Tit Bits about Honley
We often take our surroundings for granted. Every day you probably walk past many places in Honley without knowing the fascinating stories that lie in their past. Read on for five amazingly interesting facts that all Honleyers should know.
Fact 1: where the door leads to…
Have you ever walked past the well on the High Street and noticed the studded wooden gate just beyond? Perhaps you thought it was a rustic entrance to someone’s garden. In the past, however, this gate used to keep in more than a few flowers.
Behind the door there used to be a holding pen or ‘pinfold’ for stray animals – and in those days we’re talking sheep and pigs, not just the odd Jack Russell that’s escaped from the back garden. Any stray animals caught by the ‘pinder’, who was in charge of the pinfold, would be housed in the pinfold until they were claimed by their owners.
It was a convenient place for the pinfold as directly opposite (where you’ll now find the car park and bottle bank) used to be Honley’s livestock market. Owners had to pay a fee before their animals were returned. Rumour had it that Joseph Moorhouse (the last pinder in Honley) found many an animal before it had actually been lost, which earned him a pretty penny.
Fact 2: It’s criminal what went on here…
The grand old house next to the entrance to Honley Park used to be Honley’s very own police station. In fact, Honley had it’s own police presence until around 1990, when the building was sold to private owners and is now a stunning home. The house has retained the old cell, but it’s now a very pleasant place that you definitely wouldn’t mind occupying.
Do you have any stories of visiting the station? Did you ever occupy the cell? We’d love to hear your stories and please share any old photos you may have of the police station in full working order.
Fact 3: Just what the doctor ordered…
Just off Church Street and Townhead is a wonderful old cottage called Hawthorne Cottage (you can see the wooden gate on Church Street). Even if you’ve lived in Honley for a number of years, though, you might not know that this used to be the doctor’s house, belonging to Dr Thomas Smailes, whose father and grandfather were also doctors.
Although built in 1741, parts of the building actually date back to the 16th Century. The current owners are kindly opening their gardens for viewing in June 2021, as part of the Honley Open Gardens where you are sure to be amazed by the beautiful garden and house.
Fact 4: Honley has a history of strong women…
Dora Thewlis was born in Shady Row at Meltham Mills, which at the time was within the boundary of the Honley township. In 1907, aged just sixteen, she joined her mother as a member of the Huddersfield branch of the Women’s Social and Political Union.
That same year, Dora travelled to London to take part in a planned protest, which led to an attempt to break into the Houses of Parliament. Around 75 women were arrested, including Dora, who rose to fame when pictures of her being frogmarched away by police appeared on the front page of the Daily Mirror after the event, with the caption “Suffragettes storm the House”.
Dora was patronised by the judge at her court appearance and condescendingly labelled the ‘Baby Suffragette’ and the ‘little mill hand’ by the press. The judge suggested her parents might take her in hand and sort her out. Their reply was she was her own person and they fully supported her! How refreshing.
Dora emigrated to Australia, where she lived until her death in 1976 at the age of 86. According to her grandson, Dora ‘remained a political activist’ all her life. There is a photo with Dora and surrounded by women of today mounted outside Honley Library. Copies of the poster are available to buy from the library
Fact 5: Time to take stock…
Did you know that Honley has its own stocks? The centuries old stone remnants can be found in the grounds of St. Mary’s Church.
St Mary’s is a Grade II listed parish church, which is mostly Victorian and constructed in 1843 by Robert Dennis Chantrell. Later additions came along in 1888 and 1909. St Mary’s church was built on the remains of an earlier church, known as ‘Old Peg’ which was built in 1759. It’s thought that an even earlier building, possibly constructed in 1503 once stood on the grounds.
It’s in the surrounding burial ground, which has tombstones dating back to the early part of the 19th century, that the village stocks can be found.
If you have any interesting historical facts about Honley places or people, we’d love to hear from you.
Information courtesy of Honley Civic Society and various historical web pages, including Huddersfield Exposed and Wikipedia. Thanks to all.