Since then I have pinpointed many of the affected buildings, houses and addresses, including a general summary of the damage inflicted on each property.
This is the seventh, and final, post with these details so you can identify if your home was part of this event in our local history; or if a home associated with your family history was affected. It covers street names starting with the letters U to Z.
One note of caution, although many house numbers remain unchanged from that period, some may have undergone re-numbering in the intervening years. The numbers here are as they were during the war, not as they are today. Other houses have long gone.
Also, though hundreds of addresses are listed, I am aware from my earlier research that this is not the complete inventory – there are areas of Batley hit that night which are missing from the list.
Some final points to be aware of. I have detailed the information exactly as it was written, so the damage inventory columns are not consistent. For example ceiling damage sometimes comes under ‘contents’, at others under the ‘generally’ heading.
It is also clear this is not the complete story of damage inflicted. I am aware some buildings did suffer substantially more than is listed for them in the space-limited columns – for example gable ends needing rebuilding as a result of the air raid.
And, to my mind, the list of contents ruined does appear suspiciously light. For example it is hard to believe that crockery and furniture in the majority of houses was undamaged given the structural damage listed. Again has space played a part? There are exceptions – in one detailed entry for an address in another post, although the contents were not listed in the space provided, they were an add-on insertion at the top of the page. It is hard to believe that contents in the majority of entries for other houses suffered no similar damage. I believe it is likely that individual household forms were completed initially and the information then collated and condensed on one form covering all addresses, meaning layers of detail being missed in this overall summary.
Anyway, good luck with locating your home. Don’t forget to scroll across the table to get the full details – there are columns detailing the property description, address, and an indication of the extent of damage (i.e. roof, walls, floors, contents and general damage). And do check my website as I continue to add more posts listing affected houses.
Description1
Address
Roof
Walls
Floors
Contents
Generally
3, Upper Croft Road
Ceiling
Window
5, Upper Croft Road
Window
7, Upper Croft Road
Window
9, Upper Croft Road
Many Slates
Windows
10 Upper Croft Road
Window
Cinema
Victoria Hall (Regent Pictures)
Windows
1, Wards Place, Healey Lane
Many Slates
Window
2, Wards Place, Healey Lane
Many Slates
Windows
3, Wards Place, Healey Lane
Many Slates
Windows
79, Warwick Terrace Road
Ceiling
Window
85, Warwick Terrace Road
Dislodged
Ceiling
Window
80, Warwick Road
Window
125, Warwick Road
Windows
127, Warwick Road
Windows
129, Warwick Road
Windows
46, Wellington Street
Windows
49, Wellington Street
Many Slates
Ceiling
Shop
54, Wellington Street
Window
Shop
56, Wellington Street
Windows
Shop
60, Wellington Street
Window
Shop
60A, Wellington Street
Window
Shop
62, Wellington Street
Window
Shop
64, Wellington Street
Window2
Shop
66, Wellington Street
Window
House & Shop
70, Wellington Street
Window
House & Shop
72, Wellington Street
Window
Shop
74, Wellington Street
Window
Chapel
Methodist Church
Windows
Garage & Stable
Wellington Street
Slates
Burnt
Hearse Damaged
Windows
House
3, Yard 6, Wellington Street
Many Slates
Warehouse
113, Well Lane
Slates & Purling
Lead Gutter
Burnt
Windows
Warehouse
7, Well Lane
Slates
Burnt
Windows
Canteen3
18, Well Lane
Not Known [Possibly completely destroyed]
18A, Well Lane
Window
19, Well Lane
Many Slates & Purling
Ceiling
20A, Well Lane
Window & Frame
Warehouse4
Well Lane
Completely Destroyed
First-Aid Post & Mobile Unit Depot5
Well Lane
?
1, West Park Grove
Many Slates
Window
2, West Park Grove
Slates: Flashing
Ceiling
Windows
3, West Park Grove
Many Slates
Windows
4, West Park Grove
10 Slates
Lock
Windows
5, West Park Grove
Many Slates
Windows
6, West Park Grove
Many Slates
Ceiling
Ridge Tiles: Windows
7, West Park Grove
Window
8, West Park Grove
Many Slates
Lock
Windows
9, West Park Grove
Window
10, West Park Grove
Many Slates
Windows
11, West Park Grove
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows
12, West Park Grove
Many Slates
Lock
Windows
13, West Park Grove
Windows
14, West Park Grove
Many Slates
Window
15, West Park Grove
Many Slates
17, West Park Grove
Many Slates
Window
18, West Park Grove
Many Slates
Windows
19, West Park Grove
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows
20, West Park Grove
Many Slates
Windows
1, West Park Road
Many Slates
Windows
2, West Park Road
Many Slates
Windows
3, West Park Road
Many Slates
Plaster
Windows
4, West Park Road
Many Slates
Windows
6, West Park Road
Many Slates
Windows
8, West Park Road
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows
8A, West Park Road
Ridge Tiles
Locks
10, West Park Road
Slight
Plaster
Windows
12, West Park Road
Many Slates
Windows
14, West Park Road
Many Slates
16, West Park Road
Rug & Carpet
Step & Windows
18, West Park Road
Many Slates
Windows
20, West Park Road
Many Slates
Lock
Window Frame
1, West Park Terrace
Many Slates
Ridge Tiles: Windows
2, West Park Terrace
Many Slates
Ceiling
Window
3, West Park Terrace
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows
4, West Park Terrace
Many Slates
Windows
5, West Park Terrace
Many Slates
6, West Park Terrace
Many Slates
Window
7, West Park Terrace
Many Slates
Window
8, West Park Terrace
Many Slates
Window
9, West Park Terrace
Many Slates
10, West Park Terrace
Many Slates
Ceiling
11, West Park Terrace
Many Slates
12, West Park Terrace
Many Slates
Window
Shop
Wheatcroft
Windows & Blind
Shop
Wheatcroft
Window
55, Woodsome Estate
Slight Hole
4 Wood Street
Window
Data extracted from West Yorkshire Archive Services Ref KMT1/Box42/TB227 – This is only a portion of the information contained. I have not included owners, occupiers, rateable value etc.
For Part 1 – A to B see here. For Part 2 – C to F see here. For Part 3 – G to J see here. For Part 4 – K to N see here. For Part 5 – O to P see here. For Part 6 – Q to T see here.
Postscript: Finally a big thank you for the donations already received to keep this website going.
The website has always been free to use, but it does cost me money to operate. In the current difficult economic climate I am considering if I can continue to afford to keep running it as a free resource, especially as I have to balance the research time against work commitments.
If you have enjoyed reading the various pieces, and would like to make a donation towards keeping the website up and running in its current open access format, it would be very much appreciated.
Please click here to be taken to the PayPal donation link. By making a donation you will be helping to keep the website online and freely available for all.
Thank you.
Footnotes: 1. In this section of the list the ‘Description’ column is largely blank. The implication is these are houses, not business premises. 2. No damage is detailed, but Number 64 was an insertion between rows and the implication from my reading of the list is that the damage was a window. 3. This building was also on a separate form where the only column relating to damage was “Indiction of Extent of Damage to Contents”. It seems to be a form reserved for those buildings which suffered serious damage in the air raid. The entry on the line for 118 appears to be Not Known on the basis of the ditto marks, referring to the entry for the buildings above. But it is also bracketed with W. J. Ineson and Sons warehouse on Well Lane which is marked as completely destroyed. 4. This building’s details are annotated on the back of the original form, then scored out. It then appears on a separate form which only has one column entitled “Indiction of Extent of Damage to Contents”. It states that it was completely destroyed. For more information see my post about Batley’s First Air Raid which states it was burnt out. 5. This building’s details are annotated on the back of the original form, then scored out. Owned by W. J. Ineson, it then appears on a separate form which only has one column entitled “Indiction of Extent of Damage to Contents”. It seems to be a form reserved for those buildings which suffered serious damage in the air raid. The implication being this was amongst the heavily damaged/destroyed buildings. The entry for this building, in the indication of extent of damage to contents, is difficult to read – it potentially says None which would not fit with this form. If it was undamaged it should not be included. Neither does it seem to fit with the details in my post about Batley’s First Air Raid about the H.Q. for First Aid Parties being burnt out.
Since then I have pinpointed many of the affected buildings, houses and addresses, including a general summary of the damage inflicted on each property.
This is the sixth post with these details so you can identify if your home was part of this event in our local history; or if a home associated with your family history was affected. It covers street names starting with the letters Q to T. [Note for Prospect Terrace, Towngate Road see O to P, here.]
One note of caution, although many house numbers remain unchanged from that period, some may have undergone re-numbering in the intervening years. The numbers here are as they were during the war, not as they are today. Other houses have long gone.
Also, though hundreds of addresses are listed, I am aware from my earlier research that this is not the complete inventory – there are areas of Batley hit that night which are missing from the list.
Some final points to be aware of. I have detailed the information exactly as it was written, so the damage inventory columns are not consistent. For example ceiling damage sometimes comes under ‘contents’, at others under the ‘generally’ heading.
It is also clear this is not the complete story of damage inflicted. I am aware some buildings did suffer substantially more than is listed for them in the space-limited columns – for example gable ends needing rebuilding as a result of the air raid.
And, to my mind, the list of contents ruined does appear suspiciously light. For example it is hard to believe that crockery and furniture in the majority of houses was undamaged given the structural damage listed. Again has space played a part? There are exceptions – in one detailed entry for an address in another post, although the contents were not listed in the space provided, they were an add-on insertion at the top of the page. It is hard to believe that contents in the majority of entries for other houses suffered no similar damage. I believe it is likely that individual household forms were completed initially and the information then collated and condensed on one form covering all addresses, meaning layers of detail being missed in this overall summary.
Anyway, good luck with locating your home. Don’t forget to scroll across the table to get the full details – there are columns detailing the property description, address, and an indication of the extent of damage (i.e. roof, walls, floors, contents and general damage). And do check my website as I continue to add more posts listing affected houses.
Description1
Address
Roof
Walls
Floors
Contents
Generally
3A Queen Street
Window
57 Queen Street
Windows
60 Richmond Street
Windows
18 Snowden Street
Window
48 Snowden Street
Window
3 South Bank Road
Window
House
Staincliffe Hall
Windows
Staincliffe Hall Farm
Windows
Staincliffe Liberal Club
Windows
1 Suffolk Street
Ceilings
Windows
3 Suffolk Street
Ceilings
5 Suffolk Street
Ceilings
17 Suffolk Street
Window
19 Suffolk Street
Ceiling
21 Suffolk Street
Ceilings
Window
23 Suffolk Street
Ceiling
Window
27 Suffolk Street
Window
29 Suffolk Street
Window
31 Suffolk Street
Ceiling
33 Suffolk Street
Window
35 Suffolk Street
Window
21 Talbot Street
Window
34 Talbot Street
Window
38 Talbot Street
Window
43 Talbot Street
Lock
Window
47 Talbot Street
Window
49 Talbot Street
Lock
Window
53 Talbot Street
Windows
55 Talbot Street
Windows
59 Talbot Street
Windows & Frames
61 Talbot Street
Windows
63 Talbot Street
Windows
65 Talbot Street
Windows
67 Talbot Street
Windows
68 Talbot Street
Window
69 Talbot Street
Windows
70 Talbot Street
Window
71 Talbot Street
Windows
74 Talbot Street
Window
75 Talbot Street
Windows
78 Talbot Street
Window
1 Court 1 Talbot Street
Window
14, Yard 1, Taylor Street
Window
44 Taylor Street
Window
48 Taylor Street
Window
50 Taylor Street
Window
58 Taylor Street
Window
67 Taylor Street
Ceilings
72 Taylor Street
Window
74 Taylor Street
Window
78 Taylor Street
Windows
91 Taylor Street
Window
93 Taylor Street
Window
95 Taylor Street
Window & Frame
97 Taylor Street
Window
99 Taylor Street
Windows
109 Taylor Street
Windows
111 Taylor Street
Windows
113 Taylor Street
Windows
115 Taylor Street
Windows
117 Taylor Street
Windows
119 Taylor Street
Windows
121 Taylor Street
Windows
123 Taylor Street
Windows
125 Taylor Street
Ceiling
Windows
127 Taylor Street
Window
129 Taylor Street
Plaster
Window Frames
135 Taylor Street
Windows
137 Taylor Street
Windows
141 Taylor Street
Window
143 Taylor Street
Windows
145 Taylor Street
Ceiling
Window & Frame
147 Taylor Street
Window
149 Taylor Street
Plaster
Window & Frame
151 Taylor Street
Windows
153 Taylor Street
Ceiling
Windows
155 Taylor Street
Fireplace
Lock: Windows
157 Taylor Street
Locks: Windows
159 Taylor Street
Ceiling
Windows
161 Taylor Street
Lock: Windows
163 Taylor Street
Windows
165 Taylor Street
Windows
167 Taylor Street
Windows
169 Taylor Street
Many Slates
Windows: Lock
171 Taylor Street
Plaster
Windows
173 Taylor Street
Windows & Frame
175 Taylor Street
Windows & Frame
177 Taylor Street
Ridge Tiles
Windows
179 Taylor Street
Many Slates
Lock: Windows: Garden Wall
181 Taylor Street
Ceiling
Locks: Windows
183 Taylor Street
Many Slates
Window
185 Taylor Street
Window
187 Taylor Street
Window & Frame
189 Taylor Street
Tenant Away – Entry Impossible – Slight Damage Only
Window
191 Taylor Street
Many Slates
Lock: Windows
193 Taylor Street
Windows
195 Taylor Street
Window
197 Taylor Street
Many Slates
Ceilings
Lock: Windows
199 Taylor Street
Many Slates
Ceilings
Locks: Door: Windows
201 Taylor Street
Retaining Beam
Ceiling
Window
203 Taylor Street
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows
205 Taylor Street
Many Slates
Locks: Windows & Frame, Greenhouse
207 Taylor Street
Ceiling
Windows
209 Taylor Street
Windows
211 Taylor Street
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows & Frame
39 Royd Holme, Towngate Rd
Window
43 Towngate Rd
Ceiling: Lock
Windows
15 Town St, Batley Carr
Window
20 Trafalgar Street
3 Slates
Window
22 Trafalgar Street
Window
24 Trafalgar Street
12 Slates
Windows
26 Trafalgar Street
Many Slates
Ceilings
Windows
28 Trafalgar Street
Many Slates
Windows
30 Trafalgar Street
Many Slates
Ceilings
Lead Flashing & Windows
32 Trafalgar Street
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows
34 Trafalgar Street
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows
36 Trafalgar Street
Many Slates
Ceilings
Windows
38 Trafalgar Street
Many Slates
Ceiling
Window Frame
40 Trafalgar Street
Many Slates
Mullion
Lock
Window Frame & Windows
42 Trafalgar Street
Many Slates
Mullion
Door
Windows
44 Trafalgar Street
Many Slates
Windows
46 Trafalgar Street
Many Slates
Windows
48 Trafalgar Street
Windows
50 Trafalgar Street
Windows
52 Trafalgar Street
Locks
Windows
54 Trafalgar Street
Many Slates
Ceilings
Windows
56 Trafalgar Street
Many Slates
Ceilings
Windows
58 Trafalgar Street
20 Slates
Door Frame
Windows
60 Trafalgar Street
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows
62 Trafalgar Street
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows
Empty House Trafalgar St
Many Slates
Windows
New House Trafalgar St
Many Slates
Windows & Frames
Data extracted from West Yorkshire Archive Services Ref KMT1/Box42/TB227 – This is only a portion of the information contained. I have not included owners, occupiers, rateable value etc.
For Part 1 – A to B see here. For Part 2 – C to F see here. For Part 3 – G to J see here. For Part 4 – K to N see here. For Part 5 – O to P see here. For Part 7 – U to Z see here.
Postscript: Finally a big thank you for the donations already received to keep this website going.
The website has always been free to use, but it does cost me money to operate. In the current difficult economic climate I am considering if I can continue to afford to keep running it as a free resource, especially as I have to balance the research time against work commitments.
If you have enjoyed reading the various pieces, and would like to make a donation towards keeping the website up and running in its current open access format, it would be very much appreciated.
Please click here to be taken to the PayPal donation link. By making a donation you will be helping to keep the website online and freely available for all.
Thank you.
Footnotes: 1. In this section of the list the ‘Description’ column is largely blank. The implication is these are houses, not business premises.
Since then I have pinpointed many of the affected buildings, houses and addresses, including a general summary of the damage inflicted on each property.
This is the fifth post with these details so you can identify if your home was part of this event in our local history; or if a home associated with your family history was affected. It covers street names starting with the letters O to P.
Prospect Terrace, Towngate Road and Purlwell Lane – Photos by Jane Roberts
One note of caution, although many house numbers remain unchanged from that period, some may have undergone re-numbering in the intervening years. The numbers here are as they were during the war, not as they are today. Other houses have long gone.
Also, though hundreds of addresses are listed, I am aware from my earlier research that this is not the complete inventory – there are areas of Batley hit that night which are missing from the list.
Some final points to be aware of. I have detailed the information exactly as it was written, so the damage inventory columns are not consistent. For example ceiling damage sometimes comes under ‘contents’, at others under the ‘generally’ heading.
It is also clear this is not the complete story of damage inflicted. I am aware some buildings did suffer substantially more than is listed for them in the space-limited columns – for example gable ends needing rebuilding as a result of the air raid.
And, to my mind, the list of contents ruined does appear suspiciously light. For example it is hard to believe that crockery and furniture in the majority of houses was undamaged given the structural damage listed. Again has space played a part? There are exceptions – in one detailed entry for an address in another post, although the contents were not listed in the space provided, they were an add-on insertion at the top of the page. It is hard to believe that contents in the majority of entries for other houses suffered no similar damage. I believe it is likely that individual household forms were completed initially and the information then collated and condensed on one form covering all addresses, meaning layers of detail being missed in this overall summary.
Anyway, good luck with locating your home. Don’t forget to scroll across the table to get the full details – there are columns detailing the property description, address, and an indication of the extent of damage (i.e. roof, walls, floors, contents and general damage). And do check my website as I continue to add more posts listing affected houses.
Description1
Address
Roof
Walls
Floors
Contents
Generally
1 Oxford Street
Window
House & Shop
2 Oxford Street
Window
4 Oxford Street
Window
Shop & ?
6 Oxford Street
Window
7 Oxford Street
Windows
9 Oxford Street
Windows
House
8 Oxford Street
Windows?
Shop & Bake[house?]
10 Oxford Street
Windows
11 Oxford Street
Windows
12 Oxford Street
Window
13 Oxford Street
Windows
15 Oxford Street
Windows
Fried Fish Shop
16A Oxford Street
Window
17 Oxford Street
Windows
3 Park Road
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows: Door
5 Park Road
Many Slates
Ceiling, Carpet & Bedding
Fireplace
29 Prospect Terrace, Towngate Road
Window
31 Prospect Terrace, Towngate Road
Window
35 Prospect Terrace, Towngate Road
Window
37 Prospect Terrace, Towngate Road
Window
2 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
3 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
5 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
6 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
7 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
8 Purlwell Hall Road
Eaves Gutter & Windows
9 Purlwell Hall Road
Window
10 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
11 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
12 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
13 Purlwell Hall Road
Door
Vent-Pipe: Windows
14 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
15 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
16 Purlwell Hall Road
Ceiling
Lock & Window
17 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
18 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
19 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
20 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
21 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
22 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates
Lock: Windows
23 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
24 Purlwell Hall Road
Ceiling
Windows
25 Purlwell Hall Road
Ceiling
Windows & Frame
26 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates
Ceilings
Windows
27 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows & Frame: Locks
28 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows & Frame
29 Purlwell Hall Road
Curtains
Locks: Windows
30 Purlwell Hall Road
Ceiling
Window
31 Purlwell Hall Road
Ceiling: Curtains
Doors: Locks: Windows
32 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows
33 Purlwell Hall Road
Ceilings
Windows
34 Purlwell Hall Road
Ceiling
Locks: Windows
35 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates
Plaster
Ceilings: Vases
Locks: Doors: Windows
36 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates
Ceilings
Windows
37 Purlwell Hall Road
Light Bowls
Windows & Frame: Lock
38 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates
Plaster
Ceiling
Set-Pot: Windows
39 Purlwell Hall Road
Slates
Ceiling
Locks: Windows & Frame
40 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates
Plaster
Windows
41 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates
Ceiling: Curtains
Locks: Windows
42 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates
Plaster
Ceiling
Windows
43 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates
Door: Windows & Frames
44 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates
Plaster
Ceilings Light Bowl
Windows & Frames: Flashing
45 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates etc
Doors & Locks: Windows
46 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates
Ceilings
Fireplaces: Door: Windows
47 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates
Ceiling: Curtains
Doors: Windows & Frame: Eaves Gutter
48 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates etc
Ceilings
Locks: Doors: Windows
49 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates etc
Ceiling
Locks: Windows & Frame
50 Purlwell Hall Road
Slates & Purlins
Plaster
Ceilings
Windows and Frames: Door
51 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates etc
Ceilings
Windows & Frame: Door
52 Purlwell Hall Road
Slates
Ceilings
Window & Frame: Locks: Steps
53 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates etc
Ornament
Locks: Doors: Windows
54 Purlwell Hall Road
Slates & Purlins
Plaster
Ceilings
Fireplaces: Doors: Windows
55 Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates
Plaster
Ceilings
Doors: Windows & Frame
56 Purlwell Hall Road
Extensive
Plaster
Ceilings
Extensive
57 Purlwell Hall Road
Extensive
Plaster
Ceilings & Wash-Basin
Locks: Doors: Ornaments: Windows
58 Purlwell Hall Road
Extensive
Holed
Ceilings
Extensive
59 Purlwell Hall Road
Extensive
Bulged
Ceilings
Extensive
60 Purlwell Hall Road
Destroyed
Holed
Ceilings
Extensive
61 Purlwell Hall Road
Extensive
Bulged
Dislodged
Ceilings
Extensive
62 Purlwell Hall Road2
Destroyed
Holed part [rebuilt?]
Ceilings
Extensive
63 Purlwell Hall Road
Extensive
Bulged
Dislodged
Ceilings
Extensive
64 Purlwell Hall Road3
[?] Complete Destruction
65 Purlwell Hall Road
Extensive
Plaster
Ceilings
Extensive
66 Purlwell Hall Road3
Complete Destruction
67 Purlwell Hall Road
Extensive
Plaster
Ceilings
Extensive
68 Purlwell Hall Road
Plaster
Ceilings
Windows & Frames: Lock
69 Purlwell Hall Road
Extensive
Plaster
Ceilings
Extensive
70 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
71 Purlwell Hall Road
Extensive
Plaster
Ceilings
Extensive
73 Purlwell Hall Road
Extensive
Plaster
Ceilings
Extensive
79 Purlwell Hall Road
Ceiling
Locks: Windows
81 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
83 Purlwell Hall Road
Windows
75 Rocky Mount, Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates etc
Plaster
Ceilings
Windows & Frames: Door
77 Rock Edge, Purlwell Hall Road
Many Slates etc
Ceilings
Windows & Frames: Door
Shop
15 Purlwell Lane
Window
17 Purlwell Lane
Ceiling
Windows
23 Purlwell Lane
Windows
25 Purlwell Lane
Ceilings
Window
27 Purlwell Lane
Many Slates
Windows: Door
29 Purlwell Lane
Windows: Fireplace
37 Purlwell Lane
Window
41 Purlwell Lane
Window
43 Purlwell Lane
Window
47 Purlwell Lane
Windows
49 Purlwell Lane
Many Slates
Plaster
Ceilings
Lock: Windows
51 Purlwell Lane
Locks & Windows
53 Purlwell Lane
Soil Pipe & Fall-Pipe: Windows
54 Purlwell Lane
Windows
55 Purlwell Lane
Many Slates
Locks: Windows
56 Purlwell Lane
Windows
57 Purlwell Lane
Windows & Frame
58 Purlwell Lane
Windows
59 Purlwell Lane
Windows
Shop
60 Purlwell Lane
Window
60A Purlwell Lane
Windows
61 Purlwell Lane
Door: Windows
62 Purlwell Lane
Windows
63 Purlwell Lane
Door: Windows
64 Purlwell Lane
Windows
65 Purlwell Lane
Door: Windows
66 Purlwell Lane
Windows
67 Purlwell Lane
Window
68 Purlwell Lane
Windows
80 Purlwell Lane
Windows
82 Purlwell Lane
Windows
88A Purlwell Lane
Many Slates
Windows
88 Purlwell Lane4
90 Purlwell Lane
Locks: Door: Windows
92 Purlwell Lane
Ceiling
Windows
94 Purlwell Lane
Windows
96 Purlwell Lane
Windows & Frame
98 Purlwell Lane
Windows
100 Purlwell Lane
Windows & Window [Citdies?]
102 Purlwell Lane
Many Slates
Lock: Windows
104 Purlwell Lane
Many Slates
Windows
106 Purlwell Lane
Window
110 Purlwell Lane
Windows
112 Purlwell Lane
Windows
114 Purlwell Lane
Windows
116 Purlwell Lane
Windows
122 Purlwell Lane
Windows
124 Purlwell Lane
Window
126 Purlwell Lane
Window
128 Purlwell Lane
Plaster
Window
130 Purlwell Lane
Window & Frame: Door
132 Purlwell Lane
Windows
134 Purlwell Lane
Windows
136 Purlwell Lane
Ceiling
Windows
138 Purlwell Lane
Windows
140 Purlwell Lane
Windows
78 Croft House, Purlwell Lane
Windows
Ivy Bank, Purlwell Lane
Windows
Co-op Stores, Purlwell Lane
Slates
Window
Methodist Church, Purlwell Lane
Windows
Data extracted from West Yorkshire Archive Services Ref KMT1/Box42/TB227 – This is only a portion of the information contained. I have not included owners, occupiers, rateable value etc.
For Part 1 – A to B see here. For Part 2 – C to F see here. For Part 3 – G to J see here. For Part 4 – K to N see here. For Part 6 – Q to T see here. For Part 7 – U to Z see here.
Postscript: Finally a big thank you for the donations already received to keep this website going.
The website has always been free to use, but it does cost me money to operate. In the current difficult economic climate I am considering if I can continue to afford to keep running it as a free resource, especially as I have to balance the research time against work commitments.
If you have enjoyed reading the various pieces, and would like to make a donation towards keeping the website up and running in its current open access format, it would be very much appreciated.
Please click here to be taken to the PayPal donation link. By making a donation you will be helping to keep the website online and freely available for all.
Thank you.
Footnotes: 1. In this section of the list the ‘Description’ column is largely blank. The implication is these are houses, not business premises. 2. This building was also on a separate form where the only column relating to damage was “Indiction of Extent of Damage to Contents”. Other buildings on this form suffered complete destruction, so the implication is this was the fate of No62 too. It seems to be a form reserved for those buildings which suffered serious damage. 3. These buildings were on a different form where the only column relating to damage was “Indiction of Extent of Damage to Contents”. It seems to be a form reserved for those buildings which suffered serious damage. 4. 88 Purlwell Lane is squeezed in the list between the row entries for numbers 88A and 90. However no damage details have been included so it is unclear if these have been omitted, or if the damage is the same as for either 88A or 90.
Since then I have pinpointed many of the affected buildings, houses and addresses, including a general summary of the damage inflicted on each property.
This is the fourth post which covers these addresses and the damage details, so you can identify if your current home was part of this event in our local history; or if a home associated with your family history was affected. This post covers street names beginning with the letters K through to N.
North Bank Road, Batley – Photo by Jane Roberts
One note of caution, although many house numbers remain unchanged from that period, some may have undergone re-numbering in the intervening years. The numbers in the table below are as they were during the war, not as they are today. Other houses have long since gone.
Also, though hundreds of addresses are listed, I am aware from my earlier research that this is not the full record of houses affected – there are areas of Batley hit that night which are missing from the list.
Some final points to be aware of. I have detailed the information exactly as it was written, so the damage inventory columns are not consistent. For example ceiling damage sometimes comes under ‘contents’, at others under the ‘generally’ heading.
It is also clear this is not the complete story of damage inflicted. I am aware some buildings did suffer substantially more than is listed for them in the space-limited columns – for example the gable end at a house on North Bank Road needing rebuilding as a result of the air raid, but the inventory gives no indication of the extent of the damage to this house.
And, to my mind, the list of contents ruined does appear suspiciously light. Again has space played a part? For example it is hard to believe that crockery and furniture in the majority of houses was undamaged given the structural damage listed. An exception to this features in this post – a house on North Bank Road has furniture and crockery breakages reported. However these contents were not listed in the space provided but were an add on insertion at the top of the page. It is therefore likely that individual household forms were completed initially and the information then collated and condensed on one form covering all addresses, meaning layers of detail being missed in this overall summary.
North Bank Road – Photo by Jane Roberts
Anyway, good luck with locating your home. Don’t forget to scroll across the table to get the full details – there are columns detailing the property description, address, and an indication of the extent of damage (i.e. roof, walls, floors, contents and general damage). And do check my website as I continue to add more posts listing affected houses.
Description1
Address
Roof
Walls
Floors
Contents
Generally
2 Kent Street
Windows
4 Kent Street
Windows
6 Kent Street
Windows
8 Kent Street
Windows
10 Kent Street
Ceiling
Windows
12 Kent Street
Ceiling
Windows
14 Kent Street
Many Slates
Door
Window
16 Kent Street
Windows
18 Kent Street
Window
20 Kent Street
Ceiling
Window
22 Kent Street
Ceiling
Window
24 Kent Street
Ceiling
Windows
26 Kent Street
Windows
28 Kent Street
Ceiling
Windows
30 Kent Street
Letter Box
Windows
32 Kent Street
Ceiling
Windows
34 Kent Street
Windows
36 Kent Street
Windows
2 Knowles Road
Window
19 Knowles Road
Window
33 Knowles Road
Window
35 Knowles Road
Window
Council School
Mill Lane
Window
23 Mount Avenue
Window
25 Mount Avenue
Window
32 New Street
Window
2 Norfolk Street
Windows
3 Norfolk Street
Many Slates
Lock
Windows
4 Norfolk Street
Windows
5 Norfolk Street
Windows
6 Norfolk Street
Windows
8 Norfolk Street
Windows
9 Norfolk Street
Windows
10 Norfolk Street
Windows
11 Norfolk Street
Windows
12 Norfolk Street
Windows
14 Norfolk Street
Windows
15 Norfolk Street
Windows
17 Norfolk Street
Windows
22 Norfolk Street
Windows
37 Norfolk Street
Windows
66 Norfolk Street
Windows
68 Norfolk Street
Windows
7 North Bank Road
Windows
23 North Bank Road
Windows
27 North Bank Road
Windows
29 North Bank Road
Windows
31 North Bank Road
Windows
33 North Bank Road
Windows
121 North Bank Road
Lock: Windows
123 North Bank Road
Windows
125 North Bank Road
Slates (WC)
Lock
Windows & Frame
127 North Bank Road
Slates (WC)
Dinner Service, Tea Service, Dressing-Table
Windows & Frames
129 North Bank Road
Many Slates
Ceilings
Windows & Frames
131 North Bank Road
Many Slates
Ceilings: Locks
Windows & Frames: Door
133 North Bank Road
Windows & Door
135 North Bank Road
Windows
137 North Bank Road
Windows
139 North Bank Road
Not Known2
141 North Bank Road
Many Slates
Ceilings
Windows & Frames: Lock
143 North Bank Road
Not Known2
145 North Bank Road
Not Known2
147 North Bank Road
Many Slates
Plaster
Ceilings
Fireplace: Door: Windows
149 North Bank Road
Not Known2
151 North Bank Road
Ceilings
Windows & Frames: Door
153 North Bank Road
Ceilings
Windows
155 North Bank Road
Ceiling
Windows & Frames
157 North Bank Road
Plaster
Ceilings
Cellar Brickwork: Window Frame
159 North Bank Road
Locks
Windows
161 North Bank Road
Windows
163 North Bank Road
Windows
165 North Bank Road
Windows & Frame
167 North Bank Road
Windows
169 North Bank Road
Windows
171 North Bank Road
Windows
173 North Bank Road
Windows
175 North Bank Road
Fireplace
Windows & Frame
69 North Street
Window
Data extracted from West Yorkshire Archive Services Ref KMT1/Box42/TB227 – This is only a portion of the information contained. I have not included owners, occupiers, rateable value etc.
For Part 1 – A to B see here. For Part 2 – C to F see here. For Part 3 – G to J see here. For Part 5 – O to P see here. For Part 6 – Q to T see here. For Part 7 – U to Z see here.
Postscript: Finally a big thank you for the donations already received to keep this website going.
The website has always been free to use, but it does cost me money to operate. In the current difficult economic climate I am considering if I can continue to afford to keep running it as a free resource, especially as I have to balance the research time against work commitments.
If you have enjoyed reading the various pieces, and would like to make a donation towards keeping the website up and running in its current open access format, it would be very much appreciated.
Please click here to be taken to the PayPal donation link. By making a donation you will be helping to keep the website online and freely available for all.
Thank you.
Footnotes: 1. In this section of the list the ‘Description’ column is largely blank. The implication is these are houses, not business premises. 2. These buildings were on a different form where the only column relating to damage was “Indiction of Extent of Damage to Contents”. Other buildings on this form suffered complete destruction. It seems to be a form reserved for those buildings which suffered serious damage.
Since then I have pinpointed many of the affected buildings, houses and addresses, including a general summary of the damage inflicted on each property.
This is the third post with these details so you can identify if your home was part of this event in our local history; or if a home associated with your family history was affected. It covers street names starting with the letters G through to J.
One of the streets covered in this post
One note of caution, although many house numbers remain unchanged from that period, some may have undergone re-numbering in the intervening years. The numbers in the table below are as they were during the war, not as they are today. Other houses have long gone.
Some of the houses damaged
Also, though hundreds of addresses are listed, I am aware from my earlier research that this is not the complete inventory – there are areas of Batley hit that night which are missing from the list.
Some final points to be aware of. I have detailed the information exactly as it was written, so the damage inventory columns are not consistent. For example ceiling damage sometimes comes under ‘contents’, at others under the ‘generally’ heading.
It is also clear this is not the complete story of damage inflicted. I am aware some buildings did suffer substantially more than is listed for them in the space-limited columns – for example gable ends needing rebuilding as a result of the air raid.
Some final points to be aware of. I have detailed the information exactly as it was written, so the damage inventory columns are not consistent. For example ceiling damage sometimes comes under ‘contents’, at others under the ‘generally’ heading.
It is also clear this is not the complete story of damage inflicted. I am aware some buildings did suffer substantially more than is listed for them in the space-limited columns – for example gable ends needing rebuilding as a result of the air raid.
And, to my mind, the list of contents ruined does appear suspiciously light. For example it is hard to believe that crockery and furniture in the majority of houses was undamaged given the structural damage listed. Again has space played a part? There are exceptions – in one detailed entry for an address in another post, although the contents were not listed in the space provided, they were an add-on insertion at the top of the page. It is hard to believe that contents in the majority of entries for other houses suffered no similar damage. I believe it is likely that individual household forms were completed initially and the information then collated and condensed on one form covering all addresses, meaning layers of detail being missed in this overall summary.
Anyway, good luck with locating your home. Don’t forget to scroll across the table to get the full details – there are columns detailing the property description, address, and an indication of the extent of damage (i.e. roof, walls, floors, contents and general damage). And do check my website as I continue to add more posts listing affected houses.
Description1
Address
Roof
Walls
Floors
Contents
Generally
1 Garden Street
Window
2 Garden Street
Window
3 Garden Street
Window
6 Garden Street
Window
8 Garden Street
Window
3 George Street
Window
13 George Street
Window
19 George Street
Window
13 Gladwin Street
Window
Gospel Hall
Much
Plaster
Ceilings
Windows
Grammar School
Sewer: Boundary Wall, Windows
2 Great Wood Street
Slight
Ceilings
W.C Pot: Windows
4 Great Wood Street
Slight
Ceilings
Windows
6 Great Wood Street
Slight
Ceilings
Windows
8 Great Wood Street
Slight
Ceilings
Partition: Windows
8 Healey Lane
Slight
Window
22 Healey Lane
Window
39 Healey Lane
Window
47 Healey Lane
Ornament
Window
49 Healey Lane
Window
50A Healey Lane
Windows
55 Healey Lane
Window
61 Healey Lane
Window
73 Healey Lane
Window
75 Healey Lane
Window
77 Healey Lane
Window
79 Healey Lane
Window
100 Healey Lane
Plaster
Windows
102 Healey Lane
Windows
118A Healey Lane
Window
120 Healey Lane
Many Slates
Ceilings
Windows
122 Healey Lane
Windows
126 Healey Lane
Many Slates
Windows
128 Healey Lane
Many Slates
130 Healey Lane
Chimney Flashing
Window
132 Healey Lane
Many Slates
Window
134 Healey Lane
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows
138 Healey Lane
Many Slates
Ceilings
Windows
142 Healey Lane
Window
144 Healey Lane
Many Slates
Ceiling
Window
146 Healey Lane
Slight
Window
148 Healey Lane
Slight
Windows
154 Healey Lane
Windows
160 Healey Lane
Many Slates
Wardrobe
Window
199 Healey Lane
Window
Fried Fish Shop
219 Healey Lane
Window
Braeside, 46 Healey Lane
House
Westfield, Healey Lane
Many Slates
Windows
Wood Lea, 42 Healey Lane
Windows
Senior Boys’ School
Healey Lane
Slates
2 Highcliffe Road
Windows & Frame
4 Highcliffe Road
Windows
12 Highcliffe Road
Windows
16 Highcliffe Road
Ceilings
18 Highcliffe Road
Ceilings
22 Highcliffe Road
Windows
26 Highcliffe Road
Windows
36 Highcliffe Road
Ceiling
Windows & Frame
38 Highcliffe Road
Ceiling
Windows
40 Highcliffe Road
Ceiling
Windows
1 Holyoak Avenue
Many Slates
2 Holyoak Avenue
Many Slates
Ceilings
Steps Windows
3 Holyoak Avenue
Many Slates
Ceilings
Windows
4 Holyoak Avenue
Many Slates
Windows
5 Holyoak Avenue
Many Slates
Ceilings
Windows & Eaves Gutters
6 Holyoak Avenue
Many Slates
Windows
7 Holyoak Avenue
Many Slates
Windows
8 Holyoak Avenue
Many Slates
Windows
9 Holyoak Avenue
Many Slates
Ceilings
Eaves Gutter & Windows
10 Holyoak Avenue
Many Slates
Windows
11 Holyoak Avenue
Many Slates
Ceilings
Door & Windows
12 Holyoak Avenue
Many Slates
Windows
13 Holyoak Avenue
Many Slates
Ceilings
Door, Eaves & Windows
14 Holyoak Avenue
Many Slates
Windows
15 Holyoak Avenue
Many Slates
Ceilings
Door & Windows
16 Holyoak Avenue
Many Slates
Windows
10 Jacob Street
Window
12 Jacob Street
Window
Data extracted from West Yorkshire Archive Services Ref KMT1/Box42/TB227 – This is only a portion of the information contained. I have not included owners, occupiers, rateable value etc.
For Part 1 – A to B see here. For Part 2 – C to F see here. For Part 4 – K to N see here. For Part 5 – O to P see here. For Part 6 – Q to T see here. For Part 7 – U to Z see here.
Postscript: Finally a big thank you for the donations already received to keep this website going.
The website has always been free to use, but it does cost me money to operate. In the current difficult economic climate I am considering if I can continue to afford to keep running it as a free resource, especially as I have to balance the research time against work commitments.
If you have enjoyed reading the various pieces, and would like to make a donation towards keeping the website up and running in its current open access format, it would be very much appreciated.
Please click here to be taken to the PayPal donation link. By making a donation you will be helping to keep the website online and freely available for all.
Thank you.
Footnotes: 1. In this section of the list the ‘Description’ column is largely blank. The implication is these are houses, not business premises.
Since then I have pinpointed many of the affected buildings, houses and addresses, including a general summary of the damage inflicted on each property.
Two of the locations covered in this post
This is the second post with these details so you can identify if your home was part of this event in our local history; or if a home associated with your family history was affected. It covers street names from C to F.
One note of caution, although many house numbers remain unchanged from that period, some may have undergone re-numbering in the intervening years (e.g. potentially Deighton Lane, looking at the current numbering/house names and cross-matching to the house names/numbers on the air raid damage list, and also looking at OS maps for the period).1 The numbers here are as they were during the war, not as they are today. Other houses have long gone.
Three of the houses in the damaged properties address list
Also, though hundreds of addresses are listed, I am aware from my earlier research that this is not the complete inventory – there are areas of Batley hit that night which are missing from the list.
Some final points to be aware of. I have detailed the information exactly as it was written, so the damage inventory columns are not consistent. For example ceiling damage sometimes comes under ‘contents’, at others under the ‘generally’ heading.
It is also clear this is not the complete story of damage inflicted. I am aware some buildings did suffer substantially more than is listed for them in the space-limited columns – for example gable ends needing rebuilding as a result of the air raid.
And, to my mind, the list of contents ruined does appear suspiciously light. For example it is hard to believe that crockery and furniture in the majority of houses was undamaged given the structural damage listed. Again has space played a part? There are exceptions – in one detailed entry for an address in another post, although the contents were not listed in the space provided, they were an add-on insertion at the top of the page. It is hard to believe that contents in the majority of entries for other houses suffered no similar damage. I believe it is likely that individual household forms were completed initially and the information then collated and condensed on one form covering all addresses, meaning layers of detail being missed in this overall summary.
Anyway, good luck with locating your home. Don’t forget to scroll across the table to get the full details – there are columns detailing the property description, address, and an indication of the extent of damage (i.e. roof, walls, floors, contents and general damage). And do check my website as I continue to add more posts listing affected houses.
Description
Address
Roof
Walls
Floors
Contents
Generally
Caledonia Road, J E Etherington Ltd
Not known2
House
Oak Cottage, Caledonia Road
Many slates
Public Baths
Cambridge Street
Many slates
House
22 Carlinghow Lane
Window
House
8 Cedar Grove
Window
House
35 Chaster Street
Window
House
41 Chaster Street
Window
House
45 Chaster Street
Window
House
98 Chaster Street
Windows
House
100 Chaster Street
Windows
House
102 Chaster Street
Windows
House
104 Chaster Street
Windows
House
106 Chaster Street
Window
House
108 Chaster Street
Windows
House
110 Chaster Street
Windows
House
14 Clarence Street
Many slates
Ceiling
House
27 Cobden Street
Window
House
2 Colbeck Avenue
3 slates off
Windows
House
3 Colbeck Avenue
3 slates off
Window
House
4 Colbeck Avenue
12 slates off
Plaster
Wiring
Window
House
5 Colbeck Avenue
2 slates off
Window
House
6 Colbeck Avenue
3 slates off
Ceilings & Windows
House
7 Colbeck Avenue
Windows
House
9 Colbeck Avenue
1 Ceiling & Windows
House
11 Colbeck Avenue
Slight
Chimney pot & Windows
House
12 Colbeck Avenue
Windows
House
1 Colbeck Terrace
Slight
1 Ceiling & Windows
House
2 Colbeck Terrace
Windows
House
3 Colbeck Terrace
Slight
House
4 Colbeck Terrace
Light Bowl
Windows
House
5 Colbeck Terrace
Slight
Windows
House
6 Colbeck Terrace
Windows
House
7 Colbeck Terrace
Slight
Windows
House
8 Colbeck Terrace
Windows
House
9 Colbeck Terrace
Slight
Door Lock
Windows
House
10 Colbeck Terrace
Windows
House
11 Colbeck Terrace
Slight
House
12 Colbeck Terrace
Windows
Shop
25 Commercial Street
Window
Electricity Showrooms
Commercial Street
60?
House
94 Commonside
Window
House
33 Crescent Street
Window
House
8 Cross Bank Road
Window
House
62 Cross Bank Road
Window
House
45 Cross Park Street
Many slates
Burnt
Ceiling
Window
House
18 Dark Lane
Window
House
20 Dark Lane
Window
House
22 Dark Lane
Window
House
25 Dark Lane
Windows
House
45 Dark Lane
Ceilings
Windows
House
55 Dark Lane
Windows
House
2 Deighton Lane
Slight
Windows
House
4 Deighton Lane
Ceiling
House
6 Deighton Lane
Ceiling & Window
House
8 Deighton Lane
Ceiling & Windows
House
10 Deighton Lane
Door Lock
Windows
House
12 Deighton Lane
Window
House
14 Deighton Lane
Window
House
16 Deighton House, Deighton Lane
Slight
Ceiling
House
18 Deighton Lane
Window
House
25 Deighton Lane
Many slates
1 Ceiling
House
28 Deighton Lane
Slight
House & Greenhouse Windows
House
29 Deighton Lane
Many Slates
Windows
House
31 Deighton Lane
Many Slates
Windows
House
36 Deighton Lane
Many Slates
Window
House
38 Deighton Lane
Many Slates
Window
House
42 Deighton Lane
Many Slates
Ceiling
House
44 Deighton Lane
Many Slates
Ceilings & Windows
House
45 Deighton Lane
Many Slates
Windows
House
46 Deighton Lane
Windows & Garage
House
47 Deighton Lane
Many Tiles
Windows
House
51 Holmleigh, Deighton Lane
Window & Garage Roof
House
49 Deighton Lane
Many Tiles
House
53 Deighton Lane
Window
House
55 Deighton Lane
Many Slates
Window, Greenhouse & Garage
House
57 Deighton Lane
Many Slates
House & Greenhouse Windows
House
56 Fairholme, Deighton Lane
Many Slates
Windows
House
58 Deighton Lane
Many Slates
Windows
House
59 Deighton Lane
Curtains
Windows & Window Frame
House
60 Deighton Lane
Many Slates
Windows & Eaves Gutter
House
61 Deighton Lane
Window
House
63 Deighton Lane
Window
House
2 Denison Street
Much Damage – Tenant Away – Entry Impossible
Windows
House
4 Denison Street
Plaster
Ceilings
Lock: Windows & Frame
House
6 Denison Street
Plaster
Cellar Wall: Windows
House
8 Denison Street
Many Slates
Plaster
Ceiling
Windows & Frames: Locks
House
10 Denison Street
Many Slates
Plaster
Ceilings
Windows & Frames: Lock
House
12 Denison Street
Windows
House
14 Denison Street
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows: Lock
House
16 Denison Street
Lock: Windows
House
18 Denison Street
Many Slates
Plaster
Ceilings
Windows & Frames: Lock
House
20 Denison Street
Plaster
Ceiling
Windows & Frames: Lock
House
22 Denison Street
Plaster
Ceilings
Windows & Frames
House
24 Denison Street
Many Slates
Plaster
Windows & Frames: Lock
House
29 Denison Street
Slight
Plaster
Ceilings
Doors, Windows & Frames
House
31 Denison Street
Slight
Plaster
Ceilings
Doors, Windows & Frames
House
33 Denison Street
Slight
Plaster
Ceilings
Doors, Windows & Frames
House
35 Denison Street
Slates: Purlins
Plaster
Ceilings
Doors, Windows & Frames
House
37 Denison Street
Slight
Plaster
Ceilings
Doors, Windows & Frames
House
39 Denison Street
Slight
Plaster
Ceilings
Doors, Windows & Frames
House
40 Denison Street
Flashing
Ceilings: Curtains
Windows & Frames: Doors
House
41 Denison Street
Plaster
Ceilings
Windows
House
42 Denison Street
Flashing
Ceilings
Locks: Fireplace: Windows
House
43 Denison Street
Ceilings
Windows
House
44 Denison Street
Many Slates etc
Plaster
Ceilings
Doors: Windows
House
45 Denison Street
Ceilings
Windows & Frames: Lock
House
46 Denison Street
Many Slates etc
Ceiling
Plinth: Windows & Frame. Doors
House
47 Denison Street
Ceilings
Windows
House
48 Denison Street
Ceiling
Fireplace: Locks: Windows
House
49 Denison Street
Many Slates
Plaster
Ceilings
Lock: Windows
House
50 Denison Street
Ceilings
Windows
House
51 Denison Street
Ceilings
Windows & Frame
House
52 Denison Street
Ceiling
Lock & Windows
House
53 Denison Street
Ceilings
Passage Wall: Windows
House
54 Denison Street
Many Slates
Ceiling
Locks & Windows
House
55 Denison Street
Many Slates
Ceilings
Windows
House
56 Denison Street
Ceilings
Locks & Windows
House
57 Denison Street
Ceilings
Door: Windows & Frames
House
58 Denison Street
Windows
House
59 Denison Street
Plaster
Passage Wall: Windows
House
60 Denison Street
Window
House
61 Denison Street
Ceiling
Lock: Windows
House
62 Denison Street
Many Slates
Locks & Window
House
63 Denison Street
Ceilings
Windows
House
64 Denison Street
Door & Windows
House
65 Denison Street
Many Slates
Plaster
Windows
House
66 Denison Street
Ceiling
Windows
House
67 Denison Street
Plaster
Ceiling
Windows
House
69 Denison Street
Plaster
Ceilings
Locks & Windows
House
71 Denison Street
Windows
House
73 Denison Street
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows
House
75 Denison Street
Many Slates
Ceiling
Window
House
77 Denison Street
Many Slates
Window
House
79 Denison Street
Window
House & Shop
81 Denison Street
Shop & House Windows
31 Field Lane
Window
Garage (Paint Shop)
Field Lane
Slates
Council School
Field Lane
Window
Data extracted from West Yorkshire Archive Services Ref KMT1/Box42/TB227 – This is only a portion of the information contained. I have not included owners, occupiers, rateable value etc.
For Part 1 – A to B see here. For Part 3 – G to J see here. For Part 4 – K to N see here. For Part 5 – O to P see here. For Part 6 – Q to T see here. For Part 7 – U to Z see here.
Postscript: Finally a big thank you for the donations already received to keep this website going.
The website has always been free to use, but it does cost me money to operate. In the current difficult economic climate I am considering if I can continue to afford to keep running it as a free resource, especially as I have to balance the research time against work commitments.
If you have enjoyed reading the various pieces, and would like to make a donation towards keeping the website up and running in its current open access format, it would be very much appreciated.
Please click here to be taken to the PayPal donation link. By making a donation you will be helping to keep the website online and freely available for all.
Thank you.
Footnotes: 1. In these cases more detailed house history research is required. 2. This building was on a different form where the only column relating to damage was “Indiction of Extent of Damage to Contents”. Other buildings on this form suffered complete destruction. It seems to be a form reserved for those buildings which suffered serious damage. In an earlier post about Batley’s First Air Raid it is noted that a two-storey Rag Warehouse off Bridge Street belonging to J. E. Etherington Ltd had a stock of wool destroyed. Bridge Street backs onto Caledonia Road, so the entry on this form may refer to that building.
In my post Batley’s First Air Raid – The Night of 12/13 December 1940, I wrote about the areas of Batley hit. Since then I have been able to pinpoint many of the affected buildings, houses and addresses. This includes a general summary of the damage inflicted on each specific property.
This is the first post in which I provide details of the addresses and damage so you can identify if your home was part of this event in our local history; or if a home associated with your family history was affected.
View of Batley towards St Andrew’s Church – one of the bomb-damaged areas – Photo by Jane Roberts
One note of caution, although many house numbers remain unchanged from that period, some may have undergone re-numbering in the intervening years. The numbers here are as they were during the war, not as they are today. Other houses have long gone.
Also, though hundreds of addresses are listed, I am aware from my earlier research that this is not the complete inventory – there are areas of Batley hit that night which are missing.
Some final points to be aware of. I have detailed the information exactly as it was written, so the damage inventory columns are not consistent. For example ceiling damage sometimes comes under ‘contents’, at others under the ‘generally’ heading.
It is also clear this is not the complete story of damage inflicted. I am aware some buildings did suffer substantially more than is listed for them in the space-limited columns – for example gable ends needing rebuilding as a result of the air raid.
And, to my mind, the list of contents ruined does appear suspiciously light. For example it is hard to believe that crockery and furniture in the majority of houses was undamaged given the structural damage listed. Again has space played a part? There are exceptions – in one detailed entry for an address in another post, although the contents were not listed in the space provided, they were an add-on insertion at the top of the page. It is hard to believe that contents in the majority of entries for other houses suffered no similar damage. I believe it is likely that individual household forms were completed initially and the information then collated and condensed on one form covering all addresses, meaning layers of detail being missed in this overall summary.
Anyway, good luck with locating your home. Don’t forget to scroll across the table to get the full details – there are columns detailing the property description, address, and an indication of the extent of damage (i.e. roof, walls, floors, contents and general damage). And do keep coming back to my website to check as I continue to add more posts listing affected houses.
Description
Address
Roof
Walls
Floors
Contents
Generally
House
57 Albion Street
Window
House
58 Albion Street
Window
House
62 Albion Street
Window
Sunday School
St Andrew’s School
Extensive
Windows
Church
St Andrew’s Church
Extensive
Windows
House
32 Back Brearley Street
Window
House
20 Back Coalpit Street
Window
House
22 Back Coalpit Street
Roof1
Window
House
24 Back Coalpit Street
Roof1
Windows
House
26 Back Coalpit Street
Roof1
Windows
House
28 Back Coalpit Street
Roof1
Windows
House
30 Back Coalpit Street
Roof1
Windows
House
32 Back Coalpit Steet
Roof1
Windows
House
34 Back Coalpit Street
Roof1
Windows
House
26 Back Crescent Street
Window
House
30 Back Crescent Street
Window
House
34 Back Crescent Street
Window
House
2 Yd 2 Back Taylor Street
Windows
House
5 Yd 2 Back Taylor Street
Windows
House
1 Bank Street
Ceilings
Lock: Windows & frame
House
2 Bank Street
Slight
Plaster
Ceilings
Doors, Windows & Frames
House
4 Bank Street
Slight
Plaster
Ceilings
Doors, Windows & Frames
House
6 Bank Street
Slight
Plaster
Ceilings
Doors, Windows & Frames
House
8 Bank Street
Slight
Plaster
Ceilings
Doors, Windows & Frames
House
10 Bank Street
Slight
Plaster
Ceilings
Doors, Windows & Frames
House
12 Bank Street
Slight
Plaster
Ceilings
Doors, Windows & Frames
House
1 Beaumont St
Windows
House
3 Beaumont St
Windows
House
4 Beaumont St
Windows
House
5 Beaumont St
Ceiling
Windows
House
6 Beaumont St
Many Slates
House
7 Beaumont St
Window
House
8 Beaumont St
Windows
House
9 Beaumont St
Ceiling
Windows
House
10 Beaumont St
Windows
House
12 Beaumont St
Lock
House
14 Beaumont St
Windows
House
16 Beaumont St
Plaster
Ceiling
Windows
House
17 Beaumont St
Windows
House
18 Beaumont St
Chimney Pot
Windows
House
19 Beaumont St
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows
House
20 Beaumont St
Windows
House
21 Beaumont St
[Ro?] Chimney Pot
Door: Windows
House
22 Beaumont St
Windows
House
23 Beaumont St
Windows
House
24 Beaumont St
Ceiling
Windows
House
25 Beaumont St
Ceilings
Windows
House
26 Beaumont St
Windows
House
27 Beaumont St
Lock: Windows
House
28 Beaumont St
Ceiling
House
29 Beaumont St
Window
House
31 Beaumont St
Lock
Windows
House
32 Beaumont St
Windows
House
33 Beaumont St
Locks
Windows
House
34/38 Beaumont St
Windows & Frame
House
35 Beaumont St
Windows
House
36 Beaumont St
Windows
House
37 Beaumont St
Many Slates
Windows
House
39 Beaumont St
Windows
House
40 Beaumont St
Window Frames
House
41 Beaumont St
Ceilings
Windows
House & Shop
42 Beaumont St
Shop & House Windows
House
43 Beaumont St
Windows
House
44 Beaumont St
Ceilings
Windows & Frames
House
45 Beaumont St
Ceilings
Locks: fireplace: Windows
House
46 Beaumont St
Ceiling
Windows & Frame
House
47 Beaumont St
Ceilings, door, lead piping
Fireplace: Windows & frame
House
48 Beaumont St
Ceiling
Windows
House
49 Beaumont St
Ceilings
Fireplace: locks: fall-pipe, windows
House
50 Beaumont St
Windows
House
51 Beaumont St
Ceilings
Windows & frame: fall-pipe. Door
House
52 Beaumont St
Windows
House
53 Beaumont St
Ceiling
Windows
House
54 Beaumont St
Ceilings
Windows
House
56 Beaumont St
Ceiling
Windows
House
58 Beaumont St
Plaster
Ceiling
Locks: Windows
House
60 Beaumont St
Ceiling
Lock: Windows
House
62 Beaumont St
Ceilings
Windows & frame. Door.
House
64 Beaumont St
Ceiling
Lock: Windows
House
66 Beaumont St
Ceiling
Windows
House
68 Beaumont St
Windows & frames
House
70 Beaumont St
Ceiling
Windows & Frame
House
72 Beaumont St
Ceilings
Windows
House
74 Beaumont St
Many Slates
Ceiling
Windows
House
76 Beaumont St
Chimney Pots
Ceiling
Door & windows
House
78 Beaumont St
Much Damage – Tenant away – entry impossible
Windows
House
80 Beaumont St
Windows
House
82 Beaumont St
Ceiling
Windows
House
1 Belvedere Road
Tenant away – entry impossible – slight damage
Windows
House
3 Belvedere Road
Windows & frame
House
4 Belvedere Road
Windows
House
8 Belvedere Road
Windows
House
10 Belvedere Road
Windows
House
14 Belvedere Road
Ceiling
Windows
House
15 Belvedere Road
Windows
House
16 Belvedere Road
Wash-basin
Windows
House
18 Belvedere Road
Window
House
20 Belvedere Road
Window
House
22 Belvedere Road
Door-lock
House
40 Belvedere Road
Window
House
42 Belvedere Road
Window
House
20 Blakeridge Lane
Window
House
35 Bonaccord Square, P’well Lane
Plaster
Ceiling
Window
House
35A Bonaccord Square, P’well Lane
Ceiling
House
1 Bonaccord Terrace Great Wood St
Many Slates
Windows & frame: Lock
House
3 Bonaccord Terrace Great Wood St
Many Slates
Drains: Lock: Windows
House
5 Bonaccord Terrace Great Wood St
Lock: Windows & Frame
House
7 Bonaccord Terrace Great Wood St
Windows & frames: Lock
House
Boys’ Grammar School House2
Shop
Bradford Road
Window
Club
British Legion Club, Bradford Road
Windows
House
[Bradford Road?]2
Shop
52 Bradford Road
Window
Shop
56 Bradford Road
Window
Shop
60 Bradford Road
Window
House & Shop
187 Bradford Road
Windows
House & Shop
191 Bradford Road
Window
Shop
215 Bradford Road
Windows
Workshop
Bradford Road
Windows
Shop
Bradford Road
Windows
National Prov Bank
Bradford Road
Slates, joists & flashing
Laundry
Bradford Road
Windows
Laundry
Bradford Road
Windows
Warehouse
Perseverance Mills, Bradford Road
Top storey gutted
Mill
Anchor Mills
Extensive
Several
Bales of rags
Windows
House
4 Brearley Place
Ceiling
Windows & frames
House
6 Brearley Place
Windows & frames
House
8 Brearley Place
Windows & frames
House
10 Brearley Place
Ceiling & lock
Window frame & windows
House
12 Brearley Place
Many Slates
Window frame & windows
House
14 Brearley Place
Ceiling
Window frame & windows
House
16 Brearley Place
Ceiling
Windows
House
18 Brearley Place
Ceiling
Windows
House
20 Brearley Place
Ceilings
Windows
House
22 Brearley Place
Ceilings
Windows & frame
House
24 Brearley Place
Ceilings
Windows & frame
House
26 Brearley Place
Ceilings
Door: lock: Windows
House
28 Brearley Place
Ceilings
Windows & frame
House
30 Brearley Place
Ceilings
Windows & frame
House
32 Brearley Place
Ceilings
Windows & frame
House
34 Brearley Place
Ceilings
Windows & frame
House
36 Brearley Place
Ceilings
Windows & frame
House
2 Yd 1 Brearley Street
Window
House
3 Yd 1 Brearley St
Windows
House
4 Yd 1 Brearley St
Windows
House
5 Yd 1 Brearley St
Windows
House
5 Brearley Street
Window
House
13 Brearley Street
Window
House
23 Brearley Street
Windows
House
33 Brearley Street
Window
Sunday School
}Methodist }Chapel
Windows
Chapel
}Brownhill
House
4 Brownhill Terrace, Warwick Road
Window
House
5 Brownhill Terrace, Warwick Road
Window & lock
House
7 Brownhill Terrace, Warwick Road
Ceiling
Window
House
62 Brownhill Terrace, Warwick Road
Window
House
64 Brownhill Terrace, Warwick Road
Window
House
76 Brownhill Terrace, Warwick Road
Plaster
Ceilings
Windows
House
1 Brown’s Place
Window
House
12 Brown’s Place
Window
32 Brown’s Place3
Windows
House
17 Brown’s Terrace, Purlwell Lane
Window
House
23 Brown’s Terrace, Purlwell Lane
Windows
House
25 Brown’s Terrace, Purlwell Lane
Windows
House
27 Brown’s Terrace, Purlwell Lane
Windows
House
29 Brown’s Terrace, Purlwell Lane
Windows
House
31 Brown’s Terrace, Purlwell Lane
Windows
Data extracted from West Yorkshire Archive Service Ref KMT1/Box42/TB227
For Part 2 – C to F click here. For Part 3 – G to J see here. For Part 4 – K to N see here. For Part 5 – O to P see here. For Part 6 – Q to T see here. For Part 7 – U to Z see here.
Postscript: Finally a big thank you for the donations already received to keep this website going.
The website has always been free to use, but it does cost me money to operate. In the current difficult economic climate I am considering if I can continue to afford to keep running it as a free resource, especially as I have to balance the research time against work commitments.
If you have enjoyed reading the various pieces, and would like to make a donation towards keeping the website up and running in its current open access format, it would be very much appreciated.
Please click here to be taken to the PayPal donation link. By making a donation you will be helping to keep the website online and freely available for all.
Thank you.
Footnotes: 1. Roofs to wash-houses damaged – slates. 2. No damage listed. 3. Cross matching with 1939 Register I suspect this should be Brown Street.
I’ve written previously about the night of 12 December 1940, the night the Luftwaffe bombed Batley and Dewsbury. I’ve now unearthed more information about that winter evening’s terrifying events in Batley. This includes the specific areas hit, and the damage caused, during what Chief Warden Major James P. Critchley dubbed as Batley’s first air raid. So, if you want to find out if the area in which your ancestors lived, or where you now live, was affected, this may help.
This new account is based on information received from reports on the night, which Chief Warden Critchley subsequently documented. These reports give some idea of the frantic activity across Batley as explosives from German bombers rained down, and as information was transmitted in real time between Air Raid Wardens at their various Posts, the police, military and other official Civil Defence bodies.
Crucially, because of wartime reporting restrictions, these details were not in any of the newspaper accounts at the time. This incudes precise timings which, in these “as it happened” reports, are given using the 24-hour clock.
During the Second World War, Air Raid Wardens received colour-coded air raid warnings. In Batley at 18.26 on 12 December the local wardens, as documented by Critchley, received a “Purple” message. This was a lights warning. It meant, in addition to normal blackout restrictions, even exempted lighting for vital transport and production had to be extinguished as enemy aircraft were expected to pass over the district.
With air raid sirens wailing across the area, at 20.13 a “Red” warning was received, signalling an imminent air raid. Wardens were to dash out in their respective sectors blowing short blasts on their whistles.
The air raid was already well underway when the Wardens received this “Red” warning. According to the reports, at 20.00 hours Incendiary Bombs fell on Bath Street, though the report stated they caused little damage. This information was passed on to the police, as was customary with all the incidents which followed.
At 20.03 Air Raid Warden Wood reported a fire at the bottom of Well Lane.
At 20.05 Air Raid Warden Talbot reported Incendiary Bombs near St Thomas’ Church, though thankfully no damage.
St Thomas’ Church, Batley – Postcard
At 20.25 the Ambulance Depot reported a suspected Unexploded Bomb at the junction of Well Lane and Bradford Road. This information was passed on to the police, who reported back at 20.41 that they could not find any trace of the device.
Also at 20.25 Post A2 reported that walls had been broken down near the Boys’ Grammar School, with stones on the causeway. A policeman was despatched to check it out.
Batley Boys Grammar School– origin unknown
At 20.40 a report from Post 18 came in. A High Explosive bomb at Mount Pleasant resulted in an estimated six casualties, with further information to follow. Within four minutes this incident was passed on to the police to investigate. Note this incident was likely to be the one on Purlwell Hall Road which resulted in a fatality – more of that in my previous post about the events that night.
At 21.00 Post 17 reported a whistling High Explosive in the middle of the fields at Parkers Houses – this was the Carters Fields area. The house end and all windows and doors were in – presumably this meant blown in. Almost instantly this was passed on to the police.
At 20.55 Warden Crowther at Post 6 reported he heard a bomb coming down whistling, ¾ of a minute ago. However, no explosion or detonation followed, so this was presumed to be another Unexploded Bomb. By 21.01 this too was passed to the police to follow up.
At 21.04 Post 28 reported a probable Delayed Action Bomb at Batley Soothill, Soothill Railway Bridge and Soothill Lane. There was a small crater. This was passed to the police within a minute. More reports of this particular incident then flooded in.
At 21.17 Major Whitworth, Royal Army Service Corps, reported a Delayed Action Bomb at Soothill Bridge.
This was followed by Post 28 giving an update at 21.21 on the Soothill situation. There was an Unexploded Bomb at the rail bridge on Soothill Lane. It had dropped in the buttress between the London & North Eastern Railway and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway yards, and caused a crater of about 12” in diameter. Houses were evacuated, traffic was stopped both ways, and investigations were underway for more bombs.
By 21.37 Special Constable Pickles reported five Unexploded Bombs at Soothill Bridge. This took slightly longer to pass formally from the Report Centre to the police, around nine minutes. Perhaps the scale of information now pouring in was becoming overwhelming.
A verbal message followed from Major Matthews. The bomb had now been removed from Soothill Bridge and taken into a field behind Grange Road.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Batley, at 21.00 the Officer in charge at the Report Centre received information that a bomb was heard to drop, but had not exploded, at an unknown locality near Post 2L. This was passed to the police to check out at 21.10. At the same time the police were asked to investigate the swishing noise near Grosvenor Road heard at 21.07 by Warden C. P. Talbot at Post A2.
At 21.18 Section Leader Turner reported an Unexploded Bomb in the Healey area of Batley at Holyoake Avenue, West Park Road. Yet another incident for the beleaguered police.
At 21.25 Post 10 reported five High Explosive bombs, with four houses badly damaged. No location was given. Five minutes later Air Raid Warden Fox gave the location as North Bank Fields, and one bomb was suspected to have exploded. All houses were evacuated until the position was certain.
Also at 21.25 Warden Duckworth at Post 19 reported an Unexploded Bomb, type unknown, in the sewage beds. This went to the police at 21.44 with a request for the exact location so a decision could be made about evacuating the First Aid Post. There’s a joke in there somewhere but I’ll refrain from making it!
The police were also passing their findings back. At 21.20 a Police Officer reported something had gone through the roof of G. H. Hirst Ltd’s Alexandra Mills. By 21.35 Special Constables were sent to attend, and five minutes later reported an Unexploded Bomb in the building.
At 21.30 Lieutenant Spanton reported the discovery of a yard-long time bomb, with a diameter of one foot in a yard at the back of Hanover Street. It was now under a military guard and they were telling people to evacuate. By 21.50 Major Matthews identified it as an Oil Bomb. The Royal Engineers, based in York, were coming over to deal with it. This order was cancelled by 21.58 following a re-evaluation – it was an empty canister from a flare. These parachute flares were dropped in advance of a raid to mark out bombing targets.
Meanwhile, now back in Healey, at 21.35 Air Raid Warden Fox from Post 10 was reporting a High Explosive bomb between Trafalgar Street and Throstle Nest Mill, with a crater measuring 40 ft wide and 20-30 feet deep.
At 21.42 a report came in from the Batley Boys’ Grammar School headmaster. Over an hour earlier, at around 20.30, near the school he heard the scream of a bomb, followed by a dull thud but no explosion. Given the timing it is possible this linked to the 20.25 report from the Air Raid Warden at Post A2. The headmaster provided a further update at 23.49. The bomb had in fact exploded blocking a manhole at the school.
At 21.45 Air Raid Warden Norman of Post 28, reported a suspected Unexploded Bomb in soft soil between Clutton Street and Lady Ann Road, leaving a crater with a diameter of around 15 inches. Military were already in attendance.
At 22.01 a Rescue Party was at Parkers Houses, Carters Fields where an Unexploded Bomb was reported to be in a house. This presumably linked to the incident reported at 21.00 by Post 17. By 22.45 the Rescue Party had fenced it off.
At 22.12 P. C. 1331 Wright called in a suspected Unexploded Bomb at South Bank Road and the top of Pynate Road off Carlinghow Lane. The Police Station were asked to send someone to investigate.
At 22.15 Warden J. Wilson at Post 18 said a Delayed Action Bomb was believed to have dropped in Farmer Walker’s fields at the back of houses in Highcliffe Road.
At 22.27 Warden Clarkson at Post A2 called in an Unexploded Bomb at St. Thomas’ Church yard on Rutland Road, below the east window of the church. It had actually been discovered 20 minutes earlier. At 22.29 Warden Talbot stated this bomb was now found to be an unexploded flare which had been buried and covered with earth and posed no danger of explosion.
Meanwhile, more news came in from the Pynate Road incident. Information received at 22.45 from Warden H. Noble stated that two Unexploded Bombs were believed to have dropped at Pynate Road, Carlinghow Lane. There were no casualties, but as yet no services were there either.
By 23.00 the police got back. The Unexploded Bomb at the top of Chaster Street, South Bank Road and Pynate Road was being attended to by P. C. 1331 Wright and Special Constables.
The final report in the list is one at 23.40 to say the telephone was out of order at the Warden’s Post in Holland Street.
At 04.06 the Air Raid Message code “White” came through – the signal for the sounding of the All Clear sirens.
As can be seen from the above volley of communications, it was a fast-paced and confusing picture with multiple reports from separate sources coming in about various incidents across the Batley Borough. Some appear to be duplicate reports of the same incident.
As the dust settled, a considered general report could be written. This gave a further indication of the extent of the bombing and the subsequent activity by those on the ground dealing with it .
This read as follows (with spelling and punctuation as in the document):
Shortly after 7p.m. Enemy aeroplanes dropped flares over the Borough. There was immediately a considerable amount of Anti-Aircraft fire and attempts made to shoot down the flares. It is believed two flares were shot down.
About 7.45p.m. numerous fires broke out in the neighbourhood of Bradford Rd. Central.
A large number of Incendiary bombs were dropped but the majority were put out by Wardens, Police, A.F.S.1 Soldiers and Civilians.
At 8.15p.m. Bradford Road Central closed from Branch Rd. to Hick Lane on account of fires.
At 9.5 p.m. Soothill Lane closed owning to U.X.B.2 on Soothill Railway Bridge.
Only Incendiary bombs were dropped in the centre of town.
Feeding and Shelter Stations were opened at Zion Sunday School, Cross Bank Sunday School, and Soothill Workings Mens’ Club for persons destitute through H.E.3 or Fire and for persons evacuated owing to enexploded [sic] bombs.
Schools etc. were utilised at Healey and Soothill where the distance from Feeding Stations was great or not accessible on account of unexploded bombs.
At 12.30 a.m. Fires were under control and very little glow.
Weather was good when raid commenced but dense fog descended after 9 p.m. The roads became ice-bound and consequently movement was difficult.
5.30 a.m. Lieut. Hill, of Bomb Disposal Unit arrived with squad and commenced on unexploded bombs. The bomb on Soothill Bridge was given priority and removed at 8 a.m
A summary of damage then followed (spellings and punctuation as per the report).
Casualties. 1 Soldier killed with Shrapnel. 1 Warden injured by Shrapnel. Approximately 4 civilians also injured by Shrapnel.
Fires. Rag Warehouse J. A. Calverley. Half of top storey and part of second storey destroyed; also considerable stock of rags.
2 Storey Rag Warehouse, Anchor Mills, Bradford Rd. C[entral]. Damage to roof and stock of rags.
2 Storey Rag Warehouse off Bridge Street, (J. E. Etherington Ltd.) Stock of wool destroyed.
3 Storey Rag Warehouse and contiguous Dwelling Well Lane (W. J. Ineson & Son Ltd) Top two storeys used as Rag Warehouse, Bottom storey and Dwelling house used as H.Q. First Aid Parties and canteen. Damage. Burnt out.
Single storey Hygienic Laundry, Bradford Rd. C[entral]. Damage. Roof, machinary [sic] and customers articles.
24 other small fires were reported and dealt with by A.F.S., Wardens, Police, Soldiers etc. These were all between Cross Park Street and Mount Pleasant; Branch Road and Hick Lane.
H.E. Damage. Boys’ Grammar School. Damage to wall and lawns.
Mount Pleasant – Victoria Avenue, Three houses wholly demolished. St. Andrews Church badly damaged. Gospel Hall and Purlwell Wesleyan Chapel slightly damaged.
North Bank Road. Four back to back cottages damaged beyond repair.
Near Trafalgar St., Crater 40ft x 30ft in field. numerous houses damaged by shrapnel, stones etc.
In the whole Borough 578 houses were damaged during the Raid.
450 temporary homeless people were accommodated in the Rest Centres at Zion Chapel etc.
Unexploded Bombs. Soothill Bridge. Alexandra Mills. Clutton Street. Station Road. Railway Goods Yard. Hunts Warehouse. Station Road Warehouse. Stubley’s Mill. Field off Broom Street. Soothill Pit Hill (These were removed by Military safely.)
Alton Lodge. (Not confirmed) Well Lane. Carter’s Field. (Exploded) Top of Southbank Road. Off Highcliffe Road Purlwell Lane (same bomb) Woodersome [sic] Estate. (Search was made for these but no traces found.)
Sewerage Beds. (Safe, Inspected and left.)
Bankfoot. (Flare removed by Military.)
St Thomas’s Church. (Flare removed by Military.)
A crater was discovered on 1st January 1941 near to Princess Royal School, Carlinghow, caused by H.E. bomb.
Upper Croft Road. Crater indicating that bomb had exploded at great depth; discovered 15th. Dec. 1940. (Later found to be U.X.B. 500 K.G.)
Sufficient components were found to completely re-construct a Parachute flare.
Several Unexploded Incendiary bombs were found.
Some Incendiary Bomb sticks and Flare canisters were also found.
St Andrew’s Church – Photo by Jane Roberts
In the midst of the destruction there were some lighter moments. For example the 80-year-old stone-deaf lady who, when eventually roused by police at 5am to evacuate her home, and after a search for her ear trumpet, refused to allow the Constable to take her to the Rest Centre until she had thoroughly brushed and combed her hair. Perhaps this was the wrong time and place for worrying about appearances!
In another incident, shortly after midnight, a vehicle belonging to the military emerged through the fog towards a policeman. It skated on the icy road as it drew up to him. The driver then asked the Police Officer for directions to the nearest piece of vacant land. The Officer took his time in replying, no doubt wondering what the consequences were for him – perhaps he would have to guard the Army vehicle – and how to get out of them. He soon got a move on when the Army Driver told him “Hell man, hurry up, we have an unexploded bomb on the rear seat.”
And it would not be Batley without the grumbles and complaints about the action of the local authority, even in pre-Kirklees Council days. There were two such examples cited in the immediate aftermath.
In the first, a man in the Soothill area roused at about 5am for evacuation purposes due to the unexploded bomb on Soothill Bridge, shouted through his bedroom window at the Police Constable “That bomb dropped last neet, what the Hell are they laikin’ at? It owt to be aht nah.”
Also on an ice-bound Soothill Lane, at around 6am an exhausted Warden had the unenviable task of being posted about 100 yards from an unexploded bomb. His job was to stop people coming down the road, and instruct them to make a detour to avoid the bomb on Soothill Bridge. One stockily-built middle aged man came sliding through the fog, his torch waving about as he tried to keep his balance. The Warden explained he would have to take a different route on account of the bomb. The man’s locally accented reply was “All right, but what’s t’Corporation laiking abaht at, there isn’t an ash up Sooithill Loin; it’s like glass an’ there’ll be somebody lamed yet.” When the Warden pointed out perhaps the Corporation had a lot to do during the night, the man’s reply was “Oh hev they.” He then disappeared into to the fog without any comment or question about the bomb.
I’ve tried to indicate in red on the map below as many of the places I can identify from the reports, to give some idea of the spread of incidents and damage across Batley that night.
Map of Batley from the 1930s. The areas in red illustrate the scale of incidents and damage across Batley from the air raid.
To conclude, I suggest my previous post about the events of that night should be read in conjunction with this new post. My previous post focuses more on individuals involved in the events, including details of the soldier killed outright, a St Mary’s parishioner who subsequently died from his injuries, as well as information about some others who were injured but thankfully survived. It also includes theories, confirmed in this latest post, about some of the bomb damage locations. The earlier post also covers events that night in neighbouring Dewsbury. It can be found here.
Postscript: Finally a big thank you for the donations already received to keep this website going.
The website has always been free to use, but it does cost me money to operate. In the current difficult economic climate I am considering if I can continue to afford to keep running it as a free resource, especially as I have to balance the research time against work commitments.
If you have enjoyed reading the various pieces, and would like to make a donation towards keeping the website up and running in its current open access format, it would be very much appreciated.
Please click here to be taken to the PayPal donation link. By making a donation you will be helping to keep the website online and freely available for all.
Thank you.
Footnotes: 1. Auxiliary Fire Service. 2. Unexploded bomb. 3. High Explosives.
12 December 1940 had been a cold winter’s day. As darkness drew in, families across the Heavy Woollen District prepared to hunker down for their second wartime Christmas.
Money was tight – no change there for most. So no sacks full of Christmas presents for the children. Again no change for many. But people were making the best of it, continuing peacetime Christmas traditions. Like the Hartley family in Savile Town, making a Christmas cake with a neighbour that evening – a reminder of the ordinariness of preparations of past Christmases [1].
But this was far from a normal Christmas. The strangeness of separation from loved ones in this so-called season of goodwill, bundled up with anxiety for the safety of those absentees, bound lots of families together. Mrs Hill in Batley faced a difficult Christmas – her first as a young widow with four children under the age of six. Over in Dewsbury, the Callaghan family were getting ready to spend Christmas with their latest family addition, a seventh child born earlier that year. Their eldest, 15-year-old Jack, typical of many teenage lads, was caught up with the excitement of pretending to shoot German planes out of the Yorkshire skies from his open bedroom window, accompanied by his own ack-ack-ack sound effects. His Air Raid Protection (ARP) Warden father quickly dragged him away, ensuring the window was firmly shut and blacked out. Within four years Jack would be serving with the Royal Navy craft in the D-Day landings.
At around 7.30pm the blood-chilling wail of the air raid sirens sounded across the Batley and Dewsbury districts, ending that evening’s attempts to recreate the normal of Christmases past. This was their new wartime normal. The anti-aircraft guns, based in Caulms Wood and what is now hole number 2 of Hanging Heaton Golf Club, began firing.
View over Batley from Hanging Heaton going towards the golf course, site of the anti-aircraft Guns – Photo by Jane Roberts
Perhaps there was an air of calm as people made their way to various air raid shelters. After all, they’d experienced this before, and the alarms always proved thankfully false.
Various organisations had these bomb shelters – for example St Mary’s RC school’s log book notes shortly after the war declaration that air raid shelters were built. One was under construction at Batley hospital in March 1940 – I know because it cost my grandad his life. Some sheltered in the strongest part of their house – cellars, sculleries, or simply under kitchen tables.
Others had purpose-built Anderson shelters in their gardens, erected right from the early days of the war. My dad remembers his dad building one, which would’ve been in the very first months after war broke out. Many families kept theirs post-war, converted to garden storage. They were a common site for many a year after the war.
This Mortimer Street, Batley, Anderson shelter existed well into the 1980s – Photo by Pauline Hill
Communal shelters existed with wooden slatted seats inside, like the soil-covered brick built one at Staincliffe. There was also a communal shelter at Leeds Road, Dewsbury. The tunnel at the bottom of Primrose Hill, close to Lady Ann Road, was another example. Vera May recalls sheltering there as a child during the 12 December 1940 raid. Men who worked at Taylor’s mill were also there, and Vera remembers: ‘They were great with us children, singing with us so we would not be afraid’ [2]. For, unlike most nights, this was no false alarm. The Luftwaffe this time were not passing over Batley and Dewsbury on their way to/from bombing another unfortunate town or city. Tonight it was for real, the turn of the heart of the Heavy Woollen district with its rail lines and mills manufacturing cloth for the military to face Hitler’s wrath.
Following the failure of the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe were now targeting Britain’s industrial and military centres. Sheffield was the focus for Operation Crucible, with bombing during the nights of the 12 and 15 December 1940. The targets of the raids were the multiple steel and iron works, collieries, and coke ovens along the Don Valley. One theory is that the bombing of Batley and Dewsbury was a mis-targeting from this attack, rather than these two towns being the specific objectives. Whatever, the results were disastrous for many of the townsfolk.
The night sky over Batley and Dewsbury lit up with parachute flares and tracer fire, as baskets of incendiary bombs and parachute mines rained down. Houses shook, window frames rattled, glass shattered, masonry and roof slates tumbled to the ground, water spurted out from fractured taps and pipes, and plaster fell from ceilings. As the bombs hurtled earthwards they made terrifying whistling and screaming sounds. Those sheltering braced themselves for the next ‘hit’, hunched over with hands protecting heads, then after each blast ensuring all others in the shelter were still OK.
It was not a constant bombardment. In the quieter periods, when the drone of the planes died away, people emerged troglodyte-like from their places of safety to check the damage, try extinguish any lights, and bale water onto house fires. Then they darted back in at the launch of the next attack wave.
Geoffrey Whitehead, an eight-year-old Batley schoolboy, vividly recalls that terrifying night. His grandparents, Charles and Harriet Whitehead, ran the off-licence at 1 Bunkers Lane. They also lived ‘over the shop’, along with Geoffrey and his parents. When the sirens sounded, Geoffrey’s father, Austin, set off towards Mayman Lane for his voluntary Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) work. Normally the rest of the family would go to the brick-built communal shelter at the bottom of Common Road. But the planes were upon them too quickly. With bombs already raining down, there was simply not time to risk walking the short distance to Common Road. Instead the family made their way down to the beer cellar and sheltered under the table there. The cellar roof was reinforced with plaster-covered wooden planks. So great were the shock-waves from the bombs, in particular one huge blast, that white plaster flecks came away from the ceiling [3].
As time passed, the air became ever more thick with smoke and dust, flames engulfed buildings, while the stench of sulphur from the high explosive bombs weighed heavy. Throughout it all, the Civil Defence Services, stretched to the limit, worked valiantly. They were assisted by brave and alert householders who had buckets of sand and water at the ready. These AFS personnel (Austin Whitehead possibly amongst them), soldiers, police and ARP Wardens checked on sheltering householders, went into homes to extinguish fires left in grates, smothered incendiary bombs with sand, operated stirrup pumps to douse flames, entered burning buildings to ensure no-one was inside, retrieved valuables and carried furniture from homes impossible to save. Delayed action fuse bombs and unexploded devices posed further threats to the rescuers. Yet they carried on regardless in the face of unimaginable danger.
Numerous incidents were reported across Batley. Joe Shepley, a fruiterer and ARP Warden, and David Woodcock were injured by flying splinters. One housewife caught an incendiary bomb in a bucket of water as it ripped through her ceiling – fortunately little damage was done. The home of Albert Stevenson and his bride of three weeks, Edith (née Thewlis), had a similarly lucky escape when soldiers quickly extinguished an incendiary bomb which landed in their bedroom. Private Rutter risked his life by entering a blazing building in which he thought someone was trapped. Luckily no-one was inside, but the soldier had the presence of mind to bring out furniture. Soldiers saved a laundry from flames, as well as the Well Lane mineral water works, despite knowing there was an unexploded bomb near the latter.
In the same area of Well Lane, Superintendent Horace Horne, an ambulance driver, had been instructing a class of ambulance cadets when the first bombs fell. They assisted in the operations to save the St John Ambulance headquarters and a storage building opposite, removing to safety the ambulances and most of the first aid stores.
Others reported the AFS and ARP personnel ‘carrying an adult invalid from a dilapidated house’ and ‘searching beneath a mass of overhanging slates and splintered rafters for someone who might be trapped in debris’ [4].
A cinema was hit, but again escaped relatively unscathed. Bombs landed in fields – I wonder if this was the one which my dad remembers landing in Carter’s field? My uncle can also remember a massive depression at the bottom of Healey Lane which he believed was a result of bomb damage. Was it from this raid?
And the major blast which shook the cellar in which Geoffrey Whitehead sheltered, was the result of a huge bomb which landed in fields near what is now Manor Way. He visited the crater site the following day and recalls the hole being so huge you could fit a double decker bus in it. He also remembers collecting shrapnel from it, now long since lost [5].
The Purlwell area of Batley was particularly badly affected. St Andrew’s church was the first in the Wakefield Diocese to be damaged by air raids. In the immediate aftermath repair costs were put at £1,000. The £400 East Window was pitted with splinters. One wall was so unsafe, with the organ visible through a gaping crack in the masonry, that rebuilding was thought necessary. The only door not blown out was the stout, oak entrance door.
St Andrew’s Church, Purlwell, Batley – Photo by Jane Roberts
Houses round and about the church suffered significant bomb and blast damage. It was in this locality that Batley’s first air-raid fatality lost his life. Private Herbert Courtney Channon of the Royal Army Service Corps was in Purlwell Hall Road when he was struck in the neck by shrapnel and killed instantly. Some say he was decapitated. His friends, standing either side of him, had lucky escapes being flung to the ground by the blast. Private Channon’s body was returned to his family for burial in Chard, Somerset later that month [6].
Even with the departure of the German raiders in the early hours of the 13 December, the danger did not pass. As the all-clear rang out at around 1am, amidst air thick with smoke and fumes, the rubble of smouldering buildings, the danger of unstable masonry and the risk posed by unexploded and delayed action bombs, the civil defence volunteers and demolition squads continued to work. The presence of ‘live’ devices meant the temporary evacuation of many houses, swelling the ranks of those bombed out of their homes.
Around 400 Batley residents slept that night in a school refuge centre. They were given meals in two Sunday schools. Most of the displaced were thankfully able to return to their homes by the following nightfall. One Batley man whose house suffered bomb appreciatively stated:
Kindly folk spontaneously brought food for us, invited us to their houses for meals. Tradesman offered us anything we needed, and young ladies served hot tea to us during the salvage. [7]
According to the official statistics compiled from Intelligence Reports into enemy activity on British domestic soil, that night Batley suffered five casualties comprising one killed and four injured. In fact two people in the town died as a result of the German raid. In addition to soldier Herbert Courtney Channon, local mill hand Percy Ingham also lost his life.
Percy was born in Birstall on 24 April 1894, the son of Harry and Sarah Ann Ingham. He married Annie Phillips on 7 February 1920 at St Mary of the Angels RC Church in Batley.
St Mary of the Angels, Batley – Photo by Jane Roberts
On the night of the raid, Percy sustained injuries at his home at 61 Purlwell Hall Road, the same street where Private Channon was cut down. Percy was taken to Staincliffe hospital where, despite all efforts, he died on 16 December 1940. Part of the old hospital buildings (previously Dewsbury Union Workhouse and the workhouse infirmary, as well as a military hospital in the First World War) exist today.
Staincliffe Hospital, now known as Dewsbury District Hospital and part of the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust – Photo by Jane Roberts
Percy’s funeral, conducted by Catholic priest John J Burns, took place on 20 December 1940. He is interred in Batley cemetery and his resting place is marked with a headstone. He is also commemorated in the roll of Wold War Two civilian dead held at Westminster Abbey, and on the Commonwealth War Grave’s Commission (CWGC) database.
Batley Cemetery, Headstone of Percy Ingham – Photo by Jane Roberts
Neighbouring Dewsbury also suffered in the 12 December raid, with five people losing their lives.
Brenda Hartley, her mother Hilda and neighbour Nellie Naylor, abandoned their Christmas cake baking at 13 North View, Savile Town. Initially they went into their cellar, but as Nellie’s husband, Harry, was due home they made a hair-raising dash to the cellar in the Naylor house next door but one. It was a decision which saved their lives. Harry arrived 15 minutes later. Shortly afterwards a bomb landed on the house they had vacated only a short time ago.
Initially unconscious, the group soon came round to find they were now buried alive. Their terrifying ordeal lasted several hours. Brenda’s mother sustained severe injuries, unable to move under the debris. There was a fear at one point that Hilda would drown, when water used to put out the fires above seeped steadily into the cellar. Harry, thankfully, managed to alert the firemen before it was too late. Rescuers eventually managed to dig a hole the size of an oven door into the cellar, through which a plank was inserted. Then, one by one, those entombed were pulled out to safety. However, the family at 14 North View were not so lucky as Brenda’s father, Dennis, soon learned.
Dennis cycled home immediately after hearing about the Savile Town bombing. He had been working the night shift at Newsome’s mill in Batley Carr. He did not know if his wife and daughter had survived. When he finally got through the cordon protecting devastated North View from the general public, he had a heart-stopping moment when:
…the A.R.P. Men told him they had just found two bodies. They had walked over them thinking they were pillows, but they turned out to be Mrs Scott and her daughter Enid who lived next door to us. Mr Scott was working at his shop, he was a cobbler in Thornhill Lees… [8]
Mary Ann Scott (née Platts) was originally from Carlinghow, Batley. Born in 1879 [9], her 61st birthday was only days away. She married boot and shoe repairer Harry Scott at Carlinghow St John’s on 16 April 1906 [10]. Before her marriage she worked as a weaver at Carlinghow mills (at that stage owned by Brooke Wilford & Co.,) and was a prominent member of the Carlinghow church, teaching in its Sunday school. After her marriage the family settled at 14 North View, and this was their home when Enid, their only child, was born on 7 August 1908. Enid attended Savile Town St Mary’s School, and Wheelwright Girls’ Grammar School. Her working life was spent in office and company secretary roles in Ossett. She also was a volunteer at the Dewsbury ARP Report Centre.
Harry was working at his boot repairing business at Brewery Lane, Thornhill Lees, when the attack occurred. That saved his life. On Tuesday 17 December, after a double funeral service at Carlinghow St John’s, it was Harry’s sad duty to walk behind the coffins of his wife and daughter as they were carried to Batley cemetery for interment. No headstone marks their final resting place. But, like Percy Ingham, their names live on in the Westminster Abbey roll of honour and on the CWGC database.
That day marked three more burials – this time all in Dewsbury cemetery. All three men were members of the Dewsbury Home Guard and were employed in Messrs. Crawshaw and Warburton’s Shaw Cross Colliery. The men were in the colliery offices at the former Ridings colliery on Wakefield Road [11], which was wrecked by a parachute mine. A row of terrace houses on Wakefield Road (Sunny Bank, numbers 72 to 82) were also destroyed in the attack. Fortunately the residents there had taken to the communal shelter and all survived. But the Home Guard men were not so fortunate.
Extract of Six-inch OS Map: Yorkshire CCXLVII.NE; Revised 1938; Published 1948. Shows Dewsbury and location of bombed Crawshaw and Warburton Colliery Offices and North View, Savile Town
Section Leader Sidney Burridge, of 351 Victoria Terrace, Leeds Road, Dewsbury, was a 46-year-old married man. Employed as a colliery deputy at Shaw Cross colliery, it was the same type of job undertaken by his father. Born on 5 July 1894, the son of James Hartley Burridge and wife Jane Elizabeth, he was baptised at St Philip’s church, Dewsbury [12]. It started his lifelong association with the church. It was here, on 8 September 1914, that he married Sophia Squires [13]. And it was the vicar at St Philip’s who conducted his funeral service, with a Union Jack-draped coffin and a Home Guard escort signifying his Local Defence Volunteer role. Outside work, Sidney was a member of Eastborough Working Men’s Club and Dewsbury Rugby League Football Club, both associations represented at his funeral. He left a widow and two children.
The Headstone of Sidney Burridge, Dewsbury Cemetery – Photo by Jane Roberts
Section Commander Ernest Lodge was another of the Home Guard fatalities. He sold house coals and briquettes for Messrs. Crawshaw and Warbuton. Born on 15 November 1893, he was the son of weaver Harry Lodge of Lepton and his wife Elizabeth [14]. Ernest’s mother died around three years later, and on 29 September 1900 Harry re-married at Dewsbury, St Mark’s [15]. His new wife was Sarah Elizabeth Oddy.
Ernest married widow Alice Wilson (formerly Chatwood) at Moorlands Wesleyan Chapel, Dewsbury on 20 July 1929 [16]. The couple both sang with their choir and, at the time of Ernest’s death, lived at 12, Thirlmere Road, Dewsbury.
He too was accorded a funeral with the honour of a Union Jack-covered coffin. Members of the Home Guard lined the path to his grave, which Dewsbury cemetery staff had bordered with evergreen.
The Headstone of Ernest Lodge, Dewsbury Cemetery – Photo by Jane Roberts
Section Commander Wilfred King was the third Home Guard casualty that night. Born on 31 May 1905 at Commonside, Hanging Heaton, he was the son of George and Martha Ann King. A coal hewer at the Shaw Cross pit, he lived with his parents at 457, Leeds Road, Dewsbury.
In a particularly cruel twist of fate, his 28-year-old bride-to-be Mary Glover, of Thornton Street, instead of preparing for her wedding scheduled for later that week, now found herself attending her fiancé’s funeral. She addressed her floral tribute ‘from his broken-hearted and sorrowing sweetheart’. Wilfred’s funeral service was held at the Boothroyd Lane Providence Independent, prior to interment at Dewsbury Cemetery.
The Headstone of Wilfred King, Dewsbury Cemetery – Photo by Jane Roberts
But that did not mark the extent of local deaths in the bombing raid of the night of 12/13 December 1940. As I mentioned at the outset, the main focus of the bombing that night was the city of Sheffield with its vital steel and iron works. Arthur Brewer, a long-time resident of Ravensthorpe, was in Sheffield that night.
Arthur was born in Birstall on 30 July 1907. The son of Earl and Mary Brewer, he was baptised at the Mount Zion Chapel at White Lee on 1 September 1907 [17]. Some time after 1911 the family moved to Ravensthorpe, and after leaving school Arthur began a career as a musician, specialising in the drums.
He played regularly at the Town Hall in Mirfield and Dewsbury’s Majestic cinema. He then joined the renowned Paul Zaharoff in London, famed for his international band. Subsequently Arthur went on tour playing in numerous city hotels, including a 16-week stint in Jersey.
In 1935 Arthur married Mary Goddard. For the 18 months prior to his death Arthur was based in Sheffield playing with a band in hotels across the city. In down-times he supplemented his income with lorry driving. Initially Mary stayed with him: she is registered there in the 1939 register. But later she moved to the comparative safety of Dewsbury, and was living with her in-laws at Thornhill Street, in Savile Town. Also with her was her and Arthur’s two children, the youngest only three month’s old at the time of raid. Perhaps it was the birth of the baby which prompted the move.
It is a cruel irony that both Savile Town and Sheffield were simultaneously under a Luftwaffe siege: The security of both Mary and Arthur was at stake that December night.
At about 11.20pm Arthur was in the Marples Hotel in Sheffield with fellow-band member Donovan Russell. The seven-storey Marples Hotel and pub on Fitzalan Square had operated under several names since the 1870’s, initially starting out as the Wine and Spirit Commercial Hotel, and latterly the London Mart. But it was still known as The Marples. And it’s name was to be forever etched in history for the events of that night.
At 11.44pm, as over 70 people sheltered in its cellar, it took a direct hit from a 500lb German bomb. Arthur was believed to be amongst those sheltering. Donovan Russell had a lucky escape – he left Arthur there just 20 minutes before the bomb struck. The entire building collapsed.
It was not until 10am the following day that rescue attempts began, initial assessments being survival was impossible. Amazingly seven people were rescued. But that was all. It is estimated around seventy people died in the building, the biggest single loss of life during the Sheffield Blitz. Arthur was amongst that number. If there was any consolation, death was believed to be instantaneous.
Over the following weeks the site was cleared. 64 bodies were eventually recovered, and partial remains of a further six or seven people. Only 14 were visually identified. Personnal belongings were used in the process of formal identification for most of the others.
As of mid-January the only item belonging to Arthur which Mary recovered were the lenses of his glasses. When probate was granted on 12 March 1942, the entry confirmed identification of his body at the hotel. The entry read:
BREWER Arthur of 34 Thornhill-street Savile Town Dewsbury Yorkshire who is believed to have been killed through war operations on 12 December 1940 and whose dead body was found at Marples Hotel Fitzalan-square Sheffield Administration Wakefield 12 March to March Brewer widow. Effects £161 5s [18]
I’ve planned this local history tale for some time. I wanted to publish it to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Unfortunately, because of the current battle the world faces against the invisible coronavirus enemy, my research was prematurely curtailed. However, I wanted to go ahead with publication as a tribute to our ancestors of 80 years ago. Once some kind of research normality resumes I hope to update this post.
Finally, the Bombing Britain website, which draws together intelligence reports of enemy action on British domestic soil, records only this one direct air raid on Dewsbury. Batley had two recorded air raids. The evening of 12 December into the early hours of 13 December, and one on the night of 15/16 December 1940. This latter raid had no recorded casualties. If anyone does have any memories of these events, or life on the Home Front in Batley and Dewsbury generally, please do contact me.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION It appears the Bombing Britain site covering enemy action over British soil may under-report the bombs which landed over the Batley and Dewsbury area. West Yorkshire Archives produced an ARP Bomb Map for the night of 14/15 March 1941. It can be found at here and includes an unexploded bomb almost opposite what is now Healey Community Centre.
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Notes: [1] WW2 People’s War archive of wartime memories, bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar, Brenda Hartley, now Haley, Reference A2843750; [2] Vera May – Batley History Group Facebook Page, Jane Roberts post 19 April 2020; [3] Geoffrey Whitehead, retired Batley Boy’s High School deputy headmaster, in conversation with Jane Roberts dated 27 April 2020; [4] Batley News, 21 December 1940; [5] Geoffrey Whitehead, Ibid; [6] Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 27 December 1940; [7] Batley News, 21 December 1940; [8] WW2 People’s War archive of wartime memories, bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar, Brenda Hartley, now Haley, Reference A2843750; [9] Birstall St Peter’s baptism register, born on 23 December 1879 and baptised on 25 January 1880, accessed via Ancestry.co.uk West Yorkshire Church of England births and baptisms 1813-1910, original record at West Yorkshire Archive Services, Reference WDP5/1/2/9; [10] Carlinghow St John’s marriage register, accessed via Ancestry.co.uk West Yorkshire Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935, original record at West Yorkshire Archive Services, Reference WDP132/1/2/2; [11] England & Wales National Probate Calendar, Sidney Burridge, Probate Date 27 November 1941 gives the place of death. Accessed via Ancestry.co.uk; [12] St Philip’s, Dewsbury, baptism register, accessed via Ancestry.co.uk West Yorkshire Church of England births and baptisms 1813-1910, original record at West Yorkshire Archive Services, Reference WDP9/439; [13] St Philip’s, Dewsbury, marriage register, accessed via Ancestry.co.uk West Yorkshire Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935, original record at West Yorkshire Archive Services, Reference WDP9/443; [14] Baptism of Earnest [sic] Lodge, Huddersfield Northumberland Street Methodist Circuit, accessed via Ancestry.co.uk West Yorkshire, Non-Conformist Records, 1646-1985, original record at West Yorkshire Archives Service, Reference KC295/3; [15] St Mark’s, Dewsbury, marriage register, accessed via Ancestry.co.uk West Yorkshire Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935, original record at West Yorkshire Archive Services, Reference WDP228/1/2/2; [16] Marriage register of Moorlands Wesleyan Chapel, Boothroyd Lane, Dewsbury, accessed via Ancestry.co.uk West Yorkshire, Non-Conformist Records, 1646-1985, original record at West Yorkshire Archives Service, Reference C111/207; [17] Mount Zion, White Lee, Baptism register, accessed via Ancestry.co.uk West Yorkshire, Non-Conformist Records, 1646-1985, original record at West Yorkshire Archives Service, Reference C10/15/1/1/1; [18] England & Wales National Probate Calendar, Arthur Brewer, Probate Date 12 March 1942; Accessed via Ancestry.co.uk
Sources: • 1939 Register, accessed via Findmypast and Ancestry.co.uk; • Batley Cemetery Burial Records; • Batley News, 14 and 21 December 1940 and 18 January 1941; • BBC WW2 People’s War, bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar ; • Bombing Britain website, TNA file series HO203, intelligence reports of enemy action on British domestic soil http://www.warstateandsociety.com/Bombing-Britain ; • Chariots of Wrath, Sam Whitworth, published 2016; • Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, https://www.cwgc.org/ ; • England and Wales Censuses 1881-1911 (various); • Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 27 December 1940; • Farnham Maltings website, The Marples Tragedy (Sheffield Blitzm 1940), https://farnhammaltings.com/newsmarples-tragedy/ ; • Hanging Heaton Golf Club website, https://www.hhgc.org/about-hhgc/ • National Probate Calendar, Herbert Courtney Channon, Sidney Burridge, Arthur Brewer, Enid Scott, Ernest Lodge; • OS Map is reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland under a Creative Commons licence. https://maps.nls.uk/index.html • Parish Registers – various; • Sheffield History website, The Marples, https://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/topic/98-the-marples/ ; • The Chris Hobbs website, Marples Hotel, https://www.chrishobbs.com/marples1940.htm ; • The History of Batley 1800 – 1974, Malcolm H Haigh, published 1985; • Sheffield Libraries blogspot, Sheffield Blitz: lost eyewitness account from Marples Hotel survivor comes to light in archives, http://shefflibraries.blogspot.com/2017/07/sheffield-blitz-lost-eyewitness-account.html ; • Western Times, 27 December 1940; • WW2 People’s War archive of wartime memories, bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar, Brenda Hartley, now Haley, Reference A2843750; Edward Lomax (Dewsbury), Reference A2875782; Ronald Tolson Schofield (Dewsbury), Reference A2843886; and Derrick Sharp (Batley), Reference A2339291;
UPDATE: This has generated many memories and comments. There are the fantastic ones which have been posted in the WordPress comments section for this post below. In addition there have been lots posted elsewhere on social media and I have gathered them together here. • Brian Howgate on Facebook page Batley Photos Old and New wrote: My grandparents lived exactly opposite St Andrews Church in purlwell Hall Road. There house got serverly damaged when the bomb dropped on the church. • On the same site Lesley Dyer wrote: My grandfather not only worked during the day but was also did his bit as a warden who had to go out and watch out for any incendries dropping which started fires and had to put them out before the German bomber’s came over, it went on for weeks, until one night another warden had told my grandfather that St. Andrews had been hit taking its roof, as a man stood in a shop doorway and the blast/shock wave blew him back into the shop, luckily he survived, the church roof & windows had gone altogether, along with homes in the area had also been damaged too. • Also on that page Kevin Mcguire wrote: Our next door neighbour had a[n] Anderson shelter which he kept all his gardening gear they did not look that safe to me as a kid there were air aid shelters every where great for exploring and playing Japs and commanders with wooden guns. • Again on the Batley Photos site Joan Chappell recalled: As a child I went to St. Andrews church. We were told that the reason it had chairs and not pews like most other churches was because it was bombed during the war. • Also on Batley Photos Jack Dane wrote: ….when we lived on Purwell Crescent I have always had this memory of my mother leaving me outside our gate crying because it was pitch black she ran back into the house to fetch something she had forgotten when we were on our way to our neighbours air raid shelter, the date of the bombing puts me at 3 year old which seems about right if it was that particular night. • On the Shoddy Matters Facebook Page Christine Lawton wrote: My husband is named after Wilfred king he was a friend of there family. • On the same page Ian Sewell said: I remember the bunkers up Caulms Wood with the huge stones. • Also on Shoddy Matters David Wilby wrote: ….growing up [I] remember seeing where the bomb had dropped, up by the farm on Staincliffe hall road, near the top of Deighton Lane. • And in another Shoddy Matters post Chrissie Chapman wrote: I have lived up Carters fields all my life and was told that the house I own had the gable wall blown down due to a bomb from the war. The wall was rebuilt and I now think, after reading this, it must have been from the bombs that fell on Carters Field . We often played, as children, in the air raid shelter that was on waste land next to the Parochial Hall. • Linked to Chrissie’s post, on Dewsbury Pictures Old and New Facebook page David Riley said: My aunt Dorie’s gable end was blown up by the bomb in Carters Field had to move into my mum and dads in Northbank Rd near Mullins farm. David also said they lived in the last block of four [houses] facing Healey, Northbank fields by the top of the football pitch. Looking at the 1939 Register, the address for Doris Boden was 173 North Bank Road, Batley. • Also on the Dewsbury page John Riley wrote: My auntie who lived down Robin Lane, used to find large lumps of shrapnel in the garden which she said came off the exploding AA shells fired from Caulms Wood. • On Twitter Ghulam Nabi wrote: I attended Birkdale High School in 1974 and top half which was formerly the Girls Grammar school had air raid shelters all around the grounds.. Some of the lads found them and used to skip lessons by hiding in there. As an aside, the Girls Grammar School was Wheelwright, the former school of one of the air raid victims, Enid Scott.