Monday 25 March 2013

YORKSHIRE. Lock-ups at Eastby, Fairburn and Heptonstall.




This lock-up at Eastby  in North Yorkshire, is situated in Barden Road, BD23 6SN directly opposite the former Mason's Arms. It is currently being used as a stable of some sort.



 
EASTBY
 
All photo's by Roy Pledger.
 
 


 
A booklet published in the 1970s, produced by the Embsay with Eastby
Local History Group and edited by Winifred Wharton says the following
about the building:

"On the opposite side of the road is the old jail or "lock-up", where inebriated
customers of the Masons' Arms were placed by the local constable to spend
the night. This happened frequently when large numbers of navvies were working
on the reservoir above Eastby. On the following day they were given a job to do
on the village vegetable plot known as the jail field to this day."

I am grateful to Monica Butler for sending me this information.


 
Security


 
Drainage
 
 
 
Inside


 
The door
 

The roof has Yorkshire stone tiles
 
 
There has been some controversy in the past about the true nature of the building, whether it was built as a lock-up or just a store house which was used as a lock-up. The interior, some 12ft x 12ft is quite large for a single cell lock-up and lack of intensive security would perhaps support this theory. 
 


 
Barden Road, Eastby.




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Very little is known about the lock-up at Fairburn also in North Yorkshire and situated in Cross Hill, WF11 9JG. It has probably only survived because of its position, being built into a hillside and with  the door bricked up for a number of years. The single cell 8' x 6' has a stone barrel roof and the door has now been replaced by the Historical Society.
 
 
 
FAIRBURN
 
Photo by Graham Hogg on Geograph
 © Copyright Graham Hogg and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
 
I am grateful to Graham for the use of his photograph.
 
 








 
I am grateful to Rita Stephenson, Chair of Fairburn Parish Council, for sending me these photographs of the fitting of the new door and indeed a glimpse of the interior.
 
Rita told me that it was mainly used to incarcerate drunks, but they had been taught at school about an unusual use for it. Apparently at the nearby Wars of the Roses Battle at Ferrybridge in 1461, King Edward 1V used this lock-up for his prisoners. 
 
 
 
 
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The lock-up at Heptonstall in West Yorkshire, known as The Dungeon, is situated in the rear basement of Stag Cottage, Town Gate, HX7 7LW and dates to the 19th century, although the cottage dates to the late 16th century. It can be easily viewed from the public car park opposite, and the village pinfold is nearby.
 
 
 
HEPTONSTALL
 
OS Grid Reference: SD9875428073
OS Grid Coordinates: 398754, 428073
Latitude/Longitude: 53.7490, -2.0204
 
Photos by Roy Pledger
 


 


The building was Grade 11 listed 1.11.1966 (No.423911) and described as :
 
House, late C16 used as Calder Civic Trust HQ......Basement visible from car park has
doorway with monolithic jambs aas entry to arched cellar,
used as a lock-up or dungeon in the C19.
 
Source: English Heritage
Listed building text is © Crown Copyright. Reproduced under licence.

 
 
 
 
 
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