Description
The sketch and description were originally published in The Halifax Courier in 1912-1913.
The name St Anne’s-in-the-Grove is usually associated with Southowram Church but the original title belongs to the residence situated further down the highway, in Brookfoot lane between Southowram Church and Brighouse. It has been owned by the Thompson family, in whose possession it still is, for many generations. There is evidence that the house was standing in 1500. It was on this estate that in the 16th century there was a chapel of ease, built by the de Lacy family but it is recorded that early in the 17th century it was placed among the decayed chapels for want of maintenance. It was pulled down prior to the church being built. The old font from the St Anne’s Chapel is in the porch of the present church which takes its name from the older building, though the church is described in some old documents as ‘chapel-le-briers’. PH/28