50. Sutton in 1927

The village has grown in recent years since the war. Many new houses have been built by the Parish Council, and larger ones by private people. This extension has linked together the two villages Sutton and Sutton Mill.

After the war the firm of Bairstows found that they needed more female labour than the immediate neighbourhood could supply. They, therefore, built a hostel for girls from agricultural districts. These girls, chiefly from Lincolnshire work at the mill and live under good conditions in the hostel.

The most recent addition to the village is St Thomas' Hall. It was built this year by the Church people and is used for their meetings and social activities.

Until last year the water supply for Sutton Mill was not very adequate. In a hot summer no water was available from the reservoir. The people then had to resort to the never failing well. Last year Keighley Council built a new tank. This will prevent any recurrence of the failure of the supply.

The firm T. & M. Bairstow has continued to grow and several years ago that of Wm. Hartley was joined to it. A smaller firm is run by Messrs F. Tempest & Co. These mills provide work for most of the people. A certain number of men travel everyday to Keighley and work in the iron foundries there. Some travel to Bradford where they are connected with the woollen trade.

The children attend either the National School or the Council School (the old Board School). Every year about five or six girls or boys go to the Grammar School at Keighley. Most of them gain County Minor Scholarships.

In the year 1912 Mr J W Hartley died. He left land for the making of a park. This was added to by Mr James Bairstow. The park is beautifully kept and is one of the noted places in the district. On hot summer days many people come from Keighley to spend time in Sutton Park.

There are four grass tennis courts, bowling and putting greens and a large recreation ground for boys and girls under 16 years of age. The schools use this for their football. There is a small pond where the children paddle in the summer.

Several years ago the Parish Council tried to establish a May Day Festival. A Maypole was erected and the school children were taught dances. Unfortunately the 1st Saturday in May, which was the date fixed for the festival, was wet for three successive years. The idea was abandoned two years ago, but has been revived this year.

An institute was built by T & M Bairstow. This provides further opportunity for recreation. There is a billiard room, a reading room and a swimming bath.

There is now a bus service to Keighley, every quarter of an hour, run by Keighley Corporation. Powerful engines are used, and the journey is made in about twenty minutes. (It was an electric driven Trolley Bus powered from overhead wire conductors and ran from Stockbridge, through Keighley, Steeton, Eastburn, Crosshills to the large turning circle outside the Black Bull Inn.) This connection with Keighley is well used. Every Saturday crowds of people go to Keighley to do shopping or to visit places of Amusement.

It may be mentioned here again in comparison with the last two centuries that no family has needed, for the last two years, to apply for parish relief.

The introduction of power driven machinery into the manufactures of the villages opened a new era of prosperity. Extreme poverty was swept away. The standard of living has been improved in every way. More opportunities for education and enjoyment are available and the village is progressive and busy. In every way it forms a great contrast from the tiny agricultural village of the middle ages and from the developing village in the last century.