Browgate

General

Browgate is the road heading south from the Towngate roundabout to Baildon Road and to Shipley.

You can also see a collection of Browgate Photos on this page.

View down Browgate, 1925

This view down Browgate shows Heather House on the right and the buildings on the left that were demolished in 1960s. See a few more details about the photo on this page - Browgate1925x photo details

Fred Smith, Fruiterer

This photo is of the Fred Smith Fruiterer shop on Browgate. This is in on the corner of the Mechanics Institute and could be considered to be Towngate. The door on the left is that of the Mechanics Institute. To the right of this shop, in the 1960s, was John Jowett, Butcher.

Demolition in the late 1960s

This photo shows what at one time was Fred Smith's shop, Mechanics Institute, Jowett Butcher etc being demolished in the late 1960s.

Browgate has changed significantly over time. At the top of Browgate the Fountain Buildings with the Mechanics Institute were demolished as were the shops and houses including the buildings to the East of Browgate - Fountain Fold, Manor Croft and Manor Fold up to St John's church and several cottages on Kellcliffe.

In this view of Browgate we are looking towards Towngate. On the left is the right hand bay window of Rhodes shop. This building, 9 Browgate, is sometimes referred to as John Wesley building. The building on the right of that later became Lynn's fish and chip shop and the Fish & Chips sign is still above the building in 2018. This was later an antique shop and then in 2009 a Chinese take away called Wok this Way. The tall building on the right is the Mechanics Institute - Fountain Buildings(?). There are several advertising signs in this photo that are typical of the times. You can read a bit more about this photo on this page - Top of Browgate

9 Browgate

This is the front of 9 Browgate, Rhodes shop. See more here

View down Browgate

This photo, looking down Browgate also shows 9 Browgate, Samuel Rhodes Grocer's shop. The boys on the right, wearing Eton collars, are leaning against the front wall of the nine 'oiled bidcage which is now demolished. Just to the right of that building are some steps, still existing in 2018, that were called the Bedlam Steps. Just to the left of the nine 'oiled birdcage is another set of steps that led to the different floors of the building. These are now gone. Immediately to the left of the steps is a pillar with stone ball on top and the wall sloping steeply up. This forms part of the entrance and steps leading up to the Moravian Church. This wall still exists but is much lower.

East side of Browgate 1940s. Now all demolished. Drawn by Ralph Dickson.

Heather House

One of the distinctive buildings on Browgate is No 5, Heather House which has been a pharmacy for many years. It has its own page here.

2017 Sink Hole

Towards the end of September 2017 the pavement on the east of Browgate at the pedestrian crossing, directly opposite 5 Browgate, the Phamacy, collapsed and a hole opened up. This turned out to be as a result of problems with Barnsley Beck that is culverted from Pennithorne Ave to down past The Primitive Methodist Chapel on Browgate. You can read more about this and see photos on the Barnsley Beck page.

Early photo of the 2017 Browgate sink hole

Browgate Building Use

East side

Left hand side going down. Even numbered.

? Browgate

• Bolton, joiners & undertakers. 1902

? Browgate

• Bottomley's, The modern grocery & provision shop. Shipley 297. 1929. 1930. 1931. 1932

?2 Browgate Top corner. (demolished in the 1960s)

• Outhwaites green grocers.

?4 Browgate (demolished in the 1960s)

• John S Jowett butchers. 1960s. Moved to top of Westgate.
• R F Stacy. All plumbing & Electrical work. 1959.
• T Rhodes & Son. Beef, Mutton, Lamb, Veal & Pork. (also 7 Westgate) 1929. 1931.

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  Part of the tiled frontage to John Jowett butchers. Unearthed from the Browgate Sink hole, 2017.

10 Browgate

• H J Breary. All your Electrical & Wireless appliances. 1931.

12 Browgate

• H Allen, Chocolate Shop. 1929. Sole agent for COUTT'S high class sweets. Allen's. 1930. Chocolate Shop. H Allen, Prop. 1931.

14 Browgate

• J B Jennings & Sons, high class butcher. 1929. Meat kept in perfect condition by electrical refrigeration. 1930. 1931.

16 Browgate

• R G Cox, Photographer, developing, printing. Official photographer to the Gypsy Party, 1929. For the 1930 carnival the address was Carr Wood, Cliffe Ave.
• Halifax Building Society. Baildon Sub Office. M H Denham, local manager 1929, 1930.
• George Crossley, shop.

18 Browgate

• Bingley Building Society. Sub Office. 1959

20 Browgate

• C.T. Normington. Drapery, Hosiery & Toys. Gilbert's Gramophones & broadcast records. 1930.

Browgate Chapel

• D Green. Joiner & Contractor.Ads: 1959.

West side

Right hand side going down. Odd numbered.

1 Browgate

• The Baildon Classic Collection. Ladies fashions.2002
• Windhill Industrial Co-operative Society Ltd. 1929. Pure Milk delivered in sealed sterilised glass bottles.

3 Browgate

• Nicola's Hair Design, 2002.

5 Browgate (Heather House)

• Browgate Pharmacy. 2002.
• Wm. Hutchinson. Pharmacy 1988.
• H Robinson. 1929. Penetrol for Flu. 1930. 1931.
• E Taylor. Opthalmic & Dispensing Optician. Tues only. Ads: 1955, '56
• 2nd floor. D Epstein. Ladies & Gents bespoke tailor. Ads: 1956

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  Wm Hutchinson. Pharmacy. 1988.

• 

  Top of Browgate

7 Browgate

• Wok This Way. Chinese takeaway. 2007-
  • In 2007 they initially installed an internally illuminated sign but replaced it with a painted sign when they found that such things were not allowed in a Conservation Area.
• Topdeck. Gifts & Things. 2002.
• Kept empty many years. It is alleged this was to avoid competition with the Trawl Bar, Northgate.
• Roy Lynn. Fish & Chips. 1937-1977. Property bought by Lynns 1960s. Sold to Mr Kellett of Trawl Bar, Northgate 1977 (£16000)
  • Fish & Chip sign fixed at the top of the wall.
  • 1948. Note re. this property, amongst many others owned by Joseph Bailey Jennings, being up for auction in 1948.
• George Crossley, residence. 1919
• 1882. Bradford Observer. House & Shop to let. Best in town, suit any business, best position.

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  Top Deck, Gifts & Things. 2002

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  Fish & Chip sign. Taken March 2021.

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  Wok this way illuminated sign. Aug 2007

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  Wok this way, July 2013

9 Browgate See Wesley House

11 Browgate

• Secret Garden
• 1937-38. Residence - Mr & Mrs W Dickson. Moved to Fountain Fold
• Thomas Rhodes resident, 1871, 1881

13 Browgate

• La Cote Maison, Nail Salon. 2009. 2022
• Upstairs. Hair Frenzy by Lyndsey. 2022
• Browgate Antiques. 2002

17 Browgate

• N Taylor. Fish, fruit & potato salesman. Baildon's leading fruit stores. 1929. 1930.

Bankside House

• Sam Oddy & Son. Decorators & 110 Morley St, Bradford. 1930.

77 Browgate

• Baildon Veterinary Centre. 2013.
• R F Stacey plumbers and electricians. 1964, 1969.
  • Building shared with a joiner. S D Robinson.

Baildon Vets. 2013

79-81 Browgate

• R F Stacy. All plumbing & Electrical work. Ads: 1953.

79-85 Browgate

• R F Stacy. All plumbing & Electrical work. 1957, '59.

Linked

Wharfedale & Airedale Observer - Friday 08 July 1892
BAILDON LOCAL BOARD.
After recieving reports of the water from Kelcliffe Well was unsuitable for domestic use or drinking from Bradford Borough Analyst and the medical officer for health of West Riding County Council it was agreed that the well should be closed.