Town's historic links are to be preserved

Residents had been hoping to retain the names Marsden and Claughton in the new Saxon Wells housing development on part of the Silver Cross and former Claughton's Boot Factory site off Back Lane.

Rev Samuel Marsden was chaplain to the penal colony in New South Wales between 1784 to 1838. He also instigated the wool trade between England and Australia and was also instrumental in bringing together the Maori tribes of New Zealand and educating them.

The site, where 69 homes are being built by Bryant Homes, used to include a road called Marsden Terrace, which has been demolished.

The road was named after Rev Marsden and was built by brothers Hugh and Arthur Claughton in the 1800s to commemorate his involvement in Guiseley. All that is left of the toad is now an old street sign of Silver Cross.

Now developers Bryant has agreed to residents' requests to name the luxury apartment blocks on the site 'Marsden House' and 'Claughton House'.

One of the campaigners pressing for the names to be retained, Andrew Claughton, said: "I wrote a letter in December to inform Bryant of the

history of the site and to suggest that the Marsden and Claughton names could be used as street names in this new development."

Mr Claughton, a descendent of Hugh and Arthur from the 1800s, added: "I also suggested that remembering part of Guiseley's history in this way would be a fitting tribute.

"It will also be a popular gesture with the people, particularly in the current climate of frequent confrontation between developers and residents in the area."

Another campaigner, historian Jeffrey Cooper of Silverdale Drive, added: "This is wonderful news - a lot of people will be very pleased to see that these names will be retained. I'd also like to thank the Wharfedale Observer for its support."

Bryant Homes said that although the street names on the development had already been registered, the

suggestions made in Mr Claughton's letter would be incorporated into the site's apartment blocks.