Bramham the Village in Times Past

The shop in the picture is Brumfitt and Booth where, for many years, the Post Office was situated. It sold many things including shoes and drapery and was run under the name Brumfitt and Booth in the late 1800's as well as this century. On the left is the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel built in 1817, and renovated in 1906. Four cottages demolished about 1989 are shown. During the Second World War this land was used as a small‑holding by Mr Burns; the present house were erected in the space in 1968. The shadows are cast by four cottages demolished in 1941 : there is now a bungalow on the site. This area of the village was owned by the Headley Estates and gradually sold off into private ownership.

This row of cottages in Low way was demolished around 1953. These four one-up one-down cottages each had a fire oven and sink provided. Outside in the yard each had a coal house, but shared one earth toilet. At the end of the cottages nearest to the Church Mr Hines kept pigs in an old shed. A bungalow, soon to be demolished for development, now stands on the site of the cottages. At the other end of the cottages was an old wooden barn, also now demolished, where Mr Mawer ran a joinery business.

Two views - One (top) taken from what was is now the Old Vicarage and a closer view with New Road just visible, before houses were built.

This photograph was taken before 1935 when major alterations took place. A marble pulpit can be seen on the right. No roof arch over the chancel existed until 1935 when it was erected in memory of Lord Halifax with money given by Lady Bingley, his daughter. The present side Altar on the left was put there after this photograph was taken; in those days it was the doorway leading to the organ bellows. The present pulpit, now on the left hand side of the chancel, and the priest's stalls were designed and made by a former Vicar, Canon Hicks. The mediaeval oak panelling from which the priest's stalls are made was found by Canon Hicks in joiner Mr Mawer's barn on Low Way. The Estate Foreman Carpenter, Mr Alf Martin, made a key cabinet and two candlesticks for the church

The path to what was then the Vicarage can clearly he seen as can the extent of the land belonging to the Vicarage. Part of the Vicarage was demolished in the late 1920’s. In the background you can see sheds, used as slaughterhouses for Mr Cass the butcher.

This was built in the grounds of the Vicarage by the then Vicar's wife, Mrs Wadeson, about 1902, for the use of the church congregation. You could play billiards and table tennis and, for a few pence, have a bath, a boon in times when few houses had bathrooms. After the First World War it was rented to a Captain Branson and his wife. Mrs Wadeson lived there for a time after the death of her husband. This could be her in the picture. Mr Peacock and later Mr Wright, a gamekeeper, lived there. Mr Kendrew bought it when he retired from being a coal merchant and it is still in private ownership.

Showing the spire after it was struck by lightning

Newspaper clipping from the Yorkshire Post, showing Dr Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, blessing the memorial to Lord & Lady Bingley on 4 May 1965.