

The Eastwood section of the website was first created in November 2003. Some local residents have provided information (special thanks to Albert Howarth, Jack Stansfield, Jack Shackleton and Maurice Hartley for their help and, as ever, the Alice Longstaff collection for many of the photos). We hope that the site will develop by more people contributing their local knowledge.


**First World War Album**


In 1920 Eastwood Chapel Comforts Committee produced an album of photographs and short biographies of everyone from Eastwood who left home during the First world War. To see this fascinating document go to the [First World War album](/pages/first-world-war-album) page.


**Open day**


In March 2004 Charlestown History Group and Eastwood Residents Association held a highly successful open day. This is being followed up by a meeting in June of people interested in forming an Eastwood local history group.


![Eastwood open day](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638718450/eastwoodmeeting1_cebc002b76.jpg#medium)


![Eastwood open day - looking at the website](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638718517/eastwoodmeeting2_ea6f9b6654.jpg#medium)


Eastwood is on the West side of Jumble Hole Clough and is part of Todmorden district. In the 19th century, it was an important (and relatively wealthy) habitation with a lot on industry (much more important than Charlestown).

![A postcard of Eastwood](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638718551/eastwoodpostcard_1ac706b293.jpg)


The station can been seen in the foreground, with the chapel in the centre and Stoodley Glen in the background.


The earliest reference for Eastwood we have found is in 1286 when it was called Estwoode. The name was almost certainly taken from the Eastwoode family who were local landowners acitive from the 13th to 17th centuries.


The older part of Eastwood (now known as Higher Eastwood) is on the North Hillside. When industry and people moved from the tops, the dwellings in the valley were referred to as Bottoms. Eastwood is the present name used for Bottoms.


![A view of Springside from the West in 1902](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638718606/springside1902_07b2fdbddc.jpg)


The mill in the foreground is Nanholme mill. The chimney in the centre is Bridge Royd Mill and the one on the far right is Stoodley Bridge Mill. The track going under the railway line and going up hill is the road to East Lee. The station hotel can be faintly seen in the background.


![The Eastwood Bus at Duke Street bridge](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638718653/eastwoodbus_7d9773b6be.jpg)
  
The bus driver is believed to be Sam Stansfield.

![Four unidentified Eastwood women](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638718689/fourwomenchapel_51ee644fce.jpg#medium)

We are unsure about the location.



This page was last updated April 2009






![A view of Spring Side](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638717929/eastwoodeast_4e9879ec06.jpg#medium)


The mill in the foreground in Nanholme Mill, with Spring Mill on the right and Calderbank House which can be seen behind Spring Mill. Spring Side chapel can be seen in the centre. The houses on the left are the start of Beeton.


Spring Side was situated around the T junction of Halifax Road and Shaw Wood Road. There was a row of cottages built by Adam Collinge and others, with a beerhouse etc., and some industrial buildings.  It was a place in its own right and was considered to be separate from Eastwood.


**SPRING MILL**


This was a cotton mill built around 1860 and possibly owned by the Schofield family. It was used as a storage depot during the second world War. In the 1960s it was partly demolished and was used by Crossleys demolition company. The site now has a small housing estate on it.


**SPRING VILLA**


This grand house, now converted into flats is adjacent to the site of Spring Mill.


**SHAW BRIDGE AND COTTAGES AND SHAW PLAIN LOCK**


We have no information on these at present.


**NANHOLME MILL**


This mill was built around 1870 and was mainly used for cotton weaving. An 1896 review described its work:


"The mills with their adjuncts of nearly two acres, are a source of output for all kinds of plain and fancy shirtings, the more notable items of manufacture being Oxfords, sateens, Grandrelles, Flannelettes, Skirtings, Ticks, Dongarees, denims, Galeteas, Jeans, Bedford cords etc. The products of the Nanholme Mills sustain a market reputation of high standing, both for home and export; and the business which has been established between 30 and 40 years is conducted by both partners, Mr Tatham taking a very active part in the concern. Mr Marshall is a member of the County Council, and represents Langfield and Todmorden, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and has held this position from the first. He is also a justice of the peace for the County.".


It appears from the review that the mill was run by John James Tatham whilst Mr Marshall was the 'front man'.


The leaflet below gives a slightly embroidered view of what the mill looked like.


![An advertising leaflet for Nanholme Mill 1896](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638717978/nanholmemillleafletweb_2dc2c2a4f9.jpg#medium)


John James Tatham passed it down through the family to Bob and Lilian Tatham.


The Tatham family were influential in the district,  Click [here](/pages/people) for more information on the Tatham family. 


The mill was later used by Mitchells for skins and a wood turner. In the 1960s, it was sold by the Tathams to Smith and Nephew and is now the site of canal boat building and Arc and Throstle press who specialise in poetry books.


**CALDER BANK HOUSE**


This house, by the canal was lived in by the Tatham family from about 1910 to 1926 when Charles Robert Tatham died. It was a bed and breakfast for a time and is now a nursing home.


Turning left at the junction along Halifax road towards Todmorden there were several buildings. This area was often locally referred to as Beeton.


**SPRING SIDE CO-OP**


This was on the corner of Shaw Wood Road. It was opened in 1869.


![The opening stone for the Co-op](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638718008/springsidecoop_7de577ebcc.jpg)


The stone was found at Whittaker's stone yard at Hebden Bridge.


Next to the Co-op there were two rows of back to back houses which can be seen on the photo at the top of the page. At present we know nothing about these terraces.


**CLUB HOUSES**


This terrace of about 15 houses was West of the Co-op had a gallery running along the back and underdwellings. It was reputedly owned by the Rechabites, a temperance society. There were two other cottages next to the terrace.

![This photo of a terrace at Springside may well be Club Houses](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638718035/Springsideterrace1975_8a33660ba0.jpg)



**BEETON COTTAGES**


Tax records from 1832 indicate that Beeton was owned by Jonas Bentley of Howarth and others. The terrace, on the north side of Halifax Road, just along from Beeton Corner was built much later. At the end of the terrace was a chip shop.


Turning right from Shaw Wood road towards Hebden Bridge, there were a number of buildings. On the corner were some houses which we know nothing about.


**SPRINGSIDE CHAPEL**


This was next to the houses on the corner. It can be seen in the photo at the top of this page and was clearly an imposing building. It was a Methodist chapel and was pulled down in the 1960s.


On the opposite side of the road was a terrace and Ormerod's green grocer shop.


**THE ROYAL OAK**


At the east end of the terrace was the Royal Oak. This was owned by Masseys Brewery and was known locally as "Satan's Temple", perhaps because of its position opposite the chapel. The last landlord was Stanley Butterworth, who kept pigs at Duke street.


This page was last updated April 2009




Springside



**BRIDGE ROYD MILL and DYEWORKS**


This mill was occupied by Chapman Brothers and still stands although part of it was burnt down.


![Aerial view of Bridge Royd Mill 1986](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638718885/bridgeroydaerial_8dd72813be.jpg)


Bridge Royd was built in 1868 as a steam powered dyeing and finishing mill.  The current Dye Works was used by Moss Brothers, who were established fustian cutters and manufacturers in Hebden Bridge. The mill was constantly added to, particularly in the late 1880s and 1890s.


By 1887 they were also listed as fustian manufacturers at Bridge Royd, but the first mention of them as dyers is in 1897. This move into dyeing and finishing was not typical of the cotton textile industry of the area.


On the 18th February 1878 the fire at Bridgeroyd Dyeworks, Eastwood caused damage £2000 to £3000 (the photo may be of a different fire).


![The aftermath of the fire at Bridge Royd Mill](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638719030/bridgroydmillfire_b2df5eea12.jpg)


It was rebuilt after the 1878 fire with the addition of a heated dryhouse.


In Sept 1890 the Todmorden Almanac reported that "new illumination introduced at the new dying and finishing works erected by Messrs Moss Brothers, Bridgeroyd, Eastwood, viz: the water-gas, which has been put in under contract with the British Water-gas Syndicate, Leeds".


The mill was passed on at some time to a Miss Moss who was deaf and dumb. Her husband Percy Sowden managed the mill on her behalf and they lived in Bridgeroyd House next to the mill. He was a preacher at Naze Chapel in Charlestown and founder of the Little Theatre at Hebden Bridge.


In 1902 Moss Brothers became part of the English Fustian Manufacturing Co. Ltd. until the Company went into receivership in 1982, when Bridge Royd Dye Works was purchased by M. Chapman and Sons (Textiles) Ltd. who still own the mill.


More information about Bridge Royd Mill can be found on the  [Mills](/pages/mills-transport-and-industry) page.


**BRIDGE ROYD HOUSE**


This is to the East of the Mill. The original site was on the opposite side of the road, but it was moved when the railway came through and rebuilt in its present position. From at least 1901 to 1927 it was occupied by the Moss family one of whom, Mary, married John James Tatham. Mary was the daughter of Frederick Hague Moss, variously described as 'fustian manufacturer' and 'dyer and finisher'.


**BRIDGE ROYD COTTAGES**


These are to the East of Bridge Royd House. They had stables under the houses.


One recorded event that probably dates the cottages was that on the 2nd August 1819, George Bentley of Bridge Royd (cottages?) and his son Jonas were killed when blasting stone in a Todmorden quarry.


This page was last updated April 2009




Bridge Royd





The name Stoodley almost certainly comes from the family name of Harrie De Stoodley who was  a local landowner in the late 13th Century (recorded in the court records of 1296).


Stoodley does not have precise boundaries, but includes Stoodley Lane which drops down from the main road and crosses the river at Stoodley Bridge and Stoodley Glen which is on the banks of the canal. Stoodley Bridge partly fell down in the 1920s and was later strengthened. It then passes Stoodley Bridge Mill.


**STOODLEY BRIDGE MILL**


There is some confusion as to the life of this mill, but what follows is what we have gathered.


Stoodley Mill stood between the river and the canal. In the 1850s, this mill was used for manufacturing cotton.The mill belonged to a John Sutcliffe of Stoodley Hall afterwards descending to his son Thomas who was ruined by a fire which destroyed the mill (John & Thomas Sutcliffe  & Co were described as merchants.). The property then passed into the hands of a member of the Hinchliffe family of Crag. The mill was restored being worked by Mr George Hinchliffe J.P. who built Stoodley Lodge.


At some point it became derelict when it was bought by Robert Tatham who built a single story weaving shed with automatic looms. More recently it was used for joinery manufacture and it is now used for refurbishing food processing equipment.


**STOODLEY BRIDGE COTTAGES**


At the end of the mill were two dwellings called Stoodley Bridge Cottages


**STOODLEY GLEN**


Along the canal is an imposing terrace with gardens dropping down to the canal.


![Stoodley Glen with Stoodley Pike in the background](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638719158/stoodleypikepostcard_db766163e7.jpg)

This picture in this postcard was taken before the building of the terrace. The flooded field in the postcard is now a cricket pitch.


Stoodley Glen was built in about 1913. The houses were always owned and not rented, indicating that the terrace was mainly occupied by 'middle class' and skilled workers (as indicated in the photo below).  It is said that the Todmorden end was much less fashionable. Among the occupants were the Hartley family, William Sutcliffe (known as Billy Clogger), Arthur Fielden, Frank Crabtree and the extensive Barker family.


![The Barker family outside their home, 4 Stoodley Glen, circa 1915](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638719189/barkerfamily_a739e8f2f9.jpg)



This page was last updated April 2009




Stoodley






Access to the south hillside is provided by Stoodley Lane and Shaw Wood Road which are connected by Lee Bottom Road (previously also called Stoodley Lane). There are a number of dwellings on the lower slopes and a number of hillside farms and a quarry along Stoodley Lane.


**LOWER STOODLEY AND STOODLEY HALL**


Lower Stoodley consists of Stoodley Hall which is the dominating building, with an adjacent farm, stables and cottages.


Stoodley Hall was occupied in the late 18th and early 19th century by the Sutcliffe family.


![A silhouette of Thomas Sutcliffe](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638719315/thomassutcliffe_75ff074436.jpg#medium)



![Inscription on the reverse of the silhouette of Thomas Sutcliffe](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638719382/thomassutcliffe2_dc1b815a68.jpg#medium)


Thomas Sutcliffe was born at Stoodley in June 1780, died at Stoodley Bridge on June 8th 1836 and was buried at Cross Stone on June 11th 1836.


Robert Tatham (1837 - 1908) gained employment as a domestic servant at Stoodley Hall. At various times he is listed in the censuses up to 1891 as a gardener, groom and coachman, although curiously on one of his sons' marriage certificates and his own death certificate he is recorded as having been a 'land agent'. Click [here](/pages/people) for more information on the Tatham family.


Stoodley Hall was taken over at some point (1930s?) by the Mitchell family who controlled the movement of coal in the district. The hall was occupied by Major James Mitchell and his sons John and Kenneth and daughter Patricia.


Nearby the Hall is a dwelling called Gilbert Hey.


**STOODLEY LODGE**


Stoodley Lodge is off Stoodley Lane, largely hidden by tress. It was occupied by two generations of the Tatham family, from at least 1891 to at least 1943.


**DWELLINGS ALONG STOODLEY LANE**


**Middle Stoodley (House)**


In 1888, John James Tatham married Susannah Mitchell of Middle Stoodley, who was the daughter of James Mitchell (deceased), the Eastwood coal merchant.

Middle stoodley was occupied in the 1930s by Amos Mitchell (same family as Stoodley Hall) and his daughter.


**Higher Stoodley (Farm)**


In about the 1850s Robert Tatham and his family lived for short periods at Higher Stoodley. At some point Higher Stoodley was occupied by the Bentleys.


**Lee Bottom**


This was owned or rented by a Mr Hurst from about 1920 to 1940, otherwise we have no information on this at present.


**Causeway Side**


Causeway Side was a small terrace of cottages on what was known as Stoodley Lane (now Lee Bottom Road). It was occupied by Martha Sutcliffe (1842 - 1910) who married into the Tatham family.


**Causeway Lathe**


We have no information on this at present.


**Higher Gutter Royd**


This dwelling is now in ruins. In about 1863 Robert Tatham and his family lived for short periods at Higher Gutter Royd. At this time it was known as Gut Royd.


**Lower Gutter Royd**


We have no information on this at present.


**Far Gutter Royd**


We have no information on this at present.


**THE UPPER FARMS**


There are several farms on the south hillside, many dating from the 17th century.

The Halstead family built several of the farms. Click [here](/pages/people) for more information on the Halstead family.


**Height**


This farm was run by the Jacksons at some point.


**High Gate**  (now known as Height Gate)


This farm is now run as an activity centre by the Woodcraft Folk.


![The Woodcraft Folk centre at Height Gate](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638719430/heightgate_e0ae873819.jpg)


**Higham**


This was owned by the Eastwood family in the 1900s. It may have been called Rougham in the 19th century.

**Hillhouse**


Nothing is known about this dwelling.


**Burnt acres**


This dwelling is now a ruin.


**Oaks**


This dates from 1701 (an inscription on the lintel reads RB TH 1701). The adjacent barn dates from the mid 19th Century. It may have originally been called Hawks. It has a cart entry and possibly had an unheated dairy and cottage. The cottage could have been used by seasonal workers at hay-making or sheep shearing time. For a period Oaks was occupied by the Hartley family (descendents of "King David" of Cragg Vale coiners fame).


**Lower Oaks**


Nothing is known about this dwelling


For information about other hillside farms go to the [Callis Wood](/pages/callis) page.


This page was last updated April 2009



South Hillside





The name probably is derived from the packhorse bridge (leading from the cricket field over the river and up to Burnt Acres) and Holme which is a meadow or dry ground in a marsh.


**VICTORIA TERRACE**


The terrace runs alongside the main road (on the right in the photo below). Although known locally as Victoria Terrace, the terrace has three levels with different names: the underdwellings on Victoria Terrace were called Back Victoria Terrace,  the houses above the gallery were Victoria Terrace, and the fronts were called Halifax Road.


At the East end of the terrace was a grocer shop (now a sign maker). In the 1920s this was run by Mary Grace Dawson who was famous for her soprano voice. The shop was later run by Reuben Martin. At the West end was Herbert Fielden's paper shop (the only part that went through both front and back or the terrace) that later became a Post office/newsagent/sweet shop run by Lionel Nichols. The ginnel which long provided acess between the two blocks has now been blocked


![Steam engines heading towards Todmorden, April 1960](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638719559/doubleheader_b3e1cee4dc.jpg)

Victoria Terrace can be seen on the right and the cricket club is beyond.


**BRIDGEHOLME CRICKET CLUB**


The history of the cricket club is a little unclear, but we know that it used to be called Eastwood cricket club.


![The ground today](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638719592/bcctheground_c8482f69ce.jpg)


The photos about the cricket club have been collected and were published on a website called Cricket History of Calderdale and Kirklees. This site fell into disuse but there are plans to reinstate it by [The Yorkshire Cricket Foundation](https://yorkshirecricketfoundation.com/our-work/index/category:heritage).


Next to the current cricket pitch is an area of marsh land which was the original site of the cricket pitch and was later used as a football pitch. This land was owned by Hammonds Brewery who ran the Station Hotel. The Brewery leased the land for the cricket pitch.


On 3rd June 1893 there was a ceremonial opening of a new cricket pavilion  by Mr J.E.Craven, president of the Eastwood Cricket Club. The building was erected by Messrs Halstead Brothers, Eastwood at a cost of about £33.


![The 1902 team - the earliest photo we have](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638719629/bccteam1902_f0133b6cae.jpg#medium)


We are unsure at what point the cricket club moved to the present site, but the 1952 article above talks about the reconstruction of the old Eastwood cricket field.


![The 1953 team](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638719652/bccteam1953_0091bb4789.jpg#medium)


![Basharat – a star player](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638719686/bccbasharat_e157b60572.jpg#medium)


![The 1990 team](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638719709/bcc1990team_f72e1e5280.jpg)

The Cricket club rebuilt its pavillion in 2002 and this is now used for community activities. The pavillion and the field is also used for the annual Eastwood Festival.


Three photos of the cricket team. They are all undated. Can you help us date them?


![Photo 1](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638719742/bccteamundated_0ca65ec45f.jpg)



![Photo 2](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638719766/bccteamundated2_a3d57fdf6c.jpg)



![Photo 3](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638719791/bccteamundated3_40d44e3bdd.jpg)



This page was last updated September 2009





Bridgeholme



Duke Street had three types of dwelling, all with outside toilets and supplied with water from springs on the hillside:

- The main terrace was back to back one-up, one-downs (although many were knocked through at a later stage). Many railway workers lived on Duke Street and several of the dwellings housed very large families. The terrace was demolished in the 1960s.
- Two older detached houses each of which appeared to be two houses knocked together (leaving two staircases). One was occupied from about 1939 by the Healey family.
-  A larger detached house at the Hebden Bridge end (known as the Manse) was owned by the railway, probably built for a supervisor. The house was later occupied by a manager of Cockden Mill (Crabtree's Dyeworks) and in 1924 Clifford Crabtree the owner of the dyeworks lived there. His wife, Madame Cissie Hey gave music lessons at 2/6d an hour.

The rest of the houses were demolished in the 1970s to form the base for a new road from Duke Street up to Higher Eastwood. The new road was needed as the proposed continental style railway crossing would have caused problems of access (there were some stories of the signal man not always being entirely awake). The new road was proposed by Jack Shackleton who gave some land towards the project. An enquiry was held at Duke street and then at Todmorden Town Hall. The new road was known as Stoney Lane (after the name of the old road).

![Steam engines heading towards Todmorden, April 1960](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638720127/doubleheader_7a7028163d.jpg)

The terrace on the right is Victoria Terrace and the terrace on the left is Duke street.

**THE FREEMASONS ARMS**

This pub near Duke street (known locally as Old Bottoms) was the main meeting place in Eastwood. the Prince George Lodge of the Masons were meeting at the Freemasons Arms in 1812 along with other clubs and Friendly Societies. The Freemasons had a motto displayed on its wall:

"This house stands well and hinders one;
Refresh and pay and travel on"

The Freemasons was another casualty of the railway and was pulled down in 1852, being rebuilt and renamed the Station House Hotel.

Above Duke Street was a large orchard with its own well which was in existence in the late 19th century. Before the Second World War, the orchard was run by Albert Lomas and after the war Arthur Beckett ran it, living in a small home built shanty.


This page was last updated April 2009

Duke Street


Higher Eastwood is a small cluster of houses on the North hillside and was the original settlement at Eastwood. In 1851 it was known as Eastwood (reflecting the absence of dwellings in the bottom of the valley), it later became known as Upper Eastwood (presumably as Eastwood in the bottom of the valley grew). We are unsure when it became known as Higher Eastwood.

The hillside above Higher Eastwood had many farms, some have disappeared, many have become private dwellings. The last section of this page (Other Settlements) tries to plot the evolution of settlement on this hillside.

We are deeply indebted to Jack Shackleton who provided much of the information on this page. Jack died in 2008.

**EASTWOOD HALL**

Coming up from the valley bottom, this is the first dwelling that you come upon. It is an imposing early Nineteenth century middle-class mansion, probably built between 1816 and 1833. Eastwood Hall would have been built by the Eastwood family when they felt that the now named Old Hall did not reflect their current status.
![Eastwood Hall](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638720544/easthallcrest_fa51aec542.jpg)

Note the Eastwood family arrow symbol on the gate posts (which can also be seen on the arch below).

Above Eastwood Hall are three buildings:

-  **The coach house** for Eastwood Hall is now a dwelling called Glen View.
- **Old Hall Barn**, now a dwelling, looks to have been built in the Nineteenth century. However it seems to have been built on the site of an Seventeenth century twining mill. This was probably referred to as Lower Mill which was used for cotton spinning. In the grounds is a vertical brick shaft used for washing fleeces.
- **Meadowcroft** is a Twentieth century dwelling built on the site of of a previous dwelling (built around 1805) called Eastwood House farm.

**OLD HALL FARM**

This Seventeenth century dwelling is on the right. It used to be known as Eastwood Old Hall, perhaps until Eastwood Hall above was built. It was built in 1767 by Thomas Manley Eastwood and remained in the Eastwood family until 1929.

![Date stone at Old Hall Farm with the Eastwood family arrow motif](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638720718/oldhalldate_3315ef2631.jpg)

![Jack Shackleton with Jersey cow in front of Old Hall Farm (circa 1935)](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638720758/jackshackwithjerseycow1935_2cf78d5cec.jpg)


To the West of Old Hall Farm is a building which used to be a toll house. The tolls were mainly for horse and carts carrying stone from the many quarries on the hillside. The carts were so laden that an assistant drew water from the many wells around to pour over the metal wheel rims and brakes to cool them down.

Directly behind the house is a separate yeoman clothier’s shop of c.1710. Under its roof, is an attic partly used for cooping birds. Flight ledges and entrance holes are sited on the west gable, though the openings themselves are now blocked.

**EASTWOOD SHED**

This mill was used for cotton weaving. It was built in two sections around 1840. It had a take in shop for weaving pieces, probably Kersey (low grade cotton) - 30 feet long and 4 foot wide. It had room for 144 looms, many of which came from Cow Bridge Mill in Jumble Hole. It was powered by an overshot wheel fed by Staups dam on the hillside with a small holding dam just above the mill. This was later replaced by a horizontal Lancashire steam boiler which was dragged up the hillside from the bottom by 12 chained horses.

The mill was made bankrupt on several occasions and finally closed in 1929. The iron was used as a part of the war effort and the chimney was taken down and used to build dry stone walls in the locality. In the 1950s, the mill was used for hens and chickens and later used milking cows. It is now a workshop.

Click [here](/pages/mills-transport-and-industry) for more information on Eastwood Shed.

**TERRACE**

This terrace of dwellings is known as 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 Higher Eastwood. It was built by John Eastwoode in 1630 in the reign of Charles the First. Charles the First wanted to make John Eastwoode a "sir", but he refused saying he couldn't afford the cost. He was fined £10 for contempt.

In the 1880s the cottages were part of a lease of Eastwood Shed.

The dwelling at the West of the terrace was built much later.

![Date stone at the centre of the terrace](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638720807/higheastwooddate_a0b946bec1.jpg)

The dwelling above the terrace (number 9 Eastwood) was built around the same time as the terrace.

**UPPER MILL**

Number 10 and 11 (also known as Rose Cottage) was also built in the mid Seventeenth century. Above the building is the site of a small dam with a culvert going into Rose Cottage. This use of water power probably indicates that it was the site of Upper Mill. In the early Nineteenth century Upper Mill was recorded as being used for spinning cotton and worsted. In 1805 it had four mules with 844 spindles.

From the Stansfield rate book it appears that Upper Mill was leased out (with Eastwood Shed) from about 1854. However, from 1868 it is standing empty for ten years. In 1880 when Eastwood Shed is revalued there is no mention of Upper Mill, probably indicating that it was no longer being used as a mill. The building is now a residential dwelling.

**OTHER SETTLEMENTS ON THE HILLSIDE**

The hillside was very populated from the 17th century with many dwellings being used for farming and weaving. The Eastwood and Mitchell families owned many of the farms and many are still in existence.

**Great house and Great House Clough**

These were in existence in 1670 as Oliver Heywood was holding chapel meetings at Great House that year (more details on [Eastwood Chapel](/pages/eastwood-chapel) page).
In 1788 Great House was owned and occupied by Luke crossley.
Great House Clough was occupied by a Jonathan Harrison (a cattle doctor) who died there in 1870 aged 72.

**Pex tenements**

We have no information on this at present.

**Field Top**

This was also known as Syke Field and Ivy Cottages. These two dwellings on Eastwood Lane were in existence in the 1850s. We have no further information on them at present.

**Upper East Lee**

Upper East Lee was used for weaving as well as farming. It was farmed by the Sutcliffes at some time. It was connected to Old Hall farm by a footpath.

**Lower East Lee**

Lower East Lee Farm is dated from 1631.

**Mount Pleasant**

Mount Pleasant was a three story dwelling, It was in existence in the 1850s. It is believed that it used to be a work house and also a toll house in earlier days.

![Mount Pleasant 1910](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638720850/mtpleasant1910_b84d9cb8f0.jpg)

The photo shows the toll gates at the top of the road (in the bottom left hand corner).

The house was later divided into two dwellings and owned by the Nye family from the 1940s, but in the 1960s the top story was removed and it was made into one house and greatly modernised.

  ![Mount Pleasant in 1949](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638720885/mtpleasant1949_42935805c3.jpg)

The greenhouse has gone, the trees have grown and the garden is extended by land rented from a local farmer.

It is thought that the poem below was written by Allan Barker in the early 20th century. The poem may indicate that Mount Pleasant was formerly (or locally) called New Biggin.

I live at Mount Pleasant  
A place in Eastwood,  
If I call it New Biggin  
It would be better understood.  
Mount Pleasant is three stories high.  
With a grand lookout.  
On a nice summer's day.  
There's fields all around it.  
Covered in green,  
I don't think there's anything.  
Unfit to be seen.  
There's a garden at the end.  
That I garden myself.  
And sometimes look around it.  
To see if all's well.  
One day in my walks.  
I was sorry to find.  
That some naughty boy.  
Had been very unkind.  
He'd pulled off the berries.  
And thrown them on the floor.  
I thought if I'd caught him.  
He'd do it no more.  
But turn to winter.  
Where Christmas comes on.  
How starved we all are.  
Especially our john.  
For the house is a cold one.  
And cold winds come in,  
If you don't mind it's raining.  
You get wet to the skin.  
But we're hoping things will be.  
Mended before next spring.  
Or Cock a Bob will.  
Make a rare din.  

![Mount Pleasant in the winter of 1950](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638720930/mtpleasant1950_af829f6e40.jpg)

The three photos of Mount Pleasant have been sent to us by Audrey Watts who lived at Mount Pleasant in the 1950s and now lives in Australia.

**Chapel House**

This dwelling was in existence in the 1850s. It was built as a Chapel originally names Benthead (see [Eastwood Chapel](/pages/eastwood-chapel) page for more information). Reputedly John Wesley once preached there.

 ![Chapel Houses in about 1950](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638720966/chapelhouses_1acec4dcf4.jpg)

The photo is taken from the top floor of Mt Pleasant. In the background behind the houses you can see "Devils Rock" near the trees.

**Cockhill cottage**

This dwelling was in existence in the 1850s. We have no further information on this at present.

**Birks**

This dwelling was in existence in the 1850s. We have no further information on this at present.

**Grey Stone**

This dwelling was in existence in the 1850s. We have no further information on this at present.

**Gable End**

This dwelling was in existence in the 1850s. We have no further information on this at present.

**Coppy Bottom Fold**

This dwelling was in existence in the 1850s with six people living in it. It was demolished some time before the 1920s. We have no further information on this at present.

**Bowl End**

This was already in ruins in 1851.

**Top of Common**

This dwelling was in existence in the 1850s. It is now known as Nethercroft. It was demolished in 1955 after it had been vandalised. It was latterly used for keeping hens upstairs and pigs downstairs.

**Knowl End**

This dwelling was in existence in the 1850s. It is now a ruin. The last known occupier was called Goldie of Dam End. We have no further information on this at present.

**Whitely Royd Farm**

This dwelling with attached barn was in existence in the 1850s. It is now two dwellings. We have no further information on this at present.

**Hipperholme Farm**

This Farm was in existence in the 1850s. It has now been divided into four dwellings. We have no further information on this at present.

**Lane House Farm**

This farm was built in 1718 (the date is still on a lintel). Either Lane House or Upper House was once known as Lane Top Farm. It has now been divided into two dwellings. We have no further information on this at present.

**Upper House Farm**

This farm was in existence in the 1850s. It has now been divided into two dwellings. We have no further information on this at present.

 

This page was last updated April 2009






Higher Eastwood and North Hillside


The earliest records we have found are some 1788 tax records that refer to Bottoms being owned by Anthony Crossley with David Hollingrake occupying. This probably refers to the farm and ale house that predates the hotel.

**THE STATION HOUSE HOTEL (MASONIC HALL)**

This hotel was built in about 1850 to replace the Freemasons Arms and was run by David Hollinrake (known as “Davie i’th’ Bottoms."). The Station Hotel was built with some assistance from the railway company and was described as "the principal house of call between Todmorden and Hebden Bridge".

![An advert from the Todmorden Almanac, late 1880s](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638806998/stationhotelad_ea5ada3a9f.jpg#medium)


In 1853 the Prince George Lodge of the freemasons, established at Old Bottoms in 1812, moved from Underbank to the Station House Hotel.

![Masonic ceremony room 2004](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638807097/mainroom_44aae5681d.jpg)

![Masonic robing room 2004](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638807145/anteroom_556674a029.jpg)


![Masonic collection cabinet](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638807169/masoncabinet_71d0648053.jpg#medium)


![Masonic gallery of grandmasters](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638807190/grandmasters_e29e995343.jpg)


For further details about masonry, John Craven's 1886 book, "Freemasonry at Bottoms, Eastwood" can be seen at Todmorden Library.

From 1881 to 1902, the Guardians of Todmorden Union (the local good and great) met at the Station House every alternate Wednesday.

The Todmorden Almanac reports that "On 19th April 1889 at the Station House Inn, Eastwood, friends of ex PC William Pearson presented him with a gilt timepiece valued at £5.10.0. and £3 in money for the faithful and conscientious discharge of his duties".

On the other hand, another report in Jan 1891 describes "an exciting dog-muzzling case at Todmorden Petty Sessions in which a policeman at Eastwood was fined 1/- and costs of 12/6, for allowing a dog in his charge to have it's muzzle hanging round it's neck".

On 31st August 1892, William Pickles, alias "Peer", was found on the barn floor of the Station House Hotel, Eastwood, in an unconscious state and taken to the workhouse where he died the same day. It was supposed he had fallen about 20 feet.

![Advert for Station Hotel circa 1890](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638807233/stationad_bd5e1afa7a.jpg#medium)


On 12th May 1894 "The valuable freehold and copyhold estate known as "Bottoms", Eastwood, comprising the well accustomed and fully-licensed inn or public house known by the sign of the "Station House Hotel", now occupied by Mr John Widdup. After some lively bidding the lot was knocked down to Mr James Crabtree, Bridgeroyd, for £3710".

![The entrance floor to the Station Hotel](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638807271/stationhotelmat_f0edfa2ffe.jpg#medium)

 Photo taken by Peter Hartley


John Widdup died in 1902 after being landlord for 21 years. Later landlords were a W. Crabtree and Thos. Dewhurst.

The Station Hotel was owned by Hammonds brewery who closed it in November 1966.

**BESS PIT & EASTWOOD CO-OP**

Next to the hotel is a small terrace. The first house on the corner was at one time the police house with a coat of arms of the constabulary. Before the second world war the police officers were called PC Blenkiron and then PC Slater. The next building is the site of the Eastwood Co-op (now a retro clothes shop).

Next is a terrace of two dwellings built by William Cockroft in 1870. He was living there with his wife Hannah (nee Jackson) when their daughter Betty was born in 1873 (joining older brothers Thomas and James). Each dwelling had two rooms at the Halifax Road level, an attic and a basement room. In the 1920s, Herbert Dawson, a decorator lived there, keeping his equipment in the railway embankment opposite.

![A charabang outing outside Eastwood Co-op](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638807315/eastwoodcoop_11e492525b.jpg)

The picture includes members of the Dawson, Hartley and Halstead families, probably taken in the 1920s.
Thanks to Maurice Hartley for this photo.


The opening of the Co-op on 8th Oct 1895 was reported by the Todmorden Almanac:

"The new Co-operative Store at Eastwood, a branch of Todmorden Industrial Co-operative Society, was opened by Mr William Jackson, the president of the society.
After the ceremony the delegates, officials and others adjourned to the Station House Hotel, where after a substantial tea they spent a pleasant evening in toast and harmony".

The Co-op had over 250 members before the Second World War. The Dividends were paid out once a year and were sometimes 2 shillings and 6d in the pound.

![A close up of the Co-op window](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638807360/eastwoodcoopcloseup_dced2abe2f.jpg#medium)


**EASTWOOD TENNIS CLUB**

The tennis club had one court and was situated on the land at the back of Bess Pit between the river and the canal (there are now allotments and gardens there). Members raised funds to build a pavilion which was completed in about 1920. The members provided teas every Saturday in the summer. Unfortunately the land was flooded and the pavilion destroyed, so the club was abandoned.

 

This page was last updated April 2009





Bottoms



Much of this information about Eastwood Chapel comes from a booklet published during the Second World war. The book is called Congregationalism at Eastwood, written by Herbert Wood. If anyone is particularly interested in the Chapel, a copy of the book can be seen at Todmorden Library.

 **Early non conformism**

In about 1670, Oliver Heywood was holding meetings at Great House which the authorities repeatedly attempted to shut down. He was later imprisoned for his activities. After the 1689, the movement flourished and a room at great House was leased. In 1704 a group split away over the issue of infant baptism and founded a meeting house at Rodwell End. By 1719, the congregation had outgrown Great house and erected their first Chapel holding 200-300 people at Bent head (now called Chapel-houses).

![A sketch of Benthead Chapel](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638808327/bentheadchapel_a7693b05ff.jpg)

From the mid 18th century, the chapel went into decline due to the 'exceptional mortality in the district'. The congregation dropped to a handful of people.

**Myrtle Grove**

By the early 1800s, with the coming of industrialisation, the population was moving from the tops into the valley bottom. Discussions about moving the chapel began in about 1805 and local gentry settled endowments for the new chapel to be built. The new chapel opened in the summer of 1807 was called Myrtle Grove and stood on the site that later became Eastwood Railway station. It had a capacity of 500 people.

![A sketch of the Myrtle Grove Chapel](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638808351/myrtlegrove_945ccf91a2.jpg)

The chapel dissolved for a short period in 1817 due to a lot of rows between pastors and the congregation. The Deacon at this time was an Edmund Lord who worked as a weaver at one of the Rawden owned mills in Charlestown. The congregation again declined from about 1820. A minister's house was built in 1826, close to the Station House Hotel (this may have been at the end of the terrace in Duke Street). In 1838 the railway petitioned to include the site of the Chapel and it was purchased by the railway company in the following year.

A view of the Eastwood population at this time:

"It must not be imagined from what has been written so far, that the inhabitants of Eastwood were all upright and honest citizens. there were evildoers in those days as there are now, and laws against theft or damage to property were much more drastic. Tradition has it that representatives of the village were sent as convicts to Australia. Stealing was by no means uncommon and occasionally cloth was taken from the handlooms. Hand weaving persisted for a long time after the coming of the power loom, and the weavers sometimes took precautions against theft by tying the warp ends to their feet before retiring for the night......The less reputable amongst the population indulged in such sports as cock fighting, rabbit coursing, clog fights or wrestling for wagers. The Non Conformists on the other hand, still strongly under the influence of puritan tradition, looked askance at such pleasures and regarded them as enticements of the Devil".


**The New Chapel**

The new chapel opened in the summer of 1840.

![A view of Eastwood Chapel](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638808464/newchapelexterior_73c46d81f1.jpg)


![The rescued Eastwood Chapel date stone (presently located at Higher Eastwood)](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638808518/eastwoodchapeldate_74d0b2015f.jpg)


![The original interior of the chapel](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638808551/oldchapelinterior_ebdabbacc8.jpg)

The services were accompanied by a twelve piece volunteer orchestra (strings, woodwind and sometimes a cornet) until in 1877 when an organ was installed. The first choir was started in 1887. The Chapel was refurbished in 1885 with new seats and gallery front.

![The interior after refurbishment](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638808574/newchapelinterior_0c2145bcf3.jpg)

You can see from the photo above that the chapel boasted a fine organ. In the 1920s, the bellows were pumped by a man called Abraham who lodged at Wood Bottom.

The First World War caused further friction in the congregation with the majority supporting the war. The minority pacifist group were often ostracised by the majority.

In about 1920 there was consternation in Eastwood when a young good looking minister called Mr Gibson joined the men in the corridor outside the Sunday School room and smoked a cigarette

The preparations for the centenary celebrations due to take place 1940 were rudely interrupted by the second World war.

Ministers during this period included a Mr Mills and lay preachers Mr Wilcock and Mr Arthur Greenwood (manager of Walsden Co-op). The last pastor was John Brightman who lived in the Manse up East Lee Lane. Ministers were known for their very lengthy (and boring to some!) sermons, but were greatly admired for visiting people in need.

**Model of Eastwood Chapel**

A few years ago one of the group was taking stuff to the tip at Eastwood and saw a small wooden model in a skip. She rescued it and later we discovered that it was of Eastwood Chapel. The three photos below show the level of detail on the model.
Who made it, when or why, we don't know.

![The chapel model from the front](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638808637/chapelmodelfront_6b4916d02a.jpg)

![The chapel model from the side](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638808660/chapelmodelside_c13a85f830.jpg)

![The chapel model from the back](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638808696/chapelmodeldoor_b6759ffcea.jpg)

The Chapel was finally pulled down and a bungalow built on the site, but the graveyard still exists to this day (see archive page for photos and list of gravestones).

Eastwood Chapel was used for many community activities as well as a place of worship.

**The Sunday School**

The chapel at Myrtle Grove set up a Sunday school which was rebuilt as part of the new chapel.

Every year, on the 4th Sunday in May, the Sunday School anniversary was celebrated with old members who had moved away coming back for a reunion. The children occupied the front seats in the chapel gallery and sang hymns that they had practised for weeks beforehand. The choir was conducted by Ronald Sutcliffe. It was the day for new clothes.

Every year there was a Sunday School treat. In the 1920s and 30s this involved walking in procession to a farm on the hillside for games and sports (with prizes). Also memorable were the school buns and unbuttered currant bread with coffee.

**Other groups meeting at the chapel**

The chapel held evening meetings in the school area. One group was called Rosebud Juvenile Temple or The independent Order of Good Templars. These rosebuds met each week in the vestry with a president, vice president and treasurer, each of whom had regalias to wear. The group was given a talk, recited the pledge not to drink, smoke or swear and occasionally had games or competitions. Every winter, there was a coffee evening in the big room of the Sunday School - games in teams and circles and buns! An event of the year!

The older members' group was called Myrtle Grove Lodge and also preached that smoking and swearing was evil and that "strong drink is raging".

**The local bank and friendly society**

The kitchen in the chapel was used as a branch of the Yorkshire Penny Bank (which later became the Yorkshire Bank). At some time, it was run by Edgar wood who acted as the actuary. The Wood family were active in Chapel life. The sunday school ran a sick and funeral society which in 1881 had funds of £349 and 75 members.

**Eastwood day school**

After the 1870 Education Act the school Board set up a day school with the boys taught in the Sunday School premises and the girls 'looked after' in the vestry ("turning out some very good sewers and knitters").

In October 1927 there was a terrific downpour and the culvert at Cockden steps became choked by refuse which caused a flood on the main road. The water soon made its way down the steps and into the congregational school - the floor being covered to a depth of 18 inches. A concert which had been arranged for the saturday night by the Todmorden Co-op Society has to be transferred to Springside W.S.School.

**Eastwood Players**

The sunday school building was also use for entertainment with the Eastwood Players putting on regular performances as can been seen from the photos below.

![An unidentified performance (of an unknown date)](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638808776/eastwoodplayers_675c15cd01.jpg)

The performer on the far left is Harry Dawson, the bishop is Herbert Hartley. The photo was probably taken outside the main doors of the Chapel.

![Two actors from an unidentified performance (of an unknown date)](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638808815/eastwoodplayers2_e8f87b3cfd.jpg#medium)

The performer on the left is Ethel Dawson (nee Barker).

![1949 programme of Eastwood Players](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638808843/eastplayersprog_4ce91ba37d.jpg)

![1935 performance of The man who changed his name](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638808912/eastwoodplayers1935_35dcdde1ff.jpg)

The performer on the right is Doris Sutcliffe (nee Stevens), The man standing is Percy Sutcliffe, her husband.

![1935 performance of Pace Egg play](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638808952/pageegg_5ab4f97050.jpg)

The performer in the middle, at the back and wearing what appears to be a mop head is Derek Barker Dawson and the guy 3rd from the left at the back is Maurice Hartley, who still lives in Eastwood.

![1949 performance of See how they run](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638808971/eastwoodplayers1949_8848ca6438.jpg)

See [Archive](/pages/charlestown-archive) page for further pictures of the players.

**First World War Album**

In 1920 Eastwood chapel Comforts Committee produced an album of photographs and short biographies of everyone from Eastwood who left home during the First world War. To see this fascinating document go to the [First World War album](/pages/first-world-war-album) page.

 

This page was last updated April 2009



Eastwood Chapel



Cockden was the main industrial area of Eastwood, with several mills and workshops.

The earliest report about Cockden we have found is from 10th January 1852: "On this date, Mr Thomas Chadwick of Cockden, Eastwood, coal merchant, presented to Wm Nicholl (a man who drove three asses) a pair of monster clogs. The soles were of old English Oak, and contained 140 clog nails, and the iron that surrounded them was screwed on with 40 screw nails, 1 and a half inches in length. The clogs weighed 18 lbs".

In Jan 1890 the Todmorden Almanac reports on the Inquest of Eli Scott of Cockden who was found dead with his head in a well at Sike House, Eastwood on the previous Friday.

**MILLS AND WORKPLACES AT THE WEST END OF COCKDEN**

**Halsteads**

Halsteads were one of the main employers in the Cockden area. They had logs delivered by canal and were able to carry out the whole process from uncut log to finished product.

The adverts below show that their products were sold all over the country.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638809455/halsteadadvert3_dd47382422.jpg#medium)



![](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638809503/halsteadad1_193165cbcb.jpg#medium)

Both adverts were in the Todmorden Almanac in the late 1880s .

In July 1884 a most destructive fire occurred at Halsteads resulting in the destruction of the workshop in which a large amount of finished work ready for delivery. The work included the new fittings for a Wesleyan Chapel at Halifax. Damage was estimated at over £3000.

On 25th June 1890 Mr S Halstead of Eastwood was elected as a member of the Todmorden Local Board following the resignation of Mr John Fielden. This would indicate that the Halstead family had significant status in the locality.
The firm was later run by Josiah Halstead who lived on Halifax Road. He had five children: Frederick, Edward, Sydney, Winnie and Stephen. Frederick and Edward ran the business at some time. Frederick was the organist at Eastwood Chapel for many years and moved to Hope Street Baptist when Eastwood closed.

The mill closed in its 99th year and remained empty until it was burnt down. The gutted building was sold for £1.

Click [here](/pages/people) for more information on the Halstead family.

**Dick and Annie's**

This mill (known locally as Dick O' Nanny's) was on the other side of the road from Halsteads. This mill was used for all sorts of activities including bone crushing!

**Hitchen Peels**

Close by were the stables for Mitchells coal yard, a shop called Stansfield and a firm called Hitchen and Peels who were cloth merchants and sold bobbins and sewing tackle. It was a thriving business with five of the Hitchen family, Teddy Peel a travelling rep and his sister as a part time secretary.

The eldest son Edwy entered the business in about 1903 and it was his role to take parcels of cloth to the station every day. The business probably involved buying bulk cloth from woolen mills and selling it in smaller lots. Hitchen Peels warehouse was the old Corn mill which had a stable underneath. Customers entered a small door to climb the stairs to the upstairs warehouse. Bu slumped at the outbreak of World War II.

The Peel family lived at Wood Villas at Sandbed. They probably attended Naze Bottom Chapel, but they were ardent Good Templars (tee totallers) and came to meetings at Eastwood. There may have been a falling out with Cedric Hitchen who was reputed to have been seen sitting in the Station Hotel. He married the landlord's daughter (Louise green) and took her to India where he worked as an industrial chemist.

![View of the West end of Cockden in about 1912](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638809600/eastwood1912_9ed90932c8.jpg)

The photograph above shows that the West end was dominated by Cockden Mill and Eastwood Chapel.

To the right of the chapel were some horrendous dye settling tanks and a former pub and Bankcrofts clogging shop.

The terrace under the railway included from the right Mitchell's coal weigh office, Appleyard's chip shop and the Halfway House pub.
Half way along the terrace was a small arch under the railway which gave access to Cockden Mill and steps up to Higher Eastwood.

![Footpath and arch to Cockden Mill](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638809652/eastarch_1b2158b53a.jpg)

Cockden Mill was known locally as Dan Crabtree's. It was a mixed mill covering most of the textile processes, but especially dyeing. Dyeing is a complicated process and Dan Crabtree employed colour chemists, one of whom was called Emett Hugh.

The mill seemed to regularly catch fire, for example, two reports:
"On 30th February 1879 a fire at Dan Crabtree's dyeworks, Eastwood caused Damage of £400".
"On 25th Oct 1901 at about 1.25 in the morning, a disastrous fire broke out on the premises of Messrs Dan Crabtree & Sons, Cockden dyeworks, Eastwood. The firm estimated their loss at from £2000 to £4000".

![View of Dan crabtree's Mill](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638809735/dancrabtreesmill_f01c977f5c.jpg)

The Half way House can be seen in the foreground.

The mill used water which came down from the manufacturing places higher on the hills, but Dan Crabtree's mill was not universally popular in the area, partly because of the fires and partly because of the sludge ponds located at the back of the chapel. Before 1916, these ponds were used to store urine used in the dying and finishing processes. The urine was collected around Todmorden with the cry "Any old lant" at which women would come out and empty their chamber pots.

Despite the ponds and the fires, Dan Crabtree himself was said to be very popular with local children because of his habit of handing out sweets to them on their way home from school.

On the 10th November 1886, a horse and trap driven Dan Crabtree knocked down Thomas Bentley, aged 10, of Lob Mill. The offside wheel passed over the boy's head causing his death the following morning. The inquest jury brought in a verdict of accidental death.

![Postcard of Cockden Mill](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638809768/cockdenmill_f72df5466c.jpg)

The dyeworks closed after the second World war when it was used as a chick factory, a rope works and a nuts and bolts factory; it was derelict by the mid 1950s.


**HOLM COTE LOCK**

The canal was used to off load and collect materials from the mills in Cockden. The three photos below show the lock and provide good views of Cockden.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638809812/holmcoatlock_3a06dc5d30.jpg)

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638809854/holmcoatlock2_46e954087e.jpg)
 

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638809906/holmcoatlock3_4071292a61.jpg)

The building are (from the left) The Station Hotel, Dan Crabtrees Mill and Eastwood chapel.

**OTHER BUILDINGS IN COCKDEN**

The two photos below show the centre of Cockden with the post office on the right and the Half Way House on the left. Cockden Mill stands above the main street.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638809957/cockden_2b6de3ec81.jpg)

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638809974/cockden_2_a1d5d78b71.jpg)

The hole in the wall in the foreground was a well used before piped water was installed.

**The Post Office**

There is some confusion about the different locations of the Post Office, but we are told that it started life in the terrace on the left in the photos above. One of the Cockroft family worked there in the 1860-1870s. When the postmaster, George Henry Greenwood died (in about 1920) it moved to a building opposite which used to be stables (and perhaps a Co-op and green grocers).

The post office was in the front room and Hettie the teacher with her two sons and a daughter lived upstairs. It was then run by Mrs Ida Sharpe from about 1930 to 1940 who was very popular in the area. She was separated from her husband who had a travelling greengrocers cart. Her son Harold was the local Scout master. When Mrs Sharpe died the post office moved to Victoria Terrace.

![Eastwood Post Office](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638810003/eastwoodpostoffice_827c1c2aef.jpg)

The building on the far left is Valley Street with Benny Tonks shop on the end and Mitchells coal office in front. The building set back from the road has had several uses. It started off as a village institute, became part of Mitchells coal yard (with a weigh bridge) and finally was used for day old chicks by Finney brothers, who sold to a company called Northern Counties Accredited (NCA) who in turn sold it to Thornbers who finally pulled it down.
The building attached to the post office was Bankcroft's clogging shop.This was run by George Henry (known locally as Dord' Arry).

![A foggy day near the Post Office in Cockden](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638810031/gloomineastwood_e8e51296a0.jpg)


![Eastwood Post Office building in the 1950s](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638810056/eastwoodpostoffice_2_f0e8d8e22f.jpg)



**The Halfway House**

The earliest mention of a pub in Cockden Lane was a beerhouse in 1837.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638810169/halfway_ad_27d6a6fe42.gif)



The Halfway House was definitely in existence in 1858 being run by Sam and Betty Sutcliffe. Gilbert Sutcliffe was born at Half Way House in 1884

In January 1889 there was an outbreak of smallpox at Eastwood. Two cases removed to Sourhall Hospital were Robert Sutcliffe of Half Way House and a Mr.G.Wilkinson, a painter.
On 4th July 1901, Robert Sutcliffe died, aged 42. The deceased had "kept this house" a great number of years, having being brought up there and succeeded his father.


![](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638810090/halfway_a5be439c5d.jpg)

 
The Halfway House, still being run by the Sutcliffe family, was closed by 1936.

This page was last updated April 2009





Cockden



The station area was a busy part of Eastwood with several dwellings and the school.

![A postcard of Eastwood station and school area](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638810674/eastwoodpostcard_ea55152157.jpg)

Thanks to Maurice Hartley for this postcard.

Using the postcard, we can identify several sets of dwellings:

- The terrace in the foreground was considered to be a cut above the other buildings and is still standing. To the rear of the terrace was a small paddock accessible through the terrace cellars.
- The next building was three through dwellings with cellar kitchens (you can just make out the gallery to the nearside of the terrace). The rear access to the cellars was by a footpath.
- The next larger terrace had five dwellings on the Halifax Road side called Birch Street and five along the gallery at the back overlooking the river called Woodland View. Birch Street and Woodland View were built by William Cockroft in about 1870. On the corner of Halifax Road Hannah Cockroft ran a corner shop from about 1880 to about 1906.

Several members of the Hill family lived on Birch street. They were active in the social life of Eastwood, being involved in the Chapel, the Good templars and the tennis club. Edna Hill introduced the first Pace Egg play in the area in the 20s, she also was a founder member and secretary of Hebden bridge Little Theatre.

The District Bank rented a house on the road side and a clerk used it as an office one day a week. In about 1920, the council was working on the bed of the River Calder beneath the gallery of Woodland View and a corner of the bedroom collapsed, luckily nobody was hurt. The owners James Cockroft and Betty Hill sued the council, but lost.
The terrace was demolished in about 1960.

Next were two or three terraces end on to Halifax road called Ash, (Oak?) and Valley Streets. These went down to the river edge and were owned by Mitchells the coal merchants. Residents talk of Ronnie Henley collecting the rents and the terrace being poorly maintained (the end of Birch street fell into the river and had to be rebuilt).

The site of these three streets is now a patch of grass - probably indicating that they were condemned and pulled down by the council, in the 1960s.

The land beyond up to the chapel was also owned by Mitchells. On this site Mitchells had coke tips and at some time there was a wooden building used by Finney's chicks.

![The station taken from the West](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638810969/eastwoodstation_view_4f79011b45.jpg)

Photo from the Alice Longstaff collection.

The mill in the distance is almost certainly Halsteads, the terraces on the right are Ash, Oak and Valley Street. The shop on the near corner was called Benny Tonks which was a general store selling everything, there was also a sweet shop at the far end.

Benny Tonks shop was opened in about 1880 and was rented from Amos Mitchell. It was run by William Mitchell (known as Billy Pegs) and his wife. They were joined in about 1920 by their niece Edith Ellen. It was Edith who married Benny Tonks from Charlestown at Eastwood chapel in about 1925.

![Washing out in Oak Street circa 1950](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638810995/washingateastwood_88a9766401.jpg)

![Valley Street circa 1950s (spot the cat in the pram)](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638811062/Birchst1_2da05b4cd9.jpg#medium)


![Valley Street circa 1950s](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638811085/birchst3_794c2a3faf.jpg#medium)


![Valley Street residents circa 1950s](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638811112/Birchst4_cedcd091b7.jpg)

Helen Marshall, Benny Tonks, Edith Tonks, Jim Marshall, Unknown, Mr and Mrs Butterworth, Unknown, Unknown

**EASTWOOD STATION**

The station was built on the original site of Eastwood Chapel, but little evidence of its existence remains. A large number of cottages were built right down to the site of the old Myrtle Grove Chapel, and the old inn at Bottoms. These two sites were absorbed when the railway was made and the chapel and the new Station House Inn built in their stead, the railway company greatly assisting in the provision of funds. The station in its heyday was a busy place with local and long distant trains stopping. Many people used the station to commute to factories in Rochdale and further afield to Manchester.

The shelter (in the foreground of the photo above) was pulled down in the 1930s. Two sloping cobbled roadways (still in existence) provided access to the station with a porters cabin at the top to unload luggage (the cabin can be seen in the photo above and was later demolished by Jack Shackleton from Higher Eastwood).

![A misty photo of the Eastern approach to the station](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638811153/eastwoodstationinmist_d29fbd71d3.jpg)


One report in the Todmorden Almanac in May 1890 refers to a deserter named Kinchlee from the 68th Durham Foot Regiment jumped from an express train as it passed Eastwood Station and made his escape.

![The station gang posing on Eastwood station](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638811177/stationgang_0a9ec384f8.jpg)

Photo from the Alice Longstaff collection.

The far building is the signal box for the coal sidings with the water pump just visible.
The low building was the waiting room and ticket office (run by an Edith Pilling in the 1930s).
The large building in the foreground was the station masters house.
The number of staff employed at the station indicates how busy the station was.

![Eastwood signal box (with the station in the background) in 1969](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638811211/eastwoodsignabox_d5d702b84b.jpg)

The names of station masters recorded are:

- 1841 James Brown
- 1842 John Hitchen
- 1849 Henry Hughes
- 1850 W.H.Johnston
- 1854 Andrew Aspden
- 1855 Thomas Bentley
- 1867 G.Tilburn
- 1872 John Ratcliff
- 1891 Mr T Hall
- 1901 Thomas Allott

Some time later the station was run by Charlie Oldroyd. The last station master was George Logan.

![Eastwood Station approach from the West](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638811309/eastwoodstationcanal_963e167edb.jpg)


The terrace was called Valley Street with Benny Tonk's shop at the end. The carts were part of the Mitchell's coal and haulage business.
Photo from the Alice Longstaff collection.

![Eastwood Station house and gates at the crossing](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638811330/eastwoodstationgates_93370669bf.jpg)

The photo was probably taken not long before the station closed.

Commuting is often thought to be a relatively modern practice, but in the 1920s one of the Crabtree family became a student at Manchester University and travelled in each day in morning dress and a bowler hat!

![The station after it closed in January 1951](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638811376/eastwood_station_94b8570e04.jpg)

Photo from the Alice Longstaff collection.



**EASTWOOD SCHOOL**

Eastwood (Day) School was opposite the station (the gate posts can still be seen outside Thornber's). At its peak, the school had about 60 pupils in four classes with two teachers. The building was divided into two sections for Standard 1 and 2 and standard 3 and 4 (infants and juniors).

The Day school was established by the School Board in about 1875. Before then children were taught at a Dame School which was probably in the Sunday School premises of the Chapel. Children were charged one penny a week for lessons at the Dame School, which prevented many families from using the school and made some choose one child to go as that was all they could afford.

![Eastwood School](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638811423/eastwoodschool_8af88dea44.jpg)

Note the station sign on the left above the school.

The following description of the school was given to us by Mrs Suffolk (nee Cockroft) who attended the school in the 1920s.

"There was a system of pupils who had passed the standard exams to teach the younger children. My mother was a pupil teacher in the 1880s, but failed the qualifying exam and went to Bridge End as an 'ender and mender'- finishing off the ends of cloth and repairing tears".

"Miss Hettie (Greenwood) who was born in about 1890 became an unqualified teacher. When her parents moved to Thornton, Miss Hettie lived at the Station House Hotel during the week. This caused a sensation in the village, as most were strict Good Templars (who were tee total)".

"Children (boys and girls) were taught to knit and sew, but they also learnt to write, read and figure. My mother knew far more about geography than I ever did"!

"If the Board School had not been established, what chance had children of 'bettering' their lot".

![Eastwood School group](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638811742/eastwoodschoolphotohelliwell_cbcc124394.jpg)

We have no details of the date or people in the photo, but it is probably around 1900.

![A postcard of Eastwood School](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638811499/postcardofeastwoodschool_98137436d4.jpg)

The Todmorden Almanac reports that on 5th and 8th Oct 1891 there were attempted robberies at the Board School, a desk and several drawers were forced but nothing was taken.


![Eastwood Juniors (standard 3 & 4) in the 1920s](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638811453/schoolphoto_c69617bb0b.jpg)

Back row (l to r) Franklin Greenwood, (headmaster), Cyril Moss, Alan Priestley, Frank Stanyer, Derek Dawson, ? Houghton, Douglas Halstead, Miss Moss, (class teacher)*
Front row (l to r) Irene Gill, Ada Robertshaw, Dorothy Lomas, unknown, Dorothy Woodhead, Lena Barrett, Rita Ashworth, Edith Fielden
Thanks to Derek Dawson for this photo
*Miss Moss's father owned a sweet shop on Market Street, Hebden Bridge and was well remembered for bringing in chocolate eggs for every child each Easter.
Franklin Greenwood and Miss Emily Moss taught in the senior school from 1919 to 1946. Miss Greenwood taught 'the babies' from about 1919.

Some more memories from Mrs. Suffolk.

"In about 1920, there was a very strict master called Mr. (Johnny) Briggs. Woe betide any boy whose clogs were not polished til he could see his face in them. All the girls and boys wore clogs which were supplied by George Henry at the clogging hut by the Post Office".

"There was a well by the girls entrance, safeguarded by iron railings and a padlocked door. It was probably the source of water for the Woodmill area at one time".

Each year three children gained a County Minor scholarship to the grammar school, the rest went to Roomfield School in Todmorden (now pulled down). There seems to be some debate about whether the children that went to the grammar school went because of their ability or because they were the children of influential parents.

Life at the school was eventful being frequently affected by the river bursting its banks, flooding the boiler and providing another day off.


![Eastwood School group ](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638811829/eastwoodschoolphoto3_ee361cf695.jpg)

We have no details of the date or people in the photo.

In 1932 the school stopped to watch a strange caravan of caged lions and tigers coming down the main road. Unfortunately the elephant leading the procession dropped a huge pile of dung outside the school with the long suffering wife of the head teacher Mrs Halstead had to clean up. In 1935 the school joined the celebrations for the jubilee of George V and Queen Mary, representing Scotland in the procession to Todmorden park.

![Eastwood School group 1929](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638811890/eastwoodschoolphoto1930_f9c510c099.jpg)

Back row boys from left: unknown, unknown, Victor Clark, Albert Martin, Billy Gadsby, Alan Barker, Victor Sutcliffe, Douglas Roberts, Miss Thorp
Back row Girls from left: Joan Sutcliffe, Hazel Oldfield, unknown, unknown, Marjorie Christie, Thelma Britton, Elsie Biggins, Gwen Dawson, Doris Greenwood, Edith Fogill, Joan Bowker, Mary Lucas
Front row girls from left: Marion Stansfield, Muriel Burn, unknown, Winnie Park, Alice Greenwood, unknown, Vera Gadsby, Kathleen Jennings, Doris Greenwood
Front row boys from left: Phillip Sutcliffe, unknown, Eric Dawson, Maurice Stansfield, Angus Barker, unknown, unknown

![Eastwood School group 1933(https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638811533/eastwoodschool2_6803119df4.jpg)

Back row standing from left: Miss Emily Moss, Richard Bowker, Eric Dawson, Alan Barker, unknown, Albert Martin, Wilfred Lucas, Leslie Batty, Victor Clark, Unknown
Middle row standing from left: Wilfred Ashburner, Winnie Park, Doris Greenwood, Muriel Burn, Dorothy Greenwood, Marjorie Christie, Thelma Britton, Doris Greenwood, Edith Fogill, Joe Fogill, F Greenwood, Headmaster
Front row standing from left: Victor Sutcliffe, Unknown, Joan Sutcliffe, Hazel oldfield, Mary Lucas, Joan Rhodes, Billy Gadsby, Walter Riley, ? Snell
Front row seated from left: Harry Green, Unknown, ? Marshall


**After the school closure**

The school closed in the Autumn of 1945. Iit was later demolished with some of the stone being used to build a mill. The mill with north lights was used as a sewing shop owned by a Mr. Greenwood who lived in the terrace next to the mill. It was later used as a foundry called Lowes Castings. Since 1980 it has been used as a sheet metal works, owned by Thornbers who make poultry cages.

**OTHER BUILDINGS IN THE LOCALITY**

The terrace to the east of the school had Phillip Greenwood's butchers shop and Mrs Smith's sweet shop at the other end. In the 1920s and 30s the butcher shop was owned by a Charlie Lord. Mrs Lord who served in the shop wore a black victorian style dress with no apron.

On the east side of the terrace was a weaving shed called Dick and Annies (or Dick O'Nannys) which sold knitting wool to the public. Next door to that was a warehouse which after the war was full of cocoa beans.

These sites are presently occupied by Murgatroyds motor repair business.

 

This page was last updated April 2009


Eastwood Station and School



![1894 map of Burnt Acres](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638812966/1894burntacres_54ad3d30f8.jpg)


**WOOD MILL**

Wood Mill was an old water-driven corn mill (which existed in 1758). In 1788 it was owned by a William Sutcliffe, who also owned Wood Mill Farm nearby.

![An aerial view of Wood Mill](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638813037/holtswoodaerial_38b591f20e.jpg)


At a later date (possibly 1907) the road was elevated and a new mill with steam power was erected on the higher side of the road. The mill was used for fustian manufacture (the North light weaving sheds can still be seen in the photo below), and later was used as a saw mill.

![Wood Mill in 1986](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638813055/woodmill1986_ce4691910e.jpg)

At present (2007) the remains of Wood Mill is empty.

**WOOD MILL INN**

We are unsure of the exact location of the inn. The Inn dates back to the early 19th century and stood near to the mill. It was kept in the 1820s by a Richard Horsfall. In 1868 the landlord Edward Crossley, fell down the stairs and died. Nothing else is known about the Wood Mill Inn.

What seems to have happened is that it was pulled down and a small terrace was built on the site (could this be the terrace referred to below?). The terrace had a butcher shop and a general store and sweet shop which in the 1940s was run by the Stansfields, followed by Annie Jennings. Annie said "every morning the hearth is alive with cockroaches, but what can you expect as the site of the cottages was an old pub" (presumably the Woodmill Inn).

![Burnt Acres Bridge and Mill](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638813090/burntacres_2dcccaf51a.jpg)

The mill pictured above between the river and the canal was once an extension of Martin Holt's picker works and later was used for weaving heavy cloth. It has since been demolished and replaced.

There was a second mill which was probably the premises of Mr John Clay, marine store dealer. On 23rd March 1898 a fire occurred at this mill when upwards of £300 damage was done.

On the south side of the bridge there were about 6 cottages (since demolished) and a single dwelling (still in existence).

**HOLTS MILL**

The red bricked mill called Perseverance works (also known as Holts mill) was built in about 1895 and operated as picker works. The pickers were made of buffalo hide and the mill was infamous for the foul smell coming from it.
![An aerial view of Holts Mill 1986](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638813130/holtsaerial_73d8623098.jpg)

The mill was run by John Holt until the 1930s. He was reputed to be a millionaire although he lived locally in a house called Ventnor and his wife insisted on doing her own housework. He owned a Daimler, but as he couldn't drive, he employed a chauffeur, a Mr Frear who lived in a cottage at Woodmill (near Phillips butcher shop).

![An advert for the picker works circa 1947](https://res.cloudinary.com/hzfgq2dal/image/upload/v1638813149/pickworkad_1add195f54.jpg#medium)

Since the picker works closed, it has been used by a number of industries.

Click [here](/pages/mills-transport-and-industry) for more information on Holts Mill.

 

This page was last updated April 2009

Burnt Acres

Mutterhole (also known as Mutterholme) forms part of the area now covered by the sewage works.

A report from the Todmorden Almanac include in January 1864 the Rev.A.Blackburn was killed by a locomotive at Mutterhole crossing. A report from the Todmorden Almanac in January 1864 states that in 1855 a "Mr Royston Oliver was was set upon by six or more villains on or near to the road to his dwelling house in Mutterhole. Mr. Oliver was robbed of his gold watch, appendages and other articles and 13 shillings in silver. A reward in this case of £50 was offered jointly by the Heptonstall and Todmorden Prosecution societies".

**RAILWAY BRIDGE AND COMMONBANK WOOD**

The woods behind Mulcture Hall that follow the railway line are called Common Bank Wood, they were owned by the Stead family at Mulcture Hall.

The Todmorden Almanac in January 1864 states that the Rev. A. Blackburn was killed by a locomotive at Mutterhole crossing. In August 1904 the girders for a new railway bridge at Mulcture Hall crossing were put into place in the presence of a large crowd of people. The bridge was opened for the use of foot passengers on 20 Jan 1905 and was considered a great improvement to the level crossing which was formerly in use there.

In the 1920s a haul of cloth which had been stolen from Dan Crabtrees dyeworks was found in Bellcorner cave in the woods.

**MULCTURE HALL**

Mulcture Hall is a small hamlet on the North hillside above Jumble Hole Clough. The main house was built in about 1800 by the Stead family, owners of Jumble Hole Mill and Spa Mill. The house frontage is of a later date. The Stead family have occupied the house until the present day.

Behind the big house are two dwellings. One has been converted from the old coach house, the other was formally two back to back cottages knocked together. The Coach house was used by Naze Bottom band for practice.

 

This page was last updated April 2009

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