Little London Mirfield

[shuttle35]

Hi, I wonder if anyone can tell me where Little London Mirfield is or was, and why it was called little London?? I have census where they lived at 123 Little London and he was a waterman so wondered if it was near the canal.
Thanks for any help Jacqueline

[arthurk]

I've found "Little London City" on an old large scale Ordnance Survey map, about a mile north of the town centre. The words appear in the triangle formed by the roads now shown as Lee Green, Old Bank Road and Greenside Road, and while I can't be certain, I think they might refer to a collection of buildings just north of Lee Green, between that and what is now shown as Savile Place. I've no idea whether the same buildings are still there now.

I'm not sure why an area would be called Little London - it's certainly not the only one. Maybe it was once settled by a group of families from London; or in view of the typical Yorkshire disdain for all things southern, perhaps it was thought to be particularly crowded, noisy, dirty etc.

Arthur

[J.R.Ellam]

Hi

I think Little London was near to what is now the London Park estate. It is at the top of Kitson Hill Road and near to the Mirfield Grammar.
Strange them being a waterman on top of the hill I thought most of them where at the bottom of the hill in Battyeford and Mirfield.

John

[shuttle35]

Hi Arthurk & J R Ellam,
Thank you both for your replies they have both been very helpful.
I think I need another trip to Mirfield now.
thanks again
Jacqueline

[sandrainyorkshire]

A man called Rev Joseph Ismay was vicar of Mirfield Parish Church from 1740 - 1778. During that time, he apparently wrote many letters to friends. There are lots of extracts in a book called "A History of Mirfield" This was what he was quoted as saying about Little London:

"Near Lee Green Pits....... poor, mean cottages among the pits, with coals about their doors." The writer of the book (Pobjoy) goes on to say, "There seems to be no satisfactory explanation of this name for this triangular area still called Savile Place."

Not much more info, but if you look here, you might find more of interest:
http://www.kirkheatononlineparishclerk.com/mirfield/joseph-ismay.htm

Sandra

[shuttle35]

Thanks for this information,
 I've had a quick look at kirkheaton on line and it gives you an insight of what it would be like living back in the 1700's in Mirfield. They had a very hard life and a lot to contend with.
regards
Jacqueline