Thackley Workhouse

Thackley Workhouse

As a teenager, I lived with my parents on Jowett Park Crescent, (Thackley)  and later once I married, I moved to 59 Windhill Old Road. At the back of my parent’s house was a lovely old stone cottage. Always having a fascination with old houses, I investigated, and I found that this house was once the Thackley Workhouse.

Built around 1765 at a cost of £104, 10s 1d. Thackley Workhouse was built on Windhill Old Road. A stable was added in 1790 with an additional cost of £34 17s 10d. At the beginning of the twentieth century this by then ‘quaint old cottage’ was considered to be an object of interest and curiosity. Described as low and depressing with small windows some with iron grills on them.

The workhouse was built around three sides of a large courtyard, the fourth side surrounded by a high wall, behind which is a fairly extensive garden. (Must have been where Jowett Park Crescent is now) This garden was considered to be too cheerful a sight for miserable paupers. The workhouse was divided into cottages and at the time the workhouse master wanted to portray an image of it been inhabited by prosperous working people whilst happy children played in the courtyard. The reality was somewhat different.

The North Bierley Union was responsible for Thackley Workhouse and was founded in 1848. Thackley Workhouse was taken over by a board of guardians (as was the custom at this time), but on 11^th March 1852. The board received a scathing report from a local government inspector Mr Farnell, who condemned the building, stating that ‘the building was a most imperfect structure,’ which did not match the requirements expected of a well-conducted workhouse. There wasn’t a single bath on the premises. Arrangements for the sick were inadequate with paupers having to attend to the sick themselves, bedding and clothing were in short supply, and the inmates both children and adults had no shoes. The overall place was dirty, the report further concluded.

Thackley Workhouse was calculated to hold 100 people and usually reached this capacity. The house was quite inadequate for the requirements of the new union. Mr Farnell begged the board to consider building a new workhouse so that the poor who had no other shelter would be lodged as they deserved, the idle and destitute would be treated with the inbuilt discipline of the workhouse. The helpless children would be educated and the sick and poor lodged apart from the healthy and women of good character set apart from the immoral and the depraved.

(Credit P Higginbotham)

Nevertheless, despite accepting the inspector’s recommendations the board continued to use Thackley (Known as Idle Workhouse)  until 1855, when North Bierley Union acquired a site at Calverley, unfortunately, these plans were abandoned as there was insufficient water supply to the premises. A year later a purpose-built workhouse was erected at Clayton Heights designed to hold 400 people. Due to its location, this site became very unpopular and deemed ‘The Siberia’ of the North Bierley Union.

In 1948, this workhouse was integrated into the NHS and renamed ‘Thornton View.’ This hospital closed in 1984, in 1991 it was sold for use as a private Muslim girls’ school. Many of the original buildings still stand today.

Thackley Workhouse still stands and is now a desirable private property. 

 

 

 (Credit P Higgibotham)

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Hey Up

Does thi know t'as bin yonks since I wrote on 'ere bin busy.

Come across a smashin site on t' Farcebook called Straight up Yorkshire-spot on t'is got thir 'eads screwed on annall. Pissed me sen laffin. Carn't a' purr it better me sen.

SANTA IS A YORKSHIREMAN by Chris Burdon....

Santa is a Yorkshireman
Of this I'm fairly sure
I heard him tiptoe in my room
At roughly Ten to four

"I 'ope tha's fast asleep" he said
"Or tha'll get nowt my lad"

He smelled of Hi Karate
(Must av pinched it from my dad)
Just down stairs I'd left a treat
Santa loves a beer
He loves pork pies and single malt
That was Dad's idea

When I woke next morning
I ran down stairs to see
If Santa had been kind enough
To leave gifts under t'tree

He got our mam a Nightie
And a pair of china pigs
Our dad got socks and undies
And 200 park lane cigs

My sister got a Barbie
Sat on a plastic horse
A One Direction annual
Which she loved of course

When I unwrapped my parcels
My Yorkshire heart did sing
Each gift that Santa gave me
A truly wondrous thing

A flat cap for my noggin
A vest of finest string
The ferret keepers handbook
Each gift fit for a king

So thank you Santa thank you
You surely are a tyke
But can you please remember
Next year I'd like a bike

What Thissen.....

Tyke Dictionary

1. “Be reight.” – I’m so desperately sorry to hear of the awful time you’re going through, but I have faith and hope that things will sort themselves out.

2. “‘Ey up!” – How the devil are you, old friend?
3. “Yer brew’s mashin’.” – This exceedingly strong and exceptionally tasty cup of Yorkshire Tea will be with you shortly.
4. “It’s chuffin’ roastin’ out.” – It is March bank holiday and therefore I will not need my coat until October.
5. “Bagsy ‘avin a croggy!” – I’m now officially the first person to be allowed a ride on the back of your bicycle.
6. “‘Ow much?” – Do you really mean to tell me that I won’t get change from a tenner for this round?
7. “‘Eez int’bog.” – He’s visiting the lavatory at the present moment.
8. “That’s proper champion, that, lad.” – My dear child, I’ve frankly never been more proud of you.
9. “Gi’us a butty.” – Please may I have one of those delightful looking cheese-and-pickle sandwiches?
10. “Gi’us a chuddy.” – Please may I have some chewing gum? Those cheese-and-pickle sandwiches seem to have given me slightly putrid breath.
11. “Gi’or, yer too cack-‘anded.” – Look, just let me take over the preparation of this Yorkshire pudding mix, you’re frankly too clumsy to be trusted with it.
12. “I’m chuffed t’bits wi’ that.” – This is quite possibly the best news I’ve ever received.
13. “That ruddy whippet ‘as took me cap down snicket!” – I say, that darned stereotypical northern dog has taken off with my equally stereotypical choice of headgear down a narrow alleyway.
14. “Ahm fair t’middlin’.” – I’m not doing too badly, thanks.
15. “Ahm nobbut middlin’.” – I’m doing pretty badly, actually.
16. “‘E’s in fine fettle.” – He’s doing very well by all accounts – must have had a smashing trip to Skeggy.
17. “Tha’ knows.” – You understand, do you not?
18. “Tha’ll get a clip rahnd lug’oil if tha’ carries on like this.” – If you don’t stop with this fake Yorkshire accent nonsense, I’ll smack you in the head.
19. “Mind you visit yer nan this weekend, she’s getting reight mardy.” – Be sure to take the time to visit your grandma this weekend, she’s starting to get a bit annoyed with you.
20. “‘Appen ‘e’ll quit his mitherin’ if you buy ‘im a Landlord.” – Perhaps he’ll stop complaining so much if you get him a decent pint.
21. “Nah, ‘e’s allus mitherin’ about summat.” – That seems unlikely, he’s always complaining about something.
22. “Eeh, yer daft ha’peth.” – My god, you fool, you’ve made quite the mistake here.
23. “Stop nebbin’ in me diary, buggerlugs.” – Kindly stop prying into my private affairs, you idiot.
24. “Na’than thee, ‘ow’s tha’ lass?” – Why, hello, my friend, how the devil is your wife?
25. “Put wood in t’ole! Was tha’ born in a barn?” – Please shut the door. Where the dickens were you brought up that you think it’s OK to sit in a draft?
26. “Eeh, yer reight nesh.” – A draft? There’s no draft, you’re just a big southern softie who can’t handle a bit of cold.
27. “‘Ow do, my love?” – Why hello, m’lady.
28. “Tarra, ducky.” – I’m a bus driver/your grandmother/both, and I’m wishing you an affectionate farewell.
29. “There’s nowt s’queer as folk.” – People are truly, properly weird.
30. “‘Owt’s better than nowt.” – Well, it’s not quite the Sean Bean life-sized cutout I was hoping for, but I suppose this poster of him will do.
31. “‘E’s neither use nor ornament.” – That gentlemen serves quite literally no purpose on this earth.
32. “Where there’s muck, there’s brass.” – One can make a small fortune if one is willing to engage in dirty work.
33. “Did I ‘eckers like!” – Did I bunk off work to buy Def Leppard tour tickets? My god, of course not!
34. “Near as makes n’ matter.” – Well, it’s not quite a Yorkshire pudding of my mother’s standard, but let’s be real: All Yorkshire puddings are a thing of joy, so let’s not quibble.
35. “Eeh I’ll go t’foot of stairs!” – It’s snowing in May? My goodness, I’m really quite surprised by this turn of events.
36. “Eez nobbutta babbi.” – He’s only a small child, leave him be.
37. “Think on, soft lad.” – You’ll come to remember my advice one day, you foolish boy.
38. “That’s a threp in’t steans.” – Ain’t that a kick in the nuts.
39. “Sit thissen dahn, tha’s bin laikin all day.” – Sit down, you’ve been out playing all day and frankly, that can be exhausting.
40. “Ah reckon nowt ter that.” – I don’t think much of your advice to stop drinking after five pints. What the devil is wrong with you?
41. “‘E’s on pot duty.” – He’s doing the dishes tonight.
42. “And ahm ‘appy as a pig in muck.” – And I’m really quite pleased about that.
43. “Eeh, it’s black o’er Will’s mother’s.” – It looks like it’s about to piss it down over there.
44. “Wang it o’er.” – Please toss me that chunk of Wensleydale so that I can gnaw on it like an animal.
45. “It’s like Blackpool bloody illuminations in ‘ere.” – I am your father and it is my responsibility to remind that you have left one light on in the house.
46. “‘E’s soft int’ed.” – That young man isn’t especially smart.
47. “If tha’s ‘ad beef dripping for dinner tha’s not ‘avin’ a chippy tea.” – If you had a delicious hot midday meal, you’re certainly not being treated to chips for your evening meal.
48. “Tha’ meks a better door than window.” – Please could you get out of the way of the television so I can finish watching Corrie, you careless lump?
49. “‘E’s a reight bobby dazzler.” – Alex Turner really scrubs up nicely when he’s in a suit, no?
50. “‘Supwier?” – What the heck is wrong with that woman?
51. “Tin tin tin.” – That giant rocket firework you were planning to detonate? It’s not in the designated tin.
52. “Eeh by gum!” – I’m from London and I think I’m pretty funny right now.

Yorkshire Pud's have bin sabotaged!

Nah t'day I were not impressed. Some silly beggar decided t' mek me lunch-some silly beggar frem 't' smoke

Nah what the 'ells all this abhat? Strewth-I'll go t' foot of arr stairs afoar I'll eat that!

Soome one need's a slap rhand 'ed fer this!

                                                                            Blitherin' Idiots!

The Yorkshire Manifesto.