Greetings from Halifax
Views of the Orphanage, West View, Akroyd & People's Parks, and St Jude's, Halifax.
Author: Unknown
Date: not dated
Location: Halifax
Format: Postcard - Colour
Document ID: 100108
Library ID: 34241670
A composite postcard with five views of Halifax. The main image is of Crossley & Porter Orphanage, and there are four smaller cameos of West View Park and the Boer War Memorial, the Fountain in Akroyd Park, the gazebo in People's Park, and St Jude's Church in Savile Park. Also depicted are the coat of arms of the Borough of Halifax.
The Orphanage is the Crossley and Porter Orphanage and Schools (now Crossley Heath School) founded in 1864. Today [2003] the building is a grammar school serving the Halifax area.
West View Park, Highroad Well, is on land given to the town by local mill-owners Henry Charles McCrea (Mayor of Halifax 1869-1871) and Enoch Robinson (Mayor of Halifax 1904-1905). The park was opened in 1897. The war memorial depicted is dedicated to 73 soldiers who fell in the South African or Boer Wars and was unveiled in 1904.
Akroyd Park's 8 acres and Bankfield House were built for Edward Akroyd (1810-1887), who lived there from 1837 to 1856. They were opened to the public after his death in 1887. He was the grandson of James Akroyd, who in 1811 founded the world's largest worsted manufacturers, James Akroyd & Son. Edward was a benevolent employer, supporting many organisations and institutions which enabled his employees to seek better living conditions. He built Ackroydon to house his workers and provided them with low cost allotments. He also founded All Souls Church in 1855, after purchasing a former Baptist church at Haley Hill. Bankfield House is now Bankfield Museum, which presents international exhibitions of costume, fabrics, textiles, and toys. Still standing 2003.
People's Park was the result of a trip to New England by Sir Francis Crossley. He was so impressed by the beauty of the area he attempted to recreate it in Halifax. The park was opened in August 1857 as a gift from Sir Francis Crossley to the people of Halifax. In 1997, Halifax Council received a £1m grant from the National Lottery to restore the park.
St Jude's Church, Savile Park, is in Perpendicular style designed by W.S. Barber and consecrated in November 1890. The Baldwin family contributed to the cost of the building. Still standing 2003.
