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Jane Flambert (nee Dixon) 13-February-2018
My father’s grandparents were a Dixon and a Dodgshun, who emigrated to Australia to ‘buy wool direct from the producers for the mill back in Morley’. Looking at your map and the 1881 Kelly’s directory it seems that Low Moor, Gillroyd and Queen’s Mills had Dixon and Dodgshun connections, but the families are hard to sort out, they seem to have intermarried many times both in Yorkshire and Australia! I have asked our local Library for David Sharp’s book.
(My father came to England in 1931.)
Editor’s Comment: This is a fascinating Family tree and I have sent some Morley Observer cuttings to Jane to tell of her relatives visits to England from Australia in the Great War Period. I will be surprised if she can get hold of a copy of David Sharpe’s book in Australia and I think we should seriously think about making a reprint of it. It is still extremely relevant to a study of Morley’s Textile History
Roger Trobridge 21-March-2017 at 12.49am
I was pleased to find the archive site. I had been in touch with the old Heritage Centre to ask about any information they might have about my birth place, 11 Bantam Grove, near the Bantam Mill (23 in the list), where I was born in 1940. I remember my surprise when I took my family back to see it and discovered it had totally disappeared under the new estates built over the area where I had roamed as a growing child. There was little or no chance to retrace my steps. I had tried to recall my memories of it but things were a bit vague as I was about 10 when we move to the new council house on Wide Lane. My father was Alf Trobridge and he had fantastic recall and a wish to write about his life in Leeds and Morley. Some of his writings are in the Library at Leeds and I know he had contact with the Heritage centre. I don’t know if you have come across him. My brother was sorting through the papers which my father left when he died in 2007 and he found that he had written down his memories of the house and the land around it. Cameras were rare back then, but maybe people were not bombarded with information and did not have digital memories so they remembered more. Thanks for the work you are doing – knowledge is hard to find and easy to lose. Can you let me know how to support what you are doing? Roger
Malcolm Kirk: 27-January-2017 at 5.12pm
Really enjoyed looking through your web pages and reminiscing about my early life in Morley. Born and bred in Zoar Street I was educated at Peel Street Schools (nursery, Infants and Boys – we were segregated after ‘Infants’) then Morley Grammar School between 1963 -70 where I was Head Boy in 1969. I went to work in London in late 1970 but was always pleased to return to my roots remembering many happy times at Morley Low watching the steam trains (especially the ‘double-header travelling from Liverpool to Leeds on a Saturday evening). Crank Mill on Station Road (owned by Kirk & Steel – no relation) was always of interest due to its age and disjointed appearance with some ‘interesting’ characters taking the air in the doorways. Both Mother and Father worked in the co-op; Mother during the war and Father pre-war before he was called up and went to serve in the Army touring India, Burma and Ceylon. He was shipped out with a co-op colleague, Hubert Waring who unfortunately died at the fall of Singapore – Father’s ship luckily being diverted. Both men are reported in the Morley Observer at the time as being ‘missing’ then a record of Father being ‘mentioned in Despatches’. I remember returning from a holiday in Bridlington, driving up Wide Lane and wondering why the top of the Town Hall was flat – only to learn that it had been destroyed by fire in our absence. Living in Morley with so many mills, it was inevitable that family members were employed in the wool trade. My Grandfather was ‘horseman’ at Wilson & Swallows in Ackroyd Street and I have a photograph of him with a team of horses and cart, done up for some special occasion. An uncle followed him into W&S as a cloth drawer. Lots of memories come back of times such as the visit of the Queen in 1954 (can only have been 2 1/2 at the time – quite something to be presented to her many years later); having an account at the Yorkshire Penny Bank; sampling the future technical delights of STD telephones at the ‘old’ post office which used to be opposite the Yorkshire Bank; drooling over the latest Dinky Toy releases in ‘Dinky’ Dyson’s shop at the end of Little Lane; photographing the building of this new fangled M62 thing that carved through the rhubarb triangle; and so on. As a retired Civil Servant now returned from exile to Yorkshire, thank you for stimulating some of the very happy memories of a proud town.
A Whitehead – Fri 3 Jan 2014, 18:43pm
What a wonderful site. I was born in Morley Hall and grew up in Gildersome. This morning I drove my 89 year old father around Gildersome and Morley. His father and grandfather set up W. Whitehead and Sons worsted mill in Gildersome in 1926, the last of the seven or so Gildersome mills to open and the only worsted mill. He was also involved in closing the last mill, Booths, in the 1980s. Do you have any plans to extend your mill project to cover Gildersome? AW
Jean M Wilson – Sun 27 Oct 2013, 8:17am
George Wood, author of ‘The History of Morley’, was born abt 1856 in Leeds. He qualified as a teacher at Homerton Teacher Training College in London and was appointed master at the newly opened Peel St Board School in 1880, which replaced Town End School. He married Jane, born abt 1859 in 1891. They lived in 49 Clarendon St Leeds. Jane died in Aug 1919. George retired in 28 July 1921, owing to age limit (65) and was replaced by Mr J Ernest A Johnson. George’s funeral was on 25 May 1925.
William Ainley – Fri 25 Oct 2013, 17:43pm
Just seen website and saw old enquiry. I lived in OLDROYD BUILDINGS in the 1940s, No.9 I think.
Barbara Fenton = Mon 21 Oct 2013, 8:55am
Lee Fair. My Auntie Emily used to have the fish and chip shop [before the presesnt estate was built on the field] and my grandfather owned the field. I too have fond memories of Lee Fair but was too young at the time to visit the pubs mentioned. Good luck with your research.
Pauline Simms – Wed 9 Oct 2013, 19:33pm
I have just found your excellent site. Have probably missed the boat here as I have just read a comment from Mr Leslie Sharples from Canada with his memories of his Grandfather Armitage Fozzard. My Grandfather was Adam Fozzard. Adam and Armitage were great pals and talented sportsmen in cricket and knur and spell. I have lovely memories of Lee Fair (Adam had The White Horse Inn) and my great great Grandfather had The Bulls Head. I am researching Fozzards. (To contact Pauline about the Fozzards, use the Enquiry form and your message will be forwarded. Webmaster)
Martin Lomax – Tue 8 Oct 2013, 13:20pm
Lived in Churwell Morley 9 years now, and always interested in learning about the Morley heritage. Went on the ramble of Morley centre and visited the magnificent rooms in the Town Hall…Brilliant.
Barbara Fenton – Sun 18 Aug 2013, 8:36am
For “Tom” regarding early rhubarb. My Father and Grandfather grew rhubarb on Tingley Common in the 1920/30’s, and produced a new early specimen “Fenton’s Special”, still grown I believe. I was born in Raynham House on the common, [where now there is an industrial complex, with the name Raynham House used for one of their buildings] My father Norman Fenton died 1940 and the farm was sold to Cartridges. We continued to live in the house unril 1948 when we came to Devon. Barbara Fenton
Mark Cudine -Fri 5 Apr 2013, 9:32am
What a great site. Love the old buildings and what a shame most have been knocked down. Modern Morley is not a patch on the old photos. Progress is not always better.
Eric G Howgate – Fri 29 Mar 2013, 3:42am
I have just come across this website and it has brought back many memories for me living in Morley in the late 1940s, then moving to Gildersome. What took my interest was H Cartlidges farm at Topcliffe. It was there that my uncle Dick Richard Gash worked and also at the Grange Farm Churwell. H Cartlidge had 2 sons, Alec and Douglas Cartlidge, who took over the running of the farms. This is just one of my memories of Morley.
Liz McGowan – Sat 16 Mar 2013, 14:04pm
My Mum’s side of the family are long-standing Morley residents. My Grandma and Grandad were Sam and Lillian Jarvis who owned Tingley Bar Fisheries in the 50’s and 60’s. As a small girl I remember ‘helping’ in the shop! My Dad, David Cave, was a milkman in Morley from the 70’s. I used to collect milk money every Friday and met some lovely, friendly people
Lorna Davis – Fri 15 Mar 2013, 23:17pm
I also remember Butterworth & Pilkington stationers in Fountain Street. I was born in 1935 & lived in Rooms Lane and went to St Peter’s. Churwell & Peel Street schools. My dad, Baden Tipling, was a local Gas meter inspector. Does anyone remember a Co-op Pageant performed in the Town Hall in the 1940s?
Carole Adam = Mon 4 Mar 2013, 18:11pm
Can anyone out there remember a bread shop on Middleton Road, Morley called “Spivey’s”? In the late 1950’s I used to be sent to Spivey’s on a Saturday morning to collect two small Hovis loaves that had been ordered by my Aunt who lived in Jubilee Terrace.
Also can anyone remember the stationer’s Butterworth & Pilkington in Fountain Street? I remember being in that shop in the 1950’s and it seemed to me like Aladdin’s cave.
Carole Adam( formerly Bates)
Carole Adam – Tue 1 Jan 2013, 11:28am
My mother, Lily Bates (1925-2005) worked in the Co-op Cafe, on Albion Street, Morley in the early 1960’s. She also worked serving refreshments in the Coop Bingo Hall situated on the first floor of buildings opposite on Albion Street.
William Ainley – Mon 21 Jan 2013, 17:35pm
Reply to Julie Maxfield
I Iived at no.9 Oldroyd Buildings in the mid 1940’s. A row of old one up and one down back to back terrace houses off Albert Road. The bottom two houses were newer and it could have been a shop previously, but not when I lived there.
mary palmer – Wed 15 Aug 2012, 22:44pm
Thank you for your lovely informative website and photos. My Mum’s family all lived in “Churrill” off Hartley St, they were called Lockwood/Shackleton and also related to the Nunn family. My grandad’s uncle Tom Lockwood, along with wife Lillian, were landlords of the orig Old Golden Fleece (t’middle oil) and my great aunt Florence Annie Shackleton (of Grange Tce) used to wait on there on Sat nights. All the ladies of the family worked as woollen weavers at Scarth’s Mill (Laneside Mills).
Kerry Price – Fri 22 Jun 2012, 9:10am
I wish all places were so keen on their local history. This site has an overwhelming amount of information. I did not have to look anywhere else for my research on Morley. Great stuff, keep it up!
tom – Fri 1 Jun 2012, 8:53am
I came across your site after a quick search for info on the early rhubarb trade. Keep up the work on the archive. Thanks for all your work. Sites like this are important resources and a joy to stumble across as well as being much appreciated locally.
Susan Wintrop – Wed 9 May 2012, 19:00pm
all off the hounds! The mystery “grand daughter” has been identified. The Stead reputation is still intact thanks to excellent geneological sleuthing.
Judy Brown – Thu 3 May 2012, 16:30pm
– Full address: Camberwell South Victoria Australia
– Subject: Churwell Cooperative Society
I saw your request about Morley Coops and it tied into my research for a William Hall b1850 who was listed on the 1911 census as employed as Treasurer of the Churwell Cooperative Society. My grandfather was living with the family after his parents died in 1906 (they were cousins)
Robert Walker – Mon 23 Apr 2012, 13:46pm
Full address: batley con club branch rd batley
– Postcode: wf17 5sb
– Subject: The Brunswick Morley
Having read an article regarding the Brunswick, let me fill in the blank space from Hilary leaving in June 1999. That was the day me and my wife took over on a 5 year tenancy from White Rose Inns. In 2003 Punch Taverns bought them out. After the 5 years, in June 2004, we left and the pub closed down shortly afterwards. Any more info please contact myself.
Martin B Corns – Tue 27 Mar 2012, 20:56pm
I was born in Morley Hall July 1944, within a few minutes of one of your photograph subjects (Albert Slingsby). I left Morley with my family in 1957. My grandparents Fred and Elsie Brearey remained in Morley until their deaths 1970 & 1981 respectively. I have visited Morley very rarely since their deaths, I now think a visit well overdue. Congratulations on your web site.
Regards Martin B Corns.
Brian Barker – Fri 24 Feb 2012, 19:05pm
Subject: Land Army questions
My mother, Winifred Barker (nee Kemp) was born in Morley and worked as a land girl at Howley Hall Farm during the war.
Stewart Scott – Wed 22 Feb 2012, 20:01pm
I was born in Churwell 1950, went to Churwell School and Morley Grammar School. We had the butchers shop in Churwell and went to Back Green Chapel. I remember Chris Hidle.
Ronnie Eyre – Sat 29 Oct 2011, 15:56pm
I’m a Morley boy and very proud of it. I left with my parents when I was 11, but I come back often to watch Leeds and to see family. I’m now 52 and I will never forget my roots. Morley is in my heart for ever. Take care Morley folk.
Susan Wintrop – Mon 16 May 2011, 23:06pm
Apparently my grandfather Laurence Stead, (originally from Morley and the Printing Works then sent to Canada, in early 1900’s) had a granddaughter who visited London in the early 1960’s. We always thought I was the only granddaughter!!! This person would be in her 70’s now and maybe my half sister or a cousin! I know it’s a longshot but as an only child, this quest may have wonderful consequences. Thank you for any memories or leads.
Susan