There is no written evidence of Roman Kippax but the road to the East of the village is on the line of the Roman road from Castleford to York, and a Romano?British farm was found to the east of this at Ledston in the 1970's. A Stone Age axe was found about two miles away in the 1950's and the remains of an Anglo?Danish cross shaft are preserved in the Church.

This together with the Domesday entry of Chipesh means there have been people living here from early times.

The Domesday Survey of 1086 is about the earliest documentary evidence for Kippax and valued the village at £16. Through the Medieval period there are sparse references to Kippax, such as the appointment of Milo as Rector of Kippax in 1233, The Poll Tax of 1379, and a Rental of 1425.

Coal Mining is mentioned about 1320 and has been an important industry in Kippax and the immediate area until the last mine in the district closed in 1992 (at Allerton Bywater). There have been many mines in the village, at least three just beyond the top of the High Street in the last 150 years.

The population of the village in the 14th Century is thought to have been about 150?200 based on figures found in a Charter relating to Pontefract Castle, which was a substantial village for that period.

The church which is the oldest building in the village, is thought by experts to have been built by the Normans in a possible late Saxon style, and apart from the addition of new windows, a Victorian vestry, and a few small alterations, little has changed from the original church.

There are few other old buildings in Kippax, the oldest house is opposite the Library dated 1682, The Royal Oak public house, and 35 High Street are some of them.

The Bland family are the best known of the landed gentry in Kippax, who lived at Kippax Park, which is now demolished. The family came from North Yorkshire in the Elizabethan period and remained in residence until the first quarter of the 20th century. Other notable families connected with the village over the centuries were, Baildon's, Slingsby's and Medhurst's.

With the Reformation, which started Parish Records, and the increased use of printing there are plenty of documentary references to Kippax in libraries and Archive collections.

The railway came to Kippax at the last quarter of the 19th century as The Pontefract, Castleford and Junction Railway which was built to transport goods, (mainly coal) and a limited passenger service. The passenger service ceased in the 1960's, and the goods service over the last remaining part in the last ten years.

At the same time as the railway came the population expanded rapidly and has now reached about 10,000 people - mostly commuters.

E. N. Pickles 2001.

Mr Chairman and fellow members. When I think of the persons who give papers to our Guild, M.A's, B.A's, B.Sc's, Doctors, Professors, Architects, Surveyors etc., it makes me feel very humble and nervous. Mr. Howell asked me to give a paper and would not accept no for an answer, so really he is to blame for anything that happens.

KIPPAX IN BYGONE DAYS

Instalment 2

Time rolls on to 1595 when the buying of Kippax hall and Park is recorded for £240. Of course it was not the place as we know it, it was simply an Elizabethan house of moderate size. But the enormous enlargements in the middle of the 18th Century, and the addition of servants quarters as wings on either side, connected by passages, made it into a typical palace, beloved by the 18th century squire. The 6th Baronet who was responsible for the alterations it is said, made a wager with the Marquess of Rockingham who was then building Wentworth Woodhouse that Kippax hall when finished would have the longest frontage. The Kippax Baronet lost, by a few feet. To pay that and a score of other wagers he had to sell lands which included a large part of Manchester. The Hall was a favourite haunt of Robin Hood. It is sad to think that the Hall with all its former glories is falling into decay and ruin. It has often been said Kippax wasn't on the map, but it is clearly shown on one of 334 years ago, and appears to be quite as important as Bradford and Leeds. The Mill and quarry at Streat Gate are shown, also the church, park, Soke Mill. On a map of 1731 we get Kippax Mill, Soke mill, Moorgate, Roach farm, Peckfield House, Coal Staith and the district round the river and Brigshaw, was known as Shuffleton. I suppose you all know the Mary Panal wood and Hill was named after the witch who was burned at the stake in the wood, because she foretold of the death of one of the Wheler family. In 1844 4 people walked from Kippax to York to see Mary hunter of Lotherton publicly executed, for counselling Hannah Gray, a girl of weak intellect to set fire to 3 corn stacks.
In 1844 a woman was sold at Leeds butter and poultry market with a halter round her neck for 5/- to a Wm. Green in the Garforth district. Of course we had then Greens at both Garforth and Kippax.


Included quarries, valuable beds of clay, Mills, Farmhouse, Maltkilns, Public houses, Cottages, 93 acres of land. They then left the district. Mr Breffitt Castleford bought the Hall, had it demolished, and a new one erected, but not exactly on the same site, as a murder had been committ4ed there, so the new Hall was put back a few feet. However, it was built, furnished and then for some reason never occupied. The Hall has been used as a boarding school, in fact a gentleman once told me at Whitby that he was educated at Kippax College, then used as a night school, and also as a church. Mrs Carr's house High Field was the home of colliery owners the Lockes. Where Barras shop stands was the Hermitage, where Dicky Boggett once lived and was a fine musician, who composed several well known hymns and chants and other music. Just below was the Manor Farm and House a very large and imposing affair at that time. Next we had the Lord Nelson Inn, where Parkinsons sweet shop is. Next comes farm buildings and Malt Kilns until we reach the mainspring of the village, Cross Hills really the village green. The Royal Oak Inn was Kippax House the home of an important family the Claytons, 80 years ago there were 15 or 16 public houses but they cannot be traced. In addition to those mentioned before, we had the Angel, Moorgate. Jolly Colliers near the school, one just down Well Lane. Now for a subject loved by all. (Coal Pits). Coal was got in the village 529 years ago at least as in 1410 tithes had to be paid on coal got in the village and when you read the names of certain fields and see what burns up there, it is certain that we had small pits all over. We had Gilderthorpe Pit, near the Hall Ings, where roads 7'x7' were driven for 100 yards, North, South, East, West. Then the pit was abandoned just as it stood. We also had the fairy Pit and Lady Balk Pit just off Station Road. In the same area was Billywood Pit where I once went below.

Instalment 3
The principle source of employment was the Owl Wood Colliery starting in 1858 to 1905. I can still see some of the fine old men going to work, some with sticks, smoking their pipes, which they used underground too. They used to be proud of their strength and endurance. Some used to eat raw beef for that purpose. Candles were used down below. At the lady balk Pit if a collier earned £1 during a week, the firm presented him with a pound of candles for making such an effort. You can still see one or two of the buffets in the village, that the Owl Wood Co. gave the men, who when doing certain work used to light their pipes and sit down to it. Whilst I am mentioning smoking, when money was scarce, during hard times, a very popular brand of tobacco was used in Kippax. Toad-hoil mixture. It was composed of leaves gathered there and any sort of leaves, tea leaves, or brown paper. I asked an old gentleman who said he had smoked hundreds of pipes of it, what it was like. "noan so bad, but tha can bet yer nivver had blackclocks in a house whear it wor smoked". Some will remember old Tommy Norton on old miner, he was being brought home with a broken leg, sat on a pit pony's back smoking. The local paper stated during the journey home the pony kicked him off twice seriously injuring the broken leg. Another pit was the Park End Colliery near the Monument. The accounts for 1835-6 show that it was a pretty large concern, sales ready money landsale £35, water sale £138.16.3 Earl of Carlisle £59.17.6 J. Rushton £102. Mr. Kirby £89. Mrs. Turner £93. Wm. Allen £59. Coals were taken down to the river, by a tub road, which cuts across the allotments on Longdyke Lane, past the keeper's lodge (Slaters) then outside the Park boundary to Allerton Bywater. Therefore we had Thos. Crummack blankets for vessels £2.4.9.
Horses pulling 290 tubs at 2½d Boatman 2/6. Rob Rider for candles £11.14.9. Hire of Chaise, to and from York for Mr. Locke £3.15.10. 2 horses to Hunslet for pit bottom plates and bars 14/-.
Straitwork was paid at 22d per yard down to 6d. Thomas Plows 6 days mending road 15/- and 5 days at 3/- cutting level 15/-. Then we had a superman R. Townend cutting level 5 days at 5/6. The wages look small but £2.13.0d was paid to Anne Pickard for providing a colliers tea which took place at tables set all down Park Lane. Colliers overmoney £3.18.9. Colliers working a full week shared £5.5.6.
Enough of pits except to say that it has been stated that coal cutting machines first used in Yorkshire appeared at Owl Wood Colliery and Bowers Main Collieries. We got our gas supply in 1867. the church clock 100 years ago. Railways 1876, Telegraph 1887, Cooperative 1867. 70 years ago the sewage ran down an open gutter in the Main Street, then it was improved upon, flagged over and constituted the pavement. Prior to 1890 all water had to be got from wells and pumps, but practically all drinking water had to be carried from the Town Well, at the bottom of Well Lane. We read in the bible of people meeting at the well, and Town Well used to be a real meeting place.

The People
They had a great pride in their village, and thought of themselves very superior to anyone born out of the parish. They were very clannish. In fact, was even divided into sections, and had wars. We had Top of Towners, Bottom of Towners, Well Loiners, Robinson Loiners etc. Then other public enemies were Staffordshire and Shropshiremen. I am told that Warrington Row was first occupied by men from Derbyshire who came to work in the pits. They were made so welcome, that for a very long time they carried guns for protection. Also we had the men who settled down from Crossgates, Seacroft and district and were termed Back at Tmoiners.

INSTALMENT 4

Now I would like to speak about the names of the villagers 70 or 80 years ago, the proper names of some people were never used, and in fact hardly known. It would be quite correct to say that 100 families were only known by a nick name. I would like to mention a few and I hope no one will feel offended at the mention of any name as it is done in good spirit and respect. All these names were in constant use, some of our oldest members will bear me out in this. Now for the lads of the village.
As a well ordered community we had to have a King, Queen, Lord, Boss and Lady Roseberry. Next we ahd the "He Men" Smashem, Mangle, Scraps, Sidener, Beefy, Ironhead, Rock, Dabber, Cooky, Punch, Nipper, Leatherback. Now for animal names. Lion, Tiger, Mousey, Cat, Dog, Hoss, Donkey, Monkey, Squirrell. Bird names, Bird, Turkey, Cuckoo, Partridge, Duck, parrot, Robin, Cuddy, and I don't know what class to put the next name in - Toadbod.
Musically we had Fiddle, Diddle and Ding. We also had Flower, Shamrock and Radish. Yanke, Cockney and motecarlo, Cunning Cobbler, Cobbler and Clogger, Dandy, Topper, Doady, Doddm, Triscker, Laddie, Bad Dad, Newcake, Bawly, Kiddie, Dawny, Dotch, Needlehoil, Shinsh Flattie and Rounden. These names had a use for there were several families of Firths pronounced Foths one of them were the Woodnoises, another the Chivvies, another Smashens, then the Tips and lastly the Toadbods so it was an easy matter if you had the nickname to find any Firths, Loggs were Paxtons, Butterworths were Neps. Appleyards, Parrotts and Hitcham. I can remember 5 Wm. Greens at one time. They were classified as Greenie, Builder green, Chapel Bill and Blacksmith Bill.