Broad Street

Crossley Street and Broad Street

Crossley Street

See Town Hall

YMCA - Hx War Hospital - Lady Firth Hut

Underneath the cafe was the 'Vodi', a popular video game hideout for rockers and school absconders in the 1980's (above in the 60's). Other hideouts were Talk of the Town at the top of Silver Street, El Toro just above the Lewins and Playland in Broad Street.

Broad Street

Broad Street - top to bottom

In the late 1950's a plan to make one of Halifax's best known streets live up to its name heralded some sweeping changes to the townscape.

By 1957 there was a new road past the old Crossfield Bus Station and the Odeon Cinema but the original portion of Broad Street between Waterhouse Street and Northgate, at the rear of the Town Hall, formed a serious bottleneck at Northgate. Considering that this was the main east to west highway through Halifax, in an age of steadily increasing levels of traffic, something had to be done, in the view of the council.

So, the Broad Street widening scheme got underway and many buildings were casualties. By 1958, the draper S. Arthur and Sons was one of Halifax's oldest established retail businesses, having been founded in these premises at the junction between Northgate and Broad Street 85 years previously.

Generations of Halifax people had patronised the firm, which, at the time of its closure, was still in possession of catalogues dating back to the 1870's and showing the latest styles in 'busties and corsets' designed for 16-inch waists. But the block of buildings had to go to enable the road to be widened and it was compulsorily purchased by the council. No new premises were offered.

The property which was occupied by 'Healey's' lasted longer but structural damage, possibly caused by traffic vibration, was discovered and eventually had to be demolished and was replaced by a small carpark.