My mum, Teresa Hayes, walking towards the Cow and Calf - Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire
My mother and I have been talking about going on a heritage trip to Yorkshire since I was a teenager. My Grandpa Eric Swire Bates researched our family tree across many decades of the 20th Century. The Bates/Swire family tree dates back to the 1400's. Grandpa visited Yorkshire on a number of occasions during his life. His youngest son Andrew Swire (Uncle Andy), Andy's son Zack Swire, and my Uncle Jeremy Bates have all played their part with research as well.
Over the last ten years I have catalogued my Grandpa's memoirs and letters, along with the family history information that Uncle Andy loaned me. I am a big history fan, and especially love finding things out about my ancestors.
So, when my step-dad Bev, moved to a village outside of Huddersfield earlier this year, my mum and I were raring to visit him. Bev lived in Cornwall for 30 years and has moved back to the north of England to be near his children and grand-children. Combining our family history trip with a visit to see Bev was lovely, as I hadn't seen him for the past couple of years.
Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire
Mum and I set off super early from Bristol on the train. Bev collected us from Huddersfield station and took us to have lunch by the Cow and Calf on Ilkley Moor. As well as the name of the pub where we had lunch, the Cow and Calf is the outcrop of rocks on the moor. The 'Cow' is the large rock and the 'Calf' is the smaller one.
People have been carving their names into the rocks for hundreds of years. It was so inspiring walking around up there, looking down onto the town of Ilkley below.
Breathing in the fresh breeze up on the rocks was invigorating and refreshing. A change of scenery was the perfect thing, just what I needed. Looking out onto the beautiful countryside and vast moorland was really uplifting.
Mum and Bev looking across the moorland
Bev standing on the edge of the rocks, which worried me quite a lot! (1,319 ft above sea level)
The colour of the heather on the moor was so deep and rich, I felt like diving in.
I loved seeing Yorkshire dry stone walls. They are to Yorkshire, as high hedges are to Cornwall.
Ilkley Manor House
After our walk on the moor, we had a lovely time wandering about the small town of Ilkley. In my mind, I thought that Ilkley would be a village, so it was a pleasant surprise to walk around such a well kept town. It was fairly quiet and had a good atmosphere.
Before heading home we treated ourselves to tea and cake in the famous Betty's Tea Rooms, which were established in 1919.
Cool, old tea caddies in Betty's Tea Rooms
Bev's son, Sam lives about half an hour away so he came over to have dinner with us in Liversedge that night. I'm pretty sure that Sam and I have not seen each other for 20 years, so it was great to catch up with him and talk about parenthood.
The weather the following morning was pretty miserable; grey and rainy. We had planned to walk on the moors near Haworth to see the famous Bronte waterfall. Unfortunately we had to give this a miss. I am using this disappointment as a push to get me back there one day for another attempt.
Keighley Library, West Yorkshire
The stone laid by Sir Swire Smith on the Coronation of King Edward VII, August 9th, 1902
Instead of going straight to Haworth village, we visited Keighley (pronounced Keethley) whilst it rained. The library was the main place that we wanted to visit as part of our heritage trip. If I've worked it out correctly, Sir Swire Smith was my mum's Granny Bates' father's cousin's son. (My Great, Great Grandfather's cousin's son).
My Great-Grandmother, 'Granny Bates', Puys, France, 1927
Sir Swire Smith - Oil on canvas by Solomon Joseph Solomon RA. Date circa 1900
The original painting can be seen in Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley
Copyright Bradford Museum and Galleries
Copyright Bradford Museum and Galleries
Sir Swire Smith (4 March 1842 – 16 March 1918) was an English woollen manufacturer, educationalist and Liberal Party politician. In many ways he was typical of the public-spirited, self-made Victorian.
Of nonconformist lineage, he believed in social and intellectual improvement, the virtues of hard work and thrift and the role of the Liberal Party in the encouragement and promotion of this ethic. The son of the founding family of 'Prince Smith & Son, Keighley combing and worsted machinery makers', he owned fleece mills and later Springfield Mills. He was knighted in 1898 at the age of 56 and became MP for Keighley when he was 73.
'The Master Spinner: a life of Sir Swire Smith' was written by Keighley Snowden and published in 1921. My mum has talked about it over the years and we know that someone in the family has a copy of the book. I've managed to find the full text online and am trying to borrow it via Bristol library services.
Of nonconformist lineage, he believed in social and intellectual improvement, the virtues of hard work and thrift and the role of the Liberal Party in the encouragement and promotion of this ethic. The son of the founding family of 'Prince Smith & Son, Keighley combing and worsted machinery makers', he owned fleece mills and later Springfield Mills. He was knighted in 1898 at the age of 56 and became MP for Keighley when he was 73.
Copyright Keighley Newspaper, 2007
INTRODUCTION WHEN Sir Swire Smith died, seven hundred people made a procession to his grave and thousands looked on. He had been a far more important man than his modesty and certain other traits allowed the world to know, and his life had been quite romantic, though that was not divined. He owed the great funeral less to his career than to a special charm of personality. I propose to make his portrait as " The Master Spinner " a type of that historical time before the war when this country taught the use of machinery to the world. Not only public work but much travel, of which he has left notes that are very racy, qualifies him for large treatment ; and so do his close relations with men like Edward Atkinson, John Bright, Lord Bryce, Mr. Carnegie, Lord Morley, Lord Ripon and Sir Henry Roscoe his contacts with royal and other personages abroad, and his influence in affairs equally the subjects of a vivacious record. It is only in part a romance of business, but what would any good reader not give for an intimate story of one of the old Hansa merchants ? There is even reason why he should be preferred for such treatment to most British manufacturers ; the life was so uncommonly full, varied and joyous. When sworn a Member of Parliament at seventy-three, Sir Swire Smith still had so much vigour a bachelor with the fair hair and sound physique of middle age that news writers dubbed him the " youngest member " with a double meaning. He was equally young at heart, life having been a sort of happy adventure with him. He therefore seems to represent very well that unique commercial period, with its quick 11 12 THE MASTER SPINNER expansion, its optimism, and the free developments that prepared us for a great stand against tyranny. This, however, is first of all the story of a man's heart. It would be of little interest that Sir Swire Smith attained some distinction, and had friends throughout Europe and in the United States, and was loved by his own people, if he had not left candid personal notes. He wrote well, and saw the world picturesquely. He also loved women well. It was a sentimental life, and I am free to tell the truth about it. At the same time, my friend rose from such a plain level to serve his country that the romance is no less evident in his prestige as a man of business than in any affair of the heart.
Copyright, Keighley Snowden, 1921
I've read the first part of the text so far, it's very engaging. To read the full text:
archive.org/stream/masterspinnerlif00snowuoft/masterspinnerlif00snowuoft_djvu.txt
I feel massively proud and honoured to have Sir Swire Smith as an ancestor, it makes complete sense that our current family, on the whole, are liberal minded people.
One strange thing, that I was aware of deep down but didn't really think about until now, is that I have worked in the textile industry for the past 8 years. I've walked around modern factories, where huge machines spin and weave fabric. In this respect I feel a connection to Sir Swire Smith, who was such an expert in the art of spinning and technical education. His interest in technical education in particular, is said to have been sparked in part by the inadequacy of the general education of mill workers. His concerns were also a reflection of the Government regarding the nation's developing industry and manufacture.
Keighley was the first Carnegie library, funded by Sir Swire Smiths friend, Scottish-American steel tycoon, Andrew Carnegie. Sir Swire Smith was instrumental in the founding of Keighley's first public library. Carnegie went on to finance the building of other free public libraries in England, Scotland and America.
Statue of Andrew Carnegie inside Keighley library
After the initial excitement of seeing the stone in the wall of the library outside, which Sir Swire Smith laid on the Coronation of Edward VII, we went into the library. As bizzare coincidence would have it, the library was holding a heritage event in a room upstairs.
Mum and I looked around and stumbled across some books in a glass cabinet. I had forgotten to bring my piece of paper with dates into the library, so I guessed and picked up a rather chunky book. Suddenly the book fell open on the photo below; a photo of Sir Swire Smith laying the foundation stone of the library in 1902.
Copyright, Keighley Library
We wanted to photo copy the page, so my mum asked a passing librarian. I explained the family connection to the lady. She became excited and said she had lots of information to show us. She said that she never thought she would meet relations of Sir Swire Smith, the library's founder. I could see the admiration that she held for him in her eyes. It made me feel quite emotional.
The librarian was so helpful, without her we might never have seen the information that she passed to us. We didn't find out anymore information than the family already had, but I think the copies of photographs certainly add to our family archive. We were over the moon at the outcome of our visit to the library. I'm pleased that my mum and I could assist with our family genealogy research.
The librarian was so helpful, without her we might never have seen the information that she passed to us. We didn't find out anymore information than the family already had, but I think the copies of photographs certainly add to our family archive. We were over the moon at the outcome of our visit to the library. I'm pleased that my mum and I could assist with our family genealogy research.
Haworth village, West Yorkshire
After our trip to the library we drove the few miles over to the village of Haworth. The original street is a cobbled road on a steep hill. On arrival you can tell that the village is lovingly looked after. We enjoyed walking up the hill towards the Bronte Parsonage / Museum, looking in the quaint little shops en-route. As it was September there was a nice amount of people milling about, but no hoards of tourists thankfully. I was glad to see that the shops were not tacky in the slightest. Each shop seemed well placed and thought out, mostly selling original / handmade arts and crafts.
The Apothecary at the top of the hill is wonderful. They sell old remedies and beauty products as well as new. The scent that hits you as you walk through the door certainly sparks off nostalgia.
The Bronte Parsonage and Museum
I'm so glad that we went in the Bronte Museum, it was an absolute delight. It has been beautifully curated. Seeing so many original items that belonged to Charlotte Bronte and her family was fascinating. I particularly loved looking at her clothes, and the lace collars and cuffs with patterns that the sisters made. It was amazing looking at the tiny books that Charlotte and Branwell created when they were children too.
We saw a few other items that belonged to Emily, Anne and Branwell, but as Charlotte was the last remaining sibling alive, mainly it is her belongings that survive.
Click the link for further information on the Bronte Parsonage and Museum:
Charlotte Bronte, Chalk drawing by George Richmond 1850
During our time in Keighley and Haworth I really felt the spirit of the area (the genius loci), and imagined our ancestors as they walked upon the moors; with us now treading in their footsteps. It was very moving.
Looking out from the top of Haworth Village to the moor
On Sunday morning I watched videos of Eve on my phone as soon as I woke up, as I was missing her so much. I wandered around Huddersfield before boarding my train. There are some beautiful, old buildings there. I loved our trip to Yorkshire but was very happy that I was going home to see my gorgeous little girl, and husband, Sam.
Statue of Harold Wilson, Labour Prime Minister 1964 - 1970 and 1974 - 1976
Huddersfield train station
Wonderful, old industrial building next to the train line in Huddersfield
Whilst I was away Sam took Eve out for the first time with the Littlelife toddler rucksack/baby reins. He is very thoughtful and made me a video of their journey so that I didn't miss out.
I chose the Turtle rucksack for Eve and she adores it. She likes wearing it when she's at home as well as when she's out and about. It turned out to be a great buy, hurrah!
www.littlelife.co.uk/products/toddler-daysacks
Our next family heritage trip will be to Enniskillen in Ireland, where we hope to research the Hayes side of the family. Not sure when that might be, but it's definitely on the cards. We don't know a great deal about the Hayes, so it will be interesting.
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