History of West Grove
This history was written by Arthur Edwick and made into a small booklet. You can view the PDF version of the booklet by clicking on the cover image or using this link to History of West Grove PDF
Arthur Edwick 2020
West Grove is known locally as Wilk's Fold.
Nos. 2&6 were formerly a farm building known as Hollings Barn.
The Butler Hollins family occupied Westgate Old Hall. The date stone:-
J and S M 1744
over the door of No 2. John and Sarah Marshall
A family named Thornton converted part of the barn into a house (No 2)
This was occupied at a later date by Francis Rhodes Wilks who emigrated to Australia.
His brother James then occupied the house.
James' son John reduced No 2 to a "One up one down" house. The parlour and bedroom and an extension into the barn of the two rooms (living room and bedroom) now became 4 West Grove.
The remaining part of the barn was converted into a house (No 6) by Arthur & Concetta Edwick 1984.
The last of the Wilks family, Eleanor, died in 1977.
Arthur and Concetta purchased the property the same year.
The attached plan (1850) shows the various cottages which formerly stood in the surrounding area.
The lamp on the front wall of No 4 was made by Noble's Tinsmiths, Northgate, Baildon.
The lead fall pipe top came from Baildon Mills in Northgate. The mills were built in 1824. The "Lamb" cast into it is the earliest example of it being used as a symbol connected with Baildon. Baildon Local Board used it on their stationery. Baildon Urban District Council added a plough to it.
My initials are cast in it.
The iron bracket in the boundary wall was the bracket for the chassis of a mortar pan used by the family.
On the front wall is the stone with the letter E (Edwick family)
The Edwick family grave was the personal wish of Concetta. Her husband Arthur was subject to much criticism in this matter.
No 5 West Grove was at one time used by the Baildon Band. It was known as the "Band 'ole".
5A - This building was built by Arthur & Roy Edwick in 1984 and stands on the site of what was the outside toilet of the cottages demolished in 1935.
No 1 and 3 West Grove and 10 and 20 Westgate we four back-back houses.
Three cottages formerly stood on land in front of No 5. Arthur was born there 1934. They were demolished in 1935.
The Wilks family purchased the land from Dick Dodsworth. Mr. Dodsworth owned 14-16 Westgate.
The land in front of 2-4-6 is in the Edwick family trust (999 years)
The land behind 2-4-6 was unregistered and Caroline, Arthur's grand daughter, claimed it in 2017.
No 4. The mirror over the marble fireplace was originally in Westgate Old Hall. The oak surround was made from the oak roof timbers on that part of the hall that was rebuilt in 1908
The ornate plaster ceiling was the work of the Wilks family.
No 6. The original oak roof timbers can be seen in the bedroom.
The cornerstones in the front are the kerb stones from the grave yard originally in front of the Methodist Church in Westgate.
They are engraved:-
John and Hannah Bentley
John Bentley was the Town Clerk of Baildon Urban District Council in the early 1900s
This information was compiled by Arthur Edwick in his eighty fifth year
