IN the 19th century the lanes of Manningham were used for water deliveries and night soil carts. In more recent years some of these back lanes, known locally as ginnels, have been used for fly-tipping.
Now the Lister Community Action Group (LCAG) has completed a major clear-up of the Manningham ginnels and turned them into more appealing spaces by installing planters to brighten them up.
To celebrate the “greening of the ginnel” a tea party is planned for Saturday, with family fun, art activities and more planting. The LCAG clear-up has been supported by Bradford Council and NHS Together4Health, CNET, B&Q and Brick Box.
LCAG was set up in 2019 to cover the area within boundaries of Keighley Road, Oak Lane, Heaton Road and Emm Lane.
The group’s aims include engaging the community in health and wellbeing through a cleaner, safer, greener environment; promoting exercise and nutrition and dietary education among residents; encouraging carbon reduction in the area; involving children and young people and working together as a community.
Mukhtar Rehman, who helped to organise the ginnel clear-up, said: “LCAG is keen to get more people involved to achieve these aims and help develop new ideas to make our community a safer, greener and more attractive place to live, work and play. Involvement could be through community litter picks; becoming a ‘Street Ambassador’; helping to tidy up and repurpose neglected areas; setting up community resources and fundraising.
“Our first Project was making a ginnel at the back of Park View Road - previously a fly-tipping hotspot - into a pleasant community space with planters and an exhibition space. With residents’ help we can work to turn the area into a more vibrant place to work, live and play.”
The new-look Park View Road ginnel was opened in March, with a community project on the history of Lister’s Mill.
Bradford poet Bruce Barnes, who was involved in the clear-up, reflects on the story of the Manningham ginnels:
“Manningham has lanes. That word hides subtleties: a ginnel is a narrow passageway between buildings and if those happens to be houses then it’s a thoro’way, but if it is used as a short cut then it’s a snicket. If the passageway is roofed it is an entry, but if it happens to lead into an enclosed courtyard, then the entry becomes a bow-way. One mustn’t forget the lanes serving the rear of back to back terraces, fortunately these are known as backs.
“The paving of ginnels, snickets, entries and backs has in the past suffered from the ravages of the dressed Yorkshire stone thieves. But I have not noticed many gaps of late. Perhaps the police and public are getting to grips with the problem.
Cobbled streets are a part of Bradford mythology but like good mythology there isn’t much truth in it. Cobbles, small water worn stones of varying sizes traditionally used for paving, have almost disappeared in Bradford; Beamsley Road, which divides the North and South Lister Mill in BD9, is an example of a cobbled surface. The backs are normally paved with blocks of York stone, known as setts, a road surface that was common throughout Bradford at the turn of the century. Almost any hole in the road will reveal setts beneath the Tarmac.
“The setts were laid on a bed of ash, tamped in and gaps sealed with pitch. On a hot day in Manningham the pitch oozes out between the stones. They are of a standard width that corresponds to the size of a horse’s hoof, or clogs, the joints giving a better grip in wet weather. Coming in a range of colours, from ‘barmaids’ blush’ to mustard yellow they are the antidote to dreary Tarmac grey. But the sett is now redundant as a road surface, unable to withstand heavy levels of traffic, and too expensive to maintain;.it’s last appearance was in Southfield Square in 1986 when Bradford Council spent £80,000 on restoring the existing surface.
Throughout the Victorian era the Manningham lanes were an essential route for water deliveries and the night soil carts. But I am sad to see these former routes to hygiene are being used for flytipping. From the Council’s perspective, the majority of these lanes are unadopted roads, and they have no responsibility to maintain or repair them, or Tarmac them. But the community can adopt them as rambling routes or short cuts, as nature reserves where flora and fauna can be left to their own devices...I wouldn’t want things to be too tidy.
Photos from the 1950s and 60 show the lanes as children’s laiking places, safe havens from traffic. In spite of increased traffic levels and speeding cars, I am surprised that parents and children no longer have the confidence to take advantage of them.
However, the Lister Community Action Group has done so, providing planters for a local ‘ginnel’, (yes, they prefer that term) for the lane to the rear of Park View Road, linking Wilmer Road and Heaton Road.”
l The Lister Community Action Group tea party takes place on Saturday from 1-4pm at the rear of of Park View Road, Manningham. The event will include tea and cakes, music, plants and planting, a barbecue, Smoothie Bike, children’s art activity, face painting and health advice.
To find out more about becoming involved in LCAG email Listercag@outlook.com
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