WHITE-aproned ostlers groom horses outside Wadsworth and Company’s Livery Stables (telephone number 0200) at the bottom of Haworth Brow.

Dimly visible inside is a hearse.

Turn-of-the-century advertisements emphasise the importance of the horse.

The “excellently-appointed” Town Hall Livery Stables proclaimed itself “the largest and best equipped”, offering “special provision for funerals” and supplying cabs, landaus and wagonettes on the shortest notice, although by 1903 it was the Devonshire Hotel which boasted a “handsome ‘Washington’ car hearse.”

William Hullah, whose Park Street Livery Stables catered for weddings and picnic and excursion parties, was a registered shoeing smith and ran a shoeing forge next door.

In Long Croft and Chapel Lane, Thomas Feather and Sons supplied hay, straw, flour and horse corn of the best quality, whilst the Central Provender and Forage Company in Cavendish Street offered “feeding cakes, Emmott’s condiment and embrocation” with mixed corn a speciality.

JG Lightowler made saddles, collars and harnesses, to which T Pickles and Co added wagon and cart covers, whips, brushes and sponges.

John Sagar and Sons produced “waterproof oil-cloth and mackintosh cart and waggon covers, waterproof and woollen horse sheets, driving aprons, waterproof landau top covers, cab horse and wagonette covers”, plus carters’ oil-proof coats, hats, capes and leggings.

Carting agent Sharp Speak would “carefully” remove your furniture in open and covered vans.