The Bramley History Community Archive

Bramley Carnival 1911
A view of Town Street, looking towards Bell Lane and The Globe. To the right of the crowds and floats can be seen the stone roof of a very old, single-storey house built well before the much higher placed road running alongside.

Could this be the famous Bramley Band playing away in the foreground, whilst marching along? Next comes the horse-drawn float carrying ‘Britannia’ proudly sitting upon her throne with trident in hand and surrounded by young boys of the village in their sailor suits and carrying shields; no doubt very proud to be in the procession.

Click here to buy a book, filled with pictures & memories dedicated to the Bramley Carnival.

It looks as though the rocket in the float is about ready to take off for the moon. Closely following on foot are a few members of the Boys’ Brigade.

Click here to buy a book, filled with pictures & memories dedicated to the Bramley Carnival.

Bramley 1914-18 War Hero
Sgt. Frederick (Fred) McNess won his V.C. In September 1916 at Guinchy in the battle of the Somme – “During a severe engagement,” says the official description. “He led his men on with the greatest dash in the face of heavy shell and machine-gun fire. When the first line of enemy trenches was reached, it was found that the left flank was exposed, and that the enemy were bombing down the trench. Sgt. McNess thereupon organised a counter attack, and led it in person. He was severely wounded in the neck and jaw, but went on passing through the barrage of hostile bombs in order to bring up fresh supplies of bombs to his own men. Finally, he established a “block”, and continued encouraging his men, and throwing bombs until utterly exhausted by loss of blood.”

Sgt. McNess lived at 39 Eightlands Lane, Bramley. He was born on January 22nd 1890, and prior to enlisting in January 1915, was employed as a carter by Mr. Joseph Harry Boan, carrier of Bramley. Sgt. McNess eventually married the nurse who had looked after him during his long stay in hospital recovering from his wounds, which for the remainder of his life were to cause him a great deal of pain. On his return to civilian life, he started in business for himself in Woodhouse Lane, Leeds. Later in life he was employed in the City Engineers Department from where he retired aged 65. He then moved to Bournemouth, where he died a few years ago.

Above is a copy of the photograph taken by a local newspaper showing Bette Davis on the left with Emlyn Williams, and Miss Cooke to the right.

1937. ‘The Corn is Green’ at the Duchess Theatre, London. Sybil Thorndyke starred.

1941. During the blitz in London, it was transferred to New York, America, and Ethel Barrymore starred.

1947. Made into a film and Bette Davis starred.

1991. At the Bradford Alhambra Theatre, and Pat Routledge starred.

'The Corn Is Green'
Miss Sarah Grace Cooke.
The story of a Bramley School Teacher.

Miss Cooke trained at Ripon College and her first appointment was at Bramley National School. Later she specialised in French and Spanish, and went to Holywell Country School, North Wales. Here, at the age of ten, came Emlyn Williams, son of a green grocer, and she taught him for the next seven years. She realised he was a boy of great ability and did all she could to help him and paid for him to study in France. Years later he wrote and directed many plays, including ‘The Corn is Green’, which was based on the life of his teacher, Miss Cooke. The story of the play is about Miss Moffat, a schoolteacher, and Morgan Evans, a twelve year old boy who worked in a Welsh coal mine and wrote “It’s dark in the mine but I can reach with my hand touch where ‘The Corn is Green’. The play had long successful runs in various theatres.

Before the film production in 1947, in which Bette Davis took the part of Miss Moffat, Emlyn Williams was keen that Bette Davis meet Miss Cooke, on whom the character was based. The meeting took place in a Yorkshire hotel and was photographed by the local newspaper.