Herbert Hargreaves – Oxenhope Smithy & Gatemaker

A heritage plaque has been installed at Oxenhope Fisheries marking what is the site of a former ‘Smithy’ and commemorating a local Blacksmith, Herbert Hargreaves.

The plaque was unveiled by Councillor Ken Eastwood, Chair of Oxenhope Village Council, in the presence of Rae Foxon, owner of Oxenhope Fisheries and family descendants of Herbert Hargreaves whose workmanship can still be seen at several sites around the Village.

Left to Right: Xav Beckles (Great, Great Grandson), Rae Foxon (Oxenhope Fisheries), Lorraine Normington, Liesl Beckles, Michelle Marston (Great Grandaughters) and Cllr Ken Eastwood (Oxenhope Village Council).

In a fitting tribute to his craftsmanship, the plaque was cast using traditional methods and materials by Procast Foundry, located in Cleckheaton.

About Herbert Hargreaves

Born in Oakworth but with strong links to Oxenhope from an early age, records show that Herbert lived at North Ives between 1905 and 1907. His Dad, William Henry, had been a Stonemason.

Herbert is shown on the far right of this photograph, with his parents and brothers and sisters.

Photograph courtesy of Andrea Leighton-Eastwood. Left to Right: Bertha Hargreaves (married Smith Hudson), Sydney Hargreaves (married Emma Shackleton), William Henry Hargreaves, father, Elsie Hargreaves (died aged 18), William Hargreaves (married Martha Bailey)(emigrated to Canada), Grace Ann Hargreaves (mother), Frank Hargreaves (married Margaret Dent), Herbert Hargreaves (married Ada Wall).

In the 1911 Census, Herbert was living at 7 Uppertown, Oxenhope. He lived with his wife Ada and children Nellie and Louisa. He was working as a self-employed Blacksmith and Shoeing Smith.

The original Smithy is shown in this early photograph, believed to be circa. 1920.

Herbert Hargreaves moved his Blacksmith shop from the ‘chip shop’ in the 1920s to a building across the main road (no longer present).

Herbert was President of the Uppertown Co-operative Society in Oxenhope from 1921 and he lived in Uppertown until March 1957, when he died aged 77.

Gate Making

Herbert made the gates originally installed at the entrance to the old Wesleyan Methodist Chapel (on the corner of West Drive and Station Road).

Some years following demolition of the chapel, and subsequent demolition of the Sunday School, the gates were installed at the entrance to the ‘new’ Methodist Chapel at the top of West Drive, where they can be seen today.

Old photograph of Wesleyan Methodist Chapel
Lowertown Methodist Chapel, 1890 - 1971.
Photograph of Herbert Hargreaves
Herbert Hargreaves stood adjacent to the gates at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel.

Herbert Hargreaves also manufactured the ‘Oxenhope Gate’ – used as field gates in various locations around the village. The ‘Oxenhope Gate’ was a distinctive design, thought to be peculiar to the locality and mentioned in several publications and documents, including the Oxenhope & Leeming Conservation Area Assessment and the Oxenhope Village Design Statement.

The Oxenhope Sculpture Trail includes reference to the local gate design. ‘Perspective’ was designed by Stan Lawler, who was brought up in Oxenhope and has trained to be a blacksmith himself.

For more details on the Sculpture and the Trail see https://oxenhopevillagecouncil.gov.uk/sculpture-trail/perspective/

Reproductions of the ‘Oxenhope Gate’ were installed at the main entrance to the Oxenhope Millennium Green.