Who were Elizabeth and Joe Love?

Elizabeth Love was born 3.10.29 at Paddock Hook Farm, Barkisland, Ripponden, Near Halifax

Her brother Joe was born in 1931. Their father was a farmer. Their grandfather had been a colliery owner. His wife’s father (Elizabeth and Joe’s grandmother’s father) was a coal miner. 

Their parents George and Hannah Love had been farm owners in the Halifax area. Elizabeth and Joe attended Bowling Green school near Ripponden.

 In 1947, at the age of 21, Elizabeth started working for M&S in Leeds, her brother was a miner, who later became a clerk at Micklefield Colliery. 

In 1949 the mother, Hannah, died and the family came to live in Micklefield. Joe found work at the local Colliery.

Around 1962 Elizabeth and Joe Love’s father bought the house on Castle Garth.

For most of her adult life Elizabeth worked in nursing. She began her nursing career as a student in Cambridge, followed by a position at Nottingham Hospital as Staff Nurse. Later moving to PGI as Staff Nurse, then moving to Ackton as Ward Sister, eventually returning to Pontefract as Ward Sister

Throughout their adult lives both Elizabeth and Joe would have both been relatively well paid. They used their income to create the collection which remains within the property.

Just before he died, Joe expressed a wish to his sister that their collection be in some way preserved for the nation. Elizabeth was in full agreement, and aware of her own mortality began investigating possible solutions. 

Elizabeth eventually decided to leave her house and it’s contents in trust, in the hope that one day it may be turned into a museum for the people of Pontefract. She also left a substantial amount of money to help achieve this.