Explore Halifax Archives - Dyers Cottage Yorkshire - Holiday Cottage Halifax

What a view from the top of Wainhouse Tower!

Tags: Easter 2025 EnjoyWestYorkshire, Explore Halifax, Wainhouse Tower

With thanks to Peter Davies who bravely climbed over 370 steps to achieve a fantastic panorama from the viewing gallery at the top of Wainhouse Tower, the tallest folly in the world. We are in the bottom left corner of the photo diagonally opposite the old Wesleyan chapel Sunday School with the distinctive roof profile. After it ceased its religious use, it became a hosiery factory and is now apartments. Wainhouse Tower was built in the early 1870’s, possibly as a chimney for the Wainhouse dyeworks but more likely to ignite the feud between John Edward Wainhouse and his neighbour Sir Henry Edwards which is why it is often referred to as “the tower of spite”. JEW had a wonderful view of it, as does Dyer’s Cottage, from his own house just 30metres from us, originally called West Air but now known as the Wainhouse Tavern. We are so fortunate to have such a great pub so close to us where the locals are keen to welcome our guests and Andy and his team serve up delicious home cooked food and real ales. Dyer’s Cottage Holiday Home Halifax and the Wainhouse Tavern are just down the wooded slope from the 2 red cars.

For more dates when Wainhouse Tower is open, please visit https:// www.visitcalderdale.com. Tickets for Easter Sunday April 20th and Bank Holiday Monday April 21 are available for ascents at 10am,11am, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm each day from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/visit-calderdale-29603793049

#wainhousetower #visitcalderdale #Easter2025 #EnjoyWestYorkshire

Our fascinating garden wall

Tags: Explore Halifax, Feud, History, Sir Henry Edwards, Wainhouse

John Edward Wainhouse was a local dyeworks owner and his aunt previously owned the building of which we are a part. He inherited it and certainly added the distinctive front porches and the garden wall too as it bears his initials JEW and the date 1878. Part of the wall was a water source, probably a well or trough which has been bricked in more recently. We have now been told that this was actually 3 water troughs which were installed following the failure of a previous scheme called Cockett Well due to land ownership issues with Sir Henry Edwards. On the back wall there was an inscription in gilt lettering which said “And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away” Genesis 21:25. This is a reference to JEW’s feud with Sir Henry Edwards who lived at Pye Nest House and had objected to the building of Wainhouse Tower a few years previously as he thought it was an intrusion of his privacy. It later became known as ‘the tower of spite’. The cottages were allegedly known as Dye Nest which was inscribed on a chimney. More research is required to find out more!

Thanks to Peter Kemp for the photo and Steve for the additional information.

Special events at the Bankfield Museum Halifax 2025

Tags: Arts & Exhibitions, Day Out, Explore Halifax, Filming in Calderdale, History

The fascinating Bankfield Museum is just outside the town centre, across North Bridge and along the road to Queensbury. The entrance is slightly hidden so watch out for the stone gate posts leading up a narrow drive just past the magnificent All Soul’s Church which sadly only opens occasionally. It has been a museum since 1887 and tells the story of Halifax, Calderdale and its people and heritage.

Opening times are Tuesday to Saturday 10.00-16.00 FREE ENTRY unless you attend an event or workshop.

The house was originally the home of Edward Akroyd local MP and mill owner and now hosts a very interesting collection of local memorabilia such as exhibits from the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, a toy collection and jewellery crafted by the renowned local silversmith Charles Horner.

In addition, the museum hosts special events throughout the year and below is the schedule for 2025. For more details please visit the website https://museums.calderdale.gov.uk

Exhibition 50 Years of Calderdale. This explores the history of the borough, created in 1974, over the past 50 years from archaeological discoveries to the changing industrial landscape and the new future as a filming location. To December 21st 2025

Exhibition Edith Durham 1863-1944; Explorer, Collector and Champion of The Balkans to March 29th 2025

Exhibition Wild Words. This celebrates the poetry of the area most famously Ted Hughes 1930-1998. To 1st March 2025

Exhibition Welcome to Calderdale, a new exhibition of paintings by local Brighouse artist Roger Davies until 28th June 2025

Exhibition The World of Chris Mould an award winning graphic illustrator. Until 30th August 2025

Event Sketch Away with Chris Mould. Come and join a workshop on 18th February. Book online.

Event Fastest Felting Workshop and create your own wet felting masterpiece. 19 February 2025. Book online.

Event Mask Making Workshop for children 4-12 21st February. Book online.

Event Poetry Inspired by the Brontes to accompany the Wild Words Exhibition. 21st February. Book online.

Event Vintage Sewing Machine Demonstration, a free session on 8th March

Exhibition Let’s go Shopping! Suitable for all ages, this looks at the shops of yesteryear in Halifax with a display of photos and objects. 8th March -13th September 2025

Event Roger Davies in Concert. Join in with a performance by local poet, who is also a talented songwriter, on 11th April 2025. Book online

Event Regency Summer Ball with music from the Pemberley Players. 2nd August 2025. Book online

Below are two of the costumes, from a previous exhibition at the Bankfield Museum, worn by the fictional character Eugenie Pierre played by Albane Courtois in the BBC/HBO tv series ‘Gentleman Jack’. This very popular historical drama focuses on the unconventional life and loves of local landowner Anne Lister who was played by Suranne Jones.

View from the top of Wainhouse Tower Halifax UK, the tallest folly in the world

Tags: Explore Halifax, Filming in Calderdale, Filming Locations, History, Wainhouse Tower

Wainhouse Tower is unique! Originally designed to be a chimney for a dyeworks, the creativity of the architect Isaac Booth got ever more bold and it never achieved its original purpose. John Edward Wainhouse, the owner of the dyeworks, was very influential in the architectural design of the local area and this masterpiece took from 1871-1875 to build. It became the most famous landmark in Halifax offering views from the balconies over the whole of Calderdale into the Pennines. Unfortunately it also overlooked the estate of his neighbour Sir Henry Edwards and locally became known as “the tower of spite”. Reputedly, on days with excellent visibility, it is said that having climbed the 369 steps, you are rewarded with a view to Blackpool Tower over 40 miles away. It is 84 metres tall, with a square base, an octagonal shaft and 2 balconied viewing platforms, the upper one not open to the public.

It is now owned by Calderdale Council who arrange special open days when tickets can be booked. In 2024 these were on the third Saturday and the first Wednesday of each month and some Bank Holidays. For more information visit https://www.visitcalderdale.com

Philip Fearnley, a local photographer and owner of Halo Vue Aerial Photography https://www.halovue.co.uk has published an extensive series of stunning photographs taken by drone from the top of Wainhouse Tower in all directions. Dyer’s Holiday Cottage Halifax is proud to feature in the left part of the first photograph which is looking South West towards Sowerby Bridge and in the distance are the Pennines. These photographs are available in a book with more information about Wainhouse Tower called Calderdale From The Air Wainhouse Tower by Philip Fearnley and would make an amazing Christmas gift for anyone who has a connection to Halifax and Calderdale.

Photos credited to Philip Fearnley Photography. Dyer’s Holiday Cottage is in the centre left of this photo just before the bend in Edwards Road, next to a large Victorian building with a slate roof which was formerly the home of John Edward Wainhouse and known as West Air. It is now the very popular pub The Wainhouse Tavern and has won accolades as one of the best real ale pubs in Calderdale and the food is well worth a mention too.

If you would like to see more of Philip’s work, please take a look at the virtual tour on our website https://www.dyerscottageyorkshire.co.uk which takes you around the cottage and then offers you an opportunity to see more of Halifax and Calderdale from the air. He also has worked with tv production companies, notably on ‘Gentleman Jack’ and ‘Canal Boat Diaries’.

Last Minute Special Offer May 25 to June 19

Tags: Explore Halifax, Happy Valley, History, Shibden Hall, special offer

Just £500 for a weeks stay at Dyer’s self catering holiday cottage in the beautiful Calderdale West Yorkshire between Halifax and Sowerby Bridge. Located in the shadow of Wainhouse Tower, the tallest folly in the world, this is a truly heritage area and our cottage is part of is one of the oldest buildings in the area.

Price includes a breakfast pack too.

Shorter stays available too.

Enjoy relaxing in our unique cottage garden after a day out exploring the natural beauty and historic sights.

The Magna Via also known as The Wakefield Gate Halifax: a great walk from Hipperholme to Halifax

Tags: Day Out, Explore Halifax, Filming Locations, History, Walking

This ancient road, connecting Halifax to Wakefield is a fascinating reminder of the illustrious past and until the 18th century was the only route East. Carrying animals, wool and textiles by packhorse, this footpath enables walkers to really experience how difficult life must have been in times gone by.

The walk from Hipperholme to Halifax, which we took by bus from Dyer’s Holiday Cottage into Halifax and bus to Hipperholme, is provided in the walks section of our guest information folder at Dyer’s Holiday Cottage Halifax but briefly consists of a downhill section from Station Road, then an upward path following Dark Lane, which is one of the best preserved Medieval holloways, up to 12 metres deep in parts, carved out by many centuries of traffic. At the summit, above Shibden Hall, home of Anne Lister aka ‘Gentleman Jack’ from the television series written by Sally Wainwright, the track levels out offering splendid views across the Shibden Valley to Queensbury on the opposite ridge. Look out for the old mineshaft before descending into the remnants of the woods of Beacon Hill. Here the track becomes setted again. The cobbles were laid in the 1720’s to provide an all weather surface but the gradient was too steep for wheeled vehicles. Excavated and restored by Halifax Civic Trust in 1984. we can now see the beauty of their workmanship.

The 1741 Turnpike Trust meant that gradually the Magna Via was used less to carry goods as the toll paying Halifax Old Road was built following a lower but longer more Northerly route between Halifax and Hipperholme.

It remains a great memorial of past times for walkers to enjoy and took us 1.5 hours, approximately 3 miles.

For more information have a look at www.milestonesociety.co.uk

www.visitcalderdale.com

www.calderdale.gov.uk

Information Board near Dark Lane Hipperholme

The track descends into the woods on Beacon Hill Halifax

Nearly there!

Out and about at Ogden Water Country Park

Tags: Day Out, Explore Halifax, Walking

Just a 15 minute drive from Dyer’s Holiday Cottage near Halifax is the beautiful nature reserve called Ogden Water. Accessed from the A629 Keighley Road, near the Moorlands Inn, it offers a variety of paths and trails to explore, some of which are suitable for a wheelchair or buggy. Dogs are allowed, there’s parking, picnic tables and a public toilet. Pay for parking at the Visitor Centre (opening hours vary). Owned by Yorkshire Water, and managed by Calderdale Countryside Service, the reservoir can hold over 220 million gallons of water but this is seasonal. Ogden Water covers over 34 acres and is reputed to be the first clay lined dam to be built in Europe when it opened in 1857. It has a maximum depth of 20 metres and this water is supplied from several streams and waterfalls tumbling down the hillside from the moorland above. However swimming, paddling etc is strictly forbidden.

For more about the history take a look at www.ogdenwater.org.uk

Ogden Water is surrounded by many walking trails to explore

A visit to The People’s Park Halifax

Tags: Come to Calderdale, Day Out, Explore Halifax

As its name suggests, this is a park specially designed for all the people of Halifax to enjoy at a time when only the largest houses had gardens. Situated about a mile from the town centre on the A58 towards Burnley, this 12.5 acre park, opened in 1857, is a very special one. Designed by Joseph Paxton, originally a gardener at Chatsworth House, The People’s Park is one of several public parks and burial grounds he created. However, he is best known for his design of the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition in 1851.

The People’s Park was laid out in an area of open fields but is now surrounded by later 19th century housing. Sir Francis Crossley, a local carpet manufacturer of great fame, donated the park for the enjoyment of the people. It was designed to combine art and nature so that it could provide relaxation and pleasure after a hard days work. It was an area of quiet enjoyment where locals could stroll, meet, chat and enjoy music performed on the bandstand. His own home Belle Vue was just across the road.

It has several impressive entrances with stone gate piers and cast iron gates with curving paths leading from each, through impressive deciduous trees, many of which are now over 150 years old, to the more formal centre of the park. Here the main building is the Grade 11 listed Crossley Pavilion with an arcaded seating area and statue of Sir Francis Crossley made by Joseph Durham 1814-1877. His most famous commission is the Memorial to the Great Exhibition 1851 consisting of a fountain surmounted by a bronze statue of Prince Albert and four figures representing the corners of the world which stands in front of the Royal Albert Hall in London. The water feature within the pavilion walls has bowls shaped like scallop shells above which are heads of sea gods. Water was designed to flow from the heads into the shells and from there into pools.

On the adjoining terrace are 7 (formerly 8) marble statues of classical figures. Unfortunately Apollo arrived broken after his journey from Carrara, Italy and sadly a few of the others have sustained later minor injuries too.

Dominating the lawns is the bandstand constructed in 1882 of cast iron and timber with a zinc roof. It has hosted many bands and entertainers over the years. Close by is a 2om diameter pond. Originally blessed with a fountain designed by Paxton called ‘a nest of jets’, it now features a central statue which was moved from the winter garden of Somerleyton Hall in Suffolk in 1914 by the descendants of Frank Crossley.

Nearby is a most impressive sundial which was donated to the park in 1873. Originally created by John Smith 1807-1895 of Bielby near Pocklington East Yorkshire for a school in North Yorkshire in 1858, it is a splendid example of its type. Another piece of his work is the vertical sundial at Castle Howard near York.

The Serpentine Pools, 180m long with an island and crossed by 2 cast iron bridges, are very popular with the local bird life too. 3 marble urns feature at the entrance to one of the bridges and originally the water here was drinking water supplied from a reservoir nearby.

The Drinking Fountain, donated in 1859, is similar to another in nearby Savile Park but a clean water supply could not be restored to it in 1995 although the stonework has been repaired.

Close by, on the North side of the park and screened by trees is the childrens playground whilst on the South side are examples of exotic trees and shrubs. The South West corner originally had glasshouses but now horse chestnut, beech and ash trees have colonised the area although some conifers were planted as part of the 1995 restoration.

Just a mile from Dyer’s Holiday Cottage, take a walk up Wakefield Gate and across Savile Park for a very interesting discovery and exploration of The People’s Park. The map is provided by Calderdale Council.