Brighouse grew as a mill town in what is now part of Calderdale within West Yorkshire. The building of the Calder and Hebble Navigation canal in the 18th century spurred development in a rich diverse industrial base which included cotton, silk, woollen and worsted mills. There were also flourishing stone, wire, iron and flour industries, which helped the town gain its incorporation in 1893. The 1960s to recent decades saw further major changes in Brighouse, with many of the older industries going into decline. These have been replaced during the last sixty years with new businesses. With the opening of the M62 motorway during the 1970s and the town’s third railway station since 1840 in 2000, Brighouse is now a thriving busy modern, industrial and social community. Also, during this period, the town centre has been reconfigured and is continually evolving.
Lost Brighouse & District presents a portrait of this corner of West Yorkshire over the decades that has radically changed or disappeared today, showing not only industries and buildings that have gone but also people and street scenes, many popular places of entertainment and much more. This fascinating photographic history of lost Brighouse and the surrounding district will appeal to all those who live in the area or know it well, as well as those who remember it from previous decades.