Cockersdale watercourses and mills

[chameleon]

jim wrote: Hi SiWe did indeed, and had a highly enjoyable and informative half-day out. I'm now looking at maps and fact-sifting for a proper report. We did have one total failure though. Despite managing to sink threequarter-welly-deep in iron ochre mud, I managed to arrive home with both on my feet and intact!Little lads rule OK! Reminds me of the time I spied a strnge brick - ideal for unusual item art homework - far as I know, one of my wellies remains in the clay benind what is Killingbeck Police Station to this day

[chameleon]

Thinking back to the questions about Sykes Wood and the Beaulah, I've raided Mrs C's Personal Ancestoral Files for my family and found this.Doesn't mention mills anywhere but may be of interest to someone in placing bits around that area - and you never know, might even bring in a few new bits of thfamily jigsaw! ( With enough small bits, the picture comes clear eventually eh Chris?)

[chameleon]

Thinking back to the questions about Sykes Wood and the Beaulah, I've raided Mrs C's Personal Ancestoral Files for my family and found this.Doesn't mention mills anywhere but may be of interest to someone in placing bits around that area - and you never know, might even bring in a few new bits of thfamily jigsaw! ( With enough small bits, the picture comes clear eventually eh Chris?)'Entry in the Fulneck Moravian register reads:James Sykes, son of Thomas Sykes, farmer of Scholebrook and Bridget his wife, late Hainsworth. Born July 23rd 1804 baptised August 12th 1804 at Fulneck. Minister Henry Kleinschmidt. An 1836 Directory shows Fred, James and William at Beaulah, Lane Side.First found in the 1836 Leeds Register of Parliamentary Electors showing building and land, Beulah Farm, Farnley township. Same entry as above showing for 1840.1841 (July) Poll Book of Leeds Borough Electors still carries the same details and address - despite the 1841 census entry.1841 census of Holly House, Lane Side, Farnley,Leeds (HO107, Piece 1343, Book 11, Civil parish Leeds, County Yorkshire, ED 19, Folio 49, Page 25, Line 23)James Sykes, 30, Farmer, born in this county;George Sykes, 26, Wheelwright, born in this county;Mary Sykes, 40, Spinster, born in this county;James Smith, 20, Journeyman, born in this county;Josa Hainsworth, 15, Apprentice, born in this county;Robt Holdsworth, 15, Apprentice, born in this county;Thos Crowther, 15, Farmers Asst, born in this county;James Gladwin, 20, Farmers Asst, born in this county;James Robinson, 14, Farmers Asst, born in this county;Mary Jennings, 15, Female servant, born in this county;Elizabeth Hainsworth, 12, Female servant, born in this countyFrom Beaulah Farm, go along Lane Side to reach Holly House, the next address shown in 1841 as Moor Top. Could this Holly House be the present Hollin House on Tong Lane?1846 Register of Electors shows James Sykes, living in Farnley, house and land, Lane Side.1847 Leeds Burgess Roll shows James with a house on Lane Side.1848 Leeds Burgess Roll shows James with a house at Lane Side, Farnley.1849 Register of Electors shows the same as above.An 1849 Directory of Leeds shows Thomas Sykes and Brothers as Cartwrights and Farmers of Farnley.1850 Burgess Roll and Register of Electors, shows James at Lane Side.1851 census of 23 Water Lane, Farnley (HO107, Piece 2314, Folio 125, Page 9)James Sykes,46,Farmer of 64 acres emp 5 men, born in Tong;Ann Sykes,Wife,35,born in Bramley;Mary A Sykes,daughter, 1,born in Farnley;Harriet Slack, Servant, Unmarr, 18, housekeeper, 40, born Derbyshire.Water Lane becomes Gamble Lane which drops down to Tong Lane. Census shows Water Lane, then Mount Pleasant, then Lane Side, then Beaulah Farm.1851/2, 53, 54 and 56 Burgess Roll of Farnley, Bramley Ward shows him as having a house at Lane Side.1856 Register of Electors same as above.1859 Poll Book shows James Sykes as of Farnley.1860 Burgess Roll shows him having a house at Lane Side, Farnley.The OS map of 1875 (map dated 1844) shows Lane Side as the main road running through Farnley, heading from Leeds, there is a Methodist/Wesleyan Chapel on the left, then a road goes off to the right, Hollin House is on the left after a road goes off to the right. Park Side Farm is shown on the 1910 map just past the Cemetary,on the opposite side of the road (heading away from Leeds) however there is also a Park Side Farm on Banks Lane, Farnley, due east of the methodist chapel but on a road that has forked off to the left just past the Cemetary 1861 Register of Electors shows James as having a house at Lane Side, Farnley. G.F. Sykes, and William are no longer showing in Farnley. Last entry found for Thomas was 1850 Register of Electors.1861 census of Park Spring Farm,Farnley (RG9, Piece 3352, Folio 42, Page 14)James Sykes,56,Farmer of 65 acres emp 2 men, born Tong;Ann Sykes, Wife, 45, born Bramley;Mary H. Sykes,11, scholar, born Farnley;Thomas Sykes, 9, scholar, born Farnley;Benjamin Overing, Servant/Ag Lab, 17, born in Colton, Leeds;Sarah A Laycock, Servant - house, born Gildersome.In 1861, Park Spring Farm was next to Mount Pleasant. (Note - The 1891 census shows there was a Park Spring Farm which appeared to be on Bamle Lane, almost next door to Beaulah Farm. Also appears that Beulah Farm and the Beulah Hotel were on 'Lane Side' which has now become Tong Lane.)See photos in the Sykes file of a farm on Scholebrook Lane.From Margaret Connor, there is a narrow lane which runs across the Fulneck Valley. The Moravian Church owns the valley and rents out sites to one or two farms There is a plain gravestone at the back of the Farnley cemetary on Tong Road. There is a simple insciption and a lot of space left as if the grave were to be later used by other family members. It noted his date of death and his age - 61 years. It reads, In affectionate rememberance of James Sykes, Farmer of Farnley who died March 27th 1866 aged 61 years.'

[Si]

The old map shows some of the places on your list, Steve. Note HollinG Hall and Lane Side.    

[jim]

So what did we get up to? First I must thank Tilly, provider of transport, calmer-down of rash ideas, and a most amenable companion. I don't think we fell silent once, and we probably missed important sights with the craic. I must also apologise to him, as I never produced the oft-mentioned cup of tea! He also warned me I needed my wellys from the start, and wasn't wrong.From the outset I had the feeling that the first mill was once in the vicinity or was part of Hollin House. The land configuration seems to indicate a strong possibility, but examination, whilst confirming a reasonable possibility, showed no concrete evidence. The current buildings on the site are, as far as can be ascertained, recent or so heavily rebuilt that nothing shows of earlier times. I was sure I had seen strong earthwork signs on an old map, and a check when I got home produced a Francis Frith repro of a map dated as 1847-1891 which shows it, and of which there is no trace on the ground. What ever it was has succumbed to the plough, and we can only regard it as a "possible". With Lower Mill (all mill remains are on the west bank of Tong Beck) we are on secure ground. Remains of the wheelpit outfall walls are clear and in fair condition. An obvious platform with scattered masonry shows the site of the mill building, and the now empty leat is unmistakable. Add to this the presence of what must have once been Green Lane and we can confirm that this is Lower Mill.From my somewhat hazy memory of the walk of this area that prompted this thread I now expected to find a repeating series of leat, possible weir remains, outfall from a higher level, mill platform, leat. and so on, and this is more or less what we found. I now realise that, over the years, I have gone on a series of "do you remember" walks with IAR and although I can often recall where we have been, I can't put them in date order, nor can I put a date to them. Some of them took place in the 1960s so a lot can have changed! Next, Middle Mill. The outfall and mill platform are vestigial, masonry is sparse, and the obvious remaining sign is the leat, which still holds water for a fair distance, and is clearly defined for the rest of it's length. Again, the access track, Mill Lane, is to be seen, verifying our identification. At the far end of the leat are the most plentiful signs of a weir in the beck. Worked stone both loosely scattered and built into the beck side are readily apparent.From this point a further system appears to have been in place, but remains are few and less obvious. Most maps of the C19th show clues but nothing specific on this site, and I would prefer to label it "probable" as it is, to a degree ephemeral, but feel it very likely to have been the upper mill to complete the set. The land forms show platform, there is leat trace, and the levels and general configuration conform exactly to the pattern.Here too is an access route, Springfield Lane.From this point onward we followed the beck branch heading due West for three or four hundred yards, but realised that there was no likelihood of a further system owing to the lie of the land. I think it likely that my past excursion had taken IAR and myself along the beck which runs south from a junction near Springfield Lane, and having a memory of reaching and passing in some way a fairly high bridge over the beck at some point. I later concluded that this might have been under Whitehall Road, so another future visit may be in order.............Whilst exploring the mill system remains, we also took note of any iron-polluted water. Along the section up to the possible Upper Mill we saw, and Tilly photographed, three heavily iron-rich small brooks, running down the eastern side of the valley, each of which had thick muddy orange beds. A little further along a veritable torrent of the same stuff rushed down the slope and following up it we discovered a plateau containing smaller streams branching and converging in all directions in the midst of a bright orange bog. (no, not that kind). Here occurred the sad tale of Jim's welly......... After retracing our steps a little way,we set off north up the hillside towards Tong Village, and Tilly took over as expedition leader with far greater knowledge of the area than I, and the only thing further I have to refer to is that the old mineral railway from Bowling Iron Works that I referred to in my 20/03/10 21.11 post did not cross Tong Lane as I thought, but reversed at Tong lane and ran west a short distance to a colliery. I got this information from the1894 OS.Current score:- Confirmed mills : 2 Probable mills :1 Possible mills :1Watch this space!

[Si]

Excellent work, lads! Will you be appearing on the next series of Time Team? PS Did you find the capped air shaft?    

[chameleon]

Si wrote: Excellent work, lads! Will you be appearing on the next series of Time Team? PS Did you find the capped air shaft?     (No, just JIm's wellie in years to come)

[jim]

Sorry Si, didn't look. Focused (with blinkered grim determination!) on mill sites and orange water. For what it's worth, my own view on the two air shafts shown on maps, and the iron water, are connected with Farnley Ironworks and it's satellite coal/iron/fireclay collieries, pits, and dayholes. The whole area is riddled with them, from Cockersdale to the Leeds - Huddersfield railway, and from the Ring Road to Gelderd Road and beyond.    

[Si]

Did either of you take a camera, Jim? Would love to see some pics.Can the old mineral railway you mentioned be plotted on a map, or seen on Google Earth?    

[tyke bhoy]

Si wrote: Did either of you take a camera, Jim? Would love to see some pics.Can the old mineral railway you mentioned be plotted on a map, or seen on Google Earth?     Si, you missed the bit about Jim being a bit of a computer novice presumably. We have only just got him to start new paragraphs occasionally uploading images or hyperlinks might take a little longer. No offence intended Jim