Clayton Village

Evidence of presence of prehistoric people in Clayton was found in 1951 when a Neolithic stone axe was found in Thornlea Grove, the axe is now in the Cartwright Hall Museum. Clayton was established prior to the Norman conquest in 1066 as it is listed in the Domesday Book in 1086 as the Manor Claitone when William the Conqueror granted it to Ilbert de Lacy. Claitone probably derives from claeg meaning clay and tun, meaning farmstead, and so meant farmstead on clay. The village was privately owned from 1160 to 1866 when a local board was formed to manage the village. During the 1870s "the wells", on the central village roundabout, was used as a site for open air preaching.

 

Clayton was a township in the ancient parish of Bradford. It became a separate civil parish in 1866. Under the Local Government Act 1894 the parish became Clayton Urban District. The civil parish and urban district were abolished in 1930, when Clayton was absorbed into the County Borough of Bradford. It became part of the City of Bradford Metropolitan District in 1974. The village re-acquired civil parish status with a parish council in 2004.

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Key dates in the Clayton Village Story...

 

1066

Clayton originally settled as a Saxon farming settlement and is referred to in Doomsday records of 1086 as Claitone which - translates as literally meaning Farmstead on Clay.

1086

Manor of Claitone granted to Ilbert de Lacy by William the Conqueror

16th Century

Town Bottom farm house (the oldest building remaining in Clayton) built

1770 - 1820

The Development of Townend takes place reflecting the argricultural and industrial activity in the village

Late 1700's

Farmer Clothiers built weavers cottages around Town End and sold cloth in Halifax

1815 - 1830

Construction of cottages at Green end

1819

"First Village School opened (now the Library). The building was originally used as a School, Sunday School and a place of worship"

1830

Baptist Chapel established in Clayton Lane

1834

Weselyan Methodist Church established in Clayton Lane

1842

Clayton Parish Created

1845

Beck Mills Opened for Textile manufacture by John Milner & Co.

1851

St John the Baptist Church built

1858

Clayton Co-Operative Society formed

1859

Clayton Village Primary School opened

1860

Beck Mill leased to J Benn & Co

1862

Clayton Penny Bank Opened

1860's

Wells placed in the village by 'Clayton Local Board' marking the junction of roads to Bradford, Halifax and Thornton. (Now the roundabout between Town End and Green End)

1865

"Gas Works established in Low Lane serving Clayton, Allerton and Thornton"

1870

Oak Mills Opened by J Benn and Co for Textile manufacture on Station Road

c1870

Baptist Sunday school opened at Green End now Holly Park Residential Home

1873 - 1898

J Benn & Co build housing for workers at Oak Mills. These houses now form the streets around the Village Hall

1877

Village Hall erected. This building was originally built to house the Clayton Liberal Club

1878

Methodist Sunday school built on Clayton Lane - this is now the site of Drumhill Works

1878

Clayton Railway station opened in Pasture Lane by Great Northern Railway. The station provided services to Bradford, Halifax and Keighley

1880

Clayton Fireclay Works Opened

1890's

Water and Sewage works established for Clayton residents

1892

New Baptists Church Erected. This, when constructed was comparable in size to St Johns Parish church

1892

Conservative Club built.

1896

Exclusive commuter housing constructed in Chrishaben Park. The development was named after the developer Harrison Benn [son of Joseph Benn] and his wife Christina.

1897

Clayton Board school built on land originally intended for housing development at Chrisharben Park. The board school later became Clayton Middle

1897

"Clayton Green transformed into Victoria Park to celebrate the Diamond jubillee of Queen Victoria. The conversion was funded by public subscription.

1898

Pavillion erected in Victoria Park

19th Century

Throughout the 19th century the textile industry and stone quarrying continued to be the main industries in Clayton

Early 1920's

Woodland to the North of the village was removed to create a new route, to Queensbury and Halifax, and new houses on the Avenue.

1920

Clayton's only cinema, the Clayton Picture House (subsequently to be called The Rialto), opens on Station Road.

1926

Bowling Green and Cenotaph erected in Victoria Park

1930

Clayton incorporated into Bradford

1942

Oak Mills closes

1955

Great Northern railway closes to passengers

1965

Great Northern railway closes to freight

1969

Clayton Fireclay Works closes

1977

The Core of Clayton Village designated a conservation area

1982

The original Clayton Baptist Church is demolished due to dry rot. A new church is erected in its place 2 years later.

 

For more detailed History of Clayton visit the Clayton History Group's website at:
http://e-voice.org.uk/claytonhistorygroup/