Early 1800s
A map of a large, detached property, built in the early 1800s which stood on higher ground behind the current Ivy Houses.
Who Lived Where – Ivy Houses
Reading time: 36 mins
This work forms part of the ‘Who Lived Where’ research project. The information provided below was researched by Paul and Moira Crossley, Dr Jo Stanley, Carole Greenwood, Ruth Beazley and other contributors who wish to remain anonymous.
Ivy House (now demolished), Mill Bank Road
Ivy House – Early 1800s
Ivy Houses – 2022
Ivy Houses Today
This photograph was taken in 2022 showing the row of three houses and garage that currently stand on the site where Ivy House stood.
1 Ivy Houses, Mill Bank Road
1 Ivy Houses
Whitely Family
Bobby and Dorothy Whitely, Mary (Dorothy’s mum) and Andrew (Bobby and Dorothy’s son).
2 Ivy Houses, Mill Bank Road
2 Ivy Houses – 1965
1965
RONALD and JESSIE HALSTED (previously from 62 Victoria Terrace): Ronald was a baker and Jessie a dinner supervisor at St. Mary’s School.
They had two daughters Carole and Christine.
2 Ivy Houses
Ronald & Jessie Halsted
This photograph shows Ronald and Jessie on their wedding day.
3 Ivy Houses, Mill Bank Road
3 Ivy Houses – 1893
1893
JOSEPH (son of Charles) and LIZZIE MITCHELL: Joseph was a piano tuner and repairer. They had three sons Maurice, Frank, Wilfred and a daughter Evelyn (1910-2006) and Elsie who died from diphtheria.
Joseph was in the Royal Flying Corps and worked on wooden aeroplanes.
The photograph above is Lizzie Mitchell in her 80s.
3 Ivy Houses – 1966
1966
MAURICE d. 2000 and JOAN MITCHELL d.1998: Maurice was a painter, decorator and signwriter and he sculpted a panel on a house wall.
Maurice volunteered for the Spanish Civil War but was turned down because he was only 14 years old.
The family went to live in Victoria Terrace in 1966.
3 Ivy Houses
Maurice Mitchell
Maurice made his own way home after Dunkirk, having been reported missing. He also served in India and Burma in WWII.
3 Ivy Houses – 1966-2022
1966-2022
PAUL and MOIRA CROSSLEY: Paul was a Heavy Goods Mechanic at Ford Motor Co. Halifax. He worked for Oval Eggs, then Websters brewer as a dray man. Paul built number 4 Ivy Houses.
Moira was a Cotton Winder at Meadowcroft and Hampson’s, Ripponden, a Carpet Setter at Humphrey’s, Riding Hall Carpets, Sowerby Bridge, a Clerk at Radio Rentals, an administrator at Blackburn and Sutcliffe and in 1983 she trained as a Nurse RN and SRN.
The photograph above shows Paul and Moira, taken in 1966 when they moved to Ivy Houses.
4 Ivy Houses, Mill Bank Road
4 Ivy Houses – 2022
2022
4 Ivy Houses was built by Paul Crossley on the site of the outhouses which were the wash house, stables and a piggery for the original Ivy House.
This photograph was taken in 2023.
Ivy Houses Garage, used as business premises
Notes
- Cain Family Bible and Tree
This is the flyleaf from the Cain family bible.
Below is the Cain family tree.
↩︎ - The Whitely and Whiteley Families
These names are frequently found in this area many attending St. Mary’s School over the years. John Lord and Jabez Whiteley were associated with Mill Bank Chapel and are buried in the Wesleyan Methodist Graveyard. Other Whiteleys associated with Rawson Farm, The Ginnel, The George and Bank Terrace have been traced and will be added to future documents.
↩︎ - The Mitchell Family
There were three branches of the Mitchell family. One is associated with Upper Lumb in the 1840s and 1850s and Rawson Farm and Gledhill Farm in 1890s. Grace Mitchell (aunt to Dorothy Mitchell) lived in Daleview, 63 Lower Mill Bank Road. Another branch of the family lived in Soyland. They intermarried with another branch in Barkisland.
↩︎