Norland Moor

In 1903 the Halifax Evening Courier was rather dismissive about a plan to create a recreation ground on part of Norland Moor. In an article  entitled "Norland's Want" it stated: "It comes as somewhat of a shock to learn that Norland wants a recreation ground, for Norland is generally regarded as one extensive recreation ground. It seems, however, that the residents on that breezy hilltop desire to enclose a portion of the moor for recreation purposes in commemoration of the Coronation (Ed.of Edward VII). The Norland authorities want the land 'on the cheap' and they asked the Rural District Council to assist them in obtaining it. Lord Savile will not give the land, and the Parish Council will not buy it or rent it, so that the proposal does not seem hopeful."  (HXEC 12/02/1903)

The minutes of the Parish Council at that time say that they were asking for 26 acres of the moor, and mention two possible areas: the "dog track" in the centre or an area between Heath Hall and "Waterworks Road". It doesn't refer to the present rec, which at that time was three seperate fields, not belonging  to Lord Savile. Where the "dog track" was is anybody's guess, but I think that "Waterworks Road" could be the path along the stream  from the stepping stones at the Eastern end of the moor, which led to two small reservoirs.

In April 1932 Lord Savile, who lived at Rufford Abbey in Nottinghamshire, but who was a large landowner across the north of England, died at the age of 77.  Subsequently large sections of the Savile Estate (including 235 acres of Norland Moor) were offered for sale at auction, as the Savile family owed the Inland Revenue money for death duties. At a sale in Elland on Tuesday  6th September 1932 various lots went under the hammer. The photo shows the title section of the map which accompanied the sale catalogue. Norland Moor was purchased for the sum of £250 (=approx. £17,500 in 2021) on behalf of Norland Parish Council. The funds had very generously been put up by Cllr. Francis Longbottom, of Pickwood House. 

A month later, on Thursday 6th October,  a "well-attended" meeting of ratepayers was held in the school, to decide the way forward.   

"St Luke's School presented a peculiar sight, with brawny labourers looking extremely uncomfortable, seated in desks obviously made for very tiny tots. A good number stood up at the back of the room near the door, however, and they seemed to enjoy the proceedings much more." (HX DC&G 7/10/1932)

After some discussion, the meeting resolved to open a public subscription fund to enable the Parish Council to take over ownership of the moor. The target was £260 (£250 plus £10  in legal fees) with any surplus being used to improve footpaths etc. An appeal was launched and a "Norland Moor Account" was opened at Lloyds Bank in Sowerby Bridge.

In Norland village, a door-to-door collection was made. "The people of Norland itself are doing their part. They have a great affection for the moor, which lies in close proximity to their village homes, and are happy to think that shortly, the land that has been their playground for many generations will soon belong absolutely to the community. The collectors who are going round the village soliciting subscriptions are being well received, and many who are prevented by age or infirmity from traversing the Moor, have given of their small means, no doubt with recollections of pleasures gone before lingering in their memories." (HXEC 24/10/1932)

The Halifax newspapers were also very influential in soliciting donations from further afield:-

"It is felt, however, that the raising of the money cannot be left entirely to Norland people, whose numbers are few. People from all parts of this district enjoy the amenities of the moor and it is hoped that residents of Halifax, Greetland, Elland and Sowerby Bridge, and other places, will feel that there is a definite obligation upon them to help in the matter" (HXEC 22/10/1932)

The response to the appeal was regularly reported in the local press, with every donation recorded.

The map which accompanied the sale shows the moorland area included in the sale shaded in green. This small section near the crossroads also shows that the property adjacent to the memorial park and pinfold (shaded in red and numbered 45) was part of the sale. Does anybody have any information about who bought it and what it fetched? Although it had been created at least 7 years earlier, the memorial park isn't marked as such on the map. The rec still has the boundary walls shown, dividing it into three fields, with the topmost field shown as the cricket ground. Moorland House and Cottage were not part of the sale.

Thank you

On  4th November 1932 the Halifax Evening Courier published a grateful letter of thanks from Kelsall Broadley of Heath Hall, who was the Chairman of Norland Parish Council. In it he thanked the local press, and all the individuals and organisations that had contributed to the appeal. 

"There has been an amazing display of public interest and supprt - all the more wonderful because of the difficulties of the present time (the UK was in deep depression following the crash three years earlier in1929). The appeal was originally for the purchase money - the excess over that will make it possible to render the moor and its paths more accessible, safer and more attractive. There are over four miles of footpaths on the moor, so it will be seen that the opportunities for improvement are not restricted. The Parish Council has, because of its limited resources, to be sparing and thrifty in its adventures: it will, I am sure, spend the money entrusted to it as productively as possible. The whole of the amount received will be expended in connection with the moor and upon no other purpose. In a few days the Parish Council will have a right and a duty to protect and preserve the moor for the public. They hope that they may have the same generous help from the public in their new task as has been given to them financially in response to the appeal. If this be obtained, the permanent usefulness of the effort is assured."

The enthusiasm of the public to contribute towards the purchase of the moor also brought with it many ideas on what should be done with it. On 31st October 1932, the Halifax Evening Courier published a lengthy article entitled "Norland Moor for the Public - Collecting Ideas as Well as Money." The rather surprising sub-title was "A Future Air Port?"  It was written by "a Norland Correspondent" who unfortunately remained anonymous. He (or she) recounted their experiences of not just collecting money for the fund, but also many suggestions from the donors.

"Collecting for the fund on a dark wet night in places where street lamps are non-existent would soon become unattractive were it not for the kindly welcome everywhere received by the collectors and the absence of any opposition to the scheme. In this task there is a collection of ideas as well as money. 

The advice most frequently tendered relates to the removal of refuse and objectionable litter which disfigure certain parts of the moor. 

     "Yo' wants to get shut o' yond old salmon tins and rubbish that folk has put up and daan t'edge o' moor," says a tidy housewife. Elderly people would like some of the more frequented footpaths to be made smoother and, where needed, drier. But we are warned about overdoing the improvement - the wild beauty is to be preserved.

A number of donors urge the desirability of planting trees. If carried out under expert guidance, the beauty of the Moor could be greatly enhanced and sheltered sun-pockets could be provided.

It is generally assumed that at least two small portions of the Moor will be set aside as playing fields for the children.

In these mechanical days it is refreshing to meet a real horse lover who knows what a spoilsport the hard highroad is to the saddle-horse and his rider. He would like a soft track at the back of the Moor for a mile or so. It would attract riders, and provide a fine spectacle for pedestrians.

One who frequents the Moor pointed out that the most accessible of the disused quarries would afford an ideal place for an open-air meeting or -out-of-doors entertainment. It is a ready made amphitheatre. Something of this kind has been utilised at the House of  Resurrection at Mirfield.

The real modernist is with us too. He is the obsessed (sic) with natural beauty or old associations. The top of the Moor (that is the long smooth stretch) is, as he says, "a future airport". With little expense, he suggests, there is an aerodrome over a mile long. When a motor road has been made up the back of the Moor, the journey to Halifax or Huddersfield by car would only be about a quarter of an hour!

     "What ivver else you do - doon't mess up t'op of t'Moor" says this modernist. "Yo laugh at me, but it's nobbut just over 40 years since t'first motor-car driven by an internal combustion engine ran in a German town, and less than 30 years since Bleriot flew the Channel. I think some of the childer alive today may see big air-liners leeting on t'top of t'Moor like gurt peewits."

(HXEC 31 October 1932)