Idle
| Idle | |
| Yorkshire West Riding | |
|---|---|
 Highfield Road, Idle | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SE178383 |
| Location: | 53°50’24"N, 1°43’48"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Bradford |
| Postcode: | BD10 |
| Dialling code: | 01274 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Bradford |
Idle is a residential suburban area in the townscape growing from Bradford, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It was historically a separate village.
The name ‘Idle’ is thought to be from the Old English Idan hlæw meaning ‘Ide's Hill’, after an ancient settler here in Anglo-Saxon days.
History
The Manor of Idle contained the villages of Idle and Windhill and hamlets of Thackley, Thorpe-Green, Parkhill, Cross-Keys, Buckmill, and Wrose. It was bounded by the River Aire in the north and in the east Pighill Beck (now named Haigh Beck) up to Blakehill Tongue and across westwards down a small beck to Bradford Beck.[1][2]
Church history
Idle was once part of the parish of Calverley but in 1584 a chapel of ease was built on Town Lane and later in 1630 rebuilt on the same site.[2][3] The building is now known as Old Chapel.
A school was added to the western end of Old Chapel and later in 1836 was rebuilt as Round Steps School.[2] The school building also contained a lockup and the town's offices, and was also used by the Mechanics Institute. It was demolished in the late 19th century.
In 1914 there was a move to demolish Old Chapel to widen the road to improve access however there was a successful campaign to oppose this and preserve the Old Chapel.[2]
In 1717 Upper Chapel was built on Westfield Road by dissenters, rebuilt in 1790 and rebuilt again in 1850. This was demolished in 1953 and rebuilt again[2] becoming the United Reformed Church in 1972.
The Primitive Methodist Church was established on Town Lane in 1861. Later the property was used by the Idle branch of the YMCA but was demolished later and housing built on the site.[2]
Thorpe Methodist Chapel was built in 1814 and a new chapel built in 1871 then demolished in 1981 and a modern chapel built on the site.[2]
Holy Trinity Church was built off Town Lane in 1830 and later the graveyard was extended into land between the church and The Grange previously occupied by Church Farm.[2]
In 1858 the Unitarian Church was built on Highfield Road but was later demolished.[3] St John's Church was built on Cavendish Road but this has now been demolished.[2] The Idle Baptist Chapel was built on Bradford Road in 1810[2] and the Idle Baptist Church was built in 1875 but was demolished in 1983.[2]
The Salvation Army came to Idle in 1884 and took up residence in the Old Green Mill in Idle Green. In 1890 the foundations were laid for the present Idle Citadel Salvation Army Worship Hall on Walter Street: the builders were Messrs Obank & sons of Thackley.
Industrial and transport history
Idle's early local industry was based on coal measures and quarrying. Stone was exported using the canal and later on the railway.[2]
Mills in the Idle area include Old Green Mill, Butt Lane Cotton Mill, Union Mills, Simpson Green Mill or Castle Mill, New Mill and Albion Mill.[2]
Watmough's printers was founded in 1888 and had premises on High Street. The business closed and the buildings demolished to make way for housing.[2]
Jowett Cars Ltd had a car factory in Bradford Road, Idle until 1954.[4] Jowett then sold the factory to International Harvester who made tractors at the site until the early 1980s.[4][5] The factory was demolished after International Harvester closed it, and the site is now occupied by Enterprise 5, a retail complex.
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Culture and events
Musical groups in the area include the Idle and Thackley Operatic Society[6] and the Idle Bell Ringers.
The Idle Beer Festival is held at the Hepworth and Idle Cricket Club.[7] Stage 84 school of performing arts and ND Dance academy.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Idle) |
References
- ↑ "History of Idle, in Bradford and Yorkshire". A Vision of Britain Throughout Time. 2009. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/place_page.jsp?p_id=1228.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 White, Eileen (1992). Idle - An Industrial Village. Idle and Thackley Heritage Group. ISBN 0-95-20499-02.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 White, Eileen (1997). Idle Stones. Idle and Thackley Heritage Group.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Philpott, Colin. "Jowett Car Factory Bradford". On: Yorkshire Magazine. http://www.on-magazine.co.uk/yorkshire/yorkshire-history/jowetts-car-factory-bradford/.
- ↑ "Idle Bradford Aerial View Of Jowetts Cars Early 1950s". That 60s and 70s Blog. 3 July 2010. http://that60sand70s.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/idle-bradford-aerial-view-of-jowetts.html.
- ↑ "Idle & Thackley Operatic Society". enQuira. 2012. http://bradford.enquira.co.uk/sports-recreation/clubs-associations/idle-thackley-operatic-society-l2824.html.
- ↑ UTV Media (GB) (2012). "Today's Best Mix". The Pulse. http://www.pulse.co.uk/.