A Brief History of Burley (page 2)
_Before the 18th century the village had grown away from the central
core to the west along that route, now called Main Street. There were
farm houses and their adjoining barns and cottages as well as other
houses. Several are 17th century in origin, like Dial House, dated 1690,
and are still in occupation. Elsewhere in the township were scattered
farms stretching up to the moors.
An old moorland track, possibly an old route avoiding the wet valley
bottom, passed near to some of the upper farmsteads and a roadside inn
(now the Hermit) and a few cottages formed the nucleus of Burley
Woodhead. Stead also lies along this track.
Cotton mills were established alongside a small canal (goit) taking water from the Wharfe in the 1790s and this led to the development of an industrial village in the nineteenth century. In the 1830s nearly 400 operatives worked in these mills. Later after William Fison and William Edward Forster took over ownership of Greenholme Mills in 1850, the mills were extended and worsted yarn and cloth became the main products. There was employment for over 700 workers in the later nineteenth century, when the population reached 3000.
Smaller textile mills were also established at Woodhead, but employment was limited and all except for the Bleach Mill failed long before the end of the nineteenth century. In the twentieth century the textile industry suffered from reduction in markets and investment. By the mid-1960s all local mills were disused but small businesses mainly of a sales or service nature have more recently located themselves in the old mill buildings. The building of the trunk road by-pass with good access to the site of Greenholme Mills may stimulate further development.
Much of the village character derives from the early settlement and its development in the 19th century, which established the streets, and buildings that lie within the Conservation Area. Transport was improved in the mid–nineteenth century when two companies built railways through Wharfedale. Apart from helping the movement of goods in and out of the village, they began to attract commuters to live in Burley while holding jobs in the West Riding conurbation. Regular bus services through the village in the twentieth century and the decline of employment in the mills turned the village into a dormitory.
At the beginning of the 20th century, what had been the grounds of an old house at Scalebor were bought by the West Riding County Council. On them they built Scalebor Park Hospital, which provided psychiatric care and treatment for over 200 fee paying patients. The hospital gained a great reputation under the direction of Drs Gilmour and Valentine. It became a National Health Service Hospital after World War II. Many people in Burley were employed there and this was very beneficial as the mills declined. Changes in National Health provision led to the closure of the hospital in the 1990s, since when the site has been developed as a residential area.
The after–effect of two world wars on the village is best seen in the replacement of some of the older cottages by Council houses. In the 1920s over 80 houses were built by the Burley Urban District Council, and in the 1950s Ilkley Urban District Council (taking over from Burley in 1937) built many more houses and flats. The population grew in the 1960s and 1970s as car ownership increased and this led to the significant enlargement of the built-up area as owner-occupiers moved into private estates. The 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s styles and materials provide a diversity, which combines into a pleasing whole.
The village now lies within the Bradford Metropolitan District Council, but has had its own statutory Parish Council since 2006.
The 2001 Census gives a total population of 6446, with the largest age groups being the 35 to 44 and 45 to 54 year olds. Burley is attracting people at present. Despite the diversity and the changing social structure and culture, the village has a strong sense of community.
(See also "Publications")
Cotton mills were established alongside a small canal (goit) taking water from the Wharfe in the 1790s and this led to the development of an industrial village in the nineteenth century. In the 1830s nearly 400 operatives worked in these mills. Later after William Fison and William Edward Forster took over ownership of Greenholme Mills in 1850, the mills were extended and worsted yarn and cloth became the main products. There was employment for over 700 workers in the later nineteenth century, when the population reached 3000.
Smaller textile mills were also established at Woodhead, but employment was limited and all except for the Bleach Mill failed long before the end of the nineteenth century. In the twentieth century the textile industry suffered from reduction in markets and investment. By the mid-1960s all local mills were disused but small businesses mainly of a sales or service nature have more recently located themselves in the old mill buildings. The building of the trunk road by-pass with good access to the site of Greenholme Mills may stimulate further development.
Much of the village character derives from the early settlement and its development in the 19th century, which established the streets, and buildings that lie within the Conservation Area. Transport was improved in the mid–nineteenth century when two companies built railways through Wharfedale. Apart from helping the movement of goods in and out of the village, they began to attract commuters to live in Burley while holding jobs in the West Riding conurbation. Regular bus services through the village in the twentieth century and the decline of employment in the mills turned the village into a dormitory.
At the beginning of the 20th century, what had been the grounds of an old house at Scalebor were bought by the West Riding County Council. On them they built Scalebor Park Hospital, which provided psychiatric care and treatment for over 200 fee paying patients. The hospital gained a great reputation under the direction of Drs Gilmour and Valentine. It became a National Health Service Hospital after World War II. Many people in Burley were employed there and this was very beneficial as the mills declined. Changes in National Health provision led to the closure of the hospital in the 1990s, since when the site has been developed as a residential area.
The after–effect of two world wars on the village is best seen in the replacement of some of the older cottages by Council houses. In the 1920s over 80 houses were built by the Burley Urban District Council, and in the 1950s Ilkley Urban District Council (taking over from Burley in 1937) built many more houses and flats. The population grew in the 1960s and 1970s as car ownership increased and this led to the significant enlargement of the built-up area as owner-occupiers moved into private estates. The 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s styles and materials provide a diversity, which combines into a pleasing whole.
The village now lies within the Bradford Metropolitan District Council, but has had its own statutory Parish Council since 2006.
The 2001 Census gives a total population of 6446, with the largest age groups being the 35 to 44 and 45 to 54 year olds. Burley is attracting people at present. Despite the diversity and the changing social structure and culture, the village has a strong sense of community.
(See also "Publications")