St Marys Church, Kirkby Lonsdale

The Parish Church of Kirkby Lonsdale, or by it's official name St Mary the Virgin is a Grade I listed Anglican place of worship overlooking the River Lune in the town of Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria.

Standing on it's current site since the 12th Century, with some of the architecture being of Norman build the church has many influences in it's build due to various rebuilds during it's history. In the 14th century the church was extended by rebuilding the north and south walls further out. further developments in the early 16th century included the addition of a new clerestory, pinnacles and battlements, these were removed during further refurbishments in 1807 as a new roof was added. Again the church was remodelled in 1866 by E.G Paley who once raised the roof, re-floored the chancel, added a south porch amongst many other developments.

In the grounds are a number of Grade II listed monuments and a 2 storey octagonal stone gazebo thought to date from the late 18th century. It was moved to it's current location to the north of St Mary's from the garden of the vicarage.

The pictures below were taken on the 4th April 2015 with a Polaroid is2132 camera. They can also be seen on Clickasnap un-watermarked and higher resolution. Click any image for a link to the Clickasnap version to open in another window.

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Fly Flatts, Warley and Ovenden Moors October 2013

Warley Moor is an area of open land approx. 6 miles north of Halifax on an old road route to Haworth, another 3 miles north of Warley Moor. The area lies just above the village of Wainstalls in an area known locally as Top Withins. The area is stunning and there have been many times I have been there and it seems to have it's own climate, it lies approx. 1440ft above sea level and I have known it sunny and calm when I have left my house down the valley at Sowerby Bridge and rainy and stormy when I have arrived at Warley Moor. The area is known locally by a number of different names, Them being Fly Flatts, Top Withins and Ovenden Moor.

As well as the outstanding moorland giving unbeatable views across the Calder, Hebble and Oxenhope Valleys, the moor is also home to Warley Moor Reservoir and Ovenden Moor Windfarm.

These pictures were taken on the 5th October 2013 using a Samsung Galaxy Tablet, they can be seen below or on Clickasnap full size, resolution and un-watermarked.

Warley Moor Reservoir

Completed in 1872 after a near 8 year build Warley Moor Reservoir or Fly Flatts as it is also known was built on behalf of the Halifax Waterworks Extension Scheme. When full it covers 68 acres, has a depth of 45 feet and holds approx. 193 million gallons. It is known owned and maintained by Yorkshire Water and the home of Halifax Sailing Club, established in 1959 the reservoirs high elevation makes them the highest sailing club in Britain.

Ovenden Moor Wind Farm

Opened in 1993 at a cost of £12 million, they site had 23 turbines when completed. Controversial when opened due to the turbines being in an area of outstanding natural beauty overlooking Bronte Country, and the Calder & Hebble Valleys the original turbines were expected to have a life span of 25 years and generate enough power for approx. 5500 homes. These were decommissioned in 2015 and replaced by 9 turbines with the power to generate more electricity, an estimated 11000 homes can now be powered from here.
  

The video below shows a number of pictures taken around the moor on a number of visits including this one on the 5ht October 2013.

 

 

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Halifax Pubs Volume 5

I have recently posted on a few occasions about the pictures I took of the pubs of Halifax Town Centre in May 2018, this is to be my final post of this collection and I have now included the video of the entire set of 32 pictures which I have uploaded to YouTube.

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The Old Post Office

The first Post Office in Halifax was sighted here in 1790, the pub was known as the Bowling Green until 2008 when it closed for a spell before re-opening in 2010 with it's current name.

The Royal Oak

Rebuilt in 1929 using timber from HMS Newcastle the pub has had a number of different names in recent years including Tap & Spile and Dirty Dicks. It as here that Olive Smelt had been drinking on the 15th August 1975, the night she was attacked by the Yorkshire Ripper to become his 2nd victim. Happily she survived the attack and although she struggled to get over what happened that night lived to the age of 82.

The Westgate

Originally built as an house it became a pub some time after 1843 when the owner John Oldfield Bates had died. Despite plans to refurbish the building and it's good central location near to the Piece Hall and Borough Market it has remained closed for several years now.

Union Cross Hotel

The Oldest Inn in Halifax, it was renamed the Union Cross in 1745 to show support for the crown during the Jacobite Rebellion. Daniel Defoe and John Wesley have both stayed here, and like most old pubs within Halifax there is said to be tunnels from the cellars to the Parish Church. The building is Grade II listed. Webster's Brewery opened an in the adjoining Union Cross Yard.

The White Horse

Built in 1899 as a replacement for the earlier White Horse that opened in 1819 and stood nearby. The rebuilding was due to Southgate being widened.

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Halifax Pubs Volume 4

Batch number 4 is another set of 6 pubs / clubs from the centre of Halifax, West Yorkshire. All were taken in May 2018 using a Nikon d3300 SLR camera.

Atik & Vinyl

Starting life in 1913 as the The Picture House until 1960, when it was closed for 2 years before becoming a bingo hall. Opened again as a cinema in 1973 it continued until closure in 1982. Again the building was unused for a few years before becoming the Coliseum Nightclub and Maine Street bar in 1987. In recent years it has been known as Liquid, Atik and Maine Street has become Vinyl. The building is Grade II listed.

Bar Rouge

There are actually 3 different pubs/clubs housed in this building, Bar Rouge, Fusion and Panacea. Originally the site of the Globe public house the building was the head office of the Halifax Equitable Bank until it was taken over by Martins Bank in 1927. It then became a branch of Barclays Bank in 1969 until closure in 1985. In the early 1990's the building was converted at great cost by Mansfield Brewery in to the Coiners Bar. It has since had a number of names and owners and is currently up for sale.

Cat & Fiddle

Originally the Golden Lion housed in the all white washed building next to Bon Marche, the pub extended in to the nearer building in 1987. It adopted it's popular nickname the Brass Cat in 1981 and has been known as the Cat & Fiddle in 2014.

The Plummet Line


Built in 1897 as a replacement for the earlier Plummet Line Hotel which was to be demolished during the Bull Green redevelopment. Both were open alongside each other until 1898 as it is said there must always be a Plummet Line in this area of Halifax. I was once told that this was were Halifax RLFC's coaching team and senior players mapped out the tactics for their successful 1987 Challenge Cup run which resulted in Halifax beating St Helens 19-18 in the final at Wembley. Apparently the get togethers were known as the Monday night club.

Railway Hotel


The Railway is a former Ramsden Brewery pub within site of Halifax Railway Station. The hotel was the place where Janet Currie spent the night before drowning her child in the Calder & Hebble Navigation Canal. Despite people seeing her throw a bundle in to the canal, a child's body being found and being charged with the killing of a child on a couple of other occasions, the jury found her not guilty.

The Courtyard


Built in 1755 as Holly House it did not become a pub until the 1980's when it opened as Carrington's. It's most popular era was the 1990's through to early 2000's when it was known as the Bass House.

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Halifax Pubs Volume 3

Continuing my recent collection of pictures featuring the pubs of Halifax. This post features 7 pubs all pictured early one Sunday in May 2018.

Duke of Wellington

Opened as the Goose at the arcade at the turn of the Millennium, the building was originally home to the Co-operative society of Halifax. The name was changed to the Duke of Wellington in 2012.

Harrison Social

Originally a gentleman's club opened in 1890, the Borough Club, it became a pub / restaurant in the early 1980's and has been known as Flashman's, Bar Eleven and Harrison's Social since.

KoKo's and Flamenco

Once 1 pub, now split in to 2 units, KoKo's is in the former accommodation of the building with Flamenco's occupying the former pub unit. It is said to be the most renamed pub in Halifax with previous names including the Crown & Anchor, Heaths, The Adega, Broadies and the Continental amongst other names.

Maggie's and Mcfly's

Opening as a Jumpin Jak's Nightclub in 2002 in what had been Halifax's last remaining cinema, the building has had a number of owners and names since, including The Groove and Chicago's. Occasionally the upstairs where the cinema screens can still be seen is opened for the public to view and reminisce.

The Gundog

Opened in 1829 the pub frontage was completely rebuilt in the early 20th century. Prior to being renamed the Gundog in 2016 the pub has also be known as the Sportsman, the Cooper's Arms & the Rose & Crown.

The Jubilee

Renamed the Jubilee in 2012 to commemorate the golden jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, the pub was more popularly known as the Portman & Pickles for many years. Previously known as the Wheatsheaf and the William Deighton.

Yates's Wine Lodge

Another pub that's had plenty of names including Rosie O'Grady's, Foggy's, the Black Swan and since 1992 has been the home of Yates Wine Lodge.

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Halifax Pubs Volume 2

Volume 2 of Halifax pubs is another set taken in May 2018 featuring 5 nightspots on this post.

The Barum Top

Opened in 2000, the Barum Top is a JD Wetherspoons pub, purpose built on the site of a former car garage and carpet store.

Ring O'Bells

Rebuilt in 1720, a pub has occupied the site since the 13th century. The pub is said to have a tunnel connecting the cellar with the nearby Halifax Parish Church.

Old Cock Inn

The Old Cock was built in 1580 as a town house by William Saville. It became an inn in 1668 and is thought to be amongst the oldest in Halifax. It is where the meeting to form the Halifax Permanent Building Society took place and the meeting place of the notorious Cragg Vale Coiners gang.

Inn-Cognito Restaurant

Closed in 2018 so the owner could retire, Inn-Cognito had been a fixture of the Halifax dining scene for over 35 years. The building was originally a Whitaker's pub called the Hope Inn which closed in 1971.

Acapulco Nightclub and Gourmet Restaurant

There's not much to add about the Gourmet Restaurant, it started life as the Broadway Supermarket and has had many users over the years until a few years ago when it became a Chinese restaurant, now been closed for several years.

The Acapulco Nightclub is said to be the UK's longest running club, opened in 1962 it is still a popular nightspot today.

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Vintage Railway Pictures. Sir Nigel Gresley, Sir Lamiel, a Mystery and the Ribblehead Viaduct

In addition to my own pictures I like to collect postcards, photo and slide collections from others. The following 4 pictures are part of a collection of slides I recently acquired and am currently digitising, the copyright was assigned to me during the purchase.

The 1st of my images from this collection is the LNER Class A4 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley locomotive. Built in Doncaster in 1937, the 100th Gresley Pacific built remained in service until 1st February 1966. Since withdrawal the engine has been refurbished a couple of times and now runs along heritage lines and is used for rail excursion tours along the mainline. On the day the picture was taken it was running from Marylebone Station, London to Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire.

Image 2 I have entitled Ghost Train, due to it taking on a blue hue whist I was editing it on photoshop. Other than being pictured on the 5th August 1986 I have no other information regarding what the locomotive is or where it was stopped.

The 3rd image is of Southern Railway 777 Sir Lamiel, taken on the 1st December 1986. The loco is a N15 King Arthur class, built for Southern Railway by the North British Locomotive Company. Entering service in June 1965, Sir Lamiel ran until October 1961. Now part of the national collection it's home is the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire.

Slide 4 is of the Ribblehead Viaduct, taken in August 1976. Then was still then a double track across the viaduct and I believe it to have been taken from the near to where Ribblehead Station would have been sighted. This was during the period of the station being closed between 1970 and 1986. The viaduct was also subject of closure threats along with the line during this period, with British Rail proposing that the costly repairs to the Ribblehead Viaduct would make the line unviable.

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