The Bramley History Community Archive

Gallery

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Moriah Chapel
This stood just a few yards off Town Street itself. Its location was shortly after Wesley Terrace, on the right-hand side of Town Street, and going towards The Globe at the westerly end of Town Street. In more recent times on the corner of Wesley Terrace and Town Street, stood ‘Timmy’ Thomson’s bakery and in the same building at one time or another there was a dentist’s practice and also solicitors. The next building comprised a cottage and small shop, known as ‘The Off Licence’, which as well as alcohol, sold sweets, tobacco, etc. Then there was a Greengrocers shop, which had a few steps leading up to the door. At this point the buildings divided providing an alleyway leading to this chapel.

The Zion Chapel
This large chapel was on the right-hand side of Hough Lane. Leaving Town Street, St. Peter’s Church would be to your left, along with some terraced houses and then Bramley Library. A little further along and on the opposite side of the road is the Chapel’s location.

The building was originally of single storey; the ‘top’ came quite some time later.

Bramley Fall Woods And Park
A shot of some rather weary looking workers with their wheelbarrows, pickaxes and shovels taken at the time of the actual landscaping of the park itself, which many will remember was a very pretty place to visit, having beautifully laid-out flower beds, its own shelter and with immediate access to the woods and the Leeds & Liverpool canal beyond.

Bramley Baths
Built towards the very top of Broad Lane, this was, and still is, a fine example of the Edwardian building style. Viewed at the time of completion of the building it shows the chimney sending up plenty of smoke from the boilers, which heated the water for the large swimming pool and bathhouse facilities. At the time, many locals did not have bathrooms and used to visit the bath -house weekly if they could afford it. This must have been seen as a great advance to many people (although, maybe the children were not too keen on the idea!).

The photograph of the interior shows many original features. The lamps, clock and ticket desk with its wonderful leaded glass windows. The original turn-styles (left for ladies, right for gents) are also in evidence. The floors in this area and leading through to the bathing facilities were all tiled with fairly large mosaic tiles which had a contrasting border around the edges.

Bramley 'Godiva'
This piece was written in August, 1985, and is introduced by way of light relief from your viewing of the previous photographs:

‘Older people in Bramley will never forget the day ‘Lady Godiva’ rode through the village to the cheers of hundreds lining the route.

It was on Saturday 27th July 1935 at the start of Bramley ‘Joy Week’, seven days of events designed to raise money for the Leeds General Infirmary Fund.

Two days before, when it was announced that local lass, Miss Lily Storey, was to act as Lady Godiva and ride a white horse in the long procession along Stanningley Road and Bramley Town Street, there was a furious protest from Mrs. Eleanor Booth of Bramley Women’s Adult School. She said she was shocked to hear that Miss Storey would be wearing only one ounce of clothing.

But one of the joint organizers, Mr. Ernest Lawson, replied, “Miss Storey will be wearing a flesh-coloured costume and she will be adorned by masses of golden hair so that the tresses will also clothe her.”

It would be a seemly display, he added, and hoped that many ‘Peeping Toms’ would turn up with money in their pockets.

In the event, ‘Lady Godiva’ did make her eagerly awaited appearance in the procession, and was cheered wildly all along the route.

Throughout the night more than 200 volunteers had worked to put up marquees in the carnival field, and some 800 performers from a wide area, were said to have been recruited to give their services free.

On the Tuesday night more than 1,000 people crowded into the main marquee to listen to 30 competitors reciting in the Yorkshire Dialect Competition. It lasted three and a half hours, and everyone stayed to the end.

Then, as now, homespun entertainment proved its popularity.

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