Ramble No. 5

The approach of winter put a stop to our rambles on the slopes of Liversedge, and we might truly exclaim:

“How strangely changed is the scene,
Since summer’s pride the earth did crown,
The green has lost its lively hue,
And flowery tribes bid us adieu.

Trees have their leafy garments lost,
Now stripped, to storms they stand exposed,
A wintry form of nakedness,
Begins the whole to overspread.

Our silent walks cease to afford,
The shady pleasures they did yield,
The sun makes shorter visits here,
And nights in longer robes appear.”

Truly this has been the case, but the severity of the winter is now giving place to more genial weather, which tempted us, on Saturday the 4th of March (1871) to resume our rambles. The dryness of the roads, and an April-like sunny afternoon, with a soft, warm south-west wind rendered our walk agreeable, and even refreshing.

Proceeding in the direction of Hightown, anciently termed Long Liversedge, we passed what is generally known as Lawford’s factory, now occupied as a worsted mill. It was erected by the Lawford family (upwards of two hundred years residents in Liversedge) for the manufacture of blankets and heavy woollens, such as serges and baizes, where a large business was carried on, when manufacturing in this valley was almost in its infancy in comparison with the present time. It has been somewhat an unfortunate building, having been burnt down twice.

Crossing the Cleckheaton branch of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, opened in 1848, we soon arrived at the summit of Knoller Hill, and the day being very clear, had a splendid view of the surrounding country. In the hollow before us Millbridge, and stretching further, the town of Heckmondwike, with the slopes of Dewsbury Moor in the distance – the district dotted with mansions, mills, places of religious worship, etc., the whole forming a delightful scene; indeed on every side there is much to interest those who are fond of country rambles.

The Rawfolds and District Water Supply Company are now busy laying pipes to supply this portion of Liversedge with water from the Bradford Waterworks. The Millbridge Water Company supply that neighbourhood from Heckmondwike Waterworks. These companies are in shares, and when in full operation, Liversedge will have the privilege of enjoying what is so necessary for the health and comfort of its inhabitants, as well as for the prosperity of its manufacturers. Though this is a step in the right direction, it would be better for the interests of the whole township had it a governing body, say in the shape of a Board of Health, to supply it with water, gas, etc., so that the pecuniary benefits might be shared by the whole of the ratepayers. It is a thriving township and needs an enlarged governing body.

At the top of Knoller Hill is the Town’s School, an ancient looking building, with the remains of a sun dial (now useless) over its antique doorway, and upon which was probably the date of the erection of the school; but the perishable nature of the stone has caused it and the numerals of the sun dial to be obliterated. It was erected from the bequest of one of the Farrer family. A slab in the interior has upon it the following inscription: “This room was repaired and fitted up for a national school for girls in 1835 by the Rev. Hammond Roberson, aided by a grant from the National Society.” As a school it is disused, but for parochial business, such as paying the poor and for the towns’ meetings it is very useful. On the opposite side of the road is a lofty and capacious building, the inscription in front being “National School, erected Anno Domini, MDCCCXVIIJ.” It appears well adapted for school purposes, is heated with hot water and has a good play ground and gymnasium.

Advancing up the Halifax and Wakefield turnpike road, a portion of which was formed by Mr. John Metcalf (commonly known as blind Jack, of Knaresboro’), we passed College Buildings, erected in 1860 upon the site of the old Tithe Barn, and soon arrived at Lower Hall, formally the residence of one of the Greens, a family of distinction and of wealth in Liversedge. It is a large gothic looking building, with three gables and projecting porch in the front, and must have been a very conspicuous landmark when erected. The owner seems to have had an idea that his name and date of erection should descent to posterity, for we find the initials and date in no less than three places on the front, the overhead spout dated 1660. The spout is rather ornamental and collared by clasps, with the Tudor rose upon them. The porch projects from the building, has an open outer doorway and stone seats within. The inner door is very fine and massive, with projected headed nails, giving it an appearance of great security. The porch is surmounted by some ornamental stone work with the initials W M G, 1660, and has also a sun dial dated 1660 and initials W G. The stone of the latter is of fragile nature, rendering the sun dial now useless – in fact, nearly the whole building has, from the same cause, to be what is termed hebble dashed, or rough casted.

The owner must have been a gentleman of considerable taste, judging from the interior decorations. The rooms are divided by panelled oak wainscoting, in beautiful condition and preservation. What would be the best room or parlour has some fine panelling round it, being more elaborate and ornamental over the fireplace. The door leading out of it into the other rooms is of a gothic shape, and projects something like a small porch. The top of the room is thrown into four panels of plasterwork, and the side of the balks corniced. Each panel has a diamond shaped centre, ornamented with vine leaves and fruit, executed in a truly artistic style. The hall body is a capacious apartment, and with diamond shaped flags common to the period. The bedrooms are divided by panelling, one of which has some fine plasterwork on the ceiling, consisting of a variety of figures, such as martlets and lions, with the royal arms, the whole entwined with vine leaves and fruit, forming quite a study for the antiquarian.

The bedroom over the whole body possesses the most interest, indeed it is quite a gem in its way. The top of the room is divided into four panels of plaster work, with the usual accompaniment of vine leaves and fruit, and were it not from the frequent whitewashing the style would have been better seen and described. The sides of the room are panelled, surmounted by a cornice. The panelling is divided two compartments, each containing about twenty distinct pointed panels. The upper row has upon each panel a painting, some of which represent costly houses, trees, human figures and a variety of other scenes, which need more investigation than I had time for in this ramble; this may be referred to at another time. The lower row ones were only grained.

The windows of the hall are mullioned and contain a variety of leaded and diamond shaped glass, and the garden in front is entered by an ancient gateway and the walls surmounted by massive stone copings. The barn, like the hall, is built of poor stone, but presents the character common to such buildings of former times. It has an ancient doorway, with a very curious wooden thatch nearly in the centre of it, and a lock something like eighteen inches in length, which my informant told me, had a key to open it as large as a small crowbar. The house, standing as it does upon one of the slopes, would be a very pleasant residence in the olden time.

Near the entrance to Lower Hall are the remains of the town’s stocks, this mode of punishment now obsolete, at least in this part of the country. The older inhabitants will remember when they were graced by the legs of Ben Firth, alias Sinbad, and John Sheard, alias Jock, but I would recommend their removal and preservation as articles of virtu to the town’s school; and if other ancient articles of punishment, such as the ducking stool for scolding wives can be found by some Monkbarn, who is fond of picking up such relics, be coupled with the, as a warning to the rising generation of ancient Liversedge.