
audiobook
Transcribed from the 1902 (10th edition) by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org. Many thanks to Local Studies, Bradford Central Library, for allowing their copy of the pamphlet to be transcribed.
This lively pamphlet offers a witty chronicle of the Haworth Railway, written in a playful dialect that captures the spirit of 19th‑century Yorkshire. Its author, a native of the nearby hamlet of Hoylus End, blends satire with genuine local lore, turning a straightforward infrastructure story into a colorful tableau of village life. The text is peppered with quirky verses, humorous anecdotes, and vivid descriptions that bring the era’s debates to life.
Readers are taken on a brief tour of Haworth itself—its imagined ancient roots, the towering church, and the surrounding hills that inspired both pride and rivalry among its residents. The pamphlet recounts how the townsfolk, spurred by the growing railway networks of Britain and France, formed committees and held animated meetings to decide where and when to break ground. Early opposition, lively arguments over the exact spot for the first spike, and the eventual parliamentary approval set the stage for a community eager to join the modern age.
Full title
Th' History o' Haworth Railway fra' th' beginnin' to th' end, wi' an ackaant o' th' oppnin' serrimony fra' th' beginnin' to th' end, wi' an ackaant o' th' oppnin' serrimony
Language
en
Duration
~39 minutes (38K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2009-01-20
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1836–1897
A lively Yorkshire dialect poet with a knack for turning local history and everyday characters into memorable verse, he wrote with humor, energy, and a strong sense of place. His work still offers a vivid window into 19th-century Keighley and the people who filled its streets, mills, and railways.
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