Chapel Yard, Silkstone 1891 - 1969

 

CHAPEL YARD, SILKSTONE 1891 - 1969

Chapel Yard (also known as Chapel Fold and Chapel Street) was a group of around 13 cottages located between the two chapels opposite the Vicarage and Church Terrace on land which is now occupied by the Health Centre and its’ car park. Various members of the Horsfield family lived here throughout the 1900s. The first three cottages on the right of the row of six next to the main road belonged to my grandfather Percy Horsfield at the time that they were demolished in 1969.

The map above and photograph below shows the Chapel Yard area between the two chapels prior to 1954 before the old vicarage was demolished.

Percy’s father was James Horsfield, a well known character in the village. Born in 1854 and died in 1932 at the age of 78, he had lived at Chapel Yard for at least 41 years from 1891 which is where he is recorded in the census of 5^th April 1891.

The 1881 census and those before do not record individual house addresses – James’ address is given simply as “village”. In 1888 and 1889 James was living at The Fox and Hounds Inn (baptism of daughter Alice on 5^th May 1889, occupation is given as Innkeeper and abode is given as Fox and Hounds), therefore it seems that James Horsfield and his family moved to Chapel Yard sometime between 5^th May 1889 and 5^th April 1891.

In April 1891 living at No 2 Chapel Yard were James (aged 35), his wife Elizabeth (nee Newboult aged 27), and three children Leonard (9), Ann (6) and Alice (2). The census records that the house had 4 rooms – probably two up, two down.

James Horsfield, wife Elizabeth and family around 1891

Although living in a small cottage James' occupation throughout the 1800s up to 1921 (at the age of 67) was recorded variously as farmer and carter (apart from 1889 when he was described as “Innkeeper”). There is no record of James living on a farm – although his father, Charles Horsfield, rented land from the Clarke family of Noblethorpe Hall (see 1845 Tithe Award Map). These fields and allotments may have remained in the family when Charles Horsfield died in 1855. James must have owned a horse to carry on his business as a carter. His father Charles and then his mother Ann were recorded as “leading” (delivering) coal in the church accounts between 1848 and 1871 and there is a Moor End Colliery delivery note to George Newboult’s shop dated July 1900 where James Horsfield is noted as the carter.

The 1901 census was taken on 31^st March. Living in the 4 room cottage at Chapel Yard with James and Elizabeth were 5 children – Leonard (19), Alice (12), James (9), Lucy May (4) and my grandfather Percy (2). The youngest three would have been born at Chapel Yard.

By the time of the 1911 census (2^nd April 1911), Leonard had left home but there were still 5 children living in the family cottage, Alice was now 22, James 19, Lucy 14, Percy 12 and Amelia 9.

 By the time of the 1921 census on 19^th June, all the girls have left Chapel Yard leaving James (now 29) and Percy (now 22) as the remaining children. Percy had returned to Chapel Yard after a number of years away during the War.

Over a 30 year period from 1891 to 1921, James and Elizabeth had brought up seven children at Chapel Yard. Some of those children would also live in the same row of cottages, and bring up their own children at various times between 1911 and the demolition of the cottages in 1969 – notably James, Percy and Alice.

 James was still living with his parents in 1921 at the age of 29. He would not marry and lived at Chapel Yard all his life until he died in 1960 at the age of 68.

Alice had married Harold Cooper on 2^nd December 1911 and it looks like they lived in Chapel Yard all their married life. They are recorded there in 1921 with children Roy (6) and Gladys (2). The electoral registers record Harry and Alice living at Chapel Fold / Chapel Street between 1918 and 1938 and then Chapel Yard between 1939 and 1956. Harry and Alice brought up their 3 children in Chapel Yard – Roy (born 1918), Gladys (born 1919) and Wilfred (born 1924).

This postcard of High Street from the 1930s shows No 1 Chapel Yard on the left, Church Terrace on the right and the War Memorial at the top of Church Hill in the distance

Percy was living with his parents in 1921 after returning from the War. He married Mary Elsworth on 7^th Sept 1922. According to the electoral registers Percy and Mary lived at Chapel Yard until 1930 when they moved to a bungalow at Silkstone Common. They had two children before moving to the bungalow – Alan (who died in 1927 aged 3) and Lena who was born in 1927.

Lena Richardson (Horsfield) outside No 1 Chapel Yard

During their time at the bungalow Cecil was born (1931), David (my father) was born (1941) and Lena was married (1947). Percy and Mary lived at the bungalow at Silkstone Common from 1931 to 1950, then returned to Chapel Yard in 1951 where they continued to live until the cottages were demolished in 1969.

Cecil married Elsie Frost in Oct 1954 and the electoral registers record Cecil and Elsie at Chapel Yard until 1956 (in 1957 the couple were recorded at Hall Royd Cottages, Silkstone Common). David married Katherine Aucock in Mar 1963 and the married couple lived at Chapel Yard for a while until they were able to move into a council house in Pack Horse Green.

Grandma (Mary Horsfield) and me on the step of the cottage at Chapel Yard 1963/64

Grandparents Percy and Mary Horsfield with my sister Lynn at Chapel Yard 1967

After 1963, Percy and Mary lived on their own at Chapel Yard for another 5 years, until they moved to a bungalow in Manor Park.

OTHER CHAPEL YARD FAMILIES

The village school admission register records a total of 43 children being admitted to the village school between 1914 and 1947 all living at the time at Chapel Yard / Chapel Fold - including Les Hey, Alberta Walshaw, Roy Cooper, Mary Ball, Mary Schofield, Mary Walshaw, Horace Hirst, Charlie Walshaw, Frank Aston, Arthur Walshaw, Fred Walshaw, Hilda Garnett, Gladys Cooper, Jack Garnett, Jim Hey, Harold Schofield, Kenneth Walshaw, Fred Schofield, Wilf Cooper, Edmund Womersley, Eva Walshaw, Bessie Hey, Ralph Garnett, Michael Womersley, Elsie Schofield, Arthur Schofield, Gloria Garnett and Megan Rodgers.

WW2 EVACUEES AT CHAPEL YARD

Mrs Edna Martin of Chapel Yard, took in two war evacuees as their guardian in 1940. Brother and sister Douglas and Constance Onslow of 30 Kensington Avenue, East Ham were admitted to Silkstone School on 22^nd July 1940. Constance was 13 and her younger brother was 11. They both remained at Silkstone School until they reached the school leaving – Constance in April 1941 and Douglas in July 1942.

Taken in Jan 1947 outside a property in Chapel Yard – Marion Jubb, Barbara Jubb (Sanders), Minnie Martin and Evelyn Mann

TWO COTTAGES AT CHAPEL YARD FOR SALE 1954

Taken from a local newspaper advert dated 26^th Feb 1954:-

At Silkstone (Barnsley 4 miles, Penistone 3 miles) – For Sale – a PAIR OF FREEHOLD COTTAGES suitable for conversion, one with Vacant Possession (ie empty), situated opposite the new Vicarage; all main services – Key from Mrs Cooper, Chapel Yard Silkstone. Offers to CE Smith & Son 14, Regent Street, Barnsley.

The map above and photograph below are from after 1954 as both show the new vicarage. Both show less cottages than the earlier map and photograph

THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF CHAPEL YARD

14^th Apr 1962 – South Yorkshire Times

From a newspaper report of a meeting of the Penistone Rural District Council

“The Council will be recommended to prepare a list of derelict buildings with a view to their removal. It is recommended that Closing Orders should be served on the owners of the following properties 1 and 2 Up Fold, Ingbirchworth, cottages at High Street, Chapel Yard and Sunnybank, Silkstone and numbers 1 to 6 Chapel Yard, Silkstone.”

THE END OF Nos 1, 2 and 3 CHAPEL YARD

Penistone Rural District Council wrote to my grandfather on 25^th Jan 1968 Re Nos 2 & 3 Chapel Yard, Silkstone. The letter is addressed to P Horsfield Esq., 1 Chapel Yard, Silkstone. The Council issued Demolition Orders for the above properties (Orders were dated 18^th Jan 1968). The demolition orders give the occupiers 28 days to vacate the houses, with the house to be demolished within 6 weeks of being vacated although a longer period may be allowed if the Council think fit. The standard wording on the demolition order is that “the house is unfit for human habitation and is not capable of being made fit at reasonable cost”. This was certainly not the case with these cottages.

During the next few months there was various correspondence whereby the council agreed to negotiate acquisition of the 3 properties via the District Valuer. After this there are just two short references to Chapel Yard in the Silkstone Parish Council Meeting Minutes:-

28^th Sept 1968 Report by Penistone RDC on matters relating to Silkstone – “Three houses in Chapel Yard (P Horsfield) were now being acquired. Others had various owners”.

Then 10 months later:-

31^st July 1969 Report by RDC Representative on Matters Affecting Silkstone – “Chapel Yard Demolition – Contractor Appointed”.

The cottages were subsequently demolished soon afterwards.

Research and Text by Andy Horsfield - Heritage Silkstone - Dec 2025