Morley Top Railway Station and Bridge

I've lived in Morley for over 3 years and I'm only just finding out about Morley Top Station and the viaduct on Bridge Street.
Join me in looking at the tell tale signs and names in the area.
Adventureme: / adventureme "Music by Karl Casey" "@whitebataudio"

[@bunnyb3760]

When I was a kid in the fifties I went to Bridge Street School - posh name Elmfield - and thus walked up and down Bridge Street more times than I can remember including under the bridge. I can't remember if the bridge was a single span across the bottom of Bridge Street and High Street, or two seperate spans. The bridge over the line near the grammar school was quite a hump and had a tall wooden fence on each side. At that time the metalled road ended near the rugby club and became a black ash surface until the tarmac resumed lower down towards Corporation Street. Me and my mates spent time at both stations train spotting, often taking a train into Leeds to spend the day at City Station. My dad's annual mill trip to Blackpool went from Morley Top. I seem to remember going to Scarborough from the same, but in the other direct. Always allowing for tricks of the memory, as it was so long ago. I certainly remember the goods yard off Fountain Street. There was an area at the top of Great Northern Street called Hunger Hill comprising some old houses. I don't suppose there's much, if anything, left of that. The GNR clothes/shoe you found in Part 2 is a gem of a find.

[@Bhh2]

Thank you for your memories...this is why I want to document our history, we're going to lose it if not.

[@caleblindley7142]

Very interesting this and amazing how the landscape has changed. I've learnt from Adventure Me, where ever you see loads of brambles in a line or some random woody area, there used to be either a railway line, or an old mill. Doctor Lane in Mirfield, I drop of patients at a care home not realising a railway line was there many years before. Sainsburys car park also in Dewsbury, was a heavy goods yard, unbelievable. Great vid.

[@Bhh2]

Yeah I remember the track being there behind sainsburys but you can't get round there now unfortunately.

[@Bettys_Eldest]

I started at the Grammar School in 68. Would catch the bus into town, getting off at the stop by the Pavilion cinema and walk up Fountain Street, past the swimming baths, over the bridge to school. Dad was best mates with John Dunning, who used to be steward at the The Fountain Street WMC by the engine sheds. John became a snooker pro, getting up to No.16 in the world rankings in the 1980s. Things have changed an awful lot since I left in 79, have not been back much since dad died in 2015. Though on the odd trip back before then folks would stop me in the street and say "You're Betty's eldest, sorry to hear about your mum, do give my love to your dad". I never know who they were, so would have to try and describe them when I got home.

[@Bhh2]

Great recollections. Is there anything you'd like me to film?

[@darleytransportandtravel6353]

Interesting video. Love the photo of the passenger train crossing the bridge. Never seen that one before.

[@Bhh2]

Hard to come by pics of the bridge unfortunately. Thank you for watching.

[@UsualmikeTelevision]

Brilliant video my friend!

[@Bhh2]

Thank you very much

[@lowbot80s]

Fascinating, love a bit of local history, especially when there are physical traces to be found or missed😆 Don't feel bad we all walk around with painted eyes on!!!

[@Bhh2]

I walk past it every day. Read a book people 😆

[@jaktag]

Love this. My grandad lived in the first house on the right, next to bike shop,then moved over the road,years later. My auntie lived in the very end house at the top on left,opposite station house,she bought it for about £250 and lived there most of her life until she was in her 70s.The tram sheds were up where Gordan Whitleys was,either Queens rd or Worrell st,just off fountain street,the tram lines are still there.

[@Bhh2]

I'll have to check out the tram lines. Thank you for that.

[@Paul_in_Dewsbury]

Love stuff like this, really interesting and it goes to show how much history there is around us when you look. Thanks for sharing

[@Bhh2]

More to come. I'm planning on coming down to Dewsbury, plenty of things to look at down there.

[@Paul_in_Dewsbury]

@@Bhh2 look forward to seeing what you come up with.

[@marlenedrake6512]

I typed more on this but it does,nt all come up on screen,too long I think. I loved Morley before Leeds took over. I left Morley in 1959 when I married aged 23 years. I am 86 now but still remember so many happy times and dancing in the town hall. Wish I could talk to you.😂😂😂😂😂😂❤

[@Bhh2]

Where are you living now?

[@marlenedrake6512]

@@Bhh2 hello I live in Doncaster,South Yorkshire

[@BlueHToys]

@@marlenedrake6512 have a friend coming over from Doncaster tomorrow

[@2TNOIR]

Early in the video shots of the roundabout of Fountain Street and Corporation Street on the left is the medical centre across the intersection from the working men"s club. This was the site of the local baths where we all learnt to swim in the early 60's or earlier. I live in New Zealand now, but born in Morley Hall my roots are strong.

[@Bhh2]

Oh right that's where the baths were. Thank you. I did try find the skating rink.

[@dominicpride9644]

Thanks for posting this video and getting the drone out. As a kid I walked across the bridge on fountain Street over the old railway track, and still remember taking a detour in my way to Cross Hall Juniors to the left as they were demolishing the bridge. Bit by bit, traces of the old track disappeared. It was my neighbour George Lindley who took the old goods warehouse and turned it into the A/T/S place it is today. Chartists Way got built, but for a long time there was a disused railway waiting room and toilet on the right as you went down towards the roundabout with Bridge Street. Next to the grammar school, the green light turned into another bit of the rugby field. Across Scatcherd Lane, a narrow housing estate got built. There is still I believe the remains of a bridge going across Bruntcliffe Lane. If you look on the map now, you can't even see where the line used to be. Thanks again for this video which gives me a window into a place that I get back to very rarely now.

[@dominicpride9644]

Confession; I did my bit of youthful vandalism and smashed the toilet bowls in the old disused station. Good job I could out run the bobby Bruntcliffe Bill who happened to be walking past...

[@Bhh2]

😆

[@Bhh2]

Thank you for this, id like to know more about the station and would love to find any more signs that the line was there.

[@bearson2411]

I'd recommend to anyone interested in learning more about local history to get in touch with West Yorkshire Archive Service.

[@Bhh2]

I went yesterday 👍🏻

[@poppycracker]

It carried out past the Morley High School (where the roundabout is) and went towards Driglington/Gildersome. If you walk towards Glen Fields, there is still the high banking it ran across towards M62 Junt 28 roundabout to Tingley (which has been demolished)

[@Bhh2]

I'm going down to the Gildersome tunnel tomorrow with the drone to do some more filming 👍🏻

[@DaveinLeeds]

It would be interesting to pinpoint exactly where the old line crossed Bruntcliffe Lane, somewhere just below the cemetery I imagine. Also, if you go into the trading estate between the Angel and Gildersome Roundabout, walk down past the side of EV Cargo, (Downton's). As the footbath drops down by the bushes, you will see loads of old stones. I'm sure they must be from the railway bridge that was demolished at that point.

[@Bhh2]

Just looking at the side by side website maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=14.4&lat=53.75225&lon=-1.61137&layers=1&right=MapTiler And yes the bridge would of been by the side of the cemetery. I'll go check it out.