History
of the Huddersfield Water Supplies
By T. W. Woodhead
CHAPTER IV - WATERWORKS COMMISSIONERS
The latter part of the eighteenth and the first half of
the nineteenth centuries witnessed great changes in local
conditions, and notwithstanding periods of depression, there
was a great industrial development leading to the concentration
of work in large factories at the same time a very gradual
decline of the cottage industry and replacement of the clothier
by the manufacturer. These changes are reflected in the
efforts made to improve water supplies for the growing industries
of the district.
Water power was in general use, but the uncertain supply
in the dry seasons led to the introduction of the steam
engine (favoured by the proximity of coal) to supplement
water power. For a long time, however, the steam engine
was of secondary importance and powers were sought from
Parliament for the construction of impounding reservoirs.
The need was also felt for making better provision for the
government of the town.
On June 30th, 1820, an Act was passed for "Lighting
Watching and Cleansing of the town of Huddersfield"
which aided by the Highway Surveyors, appointed by the Vestry,
conducted the public affairs of the town for the next twenty-seven
years. They were succeeded in 1848 by the Board of Improvement
Commissioners. This was a period of remarkable progress
and development in the town and neighbourhood ; many churches,
chapels and schools were built and enlarged or rebuilt ;
during this period the Huddersfield College, the Collegiate
School, and Mechanics’ Institute were founded, also
the Infirmary.
The limits of both these Acts, 1820 and 1848, were confined
to twelve hundred yards from the centre of the Market Place,
but was not a complete circle, the southern limit being
the north or left bank of the Colne, which partly forms
the southern boundary of the Parish. It did not extend beyond
the river to the south and east, but included what may be
regarded as the centre of town (See Figure 30 below).
During the working of these Acts the population had increased
from 13,284 to 34,874.
Figure 30. Huddersfield in 1850 (Click
on image for larger picture)
Boundary of the Huddersfield Improvement Act 1848
A memorial presented to Sir John Ramsden in 1826 requested
"that an abundant and never failing supply of pure
water might be obtained and conveyed to the town at a moderate
expense." This was signed by seventy-four prominent
inhabitants and it stated "that the inhabitants are
compelled to carry water from springs at some distance from
the town, particularly from a place called "Bradley
Spout," at which during the summer there have been
at an average, at all hours of the day and till a late hour
at night upwards of ten persons collected together waiting
for their turn, and until their cans were filled."
A Committee was formed from the memorialists to promote
a bill in Parliament to procure the necessary power to obtain
a supply of water from certain springs at Longwood. To this
end a sum of £8,926 10s. was raised. This scheme had
long been under consideration as shown by a plan preserved
in the Museum entitled "Huddersfield Water Supply.
Plan and Section of a proposed line for carrying water from
certain springs rising in Longwood to Huddersfield, both
in the West Riding of the County of York. Thos. Dinsdale,
Hudd., September, 1819." Dinsdale’s original
Plan of Huddersfield, 1825 is also preserved in the Museum.
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