RootsWeb: YORKSGEN-L 1834 Commercial Directory (Gomersall & Birstall) Part 1

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Archiver > YORKSGEN > 2001-01 > 0980184974

From: "Steve Garton" <>
Subject: 1834 Commercial Directory (Gomersall & Birstall) Part 1
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2001 17:36:14 -0000

GOMERSALL, BIRSTALL AND NEIGHBOURHOODS, Great and Little Gomersall, forming one township, and manufacturing village, in the parish of Birstall & wapentake of Morley, West Riding; is 8 miles from Leeds, the like distance from Huddersfield, and about 5.5 from Bradford. Blankets, woollen cloths, and worsted yarn are manufactured here to a considerable extent; and there are coal mines in the immediate neighbourhood. The village contains nothing of interest to distinguish it from other small places similarly circumstanced as to manufactures. The only places of worship are a chapel each belonging to the Moravians, Wesleyan methodists, and calvinists. The country around here is hilly, and tolerably productive. The township contained, in 1821, 5,952 inhabitants, and, in 1831, 6,189. Birstall is a village, within the limits of Gomersall township. The woollen trade is the staple of the village, as indeed it is of the whole parish of Birstall, which is very populous and extensive. The parish church was erected about the time of Henry 8th, upon the site of a more ancient edifice; it is dedicated to St. Peter, and the living is in the gift of the Archbishop of York, and incumbency of thr Rev. William M. Heald. Birstall does not furnish the name of a township, but is one of four villages constituting the township of Gomersall, i.e. Great and Little Gomersall, Birstall and Birkenshaw. The population of Great Gomersall, in 1831, was 1,760; Little Gomersall, 1,046; Birstall, 2,663; and Birkenshaw, 720, --- total 6,189. The entire parish of Birstall contained, at the same period, 24,103 inhabitants; and at the preceding census (1821) 21,217. Post Office, Gomersall, George Berry, Post Master Post Office, Birstall, William Henry Knowles, Post Master Gentry and Clergy, Beck Rev. Benjamin, Gomersall Bradley Mrs. Jane, Gomersall Carter Mr. John, Birstall Gote Mr. John, Birstall Heald Rev. William M. (vicar), Birstall Heald Rev. Wm. M. (curate) Birstall Knowles Mrs. Milcah, Birstall Sigston Mrs. Ann, Gomersall Squire Mrs. Ann, Birstall Swaine Misses Mary Ann and Elizabeth, Gomersall Tetley Mr. Samuel, Birstall Walker Mrs. ---, Birkenshaw Wood Mr. Benjamin, Birstall Academies and Schools, Cockill Mrs. ---, Gomersall Elam George (boarding) Birstall Moravian School, Gomersall --- Rev. Benjamin Beck, master Morrell John (day) Birstall National School, Birstall --- Geo. Bromley, master Williamson Moses (boarding) Gomersall Attorneys, Battey William, Birstall Carr Charles & William, Gomersall Wilks John, Birstall Blacksmiths, Farrer William, Birstall Ross Joseph, Birkenshaw Ross Joshua, Gomersall Ross Thomas, Gomersall Blanket Manufacturers, Hirst John, Birstall Hirst Joshua, Gomersall Hirst Thomas, Birstall Boot and Shoe Makers, Armitage Thomas, Birstall Cawthorn William, Gomersall Dewhirst William, Birstall Walker James, Birstall Butchers, Lang Benjamin, Birstall Lang Joseph, Gomersall Lister John, Birkenshaw Saville Joseph, Birstall Spedding John, Birstall Willian Martin, Gomersall Wrigglesworth Joseph, Gomersall Card Makers, Birkby William, Gomersall Broadbent James Sutcliffe, Gomersall Fox David, Gomersall Fox Jonathan, Spen Carpenters and Joiners, Firth William, Gomersall Greenwood John & Sons, Gomersall Holme Robert, Birstall Keightley Joseph, Birstall Saville John, Birstall Throp William, Birstall Wade Samuel, Birstall Whitley Israel, Birkenshaw Woodhead Samuel, Birstall Chymists and Druggists, Faulkner John, Birstall Knowles Henry, Birstall Coal Masters, Adamson John, Gomersall Jackson John, Gomersall Rhodes Henry, Gomersall Sharp Sarah, Birkenshaw Swaine Joseph & Edward, Gomersall Cotton Manufacturers, Smith Joseph and Sons, Castle hill mill, Little Gomersall Drapers, Kershaw William, Birstall Priestley John, Birstall Part 2 later. All transcripts posted on Yorksgen can be viewed via the archives, or on the GENUKI website under the relevant parish. Sorry, no more info available, each transcript is complete. Steve Garton Researching: DUFFIN - Nafferton & Hull EADY - Northants GARTON - Cranford, Northants HENNING - Hull