Growth of Population & Industry
The pattern of life in the Calder Valley was continually changing. Transport by packhorse across the moors where no roads of consequence existed was slow, cumbersome and expensive. Now the turpike roads came into existence. The Blackstone Edge road was turnpiked from Rochdale to Elland In 1735 and a few years later it was continued from Elland to Leeds.
The growth of the woollen industry in the Calder Valley took major steps forward during the l6th century. Kays invention of the flying shuttle in 1733 permitted the weaver, by a mechanical throwing of the shuttle, to operate on his own without assistance. This speeded up the whole process of weaving and resulted in a shortage of yarn, which was still spun by hand, until Arkwrights series of inventions revealed the secret of mechanical spinning by rollers and revolving spindles. Hargreaves in 1767 invented the spinning jenny, by which one spinner could manage as many as 120 spindles at a time, and by 1780 the production of yarn was outstripping the pace of weaving. Cartwright found the solution to this lack of balance in 1785 with his power loom, while Watts steam engine provided the power to drive the new machinery. The textile trade of England was now equipped for a great expansion,
From the last quarter of the 18th century factories began to be built in which the new machinery could be used, but the spread of the new technique was patchy. Some of the first factories, or workhouses as they were known were reported in 1755 at Mirfield, but even as late as 1856 only half the operatives engaged in the woollen trade in Yorkshire were employed in factories, the remainder continuing to work in their own home as in the days of the cottage industry.
The opening of the Calder and. Hebble Canal, however, quickened the pulse of industry. Rapid and cheap transport of coal, raw materials and finished goods was of enormous benefit to this area. Steam engines began to be installed about 1794 to supplement the water wheel to drive the scribbling end fullin mills. Coal had been obtained in negligible quantities for centuries, and the seams on the valley sides had been worked by day-holes, but the advent of the steam engine made the presence of coal the decisive factor during the next century and spelled the final doom of the cottage industry.
| OCCUPATION | No. EMPLOYED |
| Textiles | |
| Weavers | 61 |
| Clothiers | 67 |
| Others (Dyers, Combers, etc.) | 25 |
| Total | 153 |
| Crafts | |
| Blacksmiths | 5 |
| Carpenters | 4 |
| Clockmakers | 3 |
| Masons | 8 |
| Potters | 4 |
| Others | 3 |
| Total | 27 |
| Manufacturing, Tradesmen, etc. | |
| Cord and Ropemakers | 6 |
| Butchers | 3 |
| Boatmen | 3 |
| Millers | 4 |
| Paper Makers | 6 |
| Tailors | 5 |
| Wiredrawers | 5 |
| Others | 2 |
| Total | 34 |
| Others | |
| Farmers | 4 |
| Labourers | 32 |
| Miners (Quarrymen, Delvers) | 26 |
| Apprentices | 16 |
| Militia | 5 |
| Infirm | 51 |
| Total | 34 |
In November 1786 a list was drawn up by Constable Abram Peall and his Deputy Luke Townson comprising of names and occupations of all the men in the constabulary of Elland-cum-Greetland between the ages of 18 and 45. The following table has been compiled, from the originsl list, and shows the importance of textiles in Elland at this time. The list totaled 525 names in all.
The increased prosperity of the area around Elland due to industrial growth is reflected in the consequent growth of population. The first Census Act was passed by George 111 in 1800 and the first national census taken in 1801. Prior to this act, records were kept by the local constable relating to local population and occupations, but usually only referred to male working population, and were also not terribly accurate as local boundaries were seldom defined. These records are, however, useful in estimating the local population, and, and, in conjunction with national census figures, a fairly accurate picture of population growth can be drawn up. The following graph shows clearly how the industrial boom of the early 19th century affected local population. The slight drops in growth rate in the periods 1820 - 1830 and 1890 - 1900 may have been due to the local outbreaks of cholera and smallpox which were recorded about these time. The effects of The First World War (1914 - 1918) and the national depression period of the 1920s can also be seen.
Local Government
The beginning of local government in Elland was established on 9th November 1852 when the Elland Local Board of Health was formed. Voting was held, among those entitled to vote, at the end of September 1853, and the first meeting of the Local Board for the District of Elland was held in the Town Room on 6th October. This building was situated at South End at the junction of Dewsbury Road and Huddersfield Road and was previously used as the Town Goal. This building had many uses over the years, being tram and bus shelters, and also the first home of the public library.
Due to the Local Government Act of 1894, the Elland Urban District Council was formed, the first meeting of the council being on the 4th January 1895. This meeting took place in their new premises at South House, which served as the centre for Local Government until Elland became part of Calderdale in April 1974. The owner of South House previously was Mr.Luke Crossley. At one time the house would have had a pleasant outlook with gardens stretching down to Huddersfield Road and an open view to the front before the Towm Hall was built. After the council took occupation of this building the part facing Southgate was rebuilt with a council chamber and offices. When the Town Room was pulled down in 1963, the stocks which were situated outside the Town Room were transferred to the gardens of South House,
After further local government reorganisation, Greetland and Stainland vere brought into the Elland Urban District Council in 1937. The administration was carried out at the Elland Council Offices. The monthly council meetings were later held in Clay House which was inherited from the former Greetland U.D.C.
Education
Up to the middle of the nineteenth century education was taught by the various churches in the district and by two schools, one of which was founded by Joseph Brooksbank in 1712, the other being founded by Grace Ramsden in 1734. Both these schools were formed originally for the education of forty poor boys each. Money was also provided for bibles and other books for these boys. The only provision for the education of girls at this time was under the charity of Mrs. Frances Thornhill who in 1718 left £400 for the clothing and education of ten poor girls in Elland. As no school building was ever built for these girls they were eventually transferred to the National School. The National School for girls and infants was built in 1846 at a cost of £1,200 and enlarged in 1895. In 1871 a National School for boys was built in the town.
In 1874 a school board of nine members was formed for the Urbarn Districts, of Elland, Greetland and Upper Greetland. In 1877 a Board School was built at South End for the education of boys, girls and infants.
By an Act of 1902, the West Riding County Council became the local Education authority and found that there was no provision for secondary education of girls in the town. In 1904 a temporary girls school was set up in the old Town Room(now demolished). After two years success the girls were moved to slightly better premises.
One aim of the Local Education Authority was to co-ordinate all forms of education. With this aim in mind they started negotiations to build a large Secondary Day School. A Governing body was formed in 1909 and the site was selected in Victoria Road.
The new school was built to accommodate 200 day students (100 girls and 100 boys) and 300 evening students. The total cost was £17 000. The endowment to the governors of the Grammer School was transferred to the new school and the following memorial tablet erected in the entrance hall.
"Elland Grammar School, founded and endowed in 1712, by Joseph Brooksbank, and further endowed in 1756, by Joseph Brooksbank, his grandson, incorporated in this Secondary School, 1911."
On November 1st 1933, the Elland and District Secondary School Governors recommended that the name of the school be changed to the Grammar.School, Elland.
During the 1950's the school was extended. When completed the school became a. comprehensive school. Further extensions have since been added and the name of the school changed to The Brooksbank School.
Fire Brigade
In 1869 the first fire station was set up in the town of Elland. The fire brigade charged its customers at the rate of £5.0.0. for the first two hours and £2.10.0, for each consecutive hour. The first brigade consisted of six men and a superintendent.
In 1891 it was proposed by the council that the sum of £1 000 be borrowed to purchase a steam fire engine for the brigade. On the 20th December tenders were invited for an engine which could provide 600 gallons per minute from Messrs, Shrand Masson and Co., Merryweather and Sons, and Fire Appliances Manufacturing Co. The engine was delivered on the 15th July 1893 by Shrand and Masson.
To call out the brigade at this time would have cost you £2.10.0 for the first hour, @pound1.10.0 for the second and 10.0d for each hour afterwards. The rates of pay in the fire service were quite good for that period. A fireman would earn 2.6d for the first hour, 2.0d for the second and 1.6d for each hour afterwards. The superintendent earned 3.9d for the first hour, 3.0d for the second and 1.6d for each hour afterwards.
In 1896 electric alarms were fitted to the fire station so to increase the efficiency of the service.
During its history the service has moved its headquarters a number of times. From the original site in Westgate they moved to the Town Hall Square occupying the premises used by the present Surveyors Department. It then moved to Britannia Buildings and finally to its new home in 1965 in South Lane.
The modern sophisticated petrol driven fire engine is a far cry from the original hand cart which was pulled to the fire by horses. Today's equipment is designed to be able to take from the simple domestic fire to motorway crashes.
Swimming Baths
On the 22nd of November 1902 the Victoria Baths were opened by Councillor W.H. Eastwood J.P. The baths were built at a total cost of £6,300 and consisted of a swimming bath, 75 feet long and 25 feet wide with 33 dressing boxes, three ladies and six gentlemens slipper baths, Turkish, Russian and vapour baths. Over the years the baths have been modernised, and alterations are being carried out at the present moment (April 1974).
Sewage Disposal
In the town of Elland, as in many other river side settlements, the easiest means of disposing of unwanted matter was the river. From information obtained from the minutes of the Gas and Sewage Committee it seems that most of the properties of the town were drained by this system.
In the out of town areas the only means of disposal of waste seems to have been ash pits. These seem to have been pits into which ashes were placed to soak up the moisture from the sewage. These ash pits were from time to time cleaned out by contractors from the Council. The night soil as the residue was called being taken and spread over the common land.
Around the year 1890 the council decided to replace the ash pits in certain parts of the district with the tub system. These tubs which were purchased by the council for about 5/6d were emptied by the town refuse department. It seems the reason for this being that in some of the districts the under soil was clay and this stopped the drainage of water from the pits so causing a source of disease. It also came to the notice of the Town Council that the ash pits were being used as refuse dumps by some members of the community. In the council minutes it states that in the ash pit of an un-named pauper the body of a young child was found. It seems that when the child died it was placed there because the parents could not afford to have the child buried.
Elland Sewage Works
Construction of the first sewage works was begun on May l8th 1896 and was completed by November 13th 1897, when it vas opened by Councillor James Mackrell, J.P. The cost of the scheme was £13 668. The irrigation area covered 12 acres and comprised of eight precipitation tanks with capacity of 600,000.gallons. After treatment in the tanks the effluent was discharged into the irrigation area and then passed into the River Calder, below Tag Cut Weir.
These works were rebuilt in 1923 - 7 and cost £27 204. The works now consisted of two detritus tanks of 32 500 gallons total capacity, six continuous precipitation tanks of 457 000 gallons total capacity, six bacterial filters of 93 feet diameter, six humus tanks of 78 000 gallons total capacity and two storm water tanks of 159 800 gallons total capacity.
The sewage was screened and treated before passing to the detritus tanks. From these it passed to the precipitation tanks before arriving at the circular perculating filters. From these tanks it flowed via a central carrier, though the humus tanks and was then discharged through 27 inch diameter pipes into the River Calder. Further improvements were made between 1959 - 68 whilst new and reconstructed sewers have been completed more recently.
In 1903 a destructor was built at Low Fields, next to the Sewage Works, and was opened by Councillor Brook on the 5th June. The destructor was rebuilt in 1909 in a new shed and a new Lancashire boiler installed.
Elland Water Works
Any laying of piped water before the year of 1861 has not been found in the records. The Waterworks Committee minutes only go back as far as 1860.
It is known that in the l860s that the town did have a piped water supply and was in the middle of an expansion scheme. Most of the water for the town was supplied by the Halifax Water Company. This was piped to the town in a three inch main.
In 1887 the reservoir at Blackley was formally opened by a Mr. Malsvell. Throughout the nineteenth century as the town increased in size the demand for mains water for domestic and industrial use also increased. It was not long before the three inch main had to be replaced with one of eight inches diameter.
In its early days the company had great difficulty in keeping up the pressure in the mains, and in some parts of the town at peak periods no water was available at all.
Electricity
On the 14th Of December 1898 the first meeting of the Electricity Committee took place with a view to installing electric lighting along Southgate from the Town Hall to the Cross, and up Westgate from the Cross to the Fleece Inn. The electricity works was opened on the 17th of October 1903 by councilors S.Dyson and W.H.Eastwood.
Before these woks were opened discussions took place with the Halifax Electricity Authority on the possibility of them supplying electricity to Elland. The first site suggested for the works was at Elland Mills, but this was turned down as unsuitable on the advice of Mr.Emmot, the electrical engineer. Instead it was decided to build an electricity works at Low Fields next to the Sewage Works.
Initially electricity was supplied to street lights which replaced gas lighting but industry was increasingly requiring more power. As more cables were laid to an increasing number of customers it became apparent that extensions were needed to the electricity works. To pay for these each extensions a loan of £4,000 was obtained. The first charges for electricity was a dual rate of 4d (1.67p) per unit for lighting and 2d (0.63p) for power.
Late in 1905 electricity was used to illuminate the lamps on Elland Bridge. Modifications had previously been undertaken to widen the bridge which was reopened in 1897. In 1907 the price per unit for electricity was reduced for power purposes to a sliding scale charging from 2d to 1d in farthing increments Even so, there was a top rate of 6d (2.5p) per unit for some customers.
The output from the first station was in the form of direct current. The generators only ran a few hours each day during the early years, supplying customers and charging up the batteries. When the generators were not running customers were supplied from the batteries. As demand increased the generators were having to be run over longer periods. By 1912 nearly the whole of Elland was capable of being supplied with electricity.
In 1920 the council decided to close the electricity works and purchase electricity from the Yorkshire Electricity Company. Cables were laid from the Y.E.P.Cos sub-station at Greetland to a new Transforming and converting station in Timber Street. This supply was started on Monday, July 25th 1921, and Low Fields Electricity works was sold by auction on Wednesday, February 22nd 1922. In 1929 a start was made to change the supply from direct current to alternating current.
After nationalisation, electricity supply was re-organised and larger, but fewer, power stations were built, one of which was built in Elland. The Power station at Elland has three 60MW alternators and can supply 168 MW of power into the National Grid. This power station was opened in July 1961.