A Bridge too Far: Travellers on the A639 to Leeds cannot have missed the metal track laid parallel to the railway line at ground level (Feb 2009). It would appear that Railtrack, or is … Continue Reading →
Canal Diversion
In March 1988 after some unsuccessful piling repairs, the north bank of the river Aire (the old river) breached at a point some yards downstream from Lemonroyd locks. The Opencast … Continue Reading →
From Russia with…..
It was quite some time after completion of the new river construction that we decided to go and see it for ourselves. The plan was to drive to the marina … Continue Reading →
Ha’penny (Caroline) Bridge
The hamlet of Astley lies between the River Aire and the Aire and Calder canal (Yorkshire Evening Paper 1959) One of the houses was formerly the Caroline Inn. The toll … Continue Reading →
Major Donald Henry Currer-Briggs
Local Councillor and Chairman of Methley UDC at the critical time of amalgamation in 1929, Donald Briggs was able to make his analytical presence felt when he turned round a … Continue Reading →
Harry Wright (Snr)
He was to become the day shift overman at Savile Pit supervising day shift operations until the later arrival of the colliery manager. He applied himself to the task with … Continue Reading →
Amos Illingworth
Amos Illingworth, builder of Woodrow, Methley followed on in the family tradition of building, his father William had built the kitchen wing of Methley Hall. Amos built many properties in … Continue Reading →
Bram Russell
Bram, born in Mill Lane was the thirteenth of fifteen children. He started work at Savile at the ripe old age of 13, at the time a small boy for … Continue Reading →
Cllr Arthur Wright BEM
Reported in the Pontefract and Castleford Express When Cllr Arthur Wright, of Leeds Road, Methley, handed his riding check in at Savile Colliery last Friday, he ended 52 years of … Continue Reading →
John Willie Firth
Local Headmaster and outstanding sportsman both at soccer and cricket where he was to enjoy representative selection in both sports. In 1929 he was runner up in the Methley CC … Continue Reading →
Alma Wright
Alma came to prominence in this village when he became opening bowler for the cricket team in 1929. In his first season he took 56 wickets at 9.5 runs conceded … Continue Reading →