Taking steps to protect our countryside

More than 120 walkers set off on Sunday, September 30th, to demonstrate how much they care for Silsden's threatened countryside. They are pictured above during a wet and blustery moment in the fields from Hawber Cote Drive to Hawber Lane. The dry-stone wall dividing the two fields is roughly on the line of a proposed new road on farmland from beyond Brown Bank Lane to Hawber Cote Lane, where Silsden's new primary school is to be built. The 'enabling' road would pave the way for ultimately 1,000 homes to be built on these fields.

Caroline Whitaker (left) and Cathy Liddle (right), who jointly started the Campaign for the Countryside, lead the walkers along Hawber Cote Drive.

The campaigners head for the first stile.

 One day all this could be housing unless Bradford council decides otherwise.

Walkers gather in Brown Bank Lane at the footpath by Raikes House Farm. The proposed 'enabling' road, starting in Bolton Road almost opposite another likely housing estate, will cross Brown Bank Lane just below Raikes House Farm on its destructive route to Hawber Cote Lane.

 Walkers of all ages took part.

Rebecca Whitaker (with white shoulder bag), of Silsden, one of the Craven ward's three Bradford councillors, joined the walkers. After the demonstration, tea and home-made cakes were served at the Town Hall by the campaign group. The housing threat is the subject of my posts of August 24th and July 17th.

Farmhouse still happily a family home after 400 years

Ashwell House (pictured above) is possibly the earliest surviving building in the Brunthwaite conservation area. For over 300 years a succession of Thomas Greens and Jeremiah Greens reportedly farmed the 120 or so acres at Ashwell House, which, according to a Keighley News interview with Thomas Green in 1927, was built in 1610.  

The Green farming connection ended many years ago but Ashwell House continues as a much-loved family home. The present owners are Lucy and Alex Pickard, who moved to Brunthwaite about seven years ago. They live at Ashwell House with their young daughter and son. Alex and Henry are pictured above. 

This gathering of the great and the good of Silsden's Primitive Methodist Chapel is pictured at Ashwell House in 1902. Thomas Green, who died in 1932 aged 83, had been a Primitive Methodist local preacher for more than 60 years. Services were held regularly at Ashwell House during his time there.  Photograph from the late Neil Cathey's collection.

The Green family featured their farmhouse as a Christmas card in 1909. The wording above the picture reads: Mr and Mrs Green send hearty Xmas greetings and best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year. This original card is from the late Neil Cathey's collection. 

Brunthwaite was designated a conservation area in 1977. An assessment in 2005 said Ashwell House and Sycamore Farm, part of which can be seen on the right, dated from the 18th century and were likely to be the earliest surviving buildings. Ashwell House was described as being built in 1739, the date inscribed on a doorway jamb, which could have come from elsewhere if Thomas Green's assertion about the 17th century origin of Ashwell House was correct. Other photographs of Brunthwaite are featured in my blog of May 15th, 2014. 

Shear fear as vicar gets a fund-raising close shave

Vicar David Griffiths has decided to do things by halves in support of the £300,000 mission to develop the St James' Church community hall. He is pictured on Saturday, September 22nd, making a cutting remark in response to the sharp end of mobile hairdresser Leanne Newsome's outsized scissors. To promote the church's fund-raising Project 200+, David is wearing his hair and beard half cut on one side until he starts getting comical comments. Making up a holy trimity with David after volunteering for a hair-raising new look are 14-year-old Simon Anderson and well-known local dog- walker Adam Harper. Simon's hair, uncut for six years, was almost down to his elbows. His and newly-bald Adam's hair is being donated to the Little Princess Trust, which provides wigs to children and young adults who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment and other illnesses.

St James' Church has set itself the task of raising around £300,000 to modernise the community hall. An architect's impression is shown above. Project 200+ signifies that the hall opened in 1820 and is being upgraded to fit it for the next 200 years. The hall is used weekly by around 500 adults and children from local community groups. A short film showcasing the project is being made and will include interviews with people young and old who have used the hall over the years. Work is due to take place during school summer holidays next year.

Mass objections to plans for up to 1,000 homes on farmland

Pictured above are five of the Silsden residents who are spearheading a campaign to stop houses being built on farmland near Swartha.They are (left to right) Sue Grimley, Jim Grimley, Caroline Whitaker, Janet Russell and Cathy Liddle.The proposals, detailed in my blog of July 17th, have attracted nearly 300 objections, ranging from the impact on already stretched local services to destruction of a loved landscape and habitat concerns. The dry-stone wall in the photograph is on the route of a proposed 'enabling road'. Bradford council is currently reviewing its housing-land allocations. Potentially the targets across the metropolitan district could be reduced by up to a third.

The proposed 'enabling road' will run from Bolton Road on the stretch towards the reservoir, cross Brown Bank Lane below Raikes House Farm and go through fields to Hawber Cote Lane, where Silsden's new primary school is to be built. The photograph above shows ancient Brown Bank Lane around 1906. Up until the early 1800s it had been the main road to Ilkley. 

The same stretch of Brown Bank Lane today showing the stables next to Raikes House Farm in the vicinity where the proposed new road will cut across.

The proposed new road will end here, in Hawber Cote Lane. The farm gate at the end of the pavement on the right is at the entrance to the field where the new school will be built.

Meanwhile, Skipton Properties has acquired fields on the west side of Bolton Road but the house-builder is tight-lipped about how much land it has bought and what its plans are. Sales, marketing and design director Caroline Verity says it is too early to answer my questions. "We aren't in a position to share a plan as a full plan hasn't been formulated yet," she said.

I was trying to find out if Skipton Properties had purchased the same Bolton Road land for which outline planning permission has already been granted for up to 62 homes. Approval was given by a government-appointed inspector in December 2015 after Geoffrey Mountain appealed against Bradford council's decision to refuse permission. The 2.5-hectare appeal site comprised two fields bounded by Nab View, Townhead Farm, the Rotary Works premises of Airedale Factors and Bolton Road as shown in my two photographs. 

On the other side of town, Barratt Homes are proceeding with their Saxon Dene development of more than 200 houses in Belton Road. This view looks up towards Spring Crag and Alder Carr woods. The 6.7-hectare Belton Road housing site made headlines last year when archaeologists, called in by Barratts, uncovered a burial chamber from 5,000-4,500 years ago. The dig will be the subject of a talk by the West Yorkshire Archaeological Service to the Silsden Local History Group on October 22nd (Silsden Methodist Church, 7pm).

A view from Spring Crag and Alder Carr woods of Barratts' Saxon Dene building site in Belton Road.

New towpath means a new direction for wheelchair users

The newly surfaced canal towpath between Riddlesden and Silsden is giving motorised-wheelchair users a new dimension to going out independently. My following report and pictures show the official opening of the improved towpath.

Walkers, riders and runners benefit from towpath upgrade

Councillor Kim Groves, chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority's transport committee, cuts the tape to open the upgraded stretch of canal towpath between Lodge Hill Bridge at Riddlesden and the Keighley Road bridge at Silsden. The 2.7km  route has been newly surfaced as part of a £2.9 million scheme by the authority to  improve cycling and walking access to four canals. Also present at the ceremony at Silsden on August 18th were Bradford Lord Mayor Councillor Zafar Ali, who is pictured on the left holding the tape, Keighley MP John Grogan, fourth from left, who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Waterways, and Silsden Town Mayor Councillor Peter Robinson (fifth from left).

Bradford Lord Mayor Councillor Zafar Ali is pictured with Bradford councillor Rebecca Whitaker, of Silsden, who represents the Craven ward, Bradford council cycling champion Councillor Taj Salam (left), who is a member of the Combined Authority's transport committee, and Satwant Singh, who cycled from Bradford for the official opening. A super-fit cyclist, he has biked the 127 miles of the Leeds-Liverpool canal towpath among the hundreds of miles he covers each year.

The event, which included information stalls and refreshments, was well supported by community groups and residents.

An absorbed angler: not everyone was caught up in the canal-side buzz at the official opening, which included music by the Hall Royd Brass Band from Shipley, which stepped in because the Silsden Town Band was engaged elsewhere.

Many Hands celebrate first anniversary of community crafting

The Many Hands crafting co-operative at No. 25 Kirkgate celebrated its first anniversary on August 1st. Pictured above are five of the Community Interest Company's seven directors. Standing are Janet Phillis (left) and Pauline Marshall. Seated left to right are Rachel Mellor, Janet Thomas and Kath Cole.

Many Hands, which has an open-door policy based on community involvement, rents shelf space to a wide variety of crafts people from within a 15-miles radius of Silsden to sell their work. Volunteers staff the shop.The not-for-profit company has been awarded lottery funding to expand its workshops, classes and mentoring service.

The popularity of Many Hands reflects a growing "experience" culture and a trend towards unique, hand-crafted, hand-made gifts and wares.

These distinctive mugs and coasters are produced by local artist Martin Williamson.

Craftwork on sale and or taught in classes includes crocheting and knitting, jewellery, floristry, silver and metal work, embroidery, pottery and wood turning. There are also informal social drop-in groups. "Our aim is to work with the local community and to offer something for everyone," says chairperson Kath Cole. "We are going from strength to strength."