Ingrow Bridge

[keighleyboy]

I am going to start a new thread here, because it's a spin-off from the Trolley Bus one, and perhaps we're getting off the subject!
I remember Mrs.McDonald and her Scottish accent well. At one time, she had the little paper shop (now demolished) outside the Great Northern Inn , and the Post Office on Ingrow Bridge.
Arthur Day at the chemist had some sort of connection with theatrical circles. He used to provide the make-up etc for the pantomimes which we put on at Wesley Place Chapel. I have heard it said that he had a hand in writing the song, "Mary, Mary, Mary is a grand old name."
One of my maternal great aunts, Nancy Ellen (Nellie) Nicholson, nee Tillotson, was the manageress at the Co-op drapery shop on
Ingrow Bridge in the 1910s/1920s, and her husband Davy was manager of the Co-op grocery there. He could add two columns of figures up simultaneously and write the answers in with both hands! He gave my mother away when my parents were married at Wesley Place in 1941. They had the reception at the chapel, and every body wondered where all the ham and tounge etc had come from during wartime. Uncle Davy just winked, but he knew all to well, and the secret went to the grave with him in 1949. He and aunt Nellie were married in 1906. They planned it for a Tuesday because it was half-day closing! I have the sideboard which belonged to them - it cost seven guineas. My mother used to say she was a wicked old thing, and went to hell when she died in 1956.

[fsharpminor]

My sister has been involved with theatres (KAODS and 'Little' Theatre as it was once called) for most of her life.
Many years ago she went into Days chemists and asked for some blood (meaning theatrical). Ordinary or Congealed ? came the reply. A little old lady stood behind her fainted !

[barcroftlad]

The start of the hill in Halifax Road at Ingrow used to be known as Neddy Brigg. Anyone here remember that? It's an interesting name that must have a story behind it. Cheers.

[keighleyboy]

Yer spot on, Barcroft. I had an old uncle, born at Hainworth Cragg Road in 1901 and who later lived in Wesley Place, and I remember him refering to 'Neddy Brigg'. But I didn't know where it was. The only 'Neddy' I can think of with a claim to notoriety - and this is pure speculation - is a man called Edward Woodyard who worked at the Paper Mill near Ingrow Bridge, and took over the first Methodist Class at Ingrow when its founder, John Laycock, a shalloon maker of Upper Green, Keighley, died in 1782.

[Andy Wade]

Well I always thought a 'Neddy' was another name for a donkey.
As in 'Neddy and Dobbin'.
And of course a brigg is a jetty.
Probably not related to this though.

[keighleyboy]

I've heard of at least three people called Edward who were known as Ned, perhaps the most famous of whom was the late Ned Sherrin, whose full name was Edward George.

[eric]

I've been talking to a old chap who has lived at Hermit Hole all his 80 years in the same house, and I asked him about Neddy Brigg at Ingrow, "ah yes" he said, "but it's not at Ingrow, it's just round the corner here, I can tell you exactly where it is, it's between Apple St and the post box" when I looked, the only thing between Apple St and the post box is...... the Great Northern Railway Bridge. Unfortunately, he couldn't tell why it was Neddy Brigg, although Brigg does seem to be a deritive of Bridge. How accurate this is, is not for me to say, readers will simply have to make up their own minds.

[Andy Wade]

I never thought of that possibility!
Could it be that the bridge is associated with horse drawn traffic crossing there?