Ramble No. 7

We resumed our rambles on Saturday afternoon, July 22nd (1871), passing on the footpath leading from Heckmondwike by way of Healds Hall to Littletown, and from which you have one of the best views of Liversedge Church topping the neighbouring hill, the landscape here and there dotted with clusters of trees and the sunshine occasionally bursting through the fleecy clouds, produced a very pleasing and picturesque effect.

Rapidly passing up Hightown, we found this portion of ancient Liversedge gradually assuming a more modern aspect, many dwellings, more suited to the requirements of the times, having been erected in it during the last few years.

At the head of Quaker Lane, a path leading from Hightown to Cleckheaton, we found on the road side the remains of a cross, the true origin of which we were unable to ascertain, even from that venerable individual “the oldest inhabitant.” It really is very surprising how little you can learn of the history of a place nowadays from those, as the saying is, who are born and bred in it, and it would require the patience of a more persevering Monkbarns than myself to ferret out the past history of antiquarian remains. The base of the cross is sunk in the ground, and upon it, what I should say, is the top part only of the shaft of the cross. One individual hazarded the opinion that the cross was to mark the spot where two lords lands met; another to commemorate a man selling his wife on the spot; another it was a place where a hawker could sell his goods without a licence or fear of the exciseman; and another that it was a relic of the Roman Catholics; the latter opinion seems to me the most probable. Be the origin of this cross what it may, we do know from history that at an early period, after the introduction of Christianity into Britain, crosses were erected on the site of memorable events, and where the clergy and people assembled for purposes of devotion and even celebration of the holy communion; and it is within the bounds of possibility to assert that this is the true origin of the cross at the head of Quaker Lane.

We next visited the Heights, where the first Wesleyan chapel was erected, and which is now converted into cottages, the property of Thomas Jackson, Esq. After the erection, in 1827, of the new chapel, a little lower down, and which has been improved and beautified, it was used as a day and Sunday school. Two of the masters were still well remembered, namely Messrs. Hargreaves and Knowles. The old chapel at the Heights was erected, I believe, in 1774, and in the autobiography of Thomas Wright – a work of great historical interest touching the manners, customs and religion of the people of this part of Yorkshire during the last century – my readers will find a most amusing record of a journey Mr. Wright made in 1773, accompanied by Mr. Joseph Jackson, a currier of Hightown, through Lancashire, Cheshire, Shropshire and parts of Yorkshire, to solicit subscriptions towards its erection.

The Heights, though an old portion of Liversedge, has much improved during the last few years, and contains some large works, engaged in the card making and worsted business, and also extensive chemical works; in fact the district about here presents the appearance of activity and thrift. The Free Methodists have a chapel also at the Heights, built in 1831, and the Primitive Methodists are erecting one lower down the village. From these facts we may presume that Wesleyanism, in one form or another, is best adapted to the people of the locality, for a Congregational school built in 1851 by that body in Hare Park Lane did not succeed as a preaching room or school, and is now the property of the Wesleyans and used as a Sunday school by that body.

Adjoining the Heights are Hare Park Mills, extensive premises, at present unoccupied, but formerly used as wire and cotton mills, and near thereto Hare Park, the residence of the late Thomas Hemingway, Esq., the proprietor of the mills. It is now a flourishing academy, under the management of Mr. Porritt. It is nicely situated and airy and well adapted for the scholastic profession. We were informed that the late Mr. Benjamin Armitage, schoolmaster of Littletown, had left a portion of land at the Heights upon which to erect a church.

We now passed on a rural meadow path to Trippy; the mowers were busy at work, which reminded us of the ditty:

“We mowers so happy and gay,
While mowing the flowers and hay,
Our scythes are swinging,
Our voices ringing,
While mowing the flowers and hay.”

Some of the meadows presented a nice appearance, the grass being interspersed by clumps of purple and yellow vetches, and dotted here and there with cow parsnips, red and white clover, etc. At Upper Trippy is a group of cottages, one of which, in the occupation of Thomas Kilburn, is almost entirely covered by sweetbrier, honeysuckle and roses, with a rockery in front, quite a curiosity in its way. Kilburn has an extensive collection of stuffed birds and animals, native and foreign, and also cases of moths and butterflies, which he kindly allowed us to inspect, giving us any information we required.

Leaving Kilburn and his associates, we crossed the boundary which separates the parish of Birstall from that of Dewsbury, for the purpose of having a peep at the remains of the cross, called Walton Cross. It is situated in the corner of a triangular piece of ground adjoining the highway leading from Hartshead Moor to Roberttown. From this place you have a splendid view of a great extent of country, embracing as it does a great part of the vale of the Calder, the ancient Church at Hartshead, the hall and woods of Kirklees, where bold Robin Hood is said to be buried, and fine ranges of hills in the distance. My province is not to enter into the history of the cross; however it is said to be of Saxon origin and its massive base is beautifully sculptured with foliated and interlacing patterns. The origins of crosses, their connection with the old roads of our country and with its religion is far behind the scope of these papers.

Time pressing we hastened towards the old bar at Hartshead Moor, now disused and no longer a tax upon equestrians or vehicles; frequently meeting fine specimens of various tribes, porcine, canine. Etc., returning from the Cleckheaton Agricultural Show, and which we heard, had been a great success, and soon arrived upon the highway leading to Cleckheaton. Feeling somewhat tired we made our way to the station, procured our tickets, and having to wait a short time the arrival of the train, paced the platform, from which we had some pleasing views of the surrounding country. What a mighty change has happened in the Spen Valley during the last two hundred years! For where once the forest tree upreared its head, “the chimney casts its smoke-wreath to the skies:”

This valley, then a quiet retreat, is filled almost in its all extent with ironworks, collieries, mills and manufactories and swarming with an industrious, intelligent and prosperous population, and we owe this almost entirely to the power of steam. The train arriving, cut short our reflections, not forgetting however, those celebrated lines of Dr. Darwin:

“Soon shall thine arm, unconquered steam, afar,
Urge the light bark and whirl the rapid car.”

We were speedily whirled to Heckmondwike, and look forward again to another stroll on the “slopes of Liversedge.”