Judy woods
http://www.ukwildlife.net/Judy%20History.html
Judy Woods is the third largest woodland in Bradford. The woodland is on a coal measure. If you walk through Judy woods sometimes you can see some coal on the surface most of the original paths are still there. Some parts of the woods have their own name North Brow Woods(Overlooks the estate at Woodside and can be accessed from Medway) Royd’s Hall Great Woods(Derives from its historical association from the Hall Runs from Brow Woods over to horse Close Bridge or ‘Judy Brig’) Gannerthorpe Wood(there is no public access into this wood but it can be viewed from public FP 129) Old Hanna Wood(Stretches from the bridge towards Delph Hill between high Fernley road and Royd’s hall Lane. Old Hanne may have been the mother of Anne wood who married James Hanson of Woodside Farm in 1729.On some Low Moor Company maps it is referred to as Neddy Wood) Low Wood(this is the woodland that can be accessed from Station Road or on the left behind Woodland farm on the High Fernely road approach. It is the lowest wood so Maybe that is how it got its name it contains plant of marshy ground) Jagger Wood(Is on the Calderdale managed side of the woodland and is on the right as you go into Royd’s hall Great from Medway. A ‘jagger’ is a local word for peddler or dover) Sun & Shelf Woods(Although a part of the overall woodland network which would have once bee the Old Forest of Bryanscholes these important and bordering woodland from an important picture with woodland forming Judy Woods and have their own footpath network managed by Calderdale Council)
Royds Hall Dam
Low Moor Iron works
Royds Hall Manor-The History
Horse Close bridge then and now
Who is Judy?
The name of the woodland is derived from Judy North or ‘Gurt Judy’ who lived in a cottage near Horse Close Bridge in the 1850’s and 60’s.In the census of 1861 Judy is described as ‘seller of sweets meats’ no doubt to the visitor to the gardens.Judy was the second wife of Joseph’s death in 1850,first Judy herself and John Barraclough,Judy’s son by first marriage took over as garden.