Balloon "The Duke of Edinburgh" near Shelf.
During the evening of Tuesday, 22nd May 1877 a planned and advertised balloon ascent was made during a gala at Peel Park, Bradford during which the balloon basket carried an aeronaut and two passengers. This balloon, "The Duke of Edinburgh", was a large one, it measured some 125 feet in circumference and was 67 feet high. After the tethering ropes were released at around 18.00hrs the balloon rose and drifted off toward Halifax. The balloon later descended over the Shelf area. As it neared the ground the aeronaut threw out the grappling hook but it failed to find a firm hold. The basket struck and knocked down a first wall, crossed a field, struck and knocked down a second wall but then the balloon's ropes became entangled with the balloon and there was a danger that it would up-turn. The balloon righted itself and shortly afterwards it became lodged in a tree. People on the ground had seen it approach and managed to get hold of ropes and stop it allowing those in the basket to get out. The day prior to this the aeronaut had flown from Bradford to Baguely, Cheshire.
Aeronaut - Mr James A Whelan, of Huddersfield.
Passenger / assistant - Mr James Firth.
Passenger - Mr George Garton, of Huddersfield.
Some four years later on Whitsuntide Monday, May 1881 at the West Riding Gala held at Peel Park this same balloon was used for a flight, it rose to aroun 2300 feet and eventually descended, coming to earth at High Close Field, Shelf; not far from where it landed four years earlier. This time the landing was made without incident or damage.