Bolton and Undercliffe

There are a number of listed buildings in Bolton. On Idle Road in Bolton Outlanes there is Ivy Hall, a small 17th century hall[3] and Ivy Place, a mid 18th century house now subdivided.[4] Down Myers Lane (formerly named Owl Lane) in Bolton Outlanes is Hodgson Fold, a group of 17th century buildings.[5] On Bolton Lane there is Walnut Cottage and the 18th century Walnut Tree Farmhouse and barn.[6] Also on Bolton Lane is Bolton First School a church school dating from circa 1860.[7] On Lister Lane is Bolton House a former modest country house,[8] and there are listed park lodges, memorials and sculptures in Peel Park. In Wrose is Bolton Old Hall, a timber framed building largely rebuilt in 1672, and an attached cottage.[9]

There are some five public houses scattered throughout Bolton[10] and in the north west of Bolton is Bolton Woods Quarry a large stone quarry near Gaisby.[11]

Churches

On Bolton Road is the Grade II listed Church of Saint James[12] and Bolton Methodist Church is further up Bolton Road in Bolton Outlanes.[13]

The Robin Hood public house.

The Dudley Hill to Killinghall turnpike of 1804 came through Undercliffe, and the former Robin Hood public house was a toll office for the turnpike.[14] The turnpike still exists in the area as Killinghall Road to Bradford Moor and as Harrogate Road after a name change from Killinghall Road.

Cinema history

The former Oxford Cinema, demolished 2021

The 750 seat purpose-built Oxford Cinema on Dudley Hill Road was of a stone construction, and opened in 1914. Sound was installed by 1930 and it closed briefly again in 1955 for refurbishment. In 1962 it became a bingo club for three days of the week and a cinema the rest. It closed temporarily for alterations in 1965 but closed permanently as a cinema early the next year reopening as a bingo club, now the Oxford Bingo and Social Club.[15] The bingo hall was destroyed in a fire in 2021 during a COVID-19 lock-down and quickly demolished.[16]

The Coronet Cinema on Otley Road near Peel Park was purpose-built and opened in 1923. For many years it was known as the Coronet Picture House. Sound was installed around 1930 and a new wide screen in 1954. The cinema suffered a serious fire in 1955 and after recovering closed finally in 1958. The building was stripped and re-purposed as a wholesale food distribution warehouse but was destroyed by fire in 2003 and had to be quickly demolished.[17] A terrace of new houses now stand on the site.

The purpose-built brick and stone Tennyson Cinema was located to the south between Dacre Street, North Wing and Otley Road. and opened in 1923 as the 1166 seat Tennyson Picture House. Sound was installed in 1930, and in 1954 Cinemascope was installed while seating was further reduced to 1095. The Tennyson Cinema closed in 1961. The premises reopened as the Tennyson Bingo and Social Club, but later the building was demolished for road widening.[18]

In the south of Undercliffe is Peel Park a public park named after prime minister Sir Robert Peel. Also in the south of Undercliffe is Bradford (Undercliffe) Cemetery. The houses/small mansions of Guy's Cliffe on nearby Undercliffe Lane dating from circa 1850 are listed buildings[19] as are several memorials in Undercliffe Cemetery. There is only one public house remaining in Undercliffe after the loss of the Hare and Hounds, the Green Man and the Robin Hood.[20]

Churches

On Otley Road stands Saint Andrew's Methodist Church[21] and Saint Augustine's Church.[22][23]

Undercliffe Cricket Club, established in 1875, has a cricket ground on Intake Road[24] near Fagley.[25] Undercliffe joined the Bradford Cricket League when it was formed in 1903 with twelve clubs and is one of only two (Undercliffe and Bankfoot) of the inaugural twelve that are current members.[24]