Barraclough Biographies
The "Clockies of Dollymoor", Haworth
The Thornton Family
The selection below comes again from Michael Marshall. It
appears to be from a book titled When I was a Lad, by A.A. Thomson, published
London: Epworth Press, 1964, 60pp. 8vo. This book is described as: Recollections of a
Yorkshire boyhood, including cricket. Illustrations by Bernard Hollowood of Punch.
p58-59
Now, let's go across in front of the Bull's Head to the shops at the top of Kipping Lane.
First was a bootmaker's shop .... Next door was a drapery and millinery shop owned by Mrs
Caleb Barraclough, my wife's Grandmother. Left a widow whilst she was still in her early
thirties with five children alive and one unborn she built up a successful business and
reared a splendid family. My mother and sisters patronised her shop and knew her well but
I remember her best when she was retired and living with her daughter (my wife's mother);
a little lady in her seventies, her hair still dark, crowned with a little lace cap. She
took a lively interest in everything which went on around her and was an authority on the
doings of the Royal Family. Her husband, Caleb, was the son of John Barraclough of
Haworth, a member of a well-known family of clock makers who travelled to all the towns
and villages around Haworth looking after clocks and mending watches. He eventually
settled down in Thornton and established a business which in my day was run by his son, Mr
James Barraclough: we shall come to him later. I remember Mrs Barraclough telling me that
when she was making a bonnet or a hat she never charged anything for the time which she
devoted to it but relied on the profit from materials and trimmings.
Next to Mrs Barraclough's was a grocer's, a very good one too but not one which mother
patronised so of no particular interest to us.
p62
Next door was a long, low shop, an annexe for one across the road. Originally opened by
John Barraclough, 'Old clocky', who came from Haworth, in my day it was run by his son, Mr
James Barraclough. This was probably the most important shop in Thornton. It was a
hardware shop where one could buy anything required for the home or workshop. They also
stocked rings, brooches and other kinds of jewelery and, of course, clocks and watches
were of special importance. James Barraclough was a 'chip off the old block' and followed
the family tradition as an expert clock and watch repairer. Neat and precise in person, he
was neat and precise in everything he did. When I walked down Market Street I was often
attracted by a coffin-pate in his shop window. These plates were engraved by Mr
Barraclough and they were wonderfully well done. I always thought that it was a shame that
such beautiful work was going to be buried. Mr Barraclough was one of the first
photographers in Thornton. A number of his photographic plates are still in existence and
prove him to have been an artist of real merit. It's interesting to note that his grandson
because a clever portrait painter.
(Thanks to Rob Alexander for identifying the book for us)
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Last updated on 27 December 2000