"The History of Honley, and its hamlets from the earliest time to the present" was published in 1914, and contains about 350 pages. The book describes the scenery, the history, the natural history, records, families etc. of Honley and the surrounding hamlets. The book is written in "time line" format within each chapter. A transcription of the contents list of the book is given below. There is no index for the book, but this is compensated for by the CDrom being computer searchable.
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A transcription of the list of Contents:
CHAPTER I.
(Ancient Honley.—Old Coins.—William the Conqueror.—First mention
of Honley in Domesday Book.—Saxon Thanes.—Lord of Honley.-
Woollen Industry.—Wapentake.—Poll Tax.—Honley in 1379.—Honley
Moor.—Ancient Dwelling in Church Street.—St. Mary's Chapel.—
Honley Tax-payers in 1524.—Value of Clothing.—The Plague.—Sales
of land by Sir Robert Stapylton.—Various Extracts.—The Civil War.—
Hearth Tax.—Extracts from Almondbury Registers).
CHAPTER II.
(Honley at the beginning of 1700.—Extract from Meltham History.—
Assessment in 1709.—Threatened Invasion of Scotch Pretender.—
Extract from Almondbury Register.—Threatened Invasion of the
Young Pretender.—Assessment in 1747.—Honley Book Club.—
Assessment in 1761.—Particulars of Constables and Overseers who
served in 1700.—John Wesley.—The Enclosure Act,—Local Loyalty
during French Revolution).
CHAPTER III.
Honley in 1800.--Factory Act of 1802.—Local Defence.—Threatened
Invasion of the French.—Diary Extract.—An Old-time Election of
1807.—Census in 1811.—Staple Trade of the District.—Lud-riots.-
Suspension of Local Banks.—Folly Hall Fight.—Factory Act of 1833.-
Chartism.—Plug Riots
CHAPTER IV.
(Honley's first Governing Body.—Closing of Shaw's Factory.—First
Railway to Honley.—First Local Newspaper.—Holmfirth Flood.—
Crimean War.—Peace Rejoicing.—First Gas Company.—First Lighting
of the Streets with Gas.—Co-operative Society.—First Local Board.—
Widening of Honley Gate.—New Road to Railway Station.—School
Lane.—Cow-lane and Windy Cap.—Fires.—Water.—Queen Victoria's
Jubilee.—The Commercial Inn.—Urban District Council.—Change in
the Township's boundaries.—Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.—Gas
Works Explosion —Purchase of Gas Works.—Death of Queen Victoria.—
Return of Reservists from South African War.—Tramways.—Coronation
of King Edward VII.—Electricity Works.—South African War.—
Rateable Value of Honley.—The death of King Edward VII.—Coronation of King George .—Change in Townships' Boundaries.—Recreation
Ground.—Visit of King George V. and Queen Mary to Honley.-
Constables in 1800-43.
CHAPTER V.
(Modern Honley.—Its Natural History.—Characteristics and Sayings
of Honley People.—Various Trades.—Old Homestead and Houses.—
Honley Clothiers.—The Wives of Honley Clothiers.—Sun-dials.-
Old Sign Boards).
CHAPTER VI.
(Superstitions.—Honley Feast.—Christmas.—St. Valentines' Day.—
April Fool's Day.—Mischief Night.—Collop Monday.—Shrove Tuesday.—Palm Sunday.—Good Friday.—Easter Monday.—May Day.—
Guy Fawkes' Day.—Riding the Stang.—Customs observed at birth,
marriage, death and burial).
CHAPTER VII.
(Music.—Choral Society.—Brass Band.—Hand-bell Ringing.-
Cricket.—Football Clubs.—Tennis Club.—Flower Show.—Sports.- Bull-baiting.—Hunting.—Foot-racing.—Whippet - racing.—Cock - fighting.—Pigeon - flying.—Games.—Old Landmarks.—Workhouse.—Town
Hall.—Stepping-stones.—Stocks.—Pinfold.—Rising Steps.—Banks Corn
Mill.—Toll-bars.—Wells).
CHAPTER VIII.
(The History of St. Mary's Church.—Cemetery.—Parish Room).
CHAPTER IX
(Honley Chapels.—Congregational Church.—Wesleyan Chapel.—Primitive Methodist Chapel.—Wood Royd Chapel.—Berry Croft Chapel.—
Reformer's Chapel).
CHAPTER X.
(Sunday Schools.—Church Sunday School.—Congregational Sunday
School.—Wesleyan Sunday School.—Primitive Methodist Sunday
School.—Wood Royd Sunday School).
CHAPTER XI.
(Education.—National Schools.—Private Schools.—Dame Schools.—
Mechanics' Institute).
CHAPTER XII.
(Benefit Clubs.—Working Man's Club.—Conservative Club.—Liberal
Club.—Labour Club.—Masonic Lodge.—Nurses' Home).
CHAPTER XIII.
(Hamlets of Honley.—Brockholes.—Smithy Place.—St. George's
Church.—Clergy House.—National School.—Wesleyan Church.—Elon
Crowther, Esq., J.P.—Alfred Sykes, Esq., J.P.—James Robinson, Esq.—
John Mitchell, Esq.)
CHAPTER XIV.
(Oldfield.—Oldfield School.—Deanhouse.—Hall Ing).
CHAPTER XV.
(Honley Families.— Armitage.— Brooke.— Jessop.— Miss Siddon-Crosley.—Leigh.—Waddington.—Oldham.--Other Families).
CHAPTER XVI.
(Cartimandua.—Reprinted from the"Numismatic Chronicle").
