Events in the 1800s

In the 1800s, the railway – in the Great Northern Railway and the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway – came to Halifax.

There were several stations: Shaw Syke, later Halifax, North Bridge, and St Paul's Station

Blackshawhead corn and cotton mill was destroyed by fire

by carriages passing over him

at Salterhebble

This was 7 years before the rival Huddersfield Narrow Canal was completed

New Hey Road, Rastrick was built as a part of the turnpike linking Huddersfield and the town of New Hey near Rochdale

Wharf Mill, Sowerby Bridge was damaged by fire

Joseph Richardson, a manufacturer of worsted goods at Brighouse, assigned all his personal estate and effects to William Coultas, a maltster at Elland

Further legislation for the Rochdale Canal

On the first night [Monday 1st June 1807], a group assembled outside the White Swan Inn & Posting House, Halifax where 2 committees for Messrs Wilberforce & Lascelles were sitting. but there were no arrests.

On Tuesday, there were larger numbers who paraded through the streets with an effigy, and broke the windows

of several respectable gentlemen

On Wednesday, over 60 special constables were sworn in, and military aid was fetched from Leeds.

On Thursday, notices were distributed warning people not to be out after 9:00 pm

Dam Head Mill, Shibden burned down

The Armytages auctioned off some of their land at Clifton. Those who bought land included Rev Benjamin Firth

The last occasion on which the Thames froze over. The temperature in southern England was 0°C or below for 30 days

James Clayton was convicted before H. W. Coulthurst DD and Michael Stocks, in the penalty of £20 for having in his possession purloined and embezzled materials belonging to the worsted and woollen manufactures

Mytholmroyd / Blackstone Edge turnpike

returned a true bill for misdemeanour against Joseph Mitchell, against whom an indictment had been preferred for directing abusive and seditious language against the Prince Regent and the two Houses of Parliament, at a radical reform meeting held on 4th October 1819, at Skircoat Moor near Halifax, and for then and there using expressions tending to excite people to partition the estates of the great nobility; and among others, of Earl Fitzwilliam

See North Dean Toll Gate

Godley Cutting was constructed 1824-1830

Huddersfield / Low Moor turnpike

The turnpike from Brighouse to Denholm Gate was constructed. This is now the A644

See William Drake

The late heavy rains have so much swollen the river Calder as to produce an inundation, which has done considerable mischief to mill properties in the valleys above Halifax; and where the banks were low, the adjoining fields have been completely overflown.

At Halifax, a dye-house, in the course of erection, on the rivulet Helig, was thrown down and carried away by the flood, together with the scaffolding.

On the same rivulet, at Dean Clough, the mill of Mr Crossley, carpet manufacturer, was discovered to be on fire, on the ground floor, but whilst the man who lives in the adjoining cottage had gone to alarm Mr Crossley, the torrent burst into the room and effectually extinguished the flames.

The flood had reached its highest point of elevation at 6:00 on Thursday morning, at Elland Bridge, at which time the King's Mills were inundated by the Calder. The banks of which river, from thence down to Brighouse, were partially overflowed

This & associated entries use material contributed by Lesley Abernethy

The first regular bus service in Britain was introduced by George Shillibeer in London

Stoodley Bridge Mill, Eastwood was burned down

If that be the case, then I will not sign, for I have suffered too much distress on this side, that I now wish to try the other

visited by one of the most tremendous storms ... which has not had its parallel in the memory of man [with rain which] it would be utterly impossible to convey any idea of by words

It spread on to Newcastle, Gateshead, Scotland [January], York, Leeds, Manchester, Hull, Liverpool, London, Edinburgh [February], Glasgow [March], Belfast, Dublin, and Cork [April]

185 people died in York, including the parents of Joseph Dobson. The disease spread from there, reaching the Black Country and Devon and Cornwall by autumn 1832. About 53,000 people died

60 of the turn-out stone delvers have obtained work at advanced wages

Death of John, only son of John Wrigglesworth of Halifax, linen draper

William Burton of Warley married Elizabeth Brearley of Warley

A great flood did considerable damage in Todmorden and neighbourhood

• William Cockerham was fined 20/- plus costs for travelling for a waggon of Sunday
• Thomas Crabtree of Ovenden was fined 20/- for having in his possession a quantity of young moor game
• Joshua Hirst of Elland, innkeeper, was fined £5 for allowing gaming in his house
• David Bottomley of Norland was fined £5 for cutting young trees
• Jno Barker of Warley, innkeeper, was fined £2 for keeping open his house during divine service on Sunday
• Samuel Bolton of Northowram was fined 30/- for molesting watchmen
• Andrew Daily was committed to the House of Correction for 2 months for having in his possession embezzled wool
• Joseph Witham, Solomon Fawcett and Benjamin Peel were fined £5 for unlawfully taking and destroying the eggs of game at Hartshead
• Daniel Gledhill of Southowram was committed to the House of Correction for trial on a charging of stealing a quantity of worsted yarn, the property of John Wadsworth of Sowerby
• Edward Holt, on a charge of stealing a quantity of stockings, belonging to Joseph Brear of Halifax

The Bell's London Life [2nd July 1837] reported

The report was incorrect and only John was killed

This & associated entries use material contributed by Lesley Abernethy

A record flood-level was recorded at Hebden Bridge.

At Salterhebble

such was the impetuosity of the flood that the canal aqueduct which crosses the Hebble near its junction with the Calder was forced open, and the traffic on the canal was impeded

The Calder overflowed its banks in many places.

The Perseverance coach from Manchester to Todmorden and Halifax passed through much deep water. Between Todmorden and Halifax, the horses had to swim on several occasions

• J. Fielden MP
• Feargus O'Connor
• Richard Oastler

The Rebecca Riots against turnpikes and other matters took place in Wales

one of the most awful and destructive ever to have known to have occurred ... every description of building was injured by the devastating storm

Reported events included

• The wind blew down a mill chimney on the Albion Mill of Firth & Howarth on Roomfield Lane – the chimney fell on the works of Lord Brothers
• Windows were broken, trees were uprooted and many buildings were damaged
• 3 people were killed at Green Hill
• Saline deposits on windows at Leeds, Huddersfield and Hebden Bridge suggested that sea spray had been carried inland

• Furness Dyson and Edward Ingham of Northowram were each fined 3/4d plus 7/- costs for shooting with a gun at Northowram on the Sunday previous
• Thomas Lightowler was fined 5/- plus 10/- costs for being drunk and disorderly at Shelf on the same Sunday
• John Barker and 5 others of Clifton were charged with assault and allowed to arrange with the complainant, on payment of 5/- to the Infirmary
• John Booth of Adwalton, a salesman at Mr Hinscliffe's colliery at Hipperholme, was charged with embezzling various sums of money from his employer. He was committed for trial at the next Pontefract session
• Jonas Stott of Rastrick was fined 4/- plus costs for an assault upon Harriet Chadwick of Rastrick
• Thomas Lister, a Halifax butcher, was fined 5/- plus 9/- costs for being drunk and disorderly when he appeared at the Magistrates' Office on the previous Saturday to answer charges of neglecting to pay his gas rates
• Benjamin Johnson and Edward McLean were each fined 5/- plus 4/6d costs for being drunk and disorderly in the streets on Sunday

• Robert Roberts and John Hemingway, beer sellers of Hartshead were each found £2 plus 15/- costs for having their houses open after the prescribed hours
• William Firth of Sowerby was fined £2 plus 10/- costs for refusing to admit a constable into his house
• John Shoesmith of Hipperholme was charged with assault and allowed to arrange with the complainant on paying 5/- to the Infirmary
• Joseph Varley of Ovenden was fined 10/- plus 10/- costs for removing night soil through the streets of Halifax during prohibited hours

Men entered the house of Mr Jackson of Mile Thorn through the rear cellar window, and stole 3 dresses, 12 yards of cloth for shirting, 1 pair of spectacles costing 23/-, 7 shawls, a number of silk handkerchiefs, 1 cloak to the value of £3, 5 silver spoons, 1 table spoon, sugar tongs and a number of other articles. The thieves escaped before Mrs Jackson could catch them

• James Robinson of Leeds who used certain premises in Halifax for religious worship by a denomination commonly called the Jumping Ranters was fined £5 plus £1 10/- costs for not having the premises duly licensed
• Squire Kershaw, keeper of a beer shop at Sowerby, was fined £2 plus 13/- costs for refusing to admit a constable into his house on the night of 2nd instant
• Ann Asquith of Hipperholme was fined 10/- plus costs for suffering to leave her cart to remain in the streets of Halifax so as to cause an obstruction

An inquest before George Dyson at the Rose & Crown, Stansfield on the body of William Crowther, a cart driver aged 50, who, whilst driving his cart, was knocked down by the horse and the cart passed over him and killed him

• Thomas Sutcliffe of Ovenden was charged with assault and was allowed to arrange with the complainant of payment of 5/- to the Infirmary
• Michael Shaw of Barkisland was fined £2 10/- plus 14/- costs for damaging his work
• Thomas Greenwood of Ovenden was find £1 a required to find sureties for his future good behaviour for an assault upon a female
• John Radcliffe, a beer seller of Midgley, was charged with suffering his house to remain open for the sale of beer during divine service on Sunday; but the evidence was not sufficient and the case was dismissed on payment of costs
• Elijah Lutey of Elland was charged with assault and was allowed to arrange with the complainant of payment of 5/- to the Infirmary
• George Jessop and Charles Womersley of Hipperholme were charged with an assault and ordered to find sureties to keep the peace and to pay 8/6d costs each
• Joseph Calverley of Barkisland was fined 5/6d plus 14/6d costs for an assault
• Ellen Whitworth of Northowram and William Fleming of Halifax were charged with assaults and discharged of payment of costs
• John Sharp of Shelf was fund £1 11/10d for playing at unlawful games on Sunday. He was then charged with assaulting to constable while taking him into custody and find 10/- plus 10/- costs. He refused to pay and was committed for 1 month
• Jonathan Fourness was ordered to pay 11/6d for an assault
• William Potts was charged with stealing a quantity of brass castings and tools from his employers, Messrs Sutcliffe of Skircoat. He was committed for trial
• [On Monday] James Fielden of Greetland was ordered to pay £1 for an assault
• George Senior, who declared himself to be a Chartist, was fined £1 plus 11/- costs for a breach of the peace and using threatening language to the constables of Halifax
• Walker Bairstow, an apprentice in the employ of Messrs Piercy, coach builders of Halifax, was charged in suspicion of stealing a quantity of tools, and otherwise misbehaving himself as an apprentice. He was committed for 3 months to hard labour.

  Another charge of robbing the shop of Mr Daniel Ramsden was dropped when it appeared that this had been compromised, for which Mr Ramsden was censured.

  Bairstow was also suspected of robbing the shop of Mr Roper, ironmonger, but the evidence was not sufficient and the charge fell to the ground

At Halifax Magistrates' Office

• James Balme of Halifax was fined £1 9/- for trespass and damage
• Abraham Scott of Ovenden, a beer seller, was fined £5 plus 12/6d costs for a second offence against the Beer Act
• William Hodgson of Ovenden, a beer seller, was fined £3 plus 10/- costs for a similar, but first, offence
• Jacob Ellis of Hipperholme was fined 15/- for an assault
• Thomas Midgley of Ovenden and William Pollard of Hipperholme were each fined 10/- plus 9/- costs for obstructions with their carts in the streets of Halifax
• [On Monday] Richard Baldwin of Halifax was charged with an assault and was bound over to keep the peace

• Timothy Kelly was fined £10 [or 1 month in the House of Correction] for hawking without a licence at Stainland
• J. Crowther and J. Barker of Sowerby were fined 15/- each for riding in their carts without reins
• Mary Wormald of Ovenden was fined 18/- for leading night soil through the streets of Halifax
• John Wormald was fined 5/- plus 10/- costs for being drunk
• Joseph Woods of Liversedge and T. Becks of Halifax paid 5/- each to the Infirmary box for assaults

• Benjamin Jackson of Halifax was fined £2 plus 17/- costs for an assault upon a female
• Joseph Oates of Rastrick was fined £1 for an assault
• Henry Pearson of Halifax was fined £1 10/- for an assault upon a special constable
• James Hilton, a weaver of Halifax, was sentenced to 2 months in the House of Correction for neglecting the work of his employers, Messrs Ward & Smith
• James McCallon was fined £1 for riding his horse furiously through the streets of Halifax
• J. Barrett was committed for trial for stealing a pair of boots and for stealing a great coat

• George Whitaker was committed for trial for stealing a great coat belonging to one of Mr Smith's waggoners

• Timothy Nicholl of Sowerby was fined £30 for having in his possession a quantity of embezzled worsted materials, being his second offence. He was committed for 2 months for nonpayment of the penalty
• Isaac Hartley of Midgley, a beer seller, was fined £2 plus 10/- costs for an offence against his license
• J. Crowther of Hipperholme was fined £1 plus 13/- costs for trespassing after game
• Philip Pickles, E. Mellor and Eli Berry of Sowerby were deemed to pay £5 for an assault
• Joseph Shaw of Northowram was fined 5/- plus 3/6d costs for being drunk
• William Marvell of Northowram was fined £1 for an assault
• John Longbottom and 5 others of Skircoat were fined £3 15/- for an assault upon a female
• E. Mellor of Sowerby was fined £2 or committed for 2 months to the House of Correction for an assault
• [On Monday] John Johnson was fined £10 for hawking without a license, in default of payment he was committed for 1 month to the House of Correction
• [On Tuesday] William Pitchforth of Elland was fined £5 for violently assaulting his wife, and ordered to find sureties to keep the peace of 12 months; in default of which he was committed to the House of Correction

• Timothy Nicholl of Sowerby was fined £30 for possessing a quantity of embezzled worsted materials – his second offence

• Amelia Richardson [39] was found not guilty of stealing a silver spoon, the property of John Avison of Halifax

• Miss Elizabeth Baxendale of Halifax married Mr Samuel Smith of Manchester, at Halifax Parish Church
• Miss Hannah Butterworth of Hipperholme married Mr Edward Boyes, a Pudsey grocer, at Halifax Parish Church
• Mrs Ellen Hopkinson of Halifax married Mr J. Booth of Clayton, innkeeper, at Bradford

there are reports in which blame is attached to the Radicals

it was greeted with the warmest acclamation of immense multitudes assembled to witness the spectacle

• William Eastwood of Halifax, beerseller, was fined 5/- plus 10/- costs for selling beer, not being duly licensed to do so
• Joseph Robinson was committed for 2 months under the Vagrant Act for lodging in the open air
• John Cadman was committed for trial at Wakefield for robbing Abraham Fleming on the night of 22nd August last
• [On Monday] David Kershaw of Hipperholme was fined for an assault
• Ann Smith was committed for 1 month as a lewd and disorderly person
• [On Tuesday] Thomas Aked and Matthew Horsfall were committed for 3 months under the Pawnbrokers' Act for offering for sale goods which they had obtained from various shopkeepers in Halifax, under false pretences
• [On Wednesday] John Kilburn was committed for trial at Leeds for stealing a shawl and a handkerchief from the King Arms Inn, Halifax

The first train passed through Brighouse for Bradford Station

The Manchester & Leeds Railway line opened – see North Dean Railway Bridge

Manchester-Leeds Railway line completed. The first trans-Pennine railway followed the route of the Rochdale Canal and bypassing Halifax

The Summit Tunnel and the first trans-Pennine railway – the Manchester-Leeds Railway – was opened

• John Lister and Edward Armitage of Hipperholme and Abraham Denham of Northowram were each fined 5/- plus costs for being drunk in the streets on the previous Sunday
• James Sturzaker of Halifax was fined £1 plus 9/- costs for following his worldly calling as a greengrocer on Sunday
• Lewis Whiteley of Ovenden was fined 5/- plus costs and John Whiteley of Halifax was fined 10/- plus costs for offences under the Halifax local act
• Japheth Turner of Northowram was fined 15/- plus expenses for an assault
• John Noble was fined /1 for an assault
• Patrick Ryan of Halifax paid 5/- to the Infirmary to be arranged with the complainant for an assault
• 3 lads were charged with sliding upon the pavements and were discharged on payment of 8/- costs and promising not to offend again
• [On Monday] Joseph Booth, beer seller of Northowram, was charged with suffering gaming in his house. This was the second offence within the present year and he was fined £5 plus 11/- costs
• Mary Corken, a lewd and disorderly person, was committed for 1 month for behaving herself in an indecent manner

An inquest at the Hare & Hounds, Stansfield on the body of Jane Spencer [3] who burned to death when her night dress caught fire returned the verdict accidentally burned

One belonging to the Leeds & Yorkshire Insurance Company was immediately despatched to the spot.

There was some delay in sending other engines belonging to the town on account of non-payment for their services at several recent fires which resulted in orders being given that the firemen reserve their service to the town alone. As a result of instructions from the constables, the engines were obliged to depart.

The fire raged for some hours but was subdued by the exertions of the firemen and the inhabitants.

The fire was caused by an overheated flue on the stove which was warming the church for services on the following day. The stove was positioned immediately beneath the west gallery. The organ was badly damaged, the west gallery and many pews were damaged The whole of the damage to the organ, pews, books &c was estimated at £200.

Much of the interior was redesigned afterwards. A new organ was inaugurated on 7th November 1843

Because of a drought and the consequent shortage of water, the Rochdale Canal was closed between Sowerby Bridge and Manchester

A Sarah Ellen, daughter of Mary and Joseph Garside was baptised on 5th August 1821 at Halifax

This & associated entries use material contributed by Lesley Abernethy

Marshaw Bridge Mill, Cragg Vale burned down

A train collided with a stationary engine on the line between Brighouse Station and Elland Station. There were no injuries

The Halifax Guardian [Saturday 16th September 1843] reported

This & associated entries use material contributed by Jeffrey Knowles

Death of Sabina [33], wife of John Highley of Harrison Road, Halifax

Death of Martha [30], daughter of Charles Molineux of Halifax

• John Hardman Heyworth of West Lodge, Todmorden married Sarah, youngest daughter of the late John Greenwood of Harehill, Todmorden at Christ Church, Todmorden
• Joseph Whitworth of Skircoat married Alice Breakes of Hipperholme

The Divi was introduced in the Co-operative Movement

An inquest was held at the White Hart, Todmorden

Being dissatisfied with the speed of the engine, and finding found fault with the lad who was attending the boiler, Hanson had fired-up himself. The boiler – 9 ft long and 3 ft 6 in in diameter – exploded. It was torn from its seating and was blown through the house of Mr Pollard, which stood next to the foundry, across Grove Street and against the houses which stood opposite. Several children were injured and taken to Halifax Infirmary.

The inquest decided that Hanson had been responsible for the boiler which exploded because of the insufficient flow of water At the inquest, it was stated that the explosion was caused by

want of water in the boiler

and that Hanson, who had responsibility for the boiler, would have been charged with manslaughter had he survived the accident

• Susannah Midgley, an abandoned woman from Leeds, was ordered to pay £1 2/- penalty and costs for an assault upon Harriet Pickles, of Halifax, a similar character
• Thomas Buckley was fined £3 for neglecting to shut the lower gates of a lock on the Rochdale Canal before he drew the upper cloughs
• George Nutton was summoned by Joseph Dean of Greetland, for £1 2/6d arrears in wages. Ordered to pay with 7/6d expenses

• Thomas Nicholl was committed for 1 month to the House of Correction for being found in a house at Siddal, in December last, with intent to steal a pair of shoes. He had been four months in the workhouse before Rawson, the police officer, discovered his retreat
• Job Halliday, a sub-contractor at Hipperholme, was ordered to pay 13/- to a stone-getter named Taylor, whom he had employed and not paid. Expenses 6/6d
• Benjamin Berry, waterman of Elland, was committed for 2 months to Wakefield House of Correction for neglecting to support his illegitimate child agreeably to the Justices' order

At Halifax Magistrates' Office:

• John Sugden, a collier, was charged with absenting himself in 1845 from the service of Joshua Stocks Esq before his contract was completed. Committed for 2 months to hard labour
• William Newton, shoemaker of Halifax, was fined 16/- for being drunk and fighting in the streets about 2 o'clock in the morning. In default of payment, he was committed to prison for 14 days
• Michael O'Leary, stock maker, was committed to trial at the next sessions, on a charge of stealing horse hair, bristles, and other materials belonging to Messrs Ramsden of Gibbet Street, in whose service the prisoner had been for 13 years

One of the passengers who escaped injury was Captain Ellis or Ellice, a government inspector of railways. He was in the same carriage as Mr Moon.

At the inquest held at The Royal, Sowerby Bridge, the jury returned a verdict of accidental death, adding that they recommended a luggage or break van at the end of an express train as a security for the passenger carriages.

In December 1848, Mrs Gillard, the widow, sued the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company for compensation for loss of her husband. The jury found for Mrs Gillard and awarded £750 damages

• William Shackleton and his wife, Mary, both pot hawkers, were fined 40/- for being drunk and creating a disturbance in the streets. Mary had been fined 40/- for a similar offence on the previous Wednesday. This time, the couple were fined the same amount
• David Armytage of Little Horton, was fined £1 2/- for refusing to pay 1/- toll for overweight at the Bonegate weighing machine, Brighouse
• Thomas Shaw, a Halifax butcher, was charged with an aggravated assault upon a respectable married woman, the wife of Charles Robinson of Hipperholme, near the Travellers' Rest, Hipperholme. Shaw was fined £5. The details were unfit for publication
• Elizabeth Bolton, a lewd and disorderly woman, was brought up by one of the watchmen for stealing 5/- from Joseph Nichols of Low Moor. She was committed to the House of Correction for 2 months as a rogue and vagabond
• [On Tuesday] William Holdsworth, a young man, was charged with stealing 2 iron rails for the shaft of the West Riding Union Railway on Beacon Hill. He was fined£20, Being unable to pay, he was imprisoned for 1 month
• Thomas Helliwell, a Halifax auctioneer, was charged with crossing a grass field, in Northowram, on a Sunday. He was ordered to pay 9/6d costs

The heaviest toll was in the industrial and mining areas of Staffordshire, Lancashire, Durham, Yorkshire and Northumberland. 53,293 people died in England

• George Simpson of Brighouse was fined £2 plus £1 0/6d expenses for shooting a hare on the property of Sir George Armytage at Kirklees
• Miller, Wattrel & Company, railway contractors of Hipperholme, were summoned by a number of Irish labourers who had been discharged from the works of the West Riding Union Railway, for arrears of wages. The company was ordered to pay each man 20/-
• Widdop Lord, a respectably-dressed young man, was accused of leaving his wife and children chargeable to the Union. £6 17/- had been expended on their maintenance during Lord's absence. He was ordered to pay this sum plus costs

At Halifax Police Court:

• Francis Butterworth was brought up by Sergeant Brier for being drunk near Clark Bridge early in the morning. He was fined 5/- plus 7/- costs.
• John Hodgson of Ovenden was charged by Sergeant Shipley for a similar offence. Hodgson said that he was a discharged soldier and this was his first offence. He was ordered to pay 4/- costs.

A branch line of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway was opened from Todmorden to Burnley via Cliviger and Copy Pit. This was a single-track line. A second track was installed in 1860

There were 2 cases of Asiatic Cholera in Halifax: Joseph Norminton of Halifax, and an un-named man who was a manager at Atkinson's Silk Mill, Boothtown. Both men had returned from a cheap trip to Liverpool and the Isle of Man.

There were 2 other deaths in Shelf

A boy was injured as he was swinging on a gate at Akroyd's Copley Mill. The wind caught the gate, threw it against a wall, cutting off one of the boy's ears and bruising his head

so fearfully, that in a moment or two, it was swollen to twice its ordinary size

The boy's family lived in Copley model village

had subjected themselves to the lash of the law for knowingly permitting prostitutes and those of notorious character to be drinking in their houses, contrary to the spirit of their licences

and were each fined £2 plus costs. Mrs Margaret Hobson of the Fountain, Halifax was fined £1 plus costs

2 of the utterers who are moving in a respectable sphere of life, being flannel manufacturers at Rochdale

Of those charged, John Whittles was found in possession of more than 35 £5 notes and 4 £10 notes, and Joshua Butterworth had used 4 £5 notes and 1 £10 note

• James Utley [18] of Halifax was imprisoned for 1 year for stealing a silver snuff box &c from John Thwaite, and 10 printed cotton pieces from Edward Moore
• James Machin alias Mann [13] was imprisoned for 2 months for stealing a cotton purse &c from Joseph Whiteley at Halifax
• William Machin alias Makin [18] of Halifax was imprisoned for 1 month for stealing 3 hens and a cock from Josiah Dawson at Hipperholme-cum-Brighouse

The Halifax Guardian [Saturday 4th February 1852] reported

The body was taken to the Ashgrove Inn. Inquest verdict: Accidental death

The Manchester Times of 27th April 1853 reported

Destruction of a factory by fire: The large 5-storey Croft Mill in Gaol Lane was completely destroyed by fire. Owned by Leyland & Highley cardmakers and partially occupied by them. Part was let to Mr Illingworth and Mr Joseph Wood, worsted spinners

• John Hanson of Hipperholme was charged by Constable Nicholson with selling ginger beer on the Sabbath. He pleaded guilty but said that he was ignorant of it illegality. He was fined a small penalty plus costs
• John Jackson and Edward Holt were charged with drunkenness and abusive language in a first-class carriage between Halifax and Sowerby Bridge. They were each fined 20/- plus 21/- expenses
• Joseph Saville of Pellon was fined 20/- for travelling from Wakefield to Halifax with a pass ticket which he had bought of a butcher for 1/6d

The Halifax Courier [Saturday 4th April 1854] reported the event

On Thursday the mule got into a field on the side where the land at Brookfoot, alongside the road leading from Southowram to Brighouse, is much higher than the road, and the deceased went in to fetch it out.

After having secured the animal, and got it out of the pasture, on climbing over the wall, the lad's foot slipped and he fell into the road where he was run over on the head by a passing cart.

An official enquiry at the Malt Shovel Inn recorded a verdict of Accidental Death

The Halifax Courier [Saturday 18th November 1854] reported

This & associated entries use material contributed by Jeffrey Knowles

The Halifax Courier [Saturday, 16th December 1854] reported the accident

This & associated entries use material contributed by Jeffrey Knowles

having on the 25th March 1855 burglariously entered the premises of Thomas Hanson at Hipperholme

He was liberated on this offence, but was then charged with

having on the 22nd April 1855 sacrilegiously entered the church at Shelf and stolen the clergyman's surplice and other items

After a hot, sultry period, a severe storm flooded many parts of the district.

Two people – Wooler Jenkinson & an unidentified person - were drowned in the swollen rivers.

In Halifax, part of North Bridge collapsed under the water rushing down into the Hebble

This & associated entries use material contributed by Stuart Wilkinson

a severe and lengthy thunderstorm ... vivid flashes of lightning were quickly succeeded by loud claps of thunder ... the rain poured down in torrents filling the different brooks which wind their way through the valley

A wall of water 15 ft high inundated Todmorden National School and other property in the district

visited by one of the largest floods within the recollection of the oldest inhabitants

Charles Stead [aged 66] died from injuries caused by his falling from the top of Godley Cutting. At the Inquest at Shelf, the jury recommended that a quick-set hedge be planted at the top of the cutting

strayed off the line between Halifax and Copley

Several men worked for 6 hours to replace the engine on the rails

This & associated entries use material contributed by Roger Beasley

See John Hope

Death of J. M. Holroyde Esq of Stainland aged 32

Mrs Charlotte Hooson and her husband were walking home from Halifax to Ovenden around 11:00 pm when a group of 4 or 5 men attacked her. 2 of the men, Mitchell and Hoyle, were charged with indecent assault.

In another incident which took place during the day, Timothy Gibson, Charles Cockroft and Greenwood Ogden were charged with highway robbery at Ovenden after they had attacked James Kershaw, a potato dealer of Halifax. The men made off with 6d.

The Chairman of the Bench, Colonel Pollard, said that he knew that several gentlemen who lived in the neighbourhood carried revolvers and were prepared to shoot any highway robbers

• A potato dealer was knocked down, robbed and ill-treated by 3 miscreants in broad daylight
• James Heap was waylaid, robbed of 15/- and cruelly beaten as he travelled from Halifax to Ovenden
• The spirit vaults of Mr Ogden in Halifax were broken into. The shutters had been forced open by a crowbar, but the burglars were frightened off

Great numbers of the inhabitants are providing themselves with weapons of various descriptions for self-defence

Maude and Cockroft were seen near the house of John Greenwood, a dyer from Shibden Dale, from which a shawl and other apparel were stolen. White later gave the shawl to the wife of John Jagger, a Halifax innkeeper.

By removing slates from the roof, White and Jagger broke into the parsonage at Copley whilst Rev James Hope and his family were away.

White broke into the counting house of Stocks Brewery and stole a pistol. He was assisted by Jagger who made keys for the locks

Low Moor to Leeds

poverty and temptation which induced her to steal

She was imprisoned for a month

• A wild-looking young man, George Boothroyd, a joiner at Lindley, wearing only shirt, trousers and shoes, was fined 11/- for being illegally on the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company at Elland on 22nd July. Henry Hemingway, a porter, said that he found Boothroyd on the line near Elland station and directed him towards Halifax, but he later tried to catch a passing train. The station watchdog seized him, otherwise he would have been killed. He was later seen again on the line, without a coat and bleeding
• John Ingham, a damask manufacturer at Halifax, was fined 1/- plus 22/6d costs for knowingly and wilfully riding in a certain carriage of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company without having previously paid his fare
• John Lumb, a farmer at Norland, was charged with having a quantity of comber's oil in his possession, embezzled. A witness, Pat O'Connell, was called but demanded a day's wages before he would give evidence. The magistrates said that they would neither give him his wages nor listen to his evidence. Ingham was deemed not guilty

The loss of property by the flood at Ripponden, was estimated at not less than £10,000.

Water collected to such a depth on the railway at Walsden that the fire of the engine of a train was put out and the train stranded for over 5 hours

Novemder 31st 1857

Dear dorter hi have taken this opertunity to rite those fu lions to you hoping to fing you in good helth as it leves hus at present i Wos very sorry to hear that you Wos hill that if you had stoped at – we coud of comed over to sea you for i ham in constent Wark in a dickyard at presand – so Wor at pusent from you efexoned ferther and muthar

While a crowd was gathering in front of the house, a 3-year-old-child James or Samuel Tasker, was run over by a cart and killed

The Halifax Courier [28th April 1858] reported

Joseph Longbottom, a gardener of Skircoat Green, married Esther Jowett, of Hipperholme, at Trinity Road Baptist Church, Halifax

that the working people did not appear satisfied with the manner in which the cases had been settled

• James Akroyd was fined £5 with £1 2/6d costs for employing a boy named William Clay at his North Dean mill without suitable documentation
• Samuel Walker, worsted-spinner of Stainland, was fined a total of £24 with £8 2/- costs for 24 counts of having worked boys and girls before the hour of 6 am
• Joshua Greenwood & Sons was fined £6 with £2 5/- costs for 6 counts of employing young persons at 4 minutes to 6 am

See Messrs Beauland

About 100 hands were put out of work. Oldfield estimated his losses at £4,000

Benjamin Benn, a boy working for John Crossley's, was badly injured after his right thigh was caught between cog wheels whilst attending a wool-combing machine

The Calder flooded – rising by 1 ft in 10 minutes – and caused great damage in Todmorden and Hebden Bridge. Newspaper reports describe 2 crevasses – one in the Calder and one in the canal – which contributed to the damage in Todmorden.

• The cotton mill of Charles Chambers was flooded to the top of the looms
• The foundry of James Nuttall was under 4 ft of water
• The machine shop of Lord Brothers' mill was flooded
• William Fielden's mill was flooded
• A new weaving shed of Abraham Ormerod & Brothers was flooded, causing around £450 damage

• Ely Taylor, a beerseller at Soyland, was fined 20/- for selling at 4:30 on Sunday afternoon
• Thomas Whitehead, a beerseller at Hollins, Warley, was fined 40/- for selling at 10:30 on Sunday morning

Many local mills were damaged.

A wooden bridge at Luddendenfoot was washed away.

Matilda Clegg [8] was blown into a mill-dam at Shibden and drowned

The mill comprised a 5-storey building (which housed the engine), the boiler shed and a 2-storey building.

The 40 horse-power boiler exploded, and pieces of the boiler, large flagstones and ashes were blown around the area. One piece of the boiler was thrown over the 5-storey mill, landing on a cottage 50 yards away. The windows and roofs of many houses, within a distance of 100 yards, were broken by bricks and stone.

The 5-storey building and the engine were scarcely damaged, but the 2-storey building was demolished, the floors and the roof falling in.

The foreman, James Cordingley, who was standing in the yard at the time, was scalded from head to foot, sustained cuts to the head and several ribs were fractured. He was taken to the Halifax Infirmary, but died later.

Damage was estimated at over £1,000

one of the greatest floods ever experienced

and at Todmorden, the water rose 18 inches higher than any previous flood

The Liverpool Daily Post [Saturday 29th November 1862] reported that Box Tree Mill, Wheatley has been completely destroyed by fire. Damage estimated to amount to £20,000

The Launceston Weekly News & Cornwall & Devon Advertiser [Saturday 6th December 1862] reported that a terrible fire broke out at Box Tree Mills, Wheatley, which was a five storey building the property of Messrs William Appleyard & Son, in the occupation of Messrs Crossley, Jackson & others. Damage estimated at £20,000

A Halifax lady is the owner of some cottage property in Lancashire, which, if ordinary times, yields her £400 per annum. In May last, she collected her rents and received £197 out of the total amount. Last month (November), she again visited Lancashire for the purpose of collecting her rents, and received £1 0/6d! which she more than spent upon her starving tenants

for alleged refusal to work

A Hebden Bridge relief committee was reported as donating, with President James Hoyle of Boston Hill and Secretary James Sutcliffe

Public Notice: FOUND, a REVOLVER, in Ovenden.
The Owner may have it by giving a fine description and paying expenses.
If not claimed within seven days it will be sold: Apply: The Guardian Office, Halifax

This is discussed in the Foldout on the visit of Edward VII

The inquest recorded a verdict of manslaughter against the owners, Richard Ingham & Sons and John Arthur Ingham

A 14 year-old boy was killed at Walsden Station. At the Winter Assizes in Liverpool on 14th December 1864, the court heard that the boy was carrying a sack of flour on a road which crosses the line. The station-master told him to wait as they were shunting a train. When this had been done, the station-master said

Now, my boy, if you're going to cross, cross quick

As he did, an express train came out of the tunnel and killed him. The boy's father was awarded £40

There was an epidemic of scarlatina in Brighouse

The Albert Mills, Rastrick Whitely, Garsed & Company burned down. The damage was estimated at between £5,000 and £6,000

An inquest was held at Cragg Vale Inn on the bodies of brothers – Alfred Sutcliffe [22 years] and Barker Sutcliffe [25] – who were found drowned in Turvin Clough where they had been bathing

The Manchester Courier & Lancashire General Advertiser [Monday 5th September 1864] reported

The injured included

• Mr F. Hirst
• Mr James Holroyd
• Mr J. Laycock
• Mr W. Marshland of Wakefield
• Mr Jacob Newbolt
• Mr Harrison Nicholson

At Halifax, the earthquake was felt, especially along the range of hills along which Southowram Bank, Charlestown, Haley Hill, and Boothtown are situated. Numbers of persons affirmed that they felt the shock, and even heard a low subdued rumbling noise. Pliny Barrett states that he was reading at the time, that the chair rocked beneath him, that the chairs arranged on the side of the house rattled against the wall, and he heard distinctly a noise as of thunder at a distance. Another person living in Range Bank, who was going upstairs to bed, returned into the room below, took up a coal-rake, searched the house, supposing that thieves had entered, and even went out of door in his shirt in continuation of the search. The same apprehensions appear to have been entertained by other people in different parts of the town. The night porters at the railway station felt the earthquake, and several private watchers assert that they were cognisant of it. The police were very definite in their account of the earthquake. One of them, who was standing against a wall in Southowram Bank, and looking upon the town, says he felt the wall rock, and heard a rumbling noise. Clocks were stopped by the tremor

James Sedgwick, a corn miller employed by Mr Thompson at Luddendenfoot was caught and carried round a shaft. His legs and an arm were much lacerated and broken. He died 2 weeks later

Victoria Mills, West Vale burned down

A cholera epidemic began at Hull and Grimsby, having been brought by immigrants from Europe who passed through on their way to America. This spread to Liverpool and Southampton, whence people embarked for the Atlantic crossing. 14,378 died in England and Wales

The Great Flood in Hebden Bridge and Brighouse

The ale cellars at the Red Lion Inn were filled with water, and the rooms on the first floor to the height of 2 or 3 feet

PC Sykes, observed the men through a prospect glass, before arresting them.

Fairless Barber, the lawyer for the defendants, argued that they were not playing cards, but merely looking at stereoscopic views. The men were found guilty and ordered to pay 20s 4d each

The 6-storey mill was occupied by several firms at the time:

• George Lumb
• Daniel Smith
• Fox & Fawthrop
• Charles Smith
• James Sutcliffe & Sons Limited
• Henry Stott – in the attic
• Messrs Holt – in the spinning shed

The fire, which broke out while the work-people were in the mill, caused an estimated £15,000 damage. It was believed to have been caused by friction of a strap. Newspaper reports said that there was a scarcity of water at the time, and, had there been only 2 pails of water on hand when the fire was discovered, there would have been no difficulty in checking the flames

The introduction of machinery for the scouring of stone at Halifax, led to a strike. The mason's committee – the Union – withdrew the men at the establishment where the machine was used, and refused to refer the dispute to arbitration

The metal Pretoria Bridge footbridge, was built by Ripponden Urban District Council [early 1900s]

This & associated entries use material contributed by Anne Kirker

In the three great valleys of the West Riding – those of the Aire, the Calder, and the Wharfe – the loss of property was enormous.

There was particularly severe flooding at Todmorden with half the town being entirely inundated. The 3 highways into the town were impassable.

At Ripponden, 4 people – Mrs Elizabeth Bottomley, Charlotte Anne Kershaw [aged 16], Mary Jane Kershaw [aged 15] and Alfred Kershaw [aged 11], the children of James Kershaw, – were on their way to work when they were washed away and drowned whilst crossing

a ricketty temporary bridge

at Treadmill between Soyland and Barkisland. Their bodies were found later.

Whitworth's mill and sheds at Longbottom, Luddendenfoot were under water and much damage caused to the machinery.

The wooden bridge over the Calder at Luddendenfoot – the only river crossing between Sowerby Bridge and Cooper House Mills – was swept away.

Slitheroe Bridge, Rishworth was washed away.

A house in Saddleworth Road, West Vale has a crudely-carved stone inscribed

Great Flood Nov: 16 1866

The Leeds Mercury [16th February 1867] reported the event

James Saville (age 40) a stone barer working at Aspinall's quarries near Halifax, was seriously injured by a fall of earth. He was removed to Halifax Infirmary where he died about 20 minutes later

At the time, the mill was owned by Mr T. Nicholl and run by William Bates & Son, machine makers and millwrights, & by Charles Scholefield, woollen manufacturer

The mill stopped work at 6:00 pm and fire broke out at 7:30 pm in the second floor timber-drying room. By 8:30 pm, the mill was completely gutted and most of the roof had fallen in.

The damage was estimated at £7000 to £8000. William Bates & Son suffered losses of £3000 to £4000, Charles Scholefield was not insured at all

Verdict: Found Dead

He was going to the Southowram Hard Bed coal pit to fetch coals for his employer, and, whilst riding on the cart in Law Lane, and being the worse for liquor, he lost his balance and fell into the road and was run over by the cart wheel.

Shortly afterwards, he was found helpless but sensible by pit foreman, Joseph Hebblethwaite, but died half and hour later.

Verdict: Accidental Death

Later, Mr Johnson, a surgeon at Harrison Road, Halifax, was travelling on the train to Leeds when he saw

a sailor-looking man with the pocket-book at his side

The man got off the train without the book and Mr Johnson asked him about the book, but the man eventually left without it. The pocket-book was subsequently returned to Halifax and its owner

Smoking compartments were introduced on trains

There were many floods locally

Fire at Jonathan Stott's cotton mill, Brighouse caused damage estimated at £25,000

The Halifax Guardian [14th March 1868] reported an illegal organised fight at Cromwell Bottom

The Halifax Guardian [14th March 1868] reported

A message was sent to Mr Isaac Swaine of Halifax, agent for the Liverpool & London and the Globe fire office, for the engine under his care, which was despatched with all speed to the scene of the fire, but, with the engine having 5 miles to travel, the fire had got complete mastery over the building by the time it arrived. Shortly afterwards, the West Vale (Greetland) engine came up but were too late

The damage was estimated at between £8,000 and £10,000.

The Mill was rebuilt

This & associated entries use material contributed by Jeffrey Knowles

The fire was detected about 1:00 am by Pollard a watchman employed by Crossley's.

Thomas Walshaw went to the scene and was walking along the roof of a shed, when he fell through a sky-light into a dyer's vat, and was drowned

A fire gutted the New Bank Mills / Garden Street Mill, Halifax of John Crossley & Sons. The building was used principally in the cotton, flax and woollen businesses. The damage was estimated at £5,000

Because of this canine madness, the Mayor of Halifax issued an order prohibiting dogs to be at large in the streets until April 20th

Mrs Barker, who lived in one of the houses, had the soles nearly torn from her shoes, one stocking and one foot being badly burned. She was also struck deaf and paralysed and was unable to walk. Most of the windows in house were blown out, and some of the slates were thrown a distance of 20 yards by the force of the strike. The occupant of another house was struck blind, but recovered shortly afterwards

A chimney under construction at Samuel Whitley's mill near to the Halifax Union Workhouse, Gibbet Street, was shattered after being struck by lightning. Only 44 yards of the proposed 63 yards had been completed.

Ripeth, the 6-year-old son of Benjamin Hargreaves, a coal miner from Norwood Green, was killed when the outhouse in which he and a brother and sister were sheltering collapsed after being struck by lightning

The Halifax Guardian of 4th December 1869, reported

Destructive Fire at Farm. On Sunday evening last. Fire at Bankfield Farm, Bank Top, Southowram, property of James Lister, Esq., of Shibden Hall. Laithe was on fire, four horses and four cows were got out. In another mistal were four more cows, three got out but the fourth, a very valuable animal, rushed through a small doorway into the laithe full of hay and was burned to death. A messenger was sent to Halifax for engines and that of the Liverpool, London & Globe was soon on the spot. The cause was unknown but it was suspected that a vivid flash of lightning, which took place at half past five that evening, could have been the cause of the fire

poured down without abatement

resulting in floods in Todmorden, the Burnley Valley and Bacup which caused an estimated £35,000 damage and claimed 3 lives at Ratten Clough.

4-year-old Betsy Goodall and her 2-year-old sister Sarah were victims of the flood.

Parts of Todmorden were under 6 ft of water.

The Todmorden Flood Relief Fund was established on 11th July.

The flood was said to have been more disastrous to the district than any since that caused by the bursting of the Holmfirth reservoir on 4th February 1852

A passenger, Oates Mitchell [1848-1870] from Burnley and working as a tape sizer at Brighouse, was killed, and several others were injured, including

• Mrs F. Corder of Upper Astley – bruised legs and face – and her 6-year-old child – injured back and cut legs
• W. E. French of Huddersfield
• Mark Hartley of Huddersfield – serious internal injuries
• G. Jarmain, professor of chemistry at Huddersfield – face cut and front teeth knocked out
• H. Parker of Dewsbury
• Mr M. B. W. Richardson of Huddersfield – severely bruised face and legs
• Mr Stansfield of Paddock
• G. Turner of Longridge Bridge
• A. Turner of Longridge Bridge
• George Wardman of Huddersfield
• Rev J. Wilkinson of Huddersfield
• Mrs Wilson of Bird's Royd, Rastrick – concussion of the brain. In August 1871, her husband sued the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company, for compensation – see Wilson & Another vs the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company
• John Wright of Horbury – internal injuries

A number of people were injured by falls as they rushed to see the cause of the blaze in Lillands Lane

This & associated entries use material contributed by Lesley Abernethy

West, Horsfall & West were tenants of Gauxholme Cotton Mill when it partly burnt down

A serious epidemic of smallpox and typhus broke out in Halifax in 1871-1872

The Bedford Observer [Monday 20th June 1871]

John Kershaw [21] of Ovenden, John Dean [18] a cabinet-maker of Foundry Street, and W. Allen [17] a cabinet-maker of Cross Hills were drowned. in a boating accident at Saltburn-by-the-Sea. The Coroner's inquest returned a verdict that they accidentally drowned, and that the accident was due to the mistaken judgement of the men in charge of the boat

WE, the MECHANICS, employed by Messrs JOHN HOLDSWORTH & Co, beg to tender our sincere thanks to our employers for the liberal manner in which they have met us with regard to the agitation in the Iron trade, and hope, by strict attention to business, to merit in future their favour as theretofore. Signed; THE MECHANICS

This & associated entries use material contributed by Jeffrey Knowles

The fire was discovered around 23:30 on the Friday night. It looked like the fire would be speedily extinguished but a pipe connected with the fire-engine burst and it was some time before the fire-fighting could be resumed. Then it was discovered that there was insufficient pressure to reach the flames.

At 1:00 am an engine from Queensbury arrived, and messages were sent to Halifax, and the Liverpool, London & Globe Company engine was despatched, arriving at 2:15 am.

The building was entirely gutted.

The loss was estimated at £15,000

Many buildings were flooded to a depth of 3 feet.

Considerable damage was done to Richard Kershaw's Victoria Mills, Brighouse where several operatives were trapped in the upper rooms, escaping by means of horse-drawn wagons. Water was up to the horses' bellies

Calder Bridge Mill, Brighouse damaged by fire

On 1st April 1873, the town learned that a military centre was to be established

On 1st April 1873, a telegram was received in Halifax from Colonel Akroyd stating that the War Office had decided to form a military centre in the town

A thunderstorm in the evening caused a number of serious accidents from lightning at Warley.

At Mr Hoyle's farm, about 9:25 pm, James Hoyle and a second man were in the cow shed milking the cows, when a flash of lightning struck and knocked both of them down. James was burned all over his body, leaving his skin red and charred, and his clothing and boots were torn to pieces.

A cow standing near the door was killed instantaneously.

A nearby cottage was struck and the floors, roof, chimney, and part of the wall were knocked down, and the windows and furniture shattered. A man and 2 women in the house at the time received no injury.

About 60 yards from Mr Hoyle's was the house of William Binns, a delver. During the storm, Binns, James Bamforth, and a young woman were standing in the porch, when the lightning knocked them down. Bamforth was not burnt, but the doctor who was called to see him was of opinion that

he would be a lunatic for life as the shock had quite turned his brain

This is described in the Foldout entitled The Fire at Wellington Mills : 1873

The victims were

• William Wilkinson (aged 17), a cripple of Westborough  Street, was severely scalded and died
• John Barrett (aged 23), a slubber of Spa Well was  severely burned ‡
• Richard Barrett (aged 20), an engine tenter  ‡
• his brother Joseph (aged 17), a mule piecer  ‡

Three of the injured ‡ were being treated by Mr Gambles when a spark from his candle set fire to the cotton wadding in which they were wrapped.

Others injured by the explosion were

• Mrs Crowther, mother of Alfred, the owner, was  severely scalded
• William Crowther of Spa Well had a large wound to his  forehead
• Joseph Hemingway (aged 30), of Whitwell Mill was scalded
• Edward Moss (aged 17), of Quebec Street, Elland was  scalded

The boiler was old and had been used for agricultural purposes, and it was found to be corroded. Before Crowther had bought it from Mr Atkinson of Lincolnshire, for £40, it had been sold as scrap iron on 3 previous occasions for £5, then £8, and then £18

This & associated entries use material contributed by Jeffrey Knowles

See Lindsay Taplin

for that [he] on [14th December 1874] at West Vale, unlawfully did profanely curse one profane curse, in these words, to wit "G- D-" (five times repeatedly), you being under the degree of a gentleman, to wit, a waste dealer

Sir Henry Edwards cautioned Bottomley against a repetition of so degrading an offence, and fined him 5/- plus costs

Wellington Mills, Elland burned down

It is still regarded as one of the town's worst industrial disasters.

At the inquest, it was revealed that 17 months earlier, the results of an inspection advised that the boilers should be replaced, but the manager, Edmund Woodhead, had them repaired instead

This & associated entries use material contributed by Jeffrey Knowles

This & associated entries use material contributed by Jeffrey Knowles

Fire destroyed Rooley Lane Wesleyan Chapel, Sowerby

Three workers – Hoyle, Gomersall and Sykes – were loading a wagon at the quarry. As Haigh was walking past them, a quantity of stones fell, knocking the 3 men forward, against the deceased, crushing him and injuring him severely.

Brandy was given to him, and he was transferred to the Infirmary where he died on Monday morning [19th June 1877].

A verdict of accidental death was returned

In March 1879, cotton manufacturers and iron founders also had their wages reduced

The Leeds Times [2nd November 1878] reported

it is feared that a girl named Mary Broadbent has lost her life

It was estimated that Wood Brothers losses were around £15,500 and those of John Woods & Son were around £35,000

The damage is estimated at about £10,000.

About 80 persons will be out of work

This & associated entries use material contributed by Jeffrey Knowles

Luddendenfoot Bridge / Currer Bridge was washed away in a flood. In 1882, it was rebuilt.

There was much damage at Longbottom Mill, Luddendenfoot after water flooded the weaving sheds and force a wall out of one mill.

At 4:45 pm, 2 mill workers, William Crabtree and Howard Sykes, spotted a crack in the stonework of Boy Bridge over the Calder at Luddendenfoot. They went to investigate and felt the structure shake. They ran off just before the bridge fell down and the road to the railway station was destroyed.

The Hole in the Wall, Hebden Bridge was 4 ft under water, and the Dusty Miller, Mytholmroyd was almost 4 ft under water.

A wall at Wadsworth Mill, Todmorden was broken down by the water

The Ryburn Valley branch railway line passed through the Scar Head Tunnel

The men fell 60 ft as they were being raised to the surface and the chain broke.

Those involved were James Heap [27], Oliver Ingham [34], William Irving [30], Samuel Mitchell [27], Edward Pye [36], Thomas Ripley [27], William Smith [40], and Dan Sugden [40]. Heap and another man died.

It was found that a link in the chain had not been welded properly.

The following month, Cliffe's were fined £5 for using a single-link chain – which was prohibited by law

of almost unprecedented severity and duration

passed over the Upper Calder Valley. There was great destruction of property. 3 lives were lost in Bacup. At Burnley, 1,800 distinct flashes of lightning were counted in 1 hour

This & associated entries use material contributed by Anthony Peabody

Benjamin Brearley, a labourer, was fined £1 plus 14/6d, or 14 days in prison, for loitering at Halifax Station on 22nd September

William Burrows, an earthenware dealer of Darley Street, was fined £5 8/6d, or 2 months in prison, for furious driving in Commercial Road on 16th September. A child was knocked down and its thigh broken, and the Court ordered that £5 of the fine was to go to the child's parents

John William Midgley, a milk hawker of Southowram, was fined 5 8/6d for furious driving in Charles Street on 27th September. A child was knocked down by the horse, but was little hurt

John had called to deliver a parcel to the daughter of Mrs Harrison, the landlady of the Inn. Mrs Harrison suggested that the party stay the night, on account of the bad weather, but Kenworthy left.

Their cart turned over while passing over the Beck at the Temple Crossing, near Temple Mill, on their way home.

On Sunday morning Jane's body was found below the crossing, John's body was found in the dam of the paper mill, and Sarah Ann's body was found at Rishworth Mill, opposite Mr Wheelwright's premises. The horse survived and was found standing in the water.

It was a stormy night, and witnesses who passed earlier said that the water was about 3 ft deep.

The Inquest returned a verdict of Accidental death and recommended that a bridge for horses & vehicles be placed over the Beck near Temple Mill

It was thought that the fire was caused by overheating of machinery soon after the engine started.

Damage was estimated at between £15,000 and £20,000, and was covered by insurance

The Leeds Times [3rd June 1882]

This & associated entries use material contributed by Jeffrey Knowles

The Leeds Times [Saturday 17th June 1882] reported

This & associated entries use material contributed by Jeffrey Knowles

The Brighouse Newspapers [15th September 1883] reported

The Leeds Times [Saturday 21st June 1884] reported

This & associated entries use material contributed by Jeffrey Knowles

The wall of a workshop fell down, destroying 8 cottages and their contents, though the occupants escaped injury. Stannary Congregational Church, Halifax and a pawnshop caught fire.

The damage amounted to £6,000.

At this time, there was no permanent fire brigade in Halifax, but the seriousness of this fire led to steps being taken to form one. George B. Collins was in charge of the task a became superintendent of the fire brigade

4 patients were admitted to Halifax Smallpox Hospital. One patient developed into malignant or black pox.

2 patients from Brighouse were also admitted

The Brighouse News [23rd May 1885] reported

This & associated entries use material contributed by Jeffrey Knowles

This & associated entries use material contributed by Roger Beasley

This & associated entries use material contributed by Anthony Peabody

A destructive fire caused heavy damage at Leopold Wire Works, Brighouse

The Leeds Times [Saturday 27th November 1886] reported

smashing the guard's van and 3 of the waggons. Their contents – chiefly eggs, butter and bacon – flew in all directions

In Sheffield, around 3,000 people were attacked by the disease

found drowned, having probably accidentally fallen from or over the wall in the yard at Brookfoot Mill on the 12th December

Thomas Atkinson was killed at Hipperholme railway station when he was loading a truck with clay and jumped from the truck on to the main railway line. The buffer of an engine coming from Bradford caught him on the head

Thomas Butterworth, a neighbour of Haigh, died on 25th September 1890

Of the 6 workers in the building, John Edgar Worsnop and Sarah Elizabeth Berry were killed in the explosion.

Michael McCabe, a labourer who was working in the yard, was injured by falling debris and taken to Halifax Infirmary where he died 3 hours later.

The building was badly damaged.

There were no explosives on the premises, and the explosion was said to have been caused by a gas leak. A gas pipe or joint may have been damaged by

the recent fall of an adjacent building

He was taken to Halifax Infirmary and died about 7:45 the following morning [7th November]

It has been said that those who survived this epidemic became immune and went on to survive the pandemic of 1918

A number of coins – English, French, Canadian and Demerara – were found hidden in a wall at Nutclough, Hebden Bridge. One coin dated back to 1689

There was a similar dispute at Woodside Flour Mills, Elland between the management and workers of J. F. Milner

See Samuel Briggs, Arthur Brook, children of Patrick Leonard Burke, and When Panic Seized the Town

Two ladies were proceeding along Elland Wood Bottom when their umbrella suddenly ignited and every vestige of the cover was burnt

The Liverpool Overhead Railway was the first to run only on electricity