Preserving our heritage
Can you help us to
build up a pictorial archive ?
This series has two aims:
1. To publish a series of historic pictures of the village.
2 To invite you to see if you can answer some of the questions relating to these pictures.
From your answers, we hope to be able to add captions to these photographs indicating when they were taken, who and what is shown in the picture, and in some cases to see if you can name any of the people shown.
From your answers we hope to be able to build up an archive of old photographs with information about each of them, and perhaps then to create a Village Archive which will be of interest to present and future residents of this village.
Also, the pictures might form the basis of a wider Village Archive which might be linked to a Village Local History Group, the formation of which has already been mooted and which is now under active consideration.
For a start, see if you can answer any of the questions asked about the two pictures published below. And also, do you have any old photographs you would like us to publish later in this series?
If so, please send your answer/s and/or any old photographs by e-mail to EditorBMToday@ aol.com or post or deliver them to Richard Field, Little Orchard House, Boroughbridge Road, Bishop Monkton.
PICTURE C
Questions
1. Can you suggest a date when this picture was taken?
2. How old is the Lamb & Flag in the centre of this picture? How many pubs existed in the village at this time?
3. Which houses and features can you recognise?
4. Which houses have been built here since this picture was taken?
PICTURE B
Questions
1. Can you name any of the people on the bridge?
2. Can you identify the building with the tower in the background?
3. When was this building erected?
4. Estimate the date when this picture was taken.
PICTURE A
Questions
1. What kind of shop is shown on the left?
2. Who ran this shop?
3. Can you name the two youngsters on the bridge?
4. Can you name any other shops operating in the village at this time?
5. Estimate the date when this photograph was taken.
We are grateful to Morag Gray for supplying the two pictures published today.
WHAT WE'VE FOUND OUT SO FAR:
These pictures have already created a lot of interest and debate!
Thanks to those who have contacted us with information and ideas.
Photo 1:
Many of you correctly identified the building in the background as the Mechanics Institute which was built in 1859 (as is confirmed on the front of the building) and which is currently a private house. The building retains its clock tower, and some tenants over the years have allowed the bells to sound the daylight hours.
We are sorry that nobody has so far identified any of the villagers standing or sitting on the bridge. If you know anyone, please let us know.
Photo 2:
This is Limes Farm, which at the time was a Post Office and possibly also a draper's shop run by the Simpson family.
We are reminded that there have been Post Offices at a number of different locations, including private houses, in the village over the years The last Post Office was part of Forge Stores before it closed.
Nobody has yet identifed the two youngsters standing on the bridge. We'd love to know who they are, if anyone can tell us.
The date this photo was taken is estimated at around 1938.
Photo 2 was of great interest to Stuart Keighley from Rugby who recognised the house as being the one lived in by his grandfather.
He writes: 'My grandfather, Jack Keighley, bought it in summer 1937. The family owned the right hand side and the Simpsons owned the left. Grandfather renamed it Summerfield after the house my grandmother grew up in. That was in Stanningley.
My father said that Mr Simpson had a draper’s business which would tie in with your description. However the roof lines on the neighbouring properties have changed so it doesn’t look quite the same (perhaps they were modified to raise the roof height in the bedrooms).
To the side of my grandfather’s house were some stone steps. Above these were two lofts and a cobbler's business had been run in one of them.
As I child I remember playing by the ford and in the rear garden and field. We used to visit old Mrs Simpson who was along the road towards the Mechanics' Institute and on the left side in a cottage.
John Simpson would remember me and my brother, Andrew from our visits to the house. We would have been small children aged 2 - 6'.
Stuart Keighley is currently transposing his grandfather's handwritten memories of life in Bishop Monkton and says he will send us a copy when it is complete because it might stir some memories for some in the older generation in the village.
Can you tell us anything else?
If so, send details to EditorBMToday@aol.com or phone the Editor on 01765 677795.
NEXT:: LOOK OUT FOR MORE OLD PHOTOGRAPHS
AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THEM
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