Saturday 4 November 2023

Local lad Richard Poole will be giving readings from his new book at the 2023 Map Day.

Read newspaper article here.

October 2023

Local lad "Dodger" had added another local video to his You Tube site about Low Moor Company Director and former resident of Royds Hall Frank William Milligan who was a Yorkshire and England cricketer and died in the Boer War.

Click on image to see the film.

August 2018

At last we have finished checking the graveyard Memorial Inscriptions at Holy Trinity, Low Moor. It's only taken us ten years!  It was a massive project. 

We have been greatly assisted by the graveyard volunteers from Holy Trinity who keep the yard tidy. Whenwe started the yard was overgrown in parts but they helped clear the sections we were working on. In recent times, teams from Community Payback have actively sought hidden monuments and felledtrees and shrubs and dug them out for us. We really appreciate their efforts.

Many of our volunteers have assisted with this project over the years, but it could not have been completed without the outstanding efforts of Linda Paul and Janice Haley who hunted down every last monument and noted its details.

Thank you!

Saturday 20th September 2017

Another successful Map Day. Held back at Aldersgate Methodist Church where we have a lot more room than in past years, when we held them at Wyke Library. The slide show of photographs of the area was very popular. We met some new people and old friends were re-united.

Thanks to our helpers.

Friday 6th May 2016

The Low Moor Explosion commemoration by Low Moor Local History Group - got off to a good start with a talk by Mary Twentyman, Barbara Reardon and Geoff Twentyman. Well over one hundred people attended. The occasion was very poignant, in that a number of the descendants of those who had died were present and were able to meet each other and also the descendants of some of the people who were involved in the rescue.

It was also the launch of a new book "Yellow Poppies" written by Barbara Reardon and Mary Twentyman detailing the lives of all those killed in the Explosion and those who received honours as a result. The "yellow" in the title refers to the fact that the munitions workers skin and hair was turned yellow by their working with picric acid.

On the left is Mary joined by Barbara with the new book and the augmented re-print of Ron Blackwell's 1987 book "The Low Moor Explosion......a mystery explained?" By the time the photograph was taken the celebration cake was eaten and only the poppy decorations remained.

Low Moor Munitions Explosion 21st August 1916

To commemorate the centenary of the Low Moor Munitions Explosion which happened on Monday 21st August 1916 Low Moor Local History Group has planned several events and publications.

Read more or download details

Low Moor Munitions Explosion 21st August 1916

Low Moor Local History Group have been researching the explosion and plan to hold several events in commemoration during 2016. If you have any information or photographs to share with us please contact info@sblha.com and watch the press and this website for further details.

Saturday 7th November 2015

Lots of people took up the opportunity to inspect our maps again - once it had stopped teaming with rain that is! The Godfrey Maps of the area proved popular and we sold quite a few copies. We helped some of our visitors to start their family history research and think they will soon be as addicted as the rest of us. Deeds were inspected, photographs shared and old church events programmes poured over for familiar names. One visitor gave us a booklet celebrating the retirement on 30th September 1942 or Mr G H Pepper of Pepper, Lee and Co Ltd at Wyke. It contains a long list of employees names and their years of service. SBLHA will be transcribing this, so watch this space!

Friday 7th November 2014

At the Low Moor Local History Group meeting Mary Twentyman and Barbara Reardon gave another episode of their "Beginnings of the Low Moor Company" series of talks.  This was aptly titled "Low Moor Surnames re-visited"  for on the same afternoon the groups new book "Iron Poppies" was launched.  Subtitled "Low Moor's fallen 1914-1918" The book includes research on each of the 109 men whose names appear on the war memorials in the Low Moor area of Bradford. It's authors are Barbara Reardon and Lucy Ives whose meticulous research brings alive many forgotten stories of bravery and loss.
It is an A4 book of 160 pages in a clear, larger than average font.  There is a section on each man detailing his family and background, with photographs of many of the men and their graves. 
There is a section detailing where graves and memorial inscriptions can be found together with photographs of the war memorials of Low Moor and many of the cemeteries in Belgium and France.
Copies are £10.  Contact info@sblha.com for more details.

Saturday 1st November 2014

Family History and Map Day
Our collection of maps proved popular once again and the library was buzzing with visitors. Our volunteers were on hand to help people get started with their family history and one member of the Library staff was hooked! We'll be repeating this event again.

Saturday 18 October 2014

A new exhibition with three entirely new subjects of Wibsey people & places attracted large numbers. Numerous other displays, including the creation of the Tramways, Wibsey Park, local sports activities - cricket, football, rugby, bowls etc. Social activities, churches & chapels, 'famous' local residents had people staying much longer than they anticipated. Hands on items - Wibsey Advertiser free newspaper and a loop of photographs completed the exhibits. A very enjoyable day.

Saturday 2nd November 2013

Our first Family History and Map Day at our new venue - Wyke Library was a great success. The computers were busy all day and many people were encouraged to begin searching for their ancestors. Our maps proved as popular as ever and some people would have liked to stay much longer!

Entry for Wyke Mills

Friday 7th September 2012
Members of Low Moor Local History Group have been working with West Yorkshire Archive Service (WYAS) toimprove the group's knowledge of important issues such as legislation and copyright. This has helped them consider the scope of items which can be collected and how best to archive them. They have now received Accreditation with the WYAS and join a growing number of community groups who are working together to ensure our heritage is secured for future generations. See http://nowthen.org for more details.

Saturday 27th November 2010
Maps and Archives Day at Aldersgate Methodist Church
Low Moor Local History Group received a Grass Roots Grant earlier this year which has enabled us to buy some copies of historic Ordnance Survey maps, some of which are annotated by Smith, Gotthardt & Co., Land Agents & Surveyors. People were invited to come along and have a look at our acquisitions and browse through our extensive collection of maps. There is also an opportunity to buy copies at special rates from Old Towns Books and Maps
http://www.oldtowns.co.uk/MapShop_yorks-BradfordArea.htm

February 2010
SBLHA named Top Site!
After only a few short months of our existence, we were recognised by 'Your Family Tree' magazine as one of the top three family history resources on theinternet for West Yorkshire, along with CalverleyInfo and the Coal Mining Resource Centre.