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Thanks Keith, look forward to any info you might have. Since my initial posting, I have found out that Mary Clarkes mother was also called Mary and that she married Thomas Clarke at the Square chapel in Halifax. I am beginning to think that she was not really connected to the Clarke family of Scout Hall, just wishful thinking. I have e-mailed the previous owner Paul Reid, but so far he has not replied. Anne

Hi, I am new to roots chat, but have been very interested in the thread which talks about scout hall. Ancestors of mine lived there for many years appearing on the 1841, 1851, 1861 and 1871 census there. The head of the family was James Freeman and he was a farmer of abut 40 acres, or so it says in the census. He was born in Northowram or Southowram depending on which census you look at. His wife was Mary Clarke. The interesting thing is that reading information about Scout Hall itself, I believe that it was owned by a family named Clarke at some time and that the Hall has connections with the silk industry. James Freeman's son Henry went to London where he was involved in the silk trade as a silk mercer in 1861 and a silk warehouseman in 1871. Now the question I have is, does anyone know of this family and whether or not they have links to the Clarke family who owned the Hall? I didn't get the impression that the family were well off, but farming 40 acres is no mean feat and he employed 2 labourers. Thanks, Anne W