Nobbut Norland

Nobbut Norland  was the booklet published by The Norland Local History Group in July 2011, with the financial backing of the Norland Scarecrows Committee. It was an edition of 500 copies which sold out in the first year and it has never been reprinted. I hope that by making it available here on the website, more people will be able to read what was produced at that time.

A Compilation of Norlandia by the Norland Local History Group

At our first meeting on an extremely cold and snowy evening in January 2010, one of the first pieces about Norland to be read out was the following comment made by Rev John Watson in 1775 in his History of the Parish of Halifax:

“Norland: there has no Gentleman’s family settled in this township, so that the topographical account of it will be very short.”

Undaunted by the lack of gentry in our midst, we resolved to press on with the idea of researching Norland’s history and publishing what we could in some form. The result is in your hands. We hope it makes for interesting reading and offers an insight into some aspects of past times in this beautiful Calderdale village.

What we have compiled is not intended to be an academic study. We are enthusiastic amateurs, not professional historians. Neither have we tried to be comprehensive and cover everything. The superb vernacular architecture of the 17th century houses, Norland’s crowning glory, is mentioned only in passing. These houses have been very well documented by more learned researchers such as H P Kendal (Halifax Antiquarian Transactions) and Colum Giles (Rural Houses of West Yorkshire). What has been put together is a result of the personal interest of members of the group. The constraint of trying to produce a booklet to be available in time for the Scarecrow Festival has meant that some things have not been included. In many ways we have just scratched the surface and have left the door open for “Nobbut Norland More”! 

We have tried to be as accurate as possible in our articles and if any inadvertent breach of copyright has occurred, we apologise in advance. We would welcome suggestions for corrections, plus any information, photographs, postcards, newspaper cuttings etc that might be useful in future research. 

Any profit from the sale of this booklet goes to the Scarecrow Festival Committee for community projects.

Thanks go to many people: 

Andy Garbett & the Scarecrow Festival Committee for their financial backing and support.

Norland Working Men’s Club for providing a venue for our meetings.

Jenny & John Longbottom for their knowledge, enthusiasm and extensive collection of Norlandia which has formed the basis of several previous exhibitions.

Anne Kirker for allowing us to “borrow” the title “Nobbut Norland” from her Calderdale Heritage Walk around the village (www.calderdaleheritagewalks.org.uk) (email CdaleHeritageWks@aol.com).

Samantha Dawson, head of Norland C of E School, for allowing access to the school log books.

And last but certainly not least, the numerous people who have come to our meetings and/or provided photos, cuttings, information and memories.

Dick & Carla Spendlove  (Group co-ordinators) July 2011

Pickwood Scar, Norland