A local project blending archive pictures with new.
Finding the identical vantage point was a challenge, ranging from up the church spire, to the bedrooms and offices of local folk. It was also a fascinating insight into the perspective and abilities of turn of the century equipment.
Finding the identical vantage point was a challenge, ranging from up the church spire, to the bedrooms and offices of local folk. It was also a fascinating insight into the perspective and abilities of turn of the century equipment.
St Mary’s Church.
Probably built in the ninth century the church has been enlarged and altered repeatedly. One of the richest churches in England at one time, its wealth was taken by Henry VIII to help found Trinity College, Cambridge, who still select the vicars.
Probably built in the ninth century the church has been enlarged and altered repeatedly. One of the richest churches in England at one time, its wealth was taken by Henry VIII to help found Trinity College, Cambridge, who still select the vicars.
I think this is George V's coronation in June 1911. The trees in the square were only planted a few years previously, they are now significantly larger, completely masking the church from view. Taken from a first floor window of a kind resident, as it must have been 107 years previously.
One of my favourites. This image is looking down Park St, taken from the upstairs of the old Mechanics Institute building, which later became the Midland Bank and Library. Having made one attempt from the wrong window pane, I found it to be as low and as far left as you could be in the right hand window. Later, in a true "Columbo" moment, I found another picture looking back up Park St, and there was the same window still open.
Silver Street.
The street runs over a hidden bridge which starts about where the lamppost on the right is. It was built to flatten out a huge dip. Underneath part of the street are the cellars of the old Black Bull Hotel (now Corks & Cases) where a certain Mr Theakston started brewing beer.
The street runs over a hidden bridge which starts about where the lamppost on the right is. It was built to flatten out a huge dip. Underneath part of the street are the cellars of the old Black Bull Hotel (now Corks & Cases) where a certain Mr Theakston started brewing beer.
The day the fair came to town.
As someone not good with heights I must admit i didn't spend long up on the church battlements. Having worked out a few alignment "signposts" there was only one place this could be from. One shot then creep back round to the tiny door. Again the trees today almost completely obscure the market place, which is mainly used as a car park today. The resolution of this original photo is quite incredible and the camera must have been quite a size to lug up to such a precarious spot.
As someone not good with heights I must admit i didn't spend long up on the church battlements. Having worked out a few alignment "signposts" there was only one place this could be from. One shot then creep back round to the tiny door. Again the trees today almost completely obscure the market place, which is mainly used as a car park today. The resolution of this original photo is quite incredible and the camera must have been quite a size to lug up to such a precarious spot.
The Sheep Fair from the Mechanics institute on Park St. I think possibly 1905 as the quality is very similar as the other sheep fair image from the church spire. You can see the single storey building where the Post Office is now.
Druid’s Temple.
Druids was built by William Danby, the lord of Swinton Castle. “What William Danby wanted was the ultimate Neolithic
temple. The result has everything - a grotto, guard houses, a sacrificial altar and a huge monolith, latterly named The
Phallus. Victorian writers attempted to justify the Temple’s construction as a job creation scheme, but, according to local folly expert, Ray Blyth, it was part of Danby’s plan ”to create a sublimely romantic landscape”. As an afterthought Danby advertised for a live-in hermit for a term of seven years and apparently succeeded in finding one. The rigours of living in a stone circle on top of a cold Yorkshire hill for the entertainment of Danby's chums unfortunately proved too much for the poor chap and, after five years he ran away.”
From Tales of the Dales by Ian Scott Massie
http://www.mashamgallery.co.uk/masham-gallery-press.html
Druids was built by William Danby, the lord of Swinton Castle. “What William Danby wanted was the ultimate Neolithic
temple. The result has everything - a grotto, guard houses, a sacrificial altar and a huge monolith, latterly named The
Phallus. Victorian writers attempted to justify the Temple’s construction as a job creation scheme, but, according to local folly expert, Ray Blyth, it was part of Danby’s plan ”to create a sublimely romantic landscape”. As an afterthought Danby advertised for a live-in hermit for a term of seven years and apparently succeeded in finding one. The rigours of living in a stone circle on top of a cold Yorkshire hill for the entertainment of Danby's chums unfortunately proved too much for the poor chap and, after five years he ran away.”
From Tales of the Dales by Ian Scott Massie
http://www.mashamgallery.co.uk/masham-gallery-press.html
Market Place.
“During the last hundred years or so every time someone dug a hole in or around Masham market place bones would be
found. These were sometimes handed to the county
archeologist, sometimes arranged on a shelf to gather dust and, in the case of one skull, unearthed when the flagpole footings went in, used as a football. In 1985 The Bruce Arms was extending its cellar when the builders discovered a quantity of human remains. The pub is in an area known as Dixon Keld (a keld is a spring). A few yards away in 1988 work began on new public toilets and, immediately – just below the surface – neat rows of skeletons
were revealed. In an archaeological dig lasting six weeks over thirty former residents of Masham came to light.”
From Tales of the Dales by Ian Scott Massie
http://www.mashamgallery.co.uk/masham-gallery-press.html
“During the last hundred years or so every time someone dug a hole in or around Masham market place bones would be
found. These were sometimes handed to the county
archeologist, sometimes arranged on a shelf to gather dust and, in the case of one skull, unearthed when the flagpole footings went in, used as a football. In 1985 The Bruce Arms was extending its cellar when the builders discovered a quantity of human remains. The pub is in an area known as Dixon Keld (a keld is a spring). A few yards away in 1988 work began on new public toilets and, immediately – just below the surface – neat rows of skeletons
were revealed. In an archaeological dig lasting six weeks over thirty former residents of Masham came to light.”
From Tales of the Dales by Ian Scott Massie
http://www.mashamgallery.co.uk/masham-gallery-press.html
Fisher’s Hall, Hackfall.
This looks like a Sunday School outing - probably Masham’s Merry Methodists or perhaps Sunshine Corner from the Bapist chapel. They’re standing un front of Fisher’s Hall, a folly named after the head gardener of the Aislaby family who created the wilderness garden of Hackfall.
“Hackfall was the wilderness garden dreamed and made by John and William
Aislaby when every Georgian squire felt suddenly inclined to stud their estates with follies. John fell spectacularly from grace after, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, he took a bribe worth £20 million in today’s money, and was banged up in the Tower before coming home to Yorkshire in disgrace. Perhaps Hackfall was his attempt at redemption.”
From Northern Soul by Ian Scott Massie.
This looks like a Sunday School outing - probably Masham’s Merry Methodists or perhaps Sunshine Corner from the Bapist chapel. They’re standing un front of Fisher’s Hall, a folly named after the head gardener of the Aislaby family who created the wilderness garden of Hackfall.
“Hackfall was the wilderness garden dreamed and made by John and William
Aislaby when every Georgian squire felt suddenly inclined to stud their estates with follies. John fell spectacularly from grace after, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, he took a bribe worth £20 million in today’s money, and was banged up in the Tower before coming home to Yorkshire in disgrace. Perhaps Hackfall was his attempt at redemption.”
From Northern Soul by Ian Scott Massie.
Sheep Farmers
A group of farmers with their sheep. None appear to be the Masham breed, however, which has a distinctive dreadlock style fleece. The Masham is the product of a Teeswater ram bred with a Dalesbred or Swlaedale ewe.
A group of farmers with their sheep. None appear to be the Masham breed, however, which has a distinctive dreadlock style fleece. The Masham is the product of a Teeswater ram bred with a Dalesbred or Swlaedale ewe.
The Greengrocer’s Shop
In front of the slightly leaning old shop on Church Street stands a man with a barrel organ - a sort of music box on wheels. By turning a handle the machine plays tunes by using a drum set with pins to open and close the organ valves. Down the lane, just to the right of the shop, you can see one of the windows of College House where Masham’s Old Peculier Court used to meet.
In front of the slightly leaning old shop on Church Street stands a man with a barrel organ - a sort of music box on wheels. By turning a handle the machine plays tunes by using a drum set with pins to open and close the organ valves. Down the lane, just to the right of the shop, you can see one of the windows of College House where Masham’s Old Peculier Court used to meet.
Now Masham's Fish and Chip Shop, formerly The Lord Nelson Inn, complete with stabling through the archway, later becoming the Temperance Hotel.
I think the gentleman with the fantastic beard makes his way through the archway to Park St to appear on the left of the picture there.
I think the gentleman with the fantastic beard makes his way through the archway to Park St to appear on the left of the picture there.
The Primitive Methodist Chapel, Silver Street
The chapel was created when the owner of the old Hardcastle House (the remains of which are to the left of the chapel) knocked down half their house and built a chapel in its place.
The chapel was created when the owner of the old Hardcastle House (the remains of which are to the left of the chapel) knocked down half their house and built a chapel in its place.
Bank Villa
Bank Villa stands at the beginning of the avenue of trees which leads to Masham Bridge. The avenue was planted in 1875 by boys from Masham Grammar School (now the primary school) to celebrate the opening of Masham railway station.
Bank Villa stands at the beginning of the avenue of trees which leads to Masham Bridge. The avenue was planted in 1875 by boys from Masham Grammar School (now the primary school) to celebrate the opening of Masham railway station.
Masham Town Hall
The town hall was built with money raised from the sale of the Mechanics Institute and a donation from Samuel Cunliffe-Lister - a weaving machinery inventor who made enough money to buy the lordship and estate of Swinton (which included most of Masham).
The building was described, in a dry put down, by the architectural writer Nikolas Pevsner as ”uneventful”.
During WW1 it was utilised as a hospital, as seen here.
The town hall was built with money raised from the sale of the Mechanics Institute and a donation from Samuel Cunliffe-Lister - a weaving machinery inventor who made enough money to buy the lordship and estate of Swinton (which included most of Masham).
The building was described, in a dry put down, by the architectural writer Nikolas Pevsner as ”uneventful”.
During WW1 it was utilised as a hospital, as seen here.
All images are available as mounted or framed prints.