North Bridge & Bowling Dyke, Halifax, from the Mount, Haley Hill, Ante 1864
J. R. Smith print of North Bridge & Bowling Dyke from the Mount, Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Author: J. R. Smith
Date: 1893
Location: Halifax
Format: Print
Document ID: 100453
Library ID: 35499729
Print from 1893 drawn by Joseph Rideal Smith and printed by Stott Brothers, lithographers of Halifax, from Smith's series of a dozen views, "Old Halifax", the set selling for 50 shillings. The scene depicted is from before 1864 and was possibly based on older photographs of the area (another print in the series of Crown Street was definitely based on photographs). So commercially successful were Smith's drawings that he became known as "Old Halifax".
Each print in the series was dedicated to a local gentleman; this one is "respectfully dedicated to Major Joseph Moxon Kirk, J.P., late 1st Volunteers, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) not only as a mark of respect but in recognition of the valuable services in connexion with the compilation of my series of views of the Old town".
Joseph Rideal Smith was born in 1837 at the Waggoners Inn, which was on the top side of Northgate. He studied as an architect, but due to ill health returned to Halifax in 1870, gaining employment at the Duke of Bedford's estate. After this he worked as the town's first sanitary inspector. He had great influence in building the Halifax goyte* system. He married Miss Empsall of Craven Edge in 1873 and they had one daughter. Smith died in 1915.
After showing one of his sepia drawings based on an old photograph to Alderman Ramsden of the Waggoners Inn, Ramsden was so impressed that he encouraged Smith's work. Smith went on to produce a set of prints bound into books with the original print on the front cover. Each print was dedicated to local patrons and people of standing.
*goyte - man-made underground passage to channel water.
