Did you know that a member of royalty actually slept over at Kippax Railway Station in years gone by?, neither did I but it's one of those things you find about when people talk to each other about their environment. It is to be hoped this page will find a keen audience with local and even not so local people interested in what made Kippax the place it is and linking it to events and people in the past.
Probably the most famous landmark in Kippax is the one most people see when entering the village from the Leeds (West) side - I refer of course to the Church known as St Mary's, which has a rather colourful history. Also famous as a landmark but from the oppsite end of the village is what used to be known as "Boggett's Mill Farm", or Woodall Farm as it is these days.
Another famous? landmark is Arthur's Cottage, which now sports the famous "muriel" of the renowned village mascot of the "Pig on the Wall". This mural was painted by local artist/entrepreneur Gary Edwards, (also famous as Leeds United's No1 fan) and is part of Kippis folklore. In days of old, Mr Kershaw of the old farm would put up a piglet on his wall to watch the Kippax Band as it paraded through the streets during the Annual Procession which took place for the Village Fair - sadly lacking these "fun days"! For further information you can read up in the annals of Village folklore by visiting this page again in the not too distant future, when we will be bringing you more in the way of literary enlightenment! You can even read a piece of history from a manuscript written in 1939 about the "Byegone Days of Kippax" which will be rotated every few weeks
Further details can be found in the local library, but if you want something right now, Mr E. Pickles, our local Historian
has supplied the site with an Outline History of Kippax.
The
following information appeared on the UK site for Genealogy.
Kippax Park, owned by the Bland family, was one of the most magnificent
buildings erected in the village. Building started in the 17th Century
and was extended by the sixth baronet Sir John Bland in the 18th. The
family lived there until the death of John Davison Bland in 1928.
The house and contents were sold the following year and it became derelict
and was demolished in the 1950's shortly before opencast mining started.
The Bland family were one of the wealthiest in the North with lands extending
as far as Manchester. The architect of the park was Daniel Garrett.
Originally a rural
and agricultural village, Kippax developed in the 20th Century into an
urban dormitory town.
Its history can be traced back to the Dark Ages and it is mentioned in
King William's Domesday Book when it was called "Chipesch" and
was valued at the princely sum of £16.
As well as agriculture, the village's prosperity was based on stone quarrying.
The opening of the railway, now long gone, was the start of the change
towards an urban community as transport routes improved.Another grand
building was Kippax Hall which was a Victorian mansion built for Alderman
Brefitt, a Castleford glassmaker.
Perched on the top of the hill, it commanded magnificent views across
the Aire valley and beyond to Wakefield and the Pennines.
Built by William Green and Son, it was divided up into smaller houses
and used by Green, his sons and daughters.
All that remains now is its title, Hall Surgery.One of the village's most
famous sons is Rugby League legend Malcolm Reilly who moved there from
nearby Preston at the tender age of four. Malcolm has had a distinguished
career in both England and Australia including winning the Lance Todd
Trophy for his hometown club Castleford in their 1969 11-6 victory over
Salford.
He went on to coach the club during the 70's and 80's and his greatest
triumph was winning the Challenge Cup in 1986 in a nail biting thriller
with hull KR. He later coached Leeds, Great Britain and Halifax as well
as a stint in Australia taking the Newcastle Knights to Grand Final success.
He is currently on the coaching staff at Headingley and lives nearby in
Ledsham.