Top of Crown Street, Hall End Halifax (Demolished 1867)

Illustration of Crown Street, Halifax, as it was in 1854, by J. R. Smith.

Postcard of a print from 1893 drawn by Joseph Rideal Smith and printed by Stott Brothers, lithographers of Halifax, from Smith's series of a dozen views, "Old Halifax", the set selling for 50 shillings. So commercially successful were Smith's drawings that he became known as 'Old Halifax'.

From the postcard: "This View shewing the Street as it appeared in the year 1864 is respectfully dedicated to John Lister, Esq., M A of Shibden Hall by his humble and obedient servant, J.R. Smith."

Joseph Rideal Smith was born in 1837 at the Waggoner's Inn, which was on the top side of Northgate. He studied as an architect, but due to ill health returned to Halifax in 1870, gaining employment at the Duke of Bedford's estate. After this he worked as the town's first sanitary inspector, he had great influence in building the Halifax goyte* system. He married Miss Empsall of Craven Edge in 1873 and they had one daughter. Smith died in 1915.

After showing one of his sepia drawings based on an old photograph to Alderman Ramsden of the Waggoner's Inn, Ramsden was so impressed that he encouraged Smith's work. Smith went on to produce a set of prints bound into books with the original print on the front cover. Each print was dedicated to local patrons and people of standing.

*goyte - man-made underground passage to channel water.

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