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History of the Meeting House

The history of Wooldale and our neighbours at High Flatts and Midhope is chronicled in "Plain Country Friends" by David Bower and John Knight. Copies may be ordered from David Bower price £10 on +44 (0)1484 685047 or by emailing the webmaster.
1651	George Fox's first visit to area
1653	Thomas Ellis of Wooldale converted to Quakerism.
1665	Thomas Ellis fined £9/10/0 (£9.50) and has his cloth and tools confiscated for attending Quaker meeting.
1669	George Fox visited Henry Jackson of Hepworth recording in his journal that he had attended a "great meeting".
1673	Graveyard conveyed to trrustees.
1682	Burial of Henry Jackson's infant daughters. Hannah and Tabitha, victims of smallpox.
1684	Henry Jackson built Totties Hall which was used for Quaker meetings but was fined £100 for turning a funeral into a riot.
1689	Act of Toleration and licensing of Wooldale meeting house.
1714	Elihu Jackson built Wooldale Hall
1715	Wooldale meeting house conveyed to trustees
1783	Meeting house repaired and extended to present size.
1792	Wooldale became a preparative meeting
1843	Wooldale Friends aided suffering textile workers who lost their livelihoods through industrialization.
1847	Wooldale Friends raised £18/9/0 (£18.45) for relief of famine in Ireland
1851	Census showed attendance of 40 in morning and 18 in afternoon meetings
1900	Entrance hall built
1905	Adult school began to use the meeting house. Continued until 1921
1977	Restoration work carried out including re-roofing and kitchen modernization
1984	Children's meeting room converted into an outbuilding
1987	"Plain Country Friends" published