Hours of film and photograph footage of Horsforth goes online in virtual Heritage Open Days event

Hours of footage of Horsforth from more than a hundred years ago has been uploaded as a heritage weekend goes on-line.
By Emma Ryan
Published 9th Sep 2020, 06:00 BST
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Heritage Open Days have been taking place across the country for years with more than 5,000 historically important venues that are usually closed to the public opening their doors.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, some events for this weekend's event will take place for the first time online while others will happen in the usual way if government guidelines allow.

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One of these is the Horsforth Diary and a series of postcards, photographs and original film recordings.

Fink Hill looking towards the bottom of Town Street in about 1930 in an unusual and unpublished view.Fink Hill looking towards the bottom of Town Street in about 1930 in an unusual and unpublished view.
Fink Hill looking towards the bottom of Town Street in about 1930 in an unusual and unpublished view.

See More: Old photographs of Horsforth through the yearsThey have been compiled by Horsforth filmmaker, Mark Saville who has been filming in Horsforth since 2000 and in the last five years has created more than 170 talks on Yorkshire.

Around five hours of film on Horsforth will be uploaded to the YouTube Channel, "Around & About Yorkshire".

It includes a tour of Town Street in 1883 using old photographs and postcards; original 16mm film from the 1930s includes the official opening of Hall Park in 1932 as well as other Parades and a Whitsun Sing at the bottom of Town Street.

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Another, already uploaded, is a film of the Newlay area of Horsforth between the Leeds-Liverpool canal and Calverley Bridge.

The Bell Chapel built in 1758 and demolished in 1885. This shot was taken around 1880. It was transformed into a Peace Garden in 1972.The Bell Chapel built in 1758 and demolished in 1885. This shot was taken around 1880. It was transformed into a Peace Garden in 1972.
The Bell Chapel built in 1758 and demolished in 1885. This shot was taken around 1880. It was transformed into a Peace Garden in 1972.

An 80 mins film, Horsforth Diary, was filmed over a year in 2005 with the highlight being a jumble sale that gets out of hand.

Mr Saville said: “People will probably surprised to see themselves, friends and neighbours – some of the younger people caught on film will now be in their late teens or early 20s and will have a good laugh. You don’t think Horsforth has changed but it has massively – so many community groups lost (Horsforth Music Festival, Horsforth Flower & Vegetable Show, choirs) and the closure of Park Lane College (latterly Leeds City College) and the Horsforth Training Centre for people with disabilities.

"It’s all there. People using the facilities, now all gone. The most amusing thing is probably a fight breaking out at a jumble sale. With the lockdown I’ve now had the time to create these into films and now have a worldwide audience, and they are encouraging visitors, both local and overseas, to explore Yorkshire”.

A message from the Editor:

Mid Town Street. The properties to the right all exist from Lloyds Bank, Santander. To the left were all demolished in 1966 for the shopping parade Tithe House. At the top of the shot were some cottages set back, this is where Morrisons is now. Photo dated 1937 but could be pre WWI.Mid Town Street. The properties to the right all exist from Lloyds Bank, Santander. To the left were all demolished in 1966 for the shopping parade Tithe House. At the top of the shot were some cottages set back, this is where Morrisons is now. Photo dated 1937 but could be pre WWI.
Mid Town Street. The properties to the right all exist from Lloyds Bank, Santander. To the left were all demolished in 1966 for the shopping parade Tithe House. At the top of the shot were some cottages set back, this is where Morrisons is now. Photo dated 1937 but could be pre WWI.
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Thank you

Laura Collins

Related topics:HorsforthPeopleYorkshire

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