I love documentaries like this because they don't add loads of extras like loud voice overs and loads and loads of music, just trying desperately to get your attention. Its nice to just hear Nairn speak, the ambience of the town, and see the slow shots which linger on their subject for a while. Its wonderful and immersive.
Ian Nairn's documentaries were great television, celebrating what he loved, mourning what had been destroyed. After writing for The Sunday Times, Ian died in obscurity. I am glad his books have been reissued.
The Halifax Building Society was erected on the site of the former Thomas Ramsden's Brewery, the brewery was bought and closed down in the late 1960's by Leeds brewer Joshua Tetley & Son. In recent years the Piece Hall had a £9M revamp, it is now like an Italian Plaza inside with craft and collectable shops, bars and cafes, top rock bands now perform there to sellout crowds in the summer.
Quirky, original, and without the annoying hand-chopping, arms-waving mannerisms that plague today's 'professional' tv presenters....Ian Nairn was a one-off and I vividly remember watching his programmes at the time.
My god I didn't know till I watched this it took me to more research james Mason did a documentary about his birthplace which was huddersfield. There was more rolls Royce cars in Huddersfield than anywhere else in the world in the forties unbelievable.
Surprised there was no mention of the formidable Halifax Guillotine (constructed centuries before the French got round to it), but never mind. Really good to see and hear Nairn in action. His guidebooks, Nairn's London and Nairn's Paris are still (despite the vast changes in London particularly) invaluable and a great read. Many thanks for this posting!
Thank you for uploading Nairn is class. Why aren’t presenters encouraged to have an opinion of their own these days? I have hope for gb news because there’s a bit of opinion which isn’t just the boring centre left drivel but Christ they could all learn from Nairn‘s honesty
Afraid most of the shops in the video are all closed down now but we all need memories and one thing for sure you cannot beat the views 👍and still know houses built 👍😂😂
The Kayes store was a lovely oldi woldie store with real character and i had a fondness for the lift as a child as it was an exciting ride! I was a newly immigrant child in 1967 and everything looked really fun and exciting!! The ABC cinema used to be very popular in the 70's until Sainsbury's put it out of it's decline in popularity. The Internet has accelerated the decline of the whole Town now and i look forward to a new era of doing something creative with the Town buildings.When one door shuts another more interesting and wonderful world can open up which is bigger and better than the past - i hope so as Huddersfield, like all other towns and cities in the Uk deserve it :-)
This is a wonderful video,I'm Huddersfield born and bred,so totally did-agree with the 5-2 score-line. To me,Halifax gets one for "The Three Pigeons" public house and one for the Piece Hall..... Huddersfield gets a multitude of points towards an eventual score of 15 !
Having lived in Huddersfield. I think he's right. Always thought Halifax was less spoilt by modernisation. And it definately has a more dramatic position in the landscape. Love them both though..
Indeed, Daniel Defoe passed through Halifax in the 17th century, on his tour of Britain and wrote, "we left Halifax in some astonishment at its situation".
Now behind both goals where the slopes are they are now big covered terraces, were the dugouts are that is a more modern and bigger stand which now the only thing is the same is the stand at the other side of the pitch. I just shows you that times have changed and so have the stadiums in Britain.
First of all sad to here about the death of Ian Nairn as someone who was born in Halifax but lived in Huddersfield is praise for Halifax was nice but I've said this before you need to look at places like Emley ,Outlane ,Meltham, Shelley,Kirkburton Bradley e.t.c. ❤❤❤❤❤❤
It has changed 100% Its a dump and like a third world. Filthy and horrible now. The decay stinks. Like the society that surrounds it. Filled with crime. Huddersfield 3rd worst place to live in the UK.
+paddy9i99 Partly because they are mundane places today. - But in the past they had *serious* money as a result of the industries that they hosted... The idea to consider is how it all went away, leaving the amazing railway station in Huddersfield, the giant Church tower in Halifax, the Brutalist Halifax bank building that today is a shadow of it's former function and the Huddersfield Market Hall, which, I can categorically state, these days is a sad shell of what it once was. - Sic Gloria Transit Mundi, as it were. He'd be happy that the Piece Hall has done well, but I would agree that Nairn would have little to say that is positive about these places now, simply because nothing has been done to improve them, especially when you think that Huddersfield is upon the main line between Manchester and Leeds and could seriously position itself to serve as a place to live between them.
philip dufton Why not indeed? The issue is arguably one of foresight for the town centre. Huddersfield does have a potentially really nice town centre that still has space for development (Unlike Halifax which is hemmed in by it's hills) and could be sold around fast access to the station. It is such a shame that there is no desire for development beyond the ring road, which in some ways is a real barrier. Hopefully, because they are knocking down the Londale flats and the old sports centre, Cummins is (sadly) moving to Calderdale and the giant St. George's Warehouse (The red brick building by the station) we could see more flats and housing and so, more money. I just hope it is not just more student accommodation, as we frankly have enough of that.
Because that was exactly the point- the stated aim of the series was to take a look at towns which people only knew of because they appeared on the weekly pools coupons. Thanks for asking. 🙄
@@syedadeelhussain2691 Well that is received pronunciation and I speak with the same accent and I have lived most of my life in Huddersfield. There are a myriad of accents in Yorkshire alone.
Watching this in 2022. If only we listened to this man- Huddersfield would look a million times better
I love documentaries like this because they don't add loads of extras like loud voice overs and loads and loads of music, just trying desperately to get your attention. Its nice to just hear Nairn speak, the ambience of the town, and see the slow shots which linger on their subject for a while. Its wonderful and immersive.
Ian Nairn's documentaries were great television, celebrating what he loved, mourning what had been destroyed.
After writing for The Sunday Times, Ian died in obscurity. I am glad his books have been reissued.
England was once so beautiful...not so long ago
I love Nairn and just love the sound of his voice. A true man of the people.
5 minutes in that's my mum ,dad my sister in the pram and me!!
Love that!
i can't believe he scored the two markets as level. the one in halifax was truly a thing of beauty.
The Halifax Building Society was erected on the site of the former Thomas Ramsden's Brewery, the brewery was bought and closed down in the late 1960's by Leeds brewer Joshua Tetley & Son. In recent years the Piece Hall had a £9M revamp, it is now like an Italian Plaza inside with craft and collectable shops, bars and cafes, top rock bands now perform there to sellout crowds in the summer.
went to he Piece Hall yesterday. i saw this programme when it first went out and so glad to see it was saved.
I first saw this documentary over 30 years ago when Jonathan Meades did the intro for it in one of his own documentaries.
well done for posting this absolute quality
Quirky, original, and without the annoying hand-chopping, arms-waving mannerisms that plague today's 'professional' tv presenters....Ian Nairn was a one-off and I vividly remember watching his programmes at the time.
Fantastic film! Saw the Ian Nairn documentary on BBC4 recently. Didn't realise he'd done a programme on Halifax. Thanks for uploading it!
I love how Halifax town centre by the town hall looked so professional and clean
I'm from Manchester but i love going to Halifax such a lovely town.
@@garycross2741not far either
well done for saving this gem!
thank you for posting. ian nairn is my new favourite thing
My god I didn't know till I watched this it took me to more research james Mason did a documentary about his birthplace which was huddersfield. There was more rolls Royce cars in Huddersfield than anywhere else in the world in the forties unbelievable.
So many fond memories as a child in the 70s.
The 1970s was the most fascinating decade of the 20th century - what many would do to relive it
And many of us would like to relive the 90s too
Surprised there was no mention of the formidable Halifax Guillotine (constructed centuries before the French got round to it), but never mind. Really good to see and hear Nairn in action. His guidebooks, Nairn's London and Nairn's Paris are still (despite the vast changes in London particularly) invaluable and a great read. Many thanks for this posting!
Gibbet
Or wainhouse tower, the largest folly in the world
Thank you for uploading Nairn is class. Why aren’t presenters encouraged to have an opinion of their own these days? I have hope for gb news because there’s a bit of opinion which isn’t just the boring centre left drivel but Christ they could all learn from Nairn‘s honesty
Half day closing, that's a thing of the past. Now shops are open 7 days a week.
Oh my lovely Ian.......how would you feel now.
Can't blame him for what he said about Huddersfield, it's pretty grim.
I remember Carlise had a nice market 5 mins walk from the Beutiful Carli'se castle
This is so well presented.
I must find the audio recording I made of his programme about Wigan
proper documentary film making,no celeb presenter bull or background music.
Good job.
I can never work out what Nairn's taste in architecture is.
Afraid most of the shops in the video are all closed down now but we all need memories and one thing for sure you cannot beat the views 👍and still know houses built 👍😂😂
Huddersfield was a bustling town then in 70s and 80s anyone remember Kayes and kentons furniture shop.?
I remember the toys on the top floor of Kays and the tiny lift with the concertina metal doors and the smell of Christmas inside the store.
Definitely remember Kate’s but not Kentons give us clue what they selt
Sorry kayes
Kentons was a furniture shop.
The Kayes store was a lovely oldi woldie store with real character and i had a fondness for the lift as a child as it was an exciting ride! I was a newly immigrant child in 1967 and everything looked really fun and exciting!! The ABC cinema used to be very popular in the 70's until Sainsbury's put it out of it's decline in popularity. The Internet has accelerated the decline of the whole Town now and i look forward to a new era of doing something creative with the Town buildings.When one door shuts another more interesting and wonderful world can open up which is bigger and better than the past - i hope so as Huddersfield, like all other towns and cities in the Uk deserve it :-)
Can’t help thinking that I’m listening to Ken Barlow from Coronation Street narrating this film of my favourite two towns
Me too
Hello from 2021
Same
Surprised that he didn't mention Wainhouse tower, the tallest folly in the world, or Dean Clough, at one time the biggest carpet mill in the world!
really great programme - I love the off the cuff style, no smart 'professionalism' here, but my Goodness its depressing
This is a wonderful video,I'm Huddersfield born and bred,so totally did-agree with the 5-2 score-line. To me,Halifax gets one for "The Three Pigeons" public house and one for the Piece Hall..... Huddersfield gets a multitude of points towards an eventual score of 15 !
Would you know where in Huddersfield are the house Nairn is not happy about the view being a two way responsibility?
Langdale Drive and Kirkstone Avenue,Dalton
Totally did agree with you not
can you upload more vintage documentaries?
Having lived in Huddersfield. I think he's right. Always thought Halifax was less spoilt by modernisation. And it definately has a more dramatic position in the landscape. Love them both though..
Indeed, Daniel Defoe passed through Halifax in the 17th century, on his tour of Britain and wrote, "we left Halifax in some astonishment at its situation".
When was this filmed I love Huddersfield and Halifax and I'm a lancastrian
First shown on a Thursday evening in 1975, on BBC2.
Now behind both goals where the slopes are they are now big covered terraces, were the dugouts are that is a more modern and bigger stand which now the only thing is the same is the stand at the other side of the pitch. I just shows you that times have changed and so have the stadiums in Britain.
A town destroyed by concrete and bad design too . Down with all the classics and in with the calamities . Truly destroyed
Fantastic video. Do you by any chance have any more of Nairn's programs?
Alas not. Just had that on an old VHS tape. It's missing the first few minutes btw.
First of all sad to here about the death
of Ian Nairn as someone who was born
in Halifax but lived in Huddersfield
is praise for Halifax was nice but I've
said this before you need to look at
places like Emley ,Outlane ,Meltham,
Shelley,Kirkburton Bradley e.t.c.
❤❤❤❤❤❤
The crazy thing is not a lot has changed.
It has changed 100% Its a dump and like a third world. Filthy and horrible now. The decay stinks. Like the society that surrounds it. Filled with crime. Huddersfield 3rd worst place to live in the UK.
@@lasttango7522 Thats my home town its great ! and yes I have traveled all over and lived in other places, do we need more money yes who dosnt ?.
Anyone know what the music is at 7.00 minutes in?
Yes, it's called Pepper Box by The Peppers. You can find it on RUclips.
Enthralling and utterly depressing in equal measure.
Roger Mellie the man on the telly!
1:20
😂😂he just shuts down everything but you have to agree
I can't believe he just said Halifax I better than Huddersfield 😆.
What's appended!! Huddersfield is now Halifax's poor relation mind you they are two different councils.
Went to Huddersfield on Sunday. It is a massive dump now. Only skeletons of lovely architecture remain. Its shocking really. Like a third world town.
@@lasttango7522 Must agree its now a cross between the Middle East and an outside convenience
1:10 1:29
'The Town' rarely wins anything so this is compensation
Huddersfield and Halifax.
Just one question, why?
Why bother.
+paddy9i99
Partly because they are mundane places today. - But in the past they had *serious* money as a result of the industries that they hosted...
The idea to consider is how it all went away, leaving the amazing railway station in Huddersfield, the giant Church tower in Halifax, the Brutalist Halifax bank building that today is a shadow of it's former function and the Huddersfield Market Hall, which, I can categorically state, these days is a sad shell of what it once was. - Sic Gloria Transit Mundi, as it were.
He'd be happy that the Piece Hall has done well, but I would agree that Nairn would have little to say that is positive about these places now, simply because nothing has been done to improve them, especially when you think that Huddersfield is upon the main line between Manchester and Leeds and could seriously position itself to serve as a place to live between them.
philip dufton Why not indeed? The issue is arguably one of foresight for the town centre. Huddersfield does have a potentially really nice town centre that still has space for development (Unlike Halifax which is hemmed in by it's hills) and could be sold around fast access to the station. It is such a shame that there is no desire for development beyond the ring road, which in some ways is a real barrier.
Hopefully, because they are knocking down the Londale flats and the old sports centre, Cummins is (sadly) moving to Calderdale and the giant St. George's Warehouse (The red brick building by the station) we could see more flats and housing and so, more money. I just hope it is not just more student accommodation, as we frankly have enough of that.
+philip dufton Good answer, and I'm sure Ian Nairn took it all in also, he was an observant fellow
Because that was exactly the point- the stated aim of the series was to take a look at towns which people only knew of because they appeared on the weekly pools coupons. Thanks for asking. 🙄
He speaks English as if it is his second language.
@David Jones I have studied in the UK. Have never come across such an accent.
@David Jones he was from Surrey, so not a northern accent.
@@syedadeelhussain2691 Well that is received pronunciation and I speak with the same accent and I have lived most of my life in Huddersfield. There are a myriad of accents in Yorkshire alone.