Description and History of Site:-
The site originally comprised a single storey weaving shed with top lights, and a basement level facing Dispensary Walk; later used for the manufacture of screws. When the 1894 office and warehouse building was erected in Charles Street, the two properties became inter-linked. Following the closure of the works in 1993, the former machine shop (originally the weaving shed) was largely demolished and a Blockbuster Video outlet erected on the southern portion of its site. The remainder was occupied as a car park for an adjacent conversion from warehouses to flats (WYK 00775), the basement level facing Dispensary Walk was however retained. and remains in separate use; evidence of an arched entrance and former window openings are clearly visible. The site of this works once formed part of the estates of the Waterhouse Charities and comprised three lots sold by them in 1857 to George Buckley. Two years later, Buckley sold the site to William Brown who erected a weaving shed, later known as Alhambra Works. Within a few years Brown was in difficulties and the property passed into the hands of trustees, emerging in 1887 under new ownership as the Standard Machine Screw Company. The business was purchased around 1896 by Simeon (or Simon) Crawshaw, who had also purchased an adjoining plot of land facing Charles Street (WYK 00778), along with the house that the Lecturer at the Parish Church had once occupied, but which had since been used as a barracks and later a beer house. The business was re-named the Automatic Standard Screw Co. Ltd., and was in operation until1993. When this business closed, the Alhambra Works was largely demolished to make way for an outlet of the Blockbuster video chain, and is now occupied as a fitness gym.

Further Reading and References:-
J.H. Patchett, 'The Development of the Area to the West of Halifax Parish Church (c1540-c1965)', Transactions of the Halifax Antiquarian Society, New Series vol. 13, 2005, pp. 25-30.
E. Webster, From Rule of Thumb to CNC, Halifax, privately published, 1997, pp. 103-4.
Goad Insurance Plans 1897-1930.

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Key Words :- textiles weaving engineering

Viewing the Site :- The site can be seen from Dispensary Walk and Berwick Street. No visible remains.

Address :- Dispensary Walk, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 1QW
Grid Ref :- SE 09663 25170
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.722848 , Long -1.855038
Local Authority :- Calderdale Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site demolished or no longer extant
Site Condition :- Site redeveloped to industrial / commercial use
Site Dates :- 1859 -
Record Date :- 19 April 2017

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Peter Robinson