We know about the Great Fire of London because people recorded what happened. Samuel Pepys wrote a diary describing the fire, what he saw, how people tried to stop it, and the damage to homes and shops. Newspapers, drawings, and maps also show where the fire spread and how London was rebuilt.
In Kirklees, we learn about history in similar ways. The Great Holmfirth Flood of 1852 was recorded in newspapers, which described the damage and listed the people affected. Old maps show where reservoirs, rivers, and mills were located. Buildings such as Oakwell Hall and village churches give clues about how people lived. Objects like tools, clothing, and household items, preserved in local museums, also help us understand daily life in the 17th and 19th centuries.
