Heckmondwike memories
Here are memories of Heckmondwike and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Heckmondwike or a Heckmondwike photo.
Occult
If you were born in the 1960s and went to Mirfield Secondary School you may recall that there was a young girl who was in foster care. She was put into the care of some ex-school teacher who had a daughter the same age! This foster mother was a member of some occult group and would often try to force her into being a member of the occult. Many school children would by-pass the house because they were deeply afraid of the woman, and rightfully so, as I have seen what harm she did to this young girl. I do know that some young boy tried to go on the run with the young girl but were soon to be caught by the police; were you that young boy, possibly 12- 13 years of age, or did you know this girl? I know who she is by name, as when I was in my thirties I was her boyfriend and whilst with her I experienced many strange happenings, I wished... Read more
The Unicorn Pub
Does anyone know anything about it please?
Toffee Smith
The best stall in the market was Toffee Smith's sweet caravan, when it wasn't on the market it was parked up Oxford Road, Gomersal.
Heckmondwike in The Early 1960s
I remember the market so well, it was the heart of Heckmondwike. You could buy anything from it, including clothes, meat and veg. The pork pies sold there were beautiful, and the beef dripping. I remember buying a dress from Rothery's stall, she let me take it home to try on. It was the height of fashion for me then, in black and white and very short too. I loved it.
So many memories oh Heckmondwike when I was growing up.
My Grandad H. Wood
I am the grandson of Harold Wood, the son of Enid his daughter, who is now the last desendent of H. Wood who is now 82. My grandfather started the buseness in 1922 with one vehicle. In 1965 after building the business to over 500+ vehicles he retired. In his retirement he enjoyed family holidays, his garden, jigsaws, the bigger the better, and cooking. He was an active man with lots of hobbies until his death.
Harold Wood & Sons Ltd Bulk Liquid Transporters
I am looking for info on what has happened to a very large firm I worked for decades ago now, namely Harold Wood & Sons Ltd, Wormald Street, Heckmondwyke. It was a very, very busy firm of bulk liquid haulage contractors. Having recently returned to my home town of Brighouse after over 30 years working and living in Cheshire I have been retracing my youth and when visiting Heckmondwyke I was surprised to find that people I talked to had no idea about Harold Wood's at all. It was a huge firm and having visited the site the blue railings are still there but the Offices/Canteen/Huge Garage complex have been demolished and been replaced by other industrial buildings. I would love to hear from anyone who worked for HW's or from anyone who can tell me what became of them. My time with them was in the very early 1960s and it was the firm that gave me the spur to my ultimate job for the rest of my... Read more
Heckmondwike Itself.
In winter time the fog and smog could last several days, and never clear. Coming from a seaside town, I found the first winter very depressing, but after 3 years I did not want to leave. The mills were very impressive, as were the number of churches around the town; and I recall the latter being well attended on Sundays. What about the tripe shop at the front of the Red Lion, facing the Market Place? When I first asked what it was attached to the pub, and told "a tripe shop", I thought I was having my leg pulled. I could never understand why the fish and chip shops were open on a Monday teatime. They never did at home, as the Monday evening dinner was the remains of the joint from Sunday.
Cinemas in The 1950s
In the 1950s there were two cinemas, 'The Pavilion' and 'The Palace' and every Christmas there was the famous Heckmondwike Illuminations which ran for the full length of the town and attracted thousands of visitors from a wide area. For many years my grandfather George Arthur Fisher ran a greengrocer's stall on the market.
Memories of West Yorkshire
LIFE IN BATLEY 1938 to 1948 Royel Navy To1955 to New ZEALAND 1956 Royal New Zealand Navy to 1962to1988 New Zealand Prison Service Retired Now Resided in Westaustralia Andthat is Another Story W A Clark BCL02059@bigpond.net.au
THE WAR YEARS WAR WEPONSWEEK ANDALLTHEWAR SAVINGS WEEKS VE NIGHT VJ NIGHTSWORKING AT THE BUS COMPANY IN THE SAVEL TOWN DEP OF THE YORKSHIRE WOOLEN DISTRICT TRANSPORT THE ARMY CADET CORP AT THE WARICK ROAD SCHOOL & THE DRILL SHED ON BRADFORD ROAD
Rosies
does any one remember rosies cheap shop on commercial street we all used to go there for our cheap things
Royal Hotel
Does anyone remember the Royal Hotel in Batley, it was on a corner I think of Bradford Road and a road that went up a very steep hill to a village. Lived there from 1963-1965 and went to Park Road School. Looking for a photo of the pub if anyone has one. Remember traffic lights being outside on the corner and a man that used to keep ferrets down his shirt and trousers when he came in for a pint.
Hare Park Terrace
My uncle and aunt, Frank and Lilian Simpson (nee Wilson)used to live over looking the Spen Valley in a terraced house on a hill at the bottom of which was Rawfolds Mill. Is the photo H199022 this road and is the wall on left the entrance to the terrace houses? If not, is there a map showing this terrace, or a photo?
A NEW BEGINNING
My first school was Purlwell. Then I attended Warwick Road School in Batley Carr. I remember the flats being built up the side of Hyrstlands Road. We used to have so much fun going up and down ladders and scaffolding. Needless to say, before H & S. Also, when they were knocking down the old houses, or slums (not that I would call them that, people lived in them and they were their homes), one day when all of us from Hyrstlands decided that we wanted to make a bunker (people from round here will know what I am on about) we all went down to the old houses. What a great time.Being able to smash up things and not get a good hiding for it. Plus we got enough wood and four wheels from a pram to make a great bunker. I barely remember the cinema at the bottom of Batley Carr. It had been demolished and later a church would be built, but I think that the right... Read more
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