The Bairstow family have been an elusive family, leaving only a few traces that they ever existed. But maybe this is a reflection of a humble family, who enjoyed the time they had with each other and respectfully left the world as they found it. Perhaps their presence touched the lives of extended family and friends, or as time continues to move forward, and treasures that are currently unfound are rediscovered, this family may hold secrets to the past lives of our fellow Yorkshire men and women.
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Greenwood Bairstow, a cordwainer, and his wife Mary Ogden lived in Chapeltown Halifax. Greenwood’s family came from Illingworth, and Mary’s family from Haworth. Once the couple had married in 1825, they had three children: Mary Ogden Bairstow, John Ogden Bairstow, and William Ogden Bairstow.
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Chapeltown, which was located at the bottom of Pellon Lane was described in the ‘Itinerary of Halifax 1875’ as having ‘sixty two cottages and five pretty good houses’, which were embraced by various streets and narrow courts.
By 1939, Chapeltown was in the process of being demolished, however there remains a hint to past lives as a road named ‘Chapeltown’ endures; the ‘Lister Court’ block of flats and a carpark also appear to pay homage to a historical building that shared the ‘Lister’ name.
1870 map of Halifax showing Chapeltown
Whilst the Bairstow’s lived in Chapeltown, Greenwood’s profession was as a ‘Cordwainer’. Cordwainers were given special permission to create new shoes from new leather, and were considered highly skilled craftsmen, unlike a cobbler, who were only allowed to mend shoes. Greenwood would have been able to take advantage of the Halifax’s busy market trade as the Piece Hall would have been established for almost five decades by the time the couple had married. From historical Market registers taken at the ‘Halifax New Market’, details show he has an ‘Open Stall’. Greenwood also advertised his trade, within the ‘1830 Leeds & Clothing District Directory’.
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Traveling from Halifax, toward Wainstalls, continuing towards Warley Moor Reservoir, and following a partially tarmacked, sometimes rough road, would eventually bring you to the ruins of a farm. The Bairstow family inherited this farm from Mary’s family, ‘Sunny Bank’, in Haworth. Situated in what was known as ‘Far Oxenhope’ the family rented the farm to an unrelated family to be worked and managed, while the Bairstow’s lived and worked in Halifax. The farm and land has changed since this time, but the area still shows signs of crumbled buildings that once stood there. The location of the farm when it was inhabited, would have been ideal for markets held in Hebden Bridge, which is roughly 6 miles away, Haworth which is about 2.5 miles away and the then hustling and bustling town of Halifax which is 8 miles away. Of Greenwood and Mary’s children, only their eldest child Mary survived into adulthood. After they passed away, only 23 days apart, the parents were interred with their sons. Mary, who remained unmarried, inherited the farm in 1860 and she left Halifax for Bradford, living at Victor Street before her death in 1896, aged 71.
Researched by Claire English
Photograph of gravestone made for exhibition