FROM THE ARCHIVES
The Bingley Telephone July 30th 1880
COTTINGLEY TOWN HALL
Minute Book - April 25th 1863
Cottingley is an ancient village in the Parish of Bingley, (named in Doomsday Book), situated about the middle of the Hamlet of Bingley, on the south side of the River Aire. About two miles from Bingley, two from Shipley and four from Bradford.
The number of houses are 133 and Inhabitants 667 as per census 1861.
This village has had few changes or additions, having no school-house or other Public Building, where they could sociably meet for any purpose until about the year 1815 when a Blacksmith's Shop was altered and improved by Jos. Hollings Esq of Whetley Hall, Manningham, for which a Rent of £6 per annum has been paid.
This small unpretending building was furnished by the Inhabitants and has since been used for Sunday, Day and Evening Schools. Also for Preachings and meetings of various kinds, by Protestants of all or any denomination, on General and United principles. Useful and beneficial results have attended these voluntary Services and Labours. Several attempts having been made to provide enlarged and more ample premises, without success, till early in the year 1860. A General Meeting being held it was resolved to prepare a Memorial stating the great inconvenience at present experienced for want of Room for Public purposes and Memorialising Wm. Ferrand esq. M.P. of St. Ives Bingley, to give the Portion of Land known by the name of "Town Hill".
Also John Hollings, esq, J.P. of Whetley Hall, Nr. Bradford to give the Old School House, with land adjoining.
This Memorial was very kindly responded to by the gentlemen already named and a Deed conveying the Town Hill and Old School House with land adjoining to 15 Trustees for the use and benefit of the Village for ever was completed on the 25th day of April 1863.
COPY OF MEMORIAL
To William Ferrand esq of St. Ives and Thomas and John Hollings Esquires of Manningham Lodge.
The Humble Memorial of the inhabitants of the village of Cottingley
Sheweth
That your Memorialists have for a long time suffered great inconvenience for want of Room in which their Secular and Devotional gatherings, and in efficiently carrying out the objects of their Sunday and Day Schools & Mechanics Institute.
To remedy which your Petitioners humbly Ask for the Gift or memorial Sale of the piece of Land known by the name of "Town Hill". Also they further ask for the Gift or nominal Sale of the present School Room, "and the unoccupied Land surrounding it" to Convert into a Residence for the Master of the School.
That your memorialists propose that the property be vested in the hands of Trustees, to be elected seven by the Sunday School, Three by the Day School, and Three by the Mechanics Institute Committees.
And to belong to the United Protestants of the District who believe in the most Holy Trinity and the Doctrine of the Atonement as held by all Evangelical Churches. The object being to promote the Glory of God and the good of man by disseminating Secular, Moral and Religious knowledge.
That your memorialists trust that these Moral, Educational, and Devotional Institutions may answer the purposes anticipated, and at all times prepare the youths of the Hamlet for the ever changing scenes and vicissitudes of life.
Having now presented their case, beg to place the same in your hands, trusting in your generosity that they early receive the boon they have so long looked for.
And your Memorialists will ever pray.
(Signed by the Committees of the three institutions)
Minutes of Meeting November 12th 1863
Mr. Ferrand grants us permission to get the stone for building purposes in Plain field.
Report published in Bradford Review December 31st 1863
about the laying of Foundation stone.
Extract from Annals of Yorkshire
21st March 1865.
The new Town Hall at Cottingley was opened this day. The Rev. J R Campbell, D.D., preached in the afternoon,
and a soiree and tea meeting was held in the evening. John Crossley, Esq., of Halifax, presided. The Hall
is a substantial building of the Italian style. It comprises a large hall, to be used as a lecture room,
schoolroom and Mechanics' Institute. Entering from the front door on the left side is a room for a library
and reading and club room; on the right side is a room to be used as a vestry. The lecture hall is further in the passage, and looks a compact place.
The area is not large, but every available space is taken up. At the further end of the Hall is the platform,
raised about three feet from the area level. At the right of the platform is a small pulpit. Looking from the
platform we have a view of the gallery, which reaches to the gable wall over the two rooms before mentioned.
The front of the gallery is tastefully cut out in skeleton woodwork. Pendant from the roof, one over the
gallery and one in front of the platform, are large chandeliers. These, with the assistance of some smaller ones on the walls,
light the room in an admirable manner. The hall is estimated to hold 700 persons. The room on the left of the
passage is so constructed that, by the opening of a sliding door, it can be immediately thrown into a part of the hall when required.
Passing out of the hall by a staircase under and to the left of the platform we arrive at the schoolroom.
This is one large room, nearly square, and is estimated to seat as many as the lecture room. The windows are large.
The interior of the building this afternoon presented a pretty appearance, for in every available place bouquets of evergreens
and flowers and appropriate mottoes were hung. The ground on which the hall stands has from time immemorial been
the resort of the people of Cottingley during leisure hours in fine weather. Games were played there, and the tongue of gossip was
ever bjusy. Through the exertions of Thomas Baines Esq., of Cottingley, this hall has been erected, where the villagers can meet in
wet or dry weather. The building cost about £1500, and was rather more than a year in erecting. There was
still a sum of £341. 10s. required to be paid at this time, and towards it there was £29. 12s. 11/2d. in cash.and £73. 13s. of good and unpaid subscriptions. The land on which the hall is built
was presented to the village by W B Ferrand, Esq., M.P. During the last forty years an old house at the
foot of the village was used as a schoolroom, and at the same time that Mr. Ferrand presented the ground for this
new hall, the old building, for which an annual rent of £6 was paid, was also made a free gift to the village by
John Hollings, Esq. Towards the subscription list, Bingley contributed £39.18s. Saltaire and Shipley £259. 13s., Bradord £140. 15s.,
Cottingley £450. 17s., and from sundry places £199. 16s. Near to Cottingley Hall was a large triumphal arch of evergreens,
with the words "Welcome Friends." At the bottom of Cottingley was another arch, and up all the principal streets
to the village, the road was planted with evergreens and trees, also the gift of Mr Ferrand. The village during
the day and till late, presented an animated spectacle. The meeting at night was addressed by the Chairman, Revs. Dr. Campbell, Bradford;
J P Chown. Bradford; Messrs. W E Glyde, Saltaire; Thomas Baines; J. Laycock, &c. The design of the building
is by Mr Samuel Jackson, of Bradford.
Extract from Annals of Yorkshire
October 1865
The Cottingley Mechanics' Institute which had existed for some years in limited quarters at Cottingley, was opened this evening in its new home
the new Town Hall, the central of several other educational associations of the village. The occasion was celebrated by a
soiree, and the event was marked by great rejoicing, abundant indications of which were presented in the gay flags
which flaunted over the Town Hall, and the triumphal arches which at several points spanned the one street
and the pleasant avenue of trees which lined the rest of the road. No fewer than four hundred persons first
partook of tea in the spacious room beneath the Hall. The walls of the Hall were tastefully decorated with flags and festoons, and mottoes,
suggestive of the wisdom of seeking knowledge and the duty of educational effort, were also scatttered plentifully over
the walls. Lord F Cavendish, M.P., presided, and was supported by the Mayor of Bradford (C Semon, Esq.,) W E Glyde,
Esq., Mr. B. Blake, Mr K. Baines, Mr J. Hanson, &c. A party of vocalists was also present, and added greatly to
the pleasures of the company, which was large, and included a fair proportion of the gentler sex. On the
opening of the proceedings, Mr. Thornton read a statement of the building fund, from which it appeared that the
expenses in erecting the handsome Town Hall amounted to £1353, and that the sum, with the exception of some £70 or £80
had been liquidated by voluntary subscriptions, obtained chiefly in the immediate locality, but also greatly
aided in the neighbouring towns and villages within a radius of twenty or thirty miles.
Minutes of Meeting August 1st 1864
Resolution passed that the name of the new building be altered from Cottingley Protestant Hall to Cottingley Town Hall.
Minutes of meeting February 27th 1865
That the whole of the seats in the Hall and Gallery be let at the following rates. The width per sitting to be one sixteenth part the width of the hall. All payable in advance.
Gallery - Front row of seats 1/6 per sitting per quarter
2nd ...1/-
3rd Row -/6
4th 5th rows -/3
Rest free
Hall on left hand side -
1st and 2nd rows /6d
3rd and 4th row 1/-
5th or back 1/6
Hall right hand side back 1/6
Rest free
Report published in Bradford Review March 23rd 1865
about the opening of the Town Hall.
Minutes of meeting 12th December 1867
That the members of the Cricket Club be allowed the use of the schoolroom on Friday evenings from 7 - 9 pm on payment of one shilling each night.
1870 - A branch of Yorkshire Penny Savings Bank opened on 28th January 1870
1871 - Mechanics Institute had 90 members and 48 subscribers.
Library has 650 volumes of science, art, history, poetry, biography and general literature.
General Teachers Meeting January 2nd 1871
2nd Res. - That the Church be considered Permanent and the Deacons be elected by the Preachers
Committee - one third retiring annually.
Trustees Meeting April 20th 1871
That in lieu of letting the sittings as hereunto, we have for the future an offertory each Sunday
Service, to assist in raising the necessary funds for Paying Preachers and other expenses,
connected with Divine Service in this building.
That ministers receive £1, Students 12/6 and lay preachers 10/-
That the leading singer receive one pound per quarter, the organ blower 13 shillings per quarter.
Public Meeting June 27th 1877
Resolved that Rev. John Maylard be engaged for one year as missionary at the amount stated.
That the Town Hall be registered as a Place of Worship also marriages.
Meeting June 12th 1879
That we accept the Revd John Maylard's resignation.
That we record our appreciatiion of, and thanks for, the Rev John Maylard's services, and would hail with pleasure any services consistent with his
connectional interest, he may feel able to continue.
August 1879 - Agreed with School Board to build a room for infants on the east side of the school, and to lease the school, the new room, and the room at present used for infants, to the Board for 10 years at £42 per year.
February 7th 1880 - New infants school opened with a grand entertainment.
Preachers Meeting October 18th 1880
A letter from Rev. John Maylard offering his services as follows: -
visiting, holding cottsage services, giving a bible subject once a fortnight, arrange the Band meetings after summer season.
He requests £3.5.0 per quarter until an other person can be found.
November 1902 - Sunday School Minutes - Discontinue the star system of attendance and start 1st Sunday in December
with books
November 4th 1913 - Behaviour of scholars was brought up again. The qualities of respect
and obedience seem very deficient.
March 15th 1916 - On the printed form for the Anniversary we include a Roll of Honour.
Those present or past scholars who have joined HMF. That we write to our soldiers and include a circular of
the Sunday School Anniversary.
November 20th 1916 - That cards of Christmas Greetings be sent to the soldiers.
1927 - Oddfellows allowed to rent rooms for Lodge meetings for £3 per annum - no smoking or intoxicatants allowed.
July 7th 1929 - That a safe be purchased for the Church.
1931 - Ladies section of Airedale Harriers rent rooms in Cottingley Town Hall as dressing rooms
1931 - Gymnasium class on Monday evenings at 2/6d per week - but pay extra for lighting in winter.
1932 - Electric blower for organ installed. Prior to this someone had to be employed to do the job manually.
December 1932 - West Riding County Council gave notice of termination of tenancy of schoolrooms to take place in 1933. So ended a long and distinguished association with day school teaching in Cottingley Town Hall and previous buildings.
July 8th 1934 - That we recommend the Executive to take in consideration the providing
of an inside lavatory.
August 23rd 1934 - That we close the Electric Organ Blower Fund and the amount collected
about £62 be handed over to the Executive Committee.
April 8th 1948 - That Mr. Maurice Atack be asked to become a Deacon of our Church.
1956 - Cottingley Amateur Operatice Society rented rehearsal rooms in Cottingley Town Hall.
Regular Events throught the History of the Sunday School
Processions every Whitsuntide mainly to the West Field via The Lodge and Park Drive.
A band is hired, forms and desks carried to the field. 400 buns are purchased together with
1.5 gallons of milk. Tea is made in 2 x 14 gallon milk cans. Prizes are given to children.
This event carried on throughout the First World War, but in 1917 and 1918 the historic
Whitsuntide bun was absent and tea only was supplied,
the participants bringing their own eatables. In 1919 the buns had decreased to 250 large and 100 small,
but in 1923 had increased to 300 large and 200 small.
Harvest Festival - Prizes for good attendance.
Christmas Day Social - over 16's only. Tea at 4.30 (comprising tea, cheese (2lb) ham (8lb)
celery, fruit) entertainment at 7 pm and close at 10.30 pm. In 1914 the Christmas Day Social was postponed
until the new year.
The Annual Tea and meeting normally took place between end of December and 1st week in January.
All the above events took a great deal of organisation and the minutes spell out precisely and in great detail,
who was to do what (down to who would wash the celery). A charge was made to cover expenses.
Plan of the area for the Town Hall
Programme for Jubilee 1915
Programme for Mission March 2nd to March 10th 1901
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