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Swinsty
Swinsty maps
Historic maps of Swinsty and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Swinsty maps
Swinsty photos
We have no photos of Swinsty, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Burley In Wharfedale| Otley| Ilkley| Birstwith| Hampsthwaite| Dacre Banks| Burnt Yates| Ripley
Swinsty area books
Displaying 1 of 28 books about Swinsty and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Swinsty
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West Yorkshire memories
Hardisty Hill
Born 1946, lived at Prospect Farm, Hardisty Hill till 1972. Then got married, returned in 1978 to 2 Hardisty Hill, known in them days as the Airey houses. Parents still lived at Prospect Farm. Went to Fewston School then to Otley Modern. Teacher at Fewston was Miss Cheesebrough. Most people worked for Leeds Council in woods or woodyard at Blubberhouses. Then Yorkhams bacon factory started, both my sisters worked there. I worked in construction industry travelling or lodging away. When returned in 1978 daughter went to Norwood School as Fewston had closed, then to Rosset at Harrogate. Electric came in 1954? Watched Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in Fewston church, many dances and concerts held in Fewston Hall. Washburn Show held for many years in field opposite hall. Hopper Lane Hotel run by Armitages and sheep sales held there. Mr Pearson was land agent for Leeds Council. Wrays buses and Murgatroyds took us to Otley school. When first started Fewston Peels Garage at top of Hopper Hill did taxi for Fewston. As far... Read more
Kettlesing School
I went to Kettlesing School from 1951-1957. Miss Cloak, then Mrs Bundred & sons William & James.
Ancestors
I live near Leeds and Bradford Airport and have always had connections to Wharfedale and visit it weekly as I live very near. My paternal grandmother was Nelly Hutton (she became a Russell). I had no idea till a lady contacted me on another history website that I had ancestors buried at the lovely protected Stainburn church. I now drive past when I am near and occasionally stop for a peak. I have found it surreal that the gravestones go back for many centuries and I had no idea they were there and neither did any of my Leeds relatives. This little church is worth a stop and is set in such a beautiful setting and I feel pleased that some of my family (Rodgers and Huttons) ancestors are at peace in such a lovely spot.
St. Philips School
At this time (1950) I became a pupil at the above school. The playground was truly superb and it has very recently become a permanent green space for the use of the village. This ground has in it a ha-ha and we younsters (I was 9) used to pretend that it was a shelter to protect us from arrows and spears being hurled at us from the fort (school). Unfortunately the school closed down in the mid 1950s. The building is Burley House, a well known large Georgian house at the junction of the old Otley Road with the roads from Guiseley and Ilkley and is now offices. One thing I do remember is that on this junction was an RAC box and often there was a patrolman complete with motorbike on duty at it. He was always kind to us and let us inspect his motorbike and sidecar (don't touch anything). School itself was fine and I progressed quite well although it turned out I was not a scholar.... Read more
Swimming in Wharfemeadows Park
Ha ha, I remember them times!.. As I remember you, Sharon. We have a page going on Facebook at the moment, talking about old memories and buildings that have gone, but are not forgotten.
Otley Revisited
I'd visited Otley the town in the 1960s, walking and rockclimbing as a lad of 18 /20 with friends I met at work in the woollen mills of Bradford and Shipley. My first memory is of looking down from the Chevin to this beautiful view of Otley. My new girlfriend Rosemary Finn and I had walked from Yeadon one summer evening 1958/9. We were both 16 year olds and enthralled with the view. In 2005 I again visited Otley and the Chevin on a holiday from Australia and found the view more enthralling than the first time I was there, especially as I was there with my mum at 90 years of age, and still going strong. What memories I have of Otley and the Chvin and my home of Yorkshire. I'm coming home again SOON ... I remember all my mates from Hutton secondary school too, do you?? ... and the Yorkshire puddings ...
Grandfather
It's not really memory but a request. I come from Bedlington in Northumberland and have found out my grandfather was born in Otley on 24/03/1901. He was born in 16 Burras Lane. Today I visited with only this scant information and I was fortunate to see it was still as least a street but the house gone, although the church closeby was more than beautiful. Does anyone have any pics of the houses on that lane? Or memories of them ?
