupson's researches ultimately led to the publication of his book "Thank God for Football". Ben Chamber's obituary given at the 1902 New Connexion Conference describes him as an affectionate, kindly, happy and noble man with a winning personality.

Shepley Old Hall

The curious thing about the Old Hall on Station Road is the date inscribed on the lintel over its entrance porch. It appears to

say that the Hall was built in 1008. This would be a mistake, however, because the Hall was actually built in 1608 by Mr

Robert Hepworth on the site of an earlier building. The second digit has obviously worn away over time. Inside the Hall is decorated with fleur de lys, white roses, a mermaid and merman. Legend has it that the Hall is connected by underground passage to a house on the other side of Shepley.

The Green Moor Seat

This seat for weary walkers on the corner of The Knowle, close to the Kirklees Way, was erected to mark the millennium just gone and so concentrates on the textile industry which dominated this area and provided most of the population with jobs. It was created by local sculptor David Bradbury.

Toll Bar Cottage

A toll gate once existed here on the turnpike road (now A629 Penistone Road) between Shepley and Lane Head. The road was originally constructed under the

direction of "Blind Jack" of Knaresborough in 1825. Tolls were levied at the toll bar cottage until their abolition on 1st August 1875.

Cliffe House

Opposite the toll bar cottage lies the entrance to Cliffe House, built in 1889 by Seth Senior's son, James, at a cost of £15,000. Seth is famous as the founder of the Sovereign Brewery (see above) and James managed the brewery at this time. Dewsbury Town Council bought the Victorian mansion in 1947 as an educational and recreational facility for the town's children. It provided a retreat for them, country air and scenery, and a break from the relentless smoke and grime of the town. About 30 children could be accommodated for a two week break, and they seem to have considered it a palace, being used to the workers' cottages where they usually lived. There was a vegetable garden, lawns and flowerbeds, inside toilets, which they were not used to, and a ballroom where concerts were performed by the children at times. In 1974 the new Kirklees Council took over the house and since then over 90 primary schools in Kirklees have taken advantage of courses there.

Millennium Gate

An elaborate metalwork field gate on Jenkyn Lane to mark the millennium.

It had previously been somewhat dilapidated so funding for millennium projects enabled it to be enhanced and improved.

Shepley Higglers

According to the 1896 edition of "The Master Tailor and Cutters' Gazette" Shepley was at that time "the richest village in England - a tailor's paradise". Indeed, the 1901 Census reveals that there were then 16 tailors in Shepley most employing between 8 and 10 girls to sew the suits they made as well as cutters to cut out the patterns for them. A tailor's house was usually sizeable and generally had a

workshop attached, or very close by, where the suits were actually made. Such houses still exist in Shepley and one is shown here. Higgler names included Haywood, Holden, Smith, Goldthorpe and Broadbent. Higgler villas still in existence in the village include Grove House, Lorne House, Osborne House, Garfield, Rockleigh, Ferndale, Marsh House and Albert House. Most were built in the late 19th Century and had carriage drives, and attractive gardens. To get orders the tailors or one of their employees began to travel to outlying areas, perhaps by pack horse or pony and trap to start with, but as soon as Shepley station opened, around 1850, they travelled to other places by train along the Penistone line. These travelling salesmen were known as "higglers". They carried with them a small suitcase containing cloth samples, a tape measure, notebook and pencil in order to measure their clients in their own homes and bring back orders for tailored suits. The client would probably be able to try on the suit for a more accurate fitting before final delivery. No doubt the higglers also collected deposits, interim and final payments. In fact they set up the country's first system of purchasing goods "on tick" and payment in installments. This meant they were visiting the same localities time after time and gathering new orders as well, as their clients told friends and neighbours all about it. Parcels of clothing were dispatched each day from Shepley railway station.

One or two incidents are reported in the newspapers of the day reminding us of the very real existence of the tailors and higglers of Shepley and Shelley. In September 1873 Joseph Stephenson, higgler of Shepley, appeared at the Police Court charged with assaulting his sister in law, Ada Denton. He had married her sister but she had died about a year previously. Since then Stephenson had pursued Miss Denton romantically, trying to kiss her on several occasions, and saying he wanted to marry her. Miss Denton had rejected all of his advances. On this occasion he had caught hold of her arm and walked with her for some distance. The court ordered Stephenson to find sureties to keep the peace.

In April 1873, also at the police court, John Beaver, 19, was charged with absenting himself from his master's service without his master's consent. His master was John Burley, master tailor of Shepley. Burley no longer had a shop but worked as a cutter-out for Mr Holden who paid him a salary. Burley's apprentice was included in the arrangements and Burley paid him. The court ordered Beaver to return to his work and pay the costs. A similar case occurred in May 1876 when William Addy ran away from his master, Joshua Smith, tailor of Shepley.

Dungeon Well

For hundreds of years this was the main source of water for the growing village, but later, in the early 19th century, it seems to have been used as a one man lockup for emergency use, one supposes. At various times there were other police houses in the village on Lane Head Road and also at Cliffe Top near Cliffe House. This latter seems to have served as a small police station.