Since the launch of Hunslet Remembered I've had many people asking me questions I don't know the answer to. They are often seeking information about people, places or firms because they are researching their family history or local history, or are simply keen to remember and learn more about Hunslet.
Please have a look through the questions on this page. If you have some information, contact me at chris@hunslet.org and I'll publish it here.
Please have a look through the questions on this page. If you have some information, contact me at chris@hunslet.org and I'll publish it here.
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Answers needed
Jean Dawdry used to live in the same street as Dolly Dawson. She has a Yorkshire Rugby League medal from 1950-51 that he was awarded when he was Hunslet RLFC's coach. If anyone is interested in acquiring it please contact her at jean.dawdry4@ntlworld.com
Steve Topp asks: Could anyone give me any information concerning Gibraltar Island? Gibraltar Island starts at the end of Old Mill Lane and it is the starting point of the Aire & Calder canal.
Steve Firth wonders if anyone could throw some light on a medal that he found whilst going through his recently deceased parents belongings. He believes it's probably a football medal for the "Samuel Cup" at Princes Field, which he believes was a school in Hunslet. However, he has no idea if this is correct. The medal is dated 1920 and has his grandfather's name, C. Jennings, engraved on it. Any information about the school or cup, or even how to get school records, would be of help in finding out a bit more about his grandfather Clarence, who died when he was really too young to remember much about him.
David Hector is doing some research into Fowlers. John Fowler was born into a wealthy Quaker family. As his Engineering works grew bigger he took over a Public House on Leathley Road called The Cabbage Inn, and made it into the works canteen. Does any one have any information about The Cabbage Inn?
Angela Middleton (nee Broadbent) tells us her father, aged 98yrs, is Hunslet born and bred. He has good memories of Hunslet as all his family (and there were lots of them) lived there. The name of one of his uncles, Alfred Broadbent, was on the war memorial at Henry Berry's. Does the war memorial still exist? Is it legible?
Janet Edwards is researching her family tree for her father Clifford Britten and would like to know if anyone has any information about the Hunslet RLFC player Britten who appears in the 1947-8 team photo on this website.
Anne Riekenberg is researching her Hunslet ancestors. In 1868 a William Coverdale was working at a butter factory. Does anyone know where this might have been?
Dave Myers was told by his grandmother that his grandfather, Samuel North, used to play for Hunslet. He died shortly after the Second World War. Does anyone know about such a Hunslet player?
Lorraine Loftus says her grandad and grandma lived in Hunslet and her father was born there, along with his siblings. Her father told her that her grandad, George Edward Thompson, had a scrap business in Hunslet and also a charabanc. He then supposedly bought a coach after the charabanc (not sure if he did a trade in with the charabanc) but apparently one of his drivers accidentaly killed someone, perhaps as a result of a road accident with one of her grandad's vehicles. Her grandad was so upset that he sold the coach business, supposedly to Wallace Arnold, and moved over to Doncaster. She read in one of Wallace Arnold's archives that he (Wallace Arnold) started his coach business in 1926, so this would fit the timeframe perfectly with when her dad was a young lad growing up while hier grandad was running the business prior to selling it. She would love to hear from anyone who remembers this business or the fatal accident involving her grandad's vehicle. Anything would be of immense interest to her e.g. the place where the business was, the company's name etc.
Lucy Meskouri is looking for photos or any other material about her great grandfather Fred Williamson who played for Hunslet RLFC. There's two pictures of "Fearless Freddie" the website here. Has anyone any more material?
Nick Beaumont-Jones writes about the Swan public house: My maternal grandmother, Alice Bell (nee Burrows) came from Hunslet where she lived at The Swan until, I believe, about 1920. Her father, Richard Burrows, was the landlord and the only thing I remember Gran telling me about was the famous "Swan Particular" which was brewed in the cellar. Unfortunately Gran died in 1990 before the internet was around so I never had the opportunity to share all of the fascinating posts from this website with her, nor research her childhood for the benefit of your readers. I would very much like to know of any recollections of The Swan before its demolition from anyone who remembers it, as I know my mother will be very interested.
Colin Ross (who now lives in Auckland) asks:
What was the engineering company that was on Church Street, somewhere around the the Sun and the Brassmoulders pub. I think it manufactured leaf springs or something similar. I remember wandering around it during my lunch break, when I was working at Henry Berry’s training school in 1972. It was derelict then. I still have the paperweight of a copper plated pewter moulding of a leaf spring, fixed to a piece of mahogany, that I found on the floor of the old abandoned offices. I would be very grateful if anyone could provide a bit of history about this company.
Also, does anyone remember my grandparents, who I never knew. My father, James Ross (1908-1988) was born in Hunslet in the Penny Lane area. He used to play for the Hunslet B rugby team in 1933 and was a very keen, loyal supporter at Parkside. He was known to his friends as Jim, Jimmy or Little Jimmy. He had three brothers, Albert George and Walter, all named after the great Goldthorpe brothers. He had a son, Barry (my step-brother), born in 1940.
Answer
Paul Crowther: The company was Chapman Springs. They were a family business who relocated to Aire Street around 1970. My Dad worked for them from the 1960's, and I remember visiting the premises that Colin describes. I worked for them myself at Aire Street in the summer of 1971 as a general labourer before going to university. My dad had to retire from Chapman's due to ill-helath in 1987. I don't know what happened to the firm afterwards, but in the House of Commons on April 11th 1989, Derek Fatchett M.P. asked a question concerning the Urban Development Corporation in Leeds which I suppose says what happened next: 'Another example is Chapman Springs, a well-established engineering firm in south Leeds. It is now the subject of a compulsory purchase order without consultation, participation and information. From time to time a number of Hon. Members find it convenient to criticise the Post Office or British Telecom. They may feel that that was the reason why the Leeds Urban Development Corporation was unable to talk to either South Leeds Builders Merchants Ltd. or Chapman Springs. Both firms are sited within 100 yards of the UDC's offices. I suspect that Mr. Peter Hartley, the chairman, and Mr. Martin Eagland, the Chief Executive, pass both firms on their way to and from the UDC's offices. A simple courtesy would have been to talk to the two firms. Jobs in two local businesses are at stake. One of the firms wrote to me and said that the Conservative Government pride themselves on their interest in small businesses, so it is difficult to understand how they can allow one of their organisations-the UDC -to behave in such a way.'
What was the engineering company that was on Church Street, somewhere around the the Sun and the Brassmoulders pub. I think it manufactured leaf springs or something similar. I remember wandering around it during my lunch break, when I was working at Henry Berry’s training school in 1972. It was derelict then. I still have the paperweight of a copper plated pewter moulding of a leaf spring, fixed to a piece of mahogany, that I found on the floor of the old abandoned offices. I would be very grateful if anyone could provide a bit of history about this company.
Also, does anyone remember my grandparents, who I never knew. My father, James Ross (1908-1988) was born in Hunslet in the Penny Lane area. He used to play for the Hunslet B rugby team in 1933 and was a very keen, loyal supporter at Parkside. He was known to his friends as Jim, Jimmy or Little Jimmy. He had three brothers, Albert George and Walter, all named after the great Goldthorpe brothers. He had a son, Barry (my step-brother), born in 1940.
Answer
Paul Crowther: The company was Chapman Springs. They were a family business who relocated to Aire Street around 1970. My Dad worked for them from the 1960's, and I remember visiting the premises that Colin describes. I worked for them myself at Aire Street in the summer of 1971 as a general labourer before going to university. My dad had to retire from Chapman's due to ill-helath in 1987. I don't know what happened to the firm afterwards, but in the House of Commons on April 11th 1989, Derek Fatchett M.P. asked a question concerning the Urban Development Corporation in Leeds which I suppose says what happened next: 'Another example is Chapman Springs, a well-established engineering firm in south Leeds. It is now the subject of a compulsory purchase order without consultation, participation and information. From time to time a number of Hon. Members find it convenient to criticise the Post Office or British Telecom. They may feel that that was the reason why the Leeds Urban Development Corporation was unable to talk to either South Leeds Builders Merchants Ltd. or Chapman Springs. Both firms are sited within 100 yards of the UDC's offices. I suspect that Mr. Peter Hartley, the chairman, and Mr. Martin Eagland, the Chief Executive, pass both firms on their way to and from the UDC's offices. A simple courtesy would have been to talk to the two firms. Jobs in two local businesses are at stake. One of the firms wrote to me and said that the Conservative Government pride themselves on their interest in small businesses, so it is difficult to understand how they can allow one of their organisations-the UDC -to behave in such a way.'
Brenda Hardeman writes: Clearing out my late sister-in-law's belongings (Mrs Dorothy Humphries, nee Hardeman) I came across a few old books presented to a Mr. Joseph Firth. They were presented for Adult Bible Classes for attendance. The oldest is dated 1894. The label inside the front cover is "Pottery Field Wesleyan Mission Room, Leathley Road, Hunslet". I have also a hand written essay by J. Firth on "Cardinal Wolsey and Temperance, its relationship to the Church". I would love to return these books to the family if a relative is still living.
Janine Bounden has sent this photo which, according to the words on the ball, seems to show the Prospect Inn 7-a-side rugby team, winners of a tournament in 1939. She thinks the player seated on the left could be her grandfather Sam Hartley, or more likely his brother Willie Hartley. Can anyone put names to any of those pictured?
Posted 2/5/12
Posted 2/5/12
Maureen Brown, who now lives in Perth, Australia, has sent this photo taken, she believes, during the First World War at a munitions factory in Hunslet. Can anyone recognise the factory, and tell us where it was?
Her husband's aunt, May Plowman (b.1897) is the woman in the V-collar.
Posted 2/5/12
Her husband's aunt, May Plowman (b.1897) is the woman in the V-collar.
Posted 2/5/12
Jane Fields: We are a group of people in Castleford who are raising money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance and we are massive rugby fans. A member of our group has donated an embroided blazer badge for NEW HUNSLET RLFC, which we plan to put on Ebay to raise some funds. I wonder if anyone could shed any light as to the history or age of the badge
Posted 3/5/12
Answer
Stuart Clapham: The badge that Jane is enquiring about was used after the club reformed in 1973 as 'New Hunslet'. It symbolises the club rising out of the ashes to be reborn. The club itself may be able to give more information if she requires it. The logo "And So We Shall Again" is a reference to the Hunslet RL Anthem "We've Swept The Seas Before Boys (and so we shall again)"
Posted 3/5/12
Answer
Stuart Clapham: The badge that Jane is enquiring about was used after the club reformed in 1973 as 'New Hunslet'. It symbolises the club rising out of the ashes to be reborn. The club itself may be able to give more information if she requires it. The logo "And So We Shall Again" is a reference to the Hunslet RL Anthem "We've Swept The Seas Before Boys (and so we shall again)"
Roy Padgett writes: My father Jack Padgett was born in 1915 and brought up in Leeds. He did not speak much of his upbringing and although he was an only child there are no photos of him until he was an adult and had already left Leeds. We used to visit his mother (a widow) at 75 Wooler Avenue Beeston and I remember going on the trams. I think she worked for Schofields, possibly in the optician's department. She died in 1960 and I visited the property last year. My father died in 1985. He went to Cockburn High School, I would guess around 1926 to 1931. Are there any school archives and if so, where they are? He served his apprenticeship at Forgrove Machinery Co Ltd., he then worked for Premier Lamp and Engineering Co. Ltd. and Blackburn Aircraft Ltd. before moving to Rolls Royce in Nottingham in 1938. I also have addresses of 7 Crosland Street in 1913 (on the west side of Dewsbury Road, opposite Cockburn School) and 6 Parkside Mount in 1937 (also on the west side of Dewsbury Road near the Tommy Wass pub). Below is a picture of ‘Padgetts Stores’. It was owned by his uncle Herbert and may have been in Hunslet or Seacroft. The picture was taken about 1942 and includes (l-r) Herbert, my mother, Gertie Padgett (Herbert’s wife), my sister and Elizabeth Duffus Padgett (my grandmother). Does anyone know where the shop was, and whether there are any Padgetts still living in the area?
Posted 27/5/12
John Ward's great grandfather was George Ward, whose family owned a haulage company on Jack Lane. He hasn't any photographs of the wagons. Can anyone help?
Howard Beck has many ancestors originating from Hunslet. He wants to contact anyone researching or knowing anything about the Watson, Stead, Beck or Morrill families of the 19th century up to 1900.
Posted 27/5/12
Posted 27/5/12