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A Very Yorkshire Divorce: Three Guineas, One Wife, No Lawyers
Picture the Scene. It’s 31st May 1782, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. An agreement drawn up that day records a transaction between John Chappell of Ossett and John Harford of Nether Shitlington, a village whose name already suggests things are about to go downhill (you couldn’t make it up, could you?). The subject of the agreement? To sell Chappell’s wife, Barbery, to John Harford for the sum of three guineas. The document is signed by all three parties, because the likelihood is that Barbery is already Harford’s mistress and is happy to get out of her marriage...
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The Road Over the Top: Castleshaw and Slack Roman Forts and the Mystery of Cambodunum
The Pennine Route, near Standedge, evokes a Roman-era landscape once rich with wildlife and deciduous woodland. Roman engineers crafted enduring roads connecting military bases and towns across hostile territory, adapting to changing frontiers. The forts of Castleshaw and Slack reveal the evolving military strategy, while modern routes still echo the legacy of these ancient thoroughfares.
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From Loom to Ballot Box: The Fight for Suffrage
The history of British suffrage highlights the vital role of West Yorkshire, where the movement for voting rights merged with struggles for workers' rights. Both men and women sought representation to address economic injustices, ultimately shaping the electoral landscape through significant events like the Luddite Rebellion and Chartism.
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The Place of Last Resort: The Dewsbury Union Workhouse (The Poorhouse)
The exploration of Harriet Archer's life illuminates the vital role of the Dewsbury Union Workhouse in the Victorian era, providing a safety net for many during times of hardship. While workhouses carried a stigma, they were crucial for those in need, reflecting the resilience of families facing economic challenges. Harriet's legacy serves as a reminder of the past struggles and the importance of compassion in support systems today.
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Castle Hill – The History of an Iron Age Hill Fort
Castle Hill is situated at Almondbury, near Huddersfield in West Yorkshire. Far more than a local landmark, it's a site that holds more than 4,000 years of human history. The use of the hill has changed greatly over time, serving as a Bronze Age site, an Iron Age fort, a Norman stronghold, a beacon hill and a Victorian monument.
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The Elland Feud
The story of feuding families in 14th Century West Yorkshire, where a private war erupted between the Beaumont and De Eland family. The dramatic consequences spanned a generation and led to the extinction of the male De Eland line.
