Tales from 1894

Oyez, Oyez!   Before modern communications we relied upon the Town Crier for news and notices.   ‘On Tuesday evening Mr W. Rawson of Westgate, Elland was appointed Town Crier. The following were fixed as the maximum charges for his services in ‘crying’ in different parts of the township:- West Vale, Greetland and outer district…

A New Club

July 1927 –  A new working men’s club was opened by Councillor Fred Holroyd. The new building, which replaced less commodious premises on Huddersfield Road, is situated on a site in Rosebery Street, and has been designed by Mr Exley Fisher, who is architect to Elland District Council. The cost of the building, exclusive of…

The Grand Old Lady of Elland

On 11th March 1921, Elland was in mourning as the death of Elizabeth Smithies was announced. Mrs Smithies, of Ellen Royd, was the wife of the late Joseph Smithies (Albert Mills), the mother of the late John William Smithies and the grandmother of John Stansfield Smithies. All three men had been active in the public…

The Cross – Elland

The Cross The original Elland Charter is ‘missing’. The replacement Charter from 1889 may be ‘missing’. Whatever happened to ‘The Cross’? It is believed that the former Market Cross stood in the centre of the Cross opposite the Savile Arms. Was this Market Cross erected in 1317 when the Charter was granted or earlier as…