Thomas Redfearn & Samuel Wood Plaque 26

Thomas Redfearn & Samuel Wood Plaque 26

Spen Valley residents Thomas Redfearn & Samuel Wood were loyal Heckmondwickians with 12 children between them. The census of 1891 shows they were neighbours on Eldon Street.They were passionate about high quality schooling and competed with "The Cleckheaton Conspirators" (see plaque 41)  to ensure Heckmondwike had its own secondary education. The result of Thomas and Samuel's work was Heckmondwike Grammar School which opened in 1898 catering for 900 pupils, and is still a well-known Grammar School today.