Fred Midgley Butchers
91 and 76 Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale.
History courtesy of Bob Midgley, grandson of Fred Midgley. March to September 2018.
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Fred Midgley was born in East Keswick (4 miles south west of Wetherby) in 1878. He married Ellen Monk (b 1880 Camerton, Cumberland) in Southport in 1905 and he was described as a butcher. When he became a butcher, and how he ended up in Southport is still a mystery.
Fred & Ellen had 1 child whilst in Southport: Sydney Midgley born 1907. Fred & Ellen moved back to Wharfedale around 1908 and to 40 Lawn Avenue, Burley in Wharfedale. They had 2 more children Mary Midgley in 1909 & Frank Midgley in 1910. During these early years in Burley, Fred was running his butcher's shop in Main Street. This is now part of World of Beds (The Carriage). I do not know if this shop was bought or rented. Sydney is pictured in the photograph holding on to a prize bullock outside this shop. He must have been about 6 or 7 at the time. Around this time, Fred was looking for alternative premises. He settled on buying a house almost opposite 'World of Beds' (The Carriage) it was number 100 (later to be renumbered as 76), next to the ginnel leading to Spring Gardens. 
Fred Midgley Butchers Shop before being extended. 76 Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale. Image courtesy of Sally Gunton
Fred's two sons, Sydney and Frank both went to grammar school, and then joined the family butcher business.
By 1934, Fred was opening shops in Leeds as well. In January 1935, Frank married and soon was left managing the Burley shop. Fred and Sydney were now in Leeds. I arrived in 1937, by which time Frank had managed to discharge a humane killer (gun with a captive bolt) into his knee. Motto must be to not let your hands get greasy! There were two slaughter houses in use by Frank. I never thought to question why two, nor who else used them, if anyone, or did Frank do work for other butchers. One was by Hill Top, and the other was just out of Burley, on the old road to Otley. I never visited either. On examining the 1934 map on the Burley website, I believe it would be somewhere past Goit Stock Farm, near the top of Eastfield Lane.
Two young men worked for Frank. They were Victor Thackray and Dick Hargrave. When Frank reported to the army in 1940, as on balance he was doing more butchering than slaughtering, he was called up. Slaughterers were a protected trade. So his father, Fred had to come back to Burley to run the shop. I am sure that Victor and Dick were also called up. |
Midgleys' original butchers shop with side door, 91 Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale. Image courtesy of Sally Gunton
Sidney outside first shop 91 Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale. Image courtesy of Bob Midgley
Sydney Midgley aged 6/7 holding prize bullock outside original shop. 91 Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale.
1911 census - courtesy Burley Local History & Archive Group 40 Lawn Avenue MIDGLEY Fred - Head Married 5 years - Age 32 b1879 Butcher, Shopkeeper East Keswick, Yorkshire. 40 Lawn Avenue MIDGLEY Ellen - Wife Married 5 years - Age 31 b1880 Camerton, Cumberland. 40 Lawn Avenue MIDGLEY Sydney - Son - Age 4 b1907 Southport, Lancashire. 40 Lawn Avenue MIDGLEY Mary Elizabeth - Daughter - Age 2 b1909 Burley in Wharfedale 40 Lawn Avenue MIDGLEY Frank - Son - Age 0 b1910 Burley in Wharfedale Burley Archive notes: The reason for the two slaughterhouses could be that Midgleys' Butchers tendered regularly for the Scalebor Park Hospital meat supplies. These contracts lasted 6 months at a time.
(In the 1950s there was another slaughterhouse at Scalebor Park Hospital). 
Advert Midgleys' Butchers - Burley in Wharfedale & Chapel Allerton 1936. Image courtesy of Burley Archive
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Midgleys' Butchers history continued:
Burley is where I spent the first 11+ years of my life - 1937 to 1949. We moved to Cleethorpes, having 'exchanged' butchers shops with a Mr Anderson. Vic Thackray, who had returned to the shop after demob continued to work for Mr Anderson, and eventually bought the shop from him. Dick Hargrave did not leave butchering behind, and eventually owned the butchers shop at the bottom of Station Road, where he worked for many years. He was also particularly involved with the Burley Community Council.
I have just been perusing the last trading account for Frank Midgley at 76 Main Street, within which was the sale of a half share in a slaughterhouse in Burley to J. Outtersides for the princely sum of £275. I was never aware of this joint ownership, but why would I as a youngster at the time.
Burley is where I spent the first 11+ years of my life - 1937 to 1949. We moved to Cleethorpes, having 'exchanged' butchers shops with a Mr Anderson. Vic Thackray, who had returned to the shop after demob continued to work for Mr Anderson, and eventually bought the shop from him. Dick Hargrave did not leave butchering behind, and eventually owned the butchers shop at the bottom of Station Road, where he worked for many years. He was also particularly involved with the Burley Community Council.
I have just been perusing the last trading account for Frank Midgley at 76 Main Street, within which was the sale of a half share in a slaughterhouse in Burley to J. Outtersides for the princely sum of £275. I was never aware of this joint ownership, but why would I as a youngster at the time.
Midgleys' Business Card x1 shop Burley in Wharfedale and x3 shops Leeds. Image courtesy of Bob Midgley
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Frank was President of the Otley Area Retail Butchers Association for 1948. I have scanned his 'former president' badge
Frank Midgley past president medal 1948. Image courtesy of Bob Midgley
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Memories from Bob Midgley of his childhood in Burley:
During the 1940s, the Rev E.N. Pedley was vicar, and Albert Vine, my godfather, was verger. Albert lived in the rightmost terrace house of the group that went up to the right of the church entrance (24 Main Street). In the land to the right of Albert's house, set back was a cycle repair shop (large wooden shed) and house. The elderly man in there was a very keen pigeon fancier, but at the moment, his name has gone from my grey matter. Just checked the 1911 census, and yes, he was Matt (Matthew) Hudson at 22 Main Street.
I joined the choir in 1944. All new choirboys were chucked in a holly bush to 'christen' them. I avoided this honour for many, many months. There was pay too!! Two weekday rehearsal evenings at a halfpenny each attendance, and a penny for Sunday morning service and the same for the evening service.
At Christmastime, it was tradition that the choir, men and boys with the vicar would sing carols at numerous very large houses up Station Road. Typically the choir was invited in for a little refreshment. A separate journey was made to sing carols to many of the residents of Scalebor Park. Possible tittle tattle, but I was told that the vicar's son was receiving residential treatment in Scalebor.
In 1947 during the terrible winter, the senior boys, probably with a master's help, built a complete igloo in the school yard. We younger ones were not allowed near it. Although well after the war had ended, prisoners of war were brought in to work in gangs trying to clear packed snow and ice from Main Street. I think they did just enough to prevent themselves from freezing! During the war, I remember us all trooping down to the Grange as a rehearsal for an air raid. Another memory of that time, was being told when painting in class, that due to the war effort, there was no red paint. So Father Christmas had to be green.
Probably in 1948, I used to go to the Youth Hostel up close to the moors. The couple who ran the Hostel had a son who was my age, and the two of us used to play and run wild in the extensive grounds, with a stream running through. I think they got their meat from Frank, and probably the son was at Burley National School with me. Sorry, I do not know the surname, nor even the boy's first name now.
Other bits & pieces related to shops etc:
Albert Hainsworth was my barber, was never aware of spelling until accessing 1939 Register for Burley. His address was 123 Main Street.
The coal merchant's name was Hardisty.
The two doctors in the village were Garscadden and Melvin. For some reason, we attended both at different times. Garscadden was in Dial House on Main Street, and Melvin was somewhere up Station Road. I think his house name is in the Directory (Kelly's Directory 1927).
There used to be a drill hall (Victoria Hall) where the scout hut is, down Peel Place. I went to the scout meetings for a few months before we moved. This hall was also a part time picture house, certainly during the war years. I remember going there with my grandmother.
My knowledge of football in the village is really limited. I know that one team played on the pitch in the Recreation ground. I watched one match when the home team lost 12 or 13 nil. The goalkeeper was the captain. So not much use on the sporting front.
The Rec (Recreation Ground) had a path more or less round the perimeter. Beyond the bottom end (furthest away from Main Street), there was a steep tree lined embankment that came down to a path very close to the River Wharfe. In the summers the river was very shallow and we children used the many stones to build piers out with the unworkable idea of damming the river.
I can only think of one notable event, that I remember. This was a massive bonfire on the Rec to celebrate the end of the war. We had been brought up on blackouts, and this massive fire frightened and worried me that the blackout was not being observed.
Bob Midgley March to Sept 2018
Notes in brackets & italics - Burley Archive information.
During the 1940s, the Rev E.N. Pedley was vicar, and Albert Vine, my godfather, was verger. Albert lived in the rightmost terrace house of the group that went up to the right of the church entrance (24 Main Street). In the land to the right of Albert's house, set back was a cycle repair shop (large wooden shed) and house. The elderly man in there was a very keen pigeon fancier, but at the moment, his name has gone from my grey matter. Just checked the 1911 census, and yes, he was Matt (Matthew) Hudson at 22 Main Street.
I joined the choir in 1944. All new choirboys were chucked in a holly bush to 'christen' them. I avoided this honour for many, many months. There was pay too!! Two weekday rehearsal evenings at a halfpenny each attendance, and a penny for Sunday morning service and the same for the evening service.
At Christmastime, it was tradition that the choir, men and boys with the vicar would sing carols at numerous very large houses up Station Road. Typically the choir was invited in for a little refreshment. A separate journey was made to sing carols to many of the residents of Scalebor Park. Possible tittle tattle, but I was told that the vicar's son was receiving residential treatment in Scalebor.
In 1947 during the terrible winter, the senior boys, probably with a master's help, built a complete igloo in the school yard. We younger ones were not allowed near it. Although well after the war had ended, prisoners of war were brought in to work in gangs trying to clear packed snow and ice from Main Street. I think they did just enough to prevent themselves from freezing! During the war, I remember us all trooping down to the Grange as a rehearsal for an air raid. Another memory of that time, was being told when painting in class, that due to the war effort, there was no red paint. So Father Christmas had to be green.
Probably in 1948, I used to go to the Youth Hostel up close to the moors. The couple who ran the Hostel had a son who was my age, and the two of us used to play and run wild in the extensive grounds, with a stream running through. I think they got their meat from Frank, and probably the son was at Burley National School with me. Sorry, I do not know the surname, nor even the boy's first name now.
Other bits & pieces related to shops etc:
Albert Hainsworth was my barber, was never aware of spelling until accessing 1939 Register for Burley. His address was 123 Main Street.
The coal merchant's name was Hardisty.
The two doctors in the village were Garscadden and Melvin. For some reason, we attended both at different times. Garscadden was in Dial House on Main Street, and Melvin was somewhere up Station Road. I think his house name is in the Directory (Kelly's Directory 1927).
There used to be a drill hall (Victoria Hall) where the scout hut is, down Peel Place. I went to the scout meetings for a few months before we moved. This hall was also a part time picture house, certainly during the war years. I remember going there with my grandmother.
My knowledge of football in the village is really limited. I know that one team played on the pitch in the Recreation ground. I watched one match when the home team lost 12 or 13 nil. The goalkeeper was the captain. So not much use on the sporting front.
The Rec (Recreation Ground) had a path more or less round the perimeter. Beyond the bottom end (furthest away from Main Street), there was a steep tree lined embankment that came down to a path very close to the River Wharfe. In the summers the river was very shallow and we children used the many stones to build piers out with the unworkable idea of damming the river.
I can only think of one notable event, that I remember. This was a massive bonfire on the Rec to celebrate the end of the war. We had been brought up on blackouts, and this massive fire frightened and worried me that the blackout was not being observed.
Bob Midgley March to Sept 2018
Notes in brackets & italics - Burley Archive information.