18 replies to this topic

[H2drogen]

I overlook the none too picturesque Scout Hut at the bottom of Peel Place and see Victoria Hall on older maps of Burley. Also there are tales of a cinema down Peel Place.
There don't seem to be any images of the VHall as you might expect of something named after a significant monarch (most Victoria halls are pretty impressive buildings used for the sorts of events that get photographed loads. Does anyone have photos of the hall?
What happened to the hall and why was it demonlished? WHat happened to the impressive masonry (if there was any it would probably have been used to build something else around the same time).
I guess I should ask at the library next time I'm in.

[catbazza]

H2drogen, on 21 August 2011 - 11:42 PM, said:

I overlook the none too picturesque Scout Hut at the bottom of Peel Place and see Victoria Hall on older maps of Burley. Also there are tales of a cinema down Peel Place.
There don't seem to be any images of the VHall as you might expect of something named after a significant monarch (most Victoria halls are pretty impressive buildings used for the sorts of events that get photographed loads. Does anyone have photos of the hall?
What happened to the hall and why was it demonlished? WHat happened to the impressive masonry (if there was any it would probably have been used to build something else around the same time).
I guess I should ask at the library next time I'm in.

The Victoria Hall was used by the Home Guard (formerly the LDV commonly called the Look/Duck & Vanish squad) as their headquarters & was commonly known as the Drill Hall throuhout the last war, & at the back entrance was the Burley mortuary which was in existence for many years before the war, & the Ilkley Urban District Council after the war then sold it of as a cinema, but as to the whereabouts of the original masonry I have no knowledge.

[sykga01]

I've seen a photograph of a jubilee party held on Peel place with the hall in the background. As well as a cinema I think it was also used as a mortuary and training facilities for home guard and/or firemen. I think it was knocked down in the 50's but the library would be the best place to check - they have an excellent archive in the back room

[H2drogen]

Thanks for this. It just seems like one of those civic buildings that has disappeared. If it was a stone build, you'd expect some remains but the clean up must have been pretty good.

I will try the archives before they "get lost" during any suggested relocation of the facility.

[ex-user]

The clue to it's age
is in the buildings name.
There must have been
mixed emotions
when the building was reduced
to rubble
By Ilkley Urban District Council
In 1963

Home to 11th Howitzer Battery
Royal Field Artillery
Ammunition Column
4th West Riding Brigade.

So you can see
it dates back before
The Home Guard.

Many of the brave men
whose names
are on memorial panels
in the church
and on the war memorial
in Burley park
will have drilled
and trained
there.

Burley seems to have had
many members
of a cycling brigade
which fought
in France
with the territorials.
I spoke to one survivor
many years ago
who told me
the heel against rear tyre
was the brakes
and how he passed messages
between command posts.

I think perhaps
there should be a plaque
on that site
lest we forget.

In the same era
the wrecking ball claimed
many cottages at Woodhead
some more
on West Terrace
and Near Jake Wrights
and at the end of Sun Lane
And opposite
The Malt Shovel
and The Ben Rhydding Hydro
A church off Wells Rd Ilkley
another on Leeds Rd Ilkley

Demolition stone
was in plentiful supply
but little demand
re-cycled perhaps
possibly buried.

[Jorty]

I first remember "Victoria Hall" being refered to as the "Drill Hall" & yes it was used during W.W.2 by the Home Guard. Think it may have been built by B.U.D.C. for the local militia & W.W.1 ? After the war it became a cinema & when that closed Ilkley U.D.C. had it demolished. I think it was the first of our public buildings we lost ?
Since then we've lost a few more :-
Primitive Methodist Church & Hall, Sun Lane, now housing.
Wesleyan Church Hall, Main Street/Back Lane, now a nursery.
National School, Aireville Terrace, now housing.
(Old) "Parish Room", off Station Road, now an office.
"The Grange", Station Road, now a college etc. [This was once B.-in-W's. town hall in B.U.D.C. days (& I.U.D.C.)]
Part of the "Queen's Hall" (was "Lecture Hall"), now a nursery.
"Malt Shovel" hotel, may become flats ?
And now our library's under threat ? (It used to be in "The Grange")
Can anyone else think of more ?

[ex-user]

Jorty, on 23 August 2011 - 03:02 PM, said:

Can anyone else think of more ?

All is lost to the village
for it is all in the hands
of Bradford Metropolitan Council
where once it belonged to a smaller
local population.
But to trump Jonty;
we lost the Road menders steam roller stone shed
existing still as The Wood Turners workshop
and a refuse tip Off Sun Lane
where a century of Burley detritus
awaits future archaeologists.

[Jorty]

Re. "greenhowleadman's" mention of our steam roller shed, during W.W.2 it was H.Q. of our Auxliary Fire Service with a telephone & bell system to alert the brigade. They had a large Humber car with a Coventry-Climax trailer pump there, with additional equipment in the council yard on Station Road. The air raid warning siren was on the roof of the "Grange", south west corner. After the war I think Hall & Pickering, joiners, used the building.
The tip down Sun Lane was a site of much activity for us lads, a source of bicycle parts etc. We had a cache of bike bits under a holly bush there & could knock-up a whole m/c for any visiting cousin during the summer hol's. Rat hunts were another tip activity, usually with catapults & spears etc. I was disappointed never to have got one with a bow & arrow, but I'm sure it was done. The advent of air guns however tended to remove the sporting aspect.

[catbazza]

Jorty, on 24 August 2011 - 10:37 AM, said:

Re. "greenhowleadman's" mention of our steam roller shed, during W.W.2 it was H.Q. of our Auxliary Fire Service with a telephone & bell system to alert the brigade. They had a large Humber car with a Coventry-Climax trailer pump there, with additional equipment in the council yard on Station Road. The air raid warning siren was on the roof of the "Grange", south west corner. After the war I think Hall & Pickering, joiners, used the building.

I can only fault you on one point 'Jorty' & that is the ex steam roller shed held no relation to the joiners workshop next door, the owners of the joiners were Thorne & Hardakers.

Then Horace Hardaker separated from from Thornes buisness & started a builders yard opposite Pullans farm in the bottle neck which is now the bus layby & shelter, also nearby was Mark's greengrocery & Robinsons grocers plus Crooks bakery & sweet shop & a sweet shop on the western corner of North Parade (now a house).

I agree that rat hunting was a faourite weekend sport for the lads down at the tip.

[marygill]

catbazza, on 24 August 2011 - 12:54 PM, said:

I can only fault you on one point 'Jorty' & that is the ex steam roller shed held no relation to the joiners workshop next door, the owners of the joiners were Thorne & Hardakers.

Then Horace Hardaker separated from from Thornes buisness & started a builders yard opposite Pullans farm in the bottle neck which is now the bus layby & shelter, also nearby was Mark's greengrocery & Robinsons grocers plus Crooks bakery & sweet shop & a sweet shop on the western corner of North Parade (now a house).

I agree that rat hunting was a faourite weekend sport for the lads down at the tip.

Hubby loved the rat hunting and used to bunk off school in Catney Woods.
Do you remember Sonny Slaters electrical shop next to Crookes & wasn't the sweet shop Mary's?, I do remember Hall & Pickering having the joiners workshop at some point on Sun Lane.

[sixties_surfer]

I remember the old cinema and Crooks's bakery, Sonny Slater's, Hall & Pickering at the end of Sun Lane and Tom Bower's where Jason's is now, as well as the library being in The Grange. The Cheshire Cat was the sweetshop and is now the new dentist's. Was the newsagent's owned by Clifford Cole? Does anyone remember the little shack that was a sweetshop at the top of Langford Lane?

[wharfedalegas]

greenhowleadman, on 23 August 2011 - 07:51 PM, said:

All is lost to the village
for it is all in the hands
of Bradford Metropolitan Council

As Bradford Metropolitan Council
did not come in to existence until 1974,
not all the destruction of
Burley's historic buildings
can be laid at their door.

Just saying

Edited by wharfedalegas, 25 August 2011 - 10:21 AM.

[Jorty]

Back to the 'thread' of this topic, B.-in-W's. lost community buildings. I've thought of three more that may qualify, all in the same 'neck of the woods' :-
Scalebor Park hospital used to have events the public could attend. Thank goodness the playing field's still available.
Moor Lane Centre. Did it have a function room which could be hired ? I think it had a social club there ?
"Crina", the Girl Guide Hut at junction of Moor Lane & Hag Farm Road, now a house. Before my time, but it served the community from 1923 up to W.W.2.
In reply to "60s Surfer", the little sweet shop in Station Road near the top of Langford Lane was at the end of Lane Top terrace (which Rushy Beck used to flood). It was owned by a Miss Burton. It was tiny, only room for two inside.
Clifford Coles, newspapers & tobacconist was central part of what is now the Co-op. It was one of three in the village when we had four fish & chip shops & SEVEN butcher's shops !

[ex-user]

The Cobbler's hut
and the Ice cream green hut
at Woodhead!


The Railway station buildings
The firing range on
t'moor and the red flag
which signaled live firing.

The mill chimney and
the old swannery.

[Jorty]

"Greenhowleadman" mentions the mill chimney, yes a feature of our local landscape & of course a smaller one at Scalebor. However I'm baffled with his "old swannery" (where swans are kept & reared)? I do remember mute swans nesting among the willows in Brownsholme field before its drainage was improved & we could get to it. The seasonal pond there often had ducks & waders. I remember seeing a black tern & a greenshank there, very unusual, & at the far end, behind Manor Park, there were water voles in the river. Local anglers tell me that "Ratty" is still about.
"'Orty".

[Yorkshireman]

Jorty, on 23 August 2011 - 03:02 PM, said:

Can anyone else think of more ?

I know it is not one that springs to mind but I remember a while ago seeing a For Sale sign in the 'Sauna' above the Deli. Now i'm aware that has been a part of Burley for a good while but thankfully it is one of the bits of heritage that have finally gone from our village. Can anyone remember when the Hot tub fell through the Ceiling and into what now is the Deli?

[Sebastian-Smythe]

Look/Duck & Vanish squad - What a hilarious name!

Afraid I'm just a wee bit young to understand the full meaning but there's a few around today who fit the bill.
Keep an eye on the photo gallery and I'll see what I can find for you.

[Sebastian-Smythe]

Sebastian-Smythe, on 26 August 2011 - 04:11 PM, said:

Look/Duck & Vanish squad - What a hilarious name!

Afraid I'm just a wee bit young to understand the full meaning but there's a few around today who fit the bill.
Keep an eye on the photo gallery and I'll see what I can find for you.

Have searched my photographs and the only one I have of Peel Place is of the chippy on the corner.
However there's a few new ones in the gallery for you to look over. How many remember trolley
busses in Burley?

[Jorty]

I've remembered another (semi) public building we've lost, although its activity was before my time the building remained & I was told about it.
Anyone heard of the Greenholme Girl's Club ? The building was a large (wooden ?) hut near the mill garages & "Wood Lodge". The site is now covered by the by-pass. It had a tennis court, one of many in the village before the war, which my dad played on & my aunty was in the hockey team.
"'Orty".