STATION LANE TO NOSTELL VIEW
The Purston Wesleyan Chapel at the corner of Girnhill Lane and Wakefield Road was opened in 1904. Photo - The original Featherstone History Group Collection.
The council offices and yard (on the left next to the chapel) were opened in 1894. Photo - a postcard .
The council clock was originally on the Junction Hotel and was transferred to the council offices in 1913 when the pub was sold to Tetley's Brewery. In 1956 the council converted Purston Hall, now an apartment block, into a town hall. Photo - Jon Young (Featherstone Bygone Days).
The clock was eventually worn out and was replaced by a replica . Photo - Ryan Kitchen (Featherstone Bygone Days).
The council yard, between the offices and the chapel, was used to store vehicles and equipment. It was also the original station for the fire brigade formed in 1906. Photo - personal.
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This Firth postcard, taken from the other direction, shows the main Wakefield/Pontefract road with no traffic restrictions.
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Mrs Norah Edgar obtained a seven years lease on the disused council offices and converted them in th the Clock Cafe. Photo - a Frith postcard.
After many accidents at the crossroads of Wakefield Road, Pontefract Road, Station Lane and Girnhill Lane, bollards were installed and road markings painted. Photo - a Frith postcard.
They didn't stop the accidents, so in October 1965 the council accepted a tender for the installation of traffic lights. Photo - Dr J Gatecliff 1981.
The memorial garden and sculptures was opened in 1990. The following three photos are by Dr J Gatecliff.
The Jubilee Hotel was opened in 1896. It was named for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee which was held in 1897.
There was much building work along the road after shaft sinking began for Snydale Victoria Colliery in 1863. South Featherstone Methodist Chapel was built in 1875. The row of houses built between that and the Jubilee Hotel was called Fourteen House Row, and the houses at the other side were called Twelve House Row. Photo - a postcard.
The chapel was badly damaged by mining subsidence. In 1904 it was dismantled, the foundations reinforced, and rebuilt using as much of the original materials as possible.
It closed in 1968 when the Methodist churches merged to a new church in Wilson Street. It was taken over by the Salvation Army who stayed there until they closed down in 1986. Oakwood Joiners moved in. Photo - Dr J Gatecliff.
It then became Yorkshire Gears. Photo - Dr J Gatecliff.
It has now been the Trading Post for many years. Photo - personal 2021.
Fourteen House Row was demolished in 1967. Photo - Dr J Gatecliff.
The Local Board passed the plans for Nostell View and Featherstone Square behind it in 1892. Photo - Dr J Gatecliff 1973.
West Riding County Council was formed in 1889 and it eventually became responsible for the fire service. Plans for a new two bay fire station in Andrew Street were passed in 1962, but it was1966 before it was built. Photo - personal 1987.
Although it is was a two bay station it only ever had one fire engine. Photo - personal 1987.
Eventually one bay was altered to provide more room for the firefighters. Photo - Google Street View.
The Primitive Methodist Chapel was built in 1875. It was damaged by subsidence and was closed in 1902. It was dismantled and rebuilt in 1904. The houses between the chapel and the Jubilee Inn were called Fourteen House Row and those on the right were called Twelve House Row. Photo - a postcard.
Twelve House Row ready for demolition. Littlewood's pop factory opened in 1893. The entrance was through the second gap in the row near the far end. Photo - Wakefield Libraries Collection.
Littlewood's house with part of the original factory behind. Photo - Dr J Gatecliff.
The Jubilee Hotel was opened in 1896 and was so named because 1897 was the year of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Photo - Dr J Gatecliff.
The plans for Nostell View, to be built for Lord Masham, were passed in 1892. Photo - Dr J Gatecliff 1973.
NOSTELL VIEW TO COMMONSIDE LANE
There was a brickyard on the south side of Wakefield Road opposite Middle Lane in the 1800s. The fireclay was dug out of a quarry. When the brickyard ceased production the Went Beck was diverted to fill the quarry and it became known as the mill pond after the steam mill erected to grind corn. Photo - Dr J Gatecliff Collection.
This photo from the Dr J Gatecliff Collection shows a derelict building near the old steam mill. The mill pond is off the left of the photo. The muckstack in the background is for Snydale Colliery just in view top left. The large pond was probably used for recreational purposes, and a much smaller pond at the roadside was used for the steam mill. The whole are up to Huntwick Lane became an opencast mine in the 1950s and all trace of the ponds and mill were lost.
The north side of Wakefield Road became an industrial estate in the 1960s. Photo - Dr J Gatecliff 1987.
The industrial estate ended at Commonside Lane with the Lin Pac factory which received planning permission in 1964. Photo - personal 1987.
There was a serious fire at Lin Pac in 1967. The following two photos are by Dr J Gatecliff.
