Brighouse
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Brighouse is the second largest town in the metropolitan district of Calderdale in the county of West Yorkshire, England. The 2001 census gave the town's population as 32,198.
The town is situated on the River Calder, 4 miles (6 km) east of Halifax in the Pennines. It is served by Junction 25 of the M62 and its own railway station on the Caldervale line.
The name Brighouse (or "Bridge House") originates from a building on (or close to) the bridge over the River Calder. In its early history, it was a hamlet of the nearby town of Rastrick.
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Architecture
Two churches in Brighouse have stained glass from the William Morris factory, designed by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Ford Madox Brown and Edward Burne-Jones.
History
In prehistoric times, there was a ford called Snake Hill Ford across the Calder - this was part of the Roman route between Wakefield and Manchester.
A wooden structure called Rastrick Bridge was recorded as being present in 1275. The bridge was replaced by one built with timber donated by John Hanson in 1514. Hanson's son funded a stone replacement for this bridge in 1558.
The river provided power for the flour milling industry and the textile mills. Brighouse's industry received a boost through the construction of the Calder and Hebble Navigation, started in 1757 by the engineer John Smeaton.
The Halifax and Huddersfield Turnpike Act of 1823 allowed for the building of Calder Bridge over what was to become the A641 road ; tolls were abolished on the bridge in 1875 and extensive widening work in was undertaken in 1905 and 1999 (both of these latter dates being commemorated in dedication stones on the bridge).
Brighouse was part of Hipperholme with Brighouse Civil Parish until 1893, when Brighouse Municipal Borough was created. This included Rastrick but not Hipperholme, which became an Urban District. The other parts of Hipperholme with Brighouse, ie Norwood Green and Coley, became a civil parish in Halifax Rural District. The borough was expanded in 1937 when Clifton CP, Hipperholme UD, Norwood Green and Coley CP and part of Southowram UD were added. The borough was abolished in 1974 when it became part of the Calderdale Metropolitan District. (Youngs 1991)
Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band
Brighouse is the home of the well-known and almost chart-topping Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band, founded in 1881 and associated also with Brighouse's neighbour Rastrick. They originally formed under the name The Brighouse and Rastrick Temperance Brass Band and took their current title in the early 20th century.
The band won the National Brass Band Contest in 1946 at the Royal Albert Hall and in 1968 they won the first Brass Band World Championship.
In 1977 they recorded The Floral Dance which reached Number 2 in the UK Top 40 charts and stayed there for 9 weeks, inspiring radio DJ Terry Wogan to release his own version some time later.
In 1993 they became the first Yorkshire team to win the All England Masters Brass Band Championship, a feat they to were repeat in 1998. The band also won the National Brass Band Championship Finals in 1997 and 1998, and the European Championships in 1998.
Brighouse Library and Smith art gallery
Brighouse library is a huge building and has many services, such as:
- Adult and children's lending
- Wheelchair access
- Language courses
- Internet access
- Fax facillities
The Smith art gallery shares premises with the library. There are many paintings from the victorian era located in the main hall, there is also a changing program of exhibitions of artwork from local artists.
Sport
Football
During the 2003-4 season, the town's football club, Brighouse Town A.F.C. played in the West Riding County Amateur Football League Premier Division at level 12 of the National League System (also known as 'The Football Pyramid').
Fish And Chips
One of the main fish and chip shops in central Brighouse is one known as The Happy Haddock. It gained some fame from Tony Blair visiting there for some fish and chips during the 2001 election campaign. The vinegar he got on his hands from this caused him to have to wipe them on his trousers before he could shake hands with members of the public. [1].
Another popular fish and chip shop in Brighouse is the Golden Hind, it also produces southern fried chicken.
Nearby Villages and suburbs
Brookfoot, Baliff Bridge, Clifton, Hove Edge,Hipperholme, Lightcliffe, Rastrick
Buildings and renovations
At the moment most of Brighouse is in need of renovations including a few buildings that are disused. Most buildings which have been renovated make the place look a lot better, like the new Prego restaurant and hotel. There are also a few eyesores such as Sugdens Mill which is getting knocked down to make way for a new swimming pool/sports centre. There are also many shops on Commercial Street such as Woolworths, Choices and Just Books.
External links
- Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band
- Brighouse Town AFC site
- Brighouse Today - Online news provided by the Brighouse Echo newspaper
- Brighouse Online - A site full of information about Brighouse with guides, shops, maps etc
- Brighouse Chess Club
References to books
Frederic A Youngs Jr, Guide to the local administrative units of England, Vol.2 Northern England, London 1991