Look back: The story of river boating in Bingley

The landlord of the Ring of Bells pub opposite Bingley Parish Church (backing onto the river) publicised that three skiffs/pleasure boats could be hired. By 1871 this had been expanded to six.

An article in the Shipley Times and Express (March 1938) suggested that boating in Bingley had been introduced by the Briggs family as far back as 1854.

* What distance did boat hire cover?

Boats could be hired for half an hour or hour, the distance travelled being dictated by time. The accepted route over all the years that boating was provided, covered the area from above the weir at Bingley up to Longwood, Ravenroyd and Marley.

Boats moored on the river in 1925 (Image: Alan Cattell)

Boating was originally offered on Saturdays and main bank holidays in spring and summer. From 1946 it was also offered on a Sunday.

* The Early Days: Dangerous Behaviour:

The dangers of boating on the river and conduct of those hiring boats was highlighted by magistrates William Ferrand and Titus Salt Jr prosecuting two local men at Bingley Petty Sessions in 1876. They commented that if disgraceful behaviour did not stop, boating would no longer be allowed.

This was again reiterated by magistrates in 1877 who told lessors of boats that they needed to exercise more control over whether they hired boats and to whom.

The magistrates stated: “If something effective is not speedily done, the owners of pleasure boats will find their occupation gone, a lucrative business stopped and the more sensible portion of the public deprived of a very agreeable means of healthy relaxation.”

Boats moored on the River Aire (Image: Alan Cattell)

* Who were the main boat owners?

Initially the Ring of Bells pub had the largest number of boats to rent. Landlords advertised that the inn was near the train station (for tourists) and was opposite the Church (for wedding receptions).

Photographs from early 1900 show a boat station and moored boats behind the Ring Of Bells. The pub was sold in 1928 to become Church House, which remains standing in 2024.

The Briggs family who lived at 54-56 Main Street offered boats which were eventually stationed on the opposite side of the river by the gas works. The family are shown from the 1841 Census onwards as living on Main Street.

An early image of boating on the river (Image: Alan Cattell)

The 1901 and 1911 Census details show Hannah Briggs as a confectioner and her son Joseph as a joiner/boat repairer.

An advert in the Shipley Times and Express for May 1914 shows Mrs Briggs, Pleasure Boats, Skiffs and Canoes for Hire - 56 Main Street opposite the Parish Church - Tea and Coffee Rooms.

The Wilkinson family also lived on Main Street from 1841, latterly at number 58. In 1927 Thomas Wilkinson, boat owner is shown as living at this address.

Having fun on the river in 1920 (Image: Alan Cattell)

* Where there any fatalities?

Newspaper records show that many incidents on the river happened because the individuals involved were non swimmers. Cases of drowning whilst boating were recorded in 1880,1896, 1928, 1933 and 1949.

Records also show that a member of the Briggs family was involved in rescuing four people whose boat had been swept over the weir in 1899.

Similarly a member of the Wilkinson family was involved in unsuccessfully trying to save lives in 1928 and 1933 and 1949 incidents at Bingley.

Ireland Bridge at Bingley (Image: Alan Cattell)

* Positive Experiences:

1920s and 1930s: A comment in the press extolled the attractions of a visit to Bingley: “The boating season opened with a flourish in Bingley and boats could only be obtained after a considerable waiting period.

“Yesterday trains, trams and buses brought large numbers of people to Bingley. The little Airedale town has a delightful boating stretch and two fine parks.”

Between 1939 and 1945 Bingley Grammar School hired boats to take staff across the river between the school property and the track to Ravenroyd farm on the occasion of the school’s cross country events.

1950s onwards: After 1950 there is very little the newspaper coverage about boating at Bingley.

Those reported as most frequently hiring the boats were teenagers and students at Bingley Teacher Training College.

* A Relic of Times Gone By?

The photographs accompanying this article are testament to a bygone era of simple pleasures and relaxation.

I hope that this article has helped some people to recapture forgotten moments and stimulate memories of boating on the river, whilst also informing others of times past in Bingley.

* Alan’s book Bingley A Living History is available from Luscombes, Bingley and Bingley Post Office.