A report by Stuart Greenwood, on the talk given to us on Friday 14th April 2023 by Michael Peel – “Hebden Bridge Victorian Quarter”.
Michael had a really easy evening as he showed us a film he had made during lock down. However, he must have spent many hours putting together his film of Victorian Hebden Bridge containing scores of old and modern photographs of the town as it grew in the 19th and early 20th century. His first photo was of the White Horse Hotel in about 1856, near where the present market in now and then Hope Church in 1857 followed by various building schemes including houses, workshops, mills and shops in the Albert street New Road and other areas financed by a number of individuals including Rev. Patchett, Mr. Crabtree and Mr.Wade and others. One problem they met was lack of good drinking water, drainage and some flooding. Also some iron and metal businesses were causing pollution. Several large fires destroyed some of the mills but this encouraged the formation of a local fire brigade with a new up to date fire engine. We were shown some of the public houses built at this time—The Railway and The Albert with some stories of some of the publicans as well as the building of the massive Central Coop, all still in use today if not all for their original purpose.
Many of Michael’s photos were taken from above showing the street layouts and a number showing shops etc. then and now, including Lloyds Bank and several in Crown Street and Market Street.
Julie Wild gave a vote of thanks to Michael for his detailed and fascinating film which must have taken a great deal of producing. Michael replied that he was thinking of adding to it and making some revisions.
