A Glimpse into the Past: Brotton Railway Station and Its Story

This beautifully colorized postcard of Brotton Railway Station truly brings a piece of history to life. It’s more than just a picture of a building; it’s a snapshot of a bygone era, bustling with local life and hinting at the stories held within its brick walls.

Let's take a closer look at what this image tells us about Brotton, a village with deep roots in the ironstone mining industry of North Yorkshire.

The Heart of Brotton: The Railway Station

Brotton Railway Station was a vital artery for the community, especially after the discovery of ironstone in the Cleveland Hills in the mid-19th century. The railway wasn't just for passengers; it was crucial for transporting the extracted ironstone to the smelters in Teesside, fuelling the industrial revolution.

In this image, we see the station's rather grand and substantial architecture, suggesting its importance. The distinctive chimneys and roofline give it a sturdy, almost institutional feel, typical of many railway buildings constructed during the Victorian and Edwardian periods.

Fashion, Faces, and a Fenced Future

The most captivating elements of this photograph are undoubtedly the people. We see a group of children and adults gathered near the station entrance, some looking towards the camera, others seemingly engaged in conversation or movement. Their attire offers valuable clues:

• Children: Dressed in simple, practical clothing, many in dresses and pinafores.

• Adults: The women's hats and long skirts, and the men's more formal wear (one figure on the left appears to be wearing a cap and coat, while another in the group seems to be in a uniform of some sort, perhaps a railway worker or a local constable), all point to an earlier time.

The presence of the wooden fence along the right side of the image, the unpaved ground, and the general air of a growing, yet still somewhat rural, settlement further inform our perspective. The "WHITBY" sign on the left near the fence is also a wonderful detail, highlighting connections to other local towns and likely signifying the train's destination or a local business.

Dating the Image: A Best Guess

Based on the architectural style of the station, the clothing worn by the people, and the overall feel of the scene, we can make an educated guess about the photograph's date.

Brotton Station opened in 1875. The clothing styles visible, particularly the women's and children's outfits, strongly suggest the late Victorian or early Edwardian period. The formality of dress, even for children, was common until well into the 20th century.

Considering these factors, a likely timeframe for this photograph would be between 1890 and 1910. It captures an era just before the dramatic changes brought about by the First World War and the subsequent shifts in fashion and daily life.

What a wonderful piece of local history brought to life with this colorization! It prompts us to imagine the sounds and smells of the station – the hiss of steam, the whistle of a departing train, and the chatter of villagers going about their day.

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Postcard from the Past: Bankfield Museum and the Golden Age of Halifax

 The beauty of collecting vintage postcards lies in holding a physical, tangible piece of history. This week, I’ve been working on a new acquisition—an old sepia postcard of Bankfield Museum in Halifax. After digitally colourising it (a little artistic license to bring its beautiful architecture to life!), I wanted to dive into the history of the building itself, a true monument to Halifax’s industrial glory days.

The Architecture: A Monument to Victorian Wealth

The image itself is fantastic. It captures the contrasting architectural styles of Bankfield, highlighting the sheer grandeur and confidence of Victorian design. The building wasn't originally intended as a museum; it was the opulent home of one of Halifax's most successful textile barons.

Edward Akroyd (1810–1887), a name synonymous with Halifax's vast wool and worsted industry, built this mansion. He was a visionary who was not only focused on production but also on the welfare of his workers and the intellectual life of his community.

• The Original Core (Right): The darker, more restrained side of the building reflects the original home, built in the earlier Victorian style.

• The Akroyd Expansion (Left): The grander, lighter-coloured section on the left, with its distinctive Italianate and Byzantine Revival features, was the magnificent extension Akroyd added. Note the prominent stone quoins, the arched windows, and the confident, solid structure—it was designed to impress and reflect the wealth generated by his vast mills, particularly Dean Clough.

This architectural masterpiece eventually became too grand for the next generation, and the family sold it to the Halifax Corporation in 1887, where it was established as a museum to benefit the public—a wonderful legacy of Akroyd’s civic-mindedness.

The Postcard Clues: Dating the Image

Since this postcard was originally sepia, it’s safe to assume it dates from the early 20th century, likely pre-1920. The golden age of postcards, when they were the primary means of quick communication, was roughly 1900 to 1914.

Looking at the photo's style, there are some clues:

• Hand-Colouring Style: The slightly uneven, tinted appearance you see in the colourised version often mirrors the look of early colour postcards where sepia or black-and-white photos were hand-tinted before printing. This technique was very common in the 1900s–1910s.

• Lack of Automobiles: The grounds are immaculately kept, but there is a distinct absence of modern vehicles or extensive paved parking, suggesting a time before widespread car ownership.

• The Trees and Garden: The landscaping, particularly the small, young tree on the right, also provides a sense of the era, suggesting a period when the grounds were already established as a public park/museum setting.

This postcard, therefore, gives us a snapshot of Bankfield Museum during the zenith of the postcard era—a time when Halifax was at its economic peak and sharing its civic pride, like this beautiful museum, with the world.

Bankfield Today

Today, Bankfield Museum continues Akroyd's legacy, housing impressive collections focused on local history, textiles, and military history. It stands as a powerful reminder of the industrial titans who shaped the North of England, and is an essential stop for anyone visiting Halifax.

I love that this small, hand-coloured view allows us to look back across a century and appreciate the monumental architecture of a city built on wool.

(Note: The colour in the image is a digital interpretation by the author to enhance the architectural detail.)

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