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Baildon

Baildon is a civil parish and town north of Bradford in Northern England. It is part of the metropolitan borough of Bradford in the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire and within the historic boundaries of the West Riding of Yorkshire. It lies 5 miles (8 km) north of Bradford and 9.5 miles (15 km) northwest of Leeds. Other nearby towns include Shipley to the south and Keighley to the west. The Baildon ward has a population of 15,368.^[1]

Baildon Moor has a number of outcropping gritstones, and there is a stone circle known as Soldier's Trench which is said to date from the Bronze Age, 3,000 years ago. There are also numerous Cup & Ring marks, the origins of these are still unknown.

The town is served by Baildon railway station, which is on the electrified Wharfedale Line with connections to Bradford Forster Square, Leeds and Ilkley.

Within Baildon there are several sports clubs, run from Baildon Rugby Union Football Club. These include the rugby club itself, along with the cricket and running clubs.

History

Baildon is known to have been inhabited for many centuries, several cup-and-ring stones on Baildon Moor has show evidence of Bronze age inhabitation.^[2] Baildon had two manor houses; one on Hall Cliffe, the other, in lower Baildon. In the 1960s the Hall Cliffe house was demolished and replaced with the Ian Clough Hall.

One of the main monuments in Baildon the fountain or 'potted meat stick.' This was built by Baron Amphlett of Somerset as a memorial to his mother-in-law, Frances Ferrand. This still stands today to the eastern side of Browgate. In 1925 the monument was put at threat when plans were produced to replace in with a bus terminus. In the 1960s the monument was removed and dismantled, however in 1986 the Mechanics Institute raised funds to take it out of storage and restore it.^[3]

During the industrial revolution, Baildon developed a wool industry, Westgate House was built in 1814 by the Ambler family who were prominent in the wool trade, the building is now Suburban Style Bar.^[4]

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, conditions in Bradford deteriorated and poverty and ill health became wide spread, Baildon began developing as a commuter town along with neighbouring Shipley and Menston. In the latter years of the 20th century, the West Riding suffered from economic decline through the gradule closure of its textile and engineering industries, Bradford was particularly affected by this, however Leeds grew as a major administrative and financial centre and Baildon with its rail links to Leeds has become a strategic commuter town.

Geography

Baildon lies to the north east of Bradford, and is linked to Bradford and Shipley by the B6151. To the north of Baildon lies Baildon Moor, from which views over Leeds and Bradford are offered. Across Baildon Moor is the village of Menston, the town of Ilkley and Ilkley Moor. Baildon lies just north of the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Baildon lies 13 miles from Leeds city centre and 5 miles from central Bradford.

Baildon Local Board of Guardians

Boards of Guardians were formed as a result of the the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 though the Baildon Local Board of Guardians was formed in 1852. Elections were held on 16 September 1852 and their first quorate meeting was on 9 October 1852. The last meeting took place 18 December 1894. As a result of the Local Government Act 1894 Baildon became an Urban District on 1 January 1895 and was then administered by Baildon Urban District Council.

Baildon Urban District Council

Baildon Urban District Council was established in 1895 and was disbanded when Bradford Metropolitan District Council was set up in 1974.

Baildon Community Council

A group of local residents held an Open Meeting on 7 May 1997 and as a result the Baildon Community Council came into being on 26 June 1997 as a means of communicating local interest to appropriate authorities.

Baildon Parish Council

Residents of Baildon went through the appropriate legal process and as a result Baildon Parish Council was formed which held its first full meeting 14 May 2007.

Amenities

Baildon has a modest town centre with most everyday amenities including independent traders, estate agents, family law solicitors and a building society. There is one small supermarket in the town, a Co-op branch situated in the town centre. There is a large Asda supermarket nearby in Shipley. There are no high street shops in Baildon, however nearby Shipley has chains such as Argos and a once was Woolworths. Shipley also boasts an indoor market hall. There are also Rugby, Golf and Cricket clubs in Baildon.

St John

The church of St. John was built in 1848 (designed by Maillinson & Healey) though the south tower was not added until 1928. The east window (designed by Powell & Sons) was added in 1870.^[5]

St James

This painted tongue and goove timber church, which is now (2008) a Grade II listed building, was moved to Baildon from Great Warley, Essex in 1905. The Revd N R Bailey, rector of Great Warley, had property in Baildon and hoped to retire there. However his obituary was published in November 1900 before he retired. In 2007/2008 the church was moved again but only a few yards. This allowed the surrounding land to be sold by the Diocese for development. An underground heat pump system was installed to make the building more eco-friendly and rotten timbers replaced.

Gypsy parties

Baildon was an important location for the British Gypsy community. A report of 1929 stated that annual "Gypsy Parties" had started two to three hundred years before - records were said to go back to 1770 when it was reported to be an ancient custom. In 1881, up to 5,000 people are said to have paid for admission. Gradually the event was taken over by local residents, who dressed up as Gypsies and formed 'tribes'. Proceeds went to the local Horticultural Society. After 1897 the tradition died out, apparently because the 'real Gypsies' had disappeared. However, in 1929 it was revived to raise funds for Baildon Hospital. A local resident, John Keen, then contacted the so-called "King of the Gypsies", Xavier Petulengro, and they re-established large Gypsy gatherings at Baildon, recorded on Pathe News films and shown nationally in cinemas.^[6][7][8] The Gypsy Parties ended with the start of the Second World War and were never revived.^[6]

Harley-Davidson rally

For nearly a quarter of a century the August Bank Holiday weekend saw over 500 Harley-Davidson riders arrive in Baildon as part of the annual UK rally of the Harley-Davidson Riders Club of Great Britain [1] - the event raising thousands of pounds for children's charities. The riders came from all over the country, including some from as far off as the Netherlands. The HDRCGB ran the rally continuously up to and including 2001 when they decided to move to Berkshire for a year. 2002 looked like seeing Baildon without the Harleys until the Wrecking Crew HDC stepped in and ran the event at Dobrudden with great success. The following year, 2003 which was Harley Davidson's Centenary Year, saw the HDRCGB return to host the event for the last time in Baildon. They decided to move their National Rally to Talgarth in Wales then onto their now established site at Oswestry.

The rally now takes place each August organised by The Shipley Harley Davidson Club with over 250 Harley riders deciding to honour their annual pilgrimage to Baildon village, including donations of toys to a local children's hospital. The 2008 rally ended with 430 riders being given their usual police escort down Browgate, from the village, towards Hollins Hill, where most would eventually make their way on to Harewood House.

Famous residents

The late journalist and "Countdown" TV game show presenter Richard Whiteley was a native of Baildon.

Mountaineer Ian Clough was born in Baildon. After he was tragically killed on an expedition to the Himalayan mountain Annapurna in 1970, Ian Clough Hall, a meeting-place and arts venue, was established in Baildon in his memory. In the 1960s, Ian and close friend Chris Bonington were known to have practised their climbing techniques on Baildon Bank - a 1,000ft long, 50 ft (15 m) high, ex-quarry rock-face that looks out towards Bradford. In 1962, Ian & Chris were the first Britons to successfully scale the treacherous north-face of the Eiger in the Swiss Alps.

Ex-Yorkshire and England cricket fast bowler, Matthew Hoggard, though originally from Pudsey, has lived in Baildon for some years. He is also a member of Baildon Cricket Club.

Colchester United football manager Aidy Boothroyd is from Baildon.

Austin Mitchell, Labour MP for Great Grimsby since 1977, was born in Baildon.

Ex-Yorkshire & England cricket captain Brian Close settled in Baildon many years ago. He was born in nearby Rawdon.

Veteran sports television commentator John Helm is from Baildon.

Films and television filmed in Baildon

Billy Liar (1963) - Locations: Midland Road.

Damon & Debbie (1987) - Locations: St Anne's Terrace; Threshfield.

Rita, Sue & Bob Too (1987) - Locations: Bramham Drive (Bob's House); Baildon Moor; Baildon Village.

Monty Python (197?) - Locations: Baildon Moor.

Gallery

The Malt Shovel Tavern