Saltaire Folk: Dewhirst families living Saltaire
Information and images contributed and researched by Pat Holland, Halifax

From: Pat Holland
To: rogerclarke@saltairevillage.info
Sent: Tuesday, 6 February, 2007 10:44:14 AM
Subject: Old residents in Saltaire

My great-great grandparents were James Dewhirst (known as Jimmy b.1810) and his wife Rhoda, who lived in Wadsworth and Hebden Bridge. In 1851 they were at 21 Commercial Street, Hebden Bridge where James was a Clogger and village Constable. All Jimmy and Rhoda’s children were born in the Hebden Bridge / Wadsworth area apart from Leonard who was born in Copley. They came to live in Saltaire with their children in 1855. It is said they travelled to Saltaire with their things on a handcart.

Jimmy worked for Titus Salt in Salts Mill as a gas fitter but was killed at the Mill in 1860 when his coat got caught in the cog wheels of a machine. He is buried in St Paul's at Shipley.

The Dewhirst family lived in Saltaire village from 1855/60 until the early 1900s. I have the census returns from 1861-1901 showing the places they lived.

I remember as a child being taken to see “the little Aunties” Rhoda and Sally who lived in Edward Street. They were both under 5` tall and always wore a hat even indoors. We used to go on the tram up to the Glen.

They worked in the mill as did my granddad James. b 1880. My grandparents always talked about Salts and the houses they lived in and the happy times they had with street parties etc, visiting the Glen and walking across the moors to Dick Hudsons.

As you will probably gather I am interested in family history and wonder whether anyone remembers the Dewhirst or Goldsbrough name - maybe their ancestors were neighbours!
I have several old photographs of the family in my possession. I am trying to find a newspaper report or more details regarding my great-great grandfather's accident and wonder if you have any details amongst the archives in Saltaire.

I am attaching more details of my family who lived in the streets in Saltaire as it may be of interest to you.

Many thanks for an interesting site.

I hope you find this interesting.
Pat Holland

MORE....

• Details of the Dewhirst genealogy, including some wonderful images (researched by Pat Holland, daughter of William Dewhirst, born 1914 at 26 Park Street Saltaire.
• Read Roger Clarke's comments and the article which appeared in the Bradford Observer, December 1860.