1.31 MAN 1811 LEA BHM 21 K.

Fields, roads and properties

Tracing paper Size: 28*45cm Condition: Poor Scale unknown

All the maps shown on this site are numbered in three ways. The first, here 1.31, is my own personal number which is used to unambiguously and uniquely identify every map and plan surveyed. The second is the Local Studies Library’s own index number: the first group three letters are the place surveyed, the number is the date or estimated date, and the final group of three letters is used to identify the surveyor, architect or equivalent. Often this person is unknown consequently alternatives may be used such as PLA for plan. This catalogue index need not be unique to single map. BHM was Bowling Hall Museum where these plans were housed until the 1960s. The BHM catalogue is lost but if it ever reappears 21K should be the map’s old index number, and there might be additional information contained there.

In the past MAN 1811 LEA was used to identify the displayed map. The original, but unknown, indexer must have believed that this reserve map was a copy of Leather’s survey of Manningham (1811) which is in the publicly accessible map collection, and is well worth examining. Although in poor condition Leather’s survey contains much information, including the names of thoroughfares and of some properties. It also shows the very obvious post-enclosures pattern of rectangular fields. The map illustrated here has south placed at the top, but since there is no lettering aside from the title I have inverted it for ease of use. The given date of 1811 is far too early. The topography is actually quite like the first Ordnance Survey map (surveyed in the late 1840s). The first Lister Mill is shown (constructed 1838) But Whetley Hill Reservoir at Three Nook Field is missing (opened 1854). St Paul’s Church, Manningham is also missing (constructed 1848). The rather unscientific method of simply dividing the decade 1838 – 1848 by half gives us a date of c.1843.

The LSL public collection also has MAN 1811 MAN which appears at first sight to be a modern redrawing of Leather using colour and additional property owners’ names, but does seem to be a contemporary map with sums of money in red, tithes or rents perhaps, for each field. The use of landowners’ names great aids dating. Nathan Jowett for example died in 1816 and the dates of Joshua ‘Squire’ Field of Heaton were 1742-1819. So the given date of 1811 seems to be correct; it is a beautiful map.

What changes occurred to Manningham in the thirty years between the 1811 and this 1840s map? Examples are the construction of Manningham Mills, which was clearly a portent for the future. There has been the building of a back to back terrace along Brick Lane (now Thornton Road) east of Four Lane Ends. Bolton Royd on Low Lane (Manningham Lane) has appeared. Most interesting to me is the reorganisation of Manningham Hall estate, home of Ellis Cunliffe Lister, from farmland (Hill Top Farm) to a gentleman’s park and residence. Manningham Hall is usually considered to be of late 18^th or early 19^th century date: the second of these possibilities seems to be correct. The public park was developed in the late 19^th century, and the hall itself was demolished during the creation of Cartwright Hall Museum and Gallery.