Streethouse

A difficult place to find on the map, even though it is  quite a sizeable village. It appears on a map in the 1700's as Street Houses and in 1822 was described as having "2 farmhouses in the township of Snydale". It is located about two miles from Featherstone and five miles from Wakefield.

Streethouse grew around two collieries, known as pits in mining communities, Snydale on one side and Sharlston on the other, and most people in the village had connections with one or the other. 

The above photograph of unnamed miners came from my late mother's album. It almost certainly contains some Brabbs family members. CLICK the photo for a larger version.

My grandfather, Thomas Brabbs, was a Banksman at Snydale and received a certificate for 50 years "meritorious service".

My grandfather's parents were farmers at High Farm, which is now a small housing estate, but he and his brothers preferred to work at the pit because the wages were better - I doubt if the working conditions were!

The Brabbs family is still well represented in the village and has strong connections with Streethouse Cricket Club, as did I many years ago.

The Brabbs family women also had strong connections with the Methodist Church in Streethouse. My mother, grandmother, and great grandmother were all regarded as "big chapel women" and connected with the Church on Whinney Lane.

Streethouse Methodist Church Outing circa 1950

Click on photo for larger version

Do you remember? -

The stream which ran from Weeland Road to Whinney Lane which was full of sticklebacks.

The Old Miners Welfare Recreation Ground with cricket, bowls, tennis courts, and children's swings and roundabouts. It was located near the railway station.