Page last updated 5/7/2005
Page last updated 5/7/2005
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Page last updated 5/7/2005
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Photo courtesy of Commanet.
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Stanley Road, its continuation - Aberford Road and the side street - Greenhill Drive as far as I can tell, was an area which was central to the story of the Wakefield Bagnalls. |
This cinema was built by William Bagnall and is mentioned in the article by Necia Potter below.
 The Star Cinema (from http://welcometowakefield.org.uk)
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 The Rex as it was in 2004
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See also Moorvilla below.
<% call top%>This piece was written by Necia Potter and features on the Commanet website
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William Bagnall was a prominent builder of Eastmoor and was responsible for much of the property. He lived on Stanley Road for a period and when the Cathedral spire was repaired Mr Bagnall was asked to go up and make sure the repairs had been carried our correctly. |
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This photograph shows the Co-op on Stanley Road but the house on the extreme right was where William Bagnall lived for a period. The house front was altered just prior to the 39/45 War when Stanley V. Potter changed the bay window into a shop front for his electrical business. Although the Buildings are now pulled down the tree still stands which was in the garden of the house with bay window. About 1912 Eastmoor got it's own entertainment when William Bagnall built the Coliseum on Stanley Road just across the road from where he lived. In 1933 sound was installed and the name was changed to the Star. Eastmoor residents had there own cinema until 1959 by then its name had changed to the Rex. Since then the building has been used as a Bingo Hall, Dance Hall and is now a billiard hall. A programme for March 1957 gives forthcoming attractions like "The king and I" and "Don't Knock the Rock" with Bill Haley. |
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Stanley Vere Potter was the son of the manager of the Empire Theatre in Kirkgate and trained as an electrician with the Tram Company. When he married Gladys Godwin they set up home at 108 Stanley Road. Stanley set up his own business building and selling radios and charging batteries. He converted the bay window into a shop front. The business had to close in 1939 when war broke out. Stanley, being a skilled electrician had to work repairing public transport. In the Kellys Directory of 1922 in the "Wakefield Private Residents" section was listed "Bagnall William, 108 Stanley Road". This was not far away from his brother Harry at 19 Stanley Road. |
See also The Coliseum, also known as The Star and The Rex cinema on this page.
In the 1881 census, John and Mary Ann are listed as living on Stanley Road.
<% call top%>'Bagnall Harry, 19 Stanley road' listed as private resident in a trade directory for 1922.
<% call top%>In the 1892 & 1904 Wakefield Commercial Directory is listed "Bagnall Brothers, builders, 78 Stanley road"
<% call top%>From the 1901 census, we know that in 1901, John lived on Stanley Road, perhaps the house was at 78 Stanley Road where they were listed in the 1891 census.
<% call top%>On the website welcometowakefield.org.uk the writer describes Stanley Victoria Club:
STANLEY VICTORIA CLUB, Aberford Road/Lime Pit Lane - now known as 'Grove Park' and privately owned. Originally it was an all-stone building being part of the Colliery undertaking associated with the Deep Drop Colliery owned by Messrs. R. Hudson and Company and was probably used as office accommodation and stores, It would be built in the early part of the 19th century.
I remember in the early 1930's this club having a Bowling Green which was not always in good condition due to being flooded after heavy rain. Water would settle and often, during a rainy spell, it would be unfit to play on for lengthy periods. The secretary of the club in 1922 was Alfred McDonald. At this time part of the building was used to stable horses belonging to a builder named Bagnall who also kept materials in the yard.
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This is how Stanley Victoria Club looked in 2004: |
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Rawling or Rawling's yard was just off Stanley Road, close by the Rex cinema, Greenhill Road and Moorvilla. It is no longer there.
In a trade directory of 1887 "Bagnall Bros. (Jno.) bldrs. & cntrctrs." Are listed at "Rawling yd. Stanley rd"
From the 1891 census, we know that in 1891, Thomas and Hannah lived at 18 Rawling Yard (off Stanley Road).
In the Kelly's commercial directory 1908 is listed "Wakefield Commercial Bagnall Bros. builders, Rawling's yard, Stanley Road"
In the Kelly's directory of 1908 in the "Wakefield Commercial" section are listed "Bagnall Bros. builders, Rawling's yard, Stanley Road"
In a 1992 directory in the "Wakefield Commercial" section is listed "Bagnall William, builder, Rawling's yard, Stanley Road
<% call top%>In a trade directory of 1887 in the "private residents" section is listed "Bagnall Mr Thomas, Greenhill road"