Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Meeting - 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall Market Street

The Battle of Brunanburh

Steve Chapples

The evidence that this battle, which took place in 937AD between King Athelstan and a combined army of Vikings, was fought in and around Burnley in East Lancashire.

Steve has published four books and is a regular contributor to the Looking Back column in the Lancashire Telegraph. He has also appeared on BBC TV’s Inside Out series and has had his own radio programme on Radio Lancashire about his bestselling book about the Nelson Imperial Ballroom.

Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Meeting - 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall Market Street

Packhorse Days and Packhorse Ways

Janet Niepokojczycka

The days when four hooves ruled the world: pack-saddles, loads, routes and bells are some of the aspects of this near-forgotten way of life. With reference to several pack-horse journeys made by Janet herself.

Janet Niepokojczycka is a former infant teacher. She is currently a seasonal blue badge guide in Lake District and Scotland.

Hebden Bridge Literary and Scientific Society
Meeting - 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall Market Street

Book Launch of Mr Andoh's Pennine Diary

Stephen Curry

Imagine what a Japanese man would make of working and living in Hebden Bridge in 1935!

Koichi Andoh travelled from Japan in 1935 to teach the technique of distinguishing the sex of one-day-old chicks to Hebden Bridge hatchery businesses. He kept a daily diary of his life here - which his son Takayoshi Andoh discovered in the late 1990s. In 2001 Takayoshi made the journey to Hebden Bridge and a collaboration began between him and Stephen to translate Koichi's experiences. The book brings to life the thoughts and observation of a sometimes homesick man from a very different culture from that of the 1930's Calder Valley.

More information

Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Meeting - 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall Market Street

Excarnation and caterpillars:
the fruits of early retirement

Prehistory Group update

Dave Shepherd and Local History AGM

An illustrated account of some of the Prehistory Section’s activities over the last year or so. There’s a full update on the website but some things are better explained as a short talk.

Some features made by strangely-used rocks, and some mechanically-abused features…

Dave Shepherd is active in exploring and recording the prehistory of Calderdale.

Hebden Bridge Literary and Scientific Society
Meeting - 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall Market Street

The Search for Helen

Nick Wilding and Literary & Scientific AGM

Following his rediscovery of the lost silent film 'Helen of Four Gates', made on the moors above Hebden Bridge in 1920, Nick Wilding explores the locations that inspired the writer Ethel Carnie Holdsworth to write her remarkable novel in the first place, and brings to life the world she knew.

The event will coincide with the long-awaited republication of the book that many people claim was her best novel 'This Slavery', written by her at Slack Top, Heptonstall and based on her childhood memories of working as a half-timer in the mills of Lancashire.

Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Meeting - 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall Market Street

Jowett Cars: A brief history

John Atack

This evening's topic concerns Jowett Cars: Yorkshire's very own motor manufacturer whose centenary of production was celebrated last year. The talk is not purely technical. It involves the evolution of the family firm and its post-war demise. Characters, connivance and true Yorkshire obstinacy all play their parts and go some way towards explaining why these cars are remembered today, with affection or otherwise!

John Atack spent 37 years with Rolls-Royce in various parts of the globe. Some say they are still looking for him. He bought his first Jowett in Hebden Bridge in 1963 and has been the custodian of several others in the meantime. He is the Vice Chairman of the Northern Section of the Jowett Car Club – the oldest one-make car club in the world.

Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Meeting - 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall Market Street

Pubs and Breweries of the Upper Calder Valley

Peter Robinson

This talk will take a look at the impact of changing legislation upon the pubs of the upper Calder valley beginning in the 17th century, and will also examine the influence of the brewing companies and their successors the pub companies, from the 19th century onwards.

Peter Robinson has been interested in local and industrial history since his teens and joined the Local History Section of the Hebden Bridge Literary and Scientific Society in 1980. He is presently Treasurer of the Halifax Antiquarian Society, a member of the Brewery History Society and the local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale. In the latter organisation he has been involved in the Yorkshire Heritage Pubs Group.

Hebden Bridge Literary and Scientific Society
Meeting - 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall Market Street

John Bright - Alive and Kicking

Followed by a screening of Nick Wilding's film
'John Bright and the Angel of Death'

Nick Wilding

The Literary & Scientific Society is planning a unique event, a PowerPoint presentation debate with Nick Wilding filmmaker, John Cole historian and Rae Street, Quaker and historical researcher. This is followed by Nick's 40 minute newly up-dated and extremely powerful film John Bright and the Angel of Death.

16h November 2011 is the Bicentenary of the birth of John Bright in Rochdale. Events are being held throughout Britain to mark this important anniversary.

Today, Bright is largely forgotten, but he made a considerable impact in the 19th Century, not only through his seven year campaign with Richard Cobden to reform of the Corn Laws, but also as an opponent of war and slavery. Because of his ten year campaign to extend democracy to more working people, he was given the soubriquet 'the tribune of the people'. However, John Cole will argue that there is another side to John Bright and will question his motives on every issue. To illustrate points, Nick will demonstrate the power of his oratory, with extracts from his speeches and diaries, powerfully portrayed by actor John Stride. There are contributions in the film from Bill Cash, Lord Soper, Sir Bernard Ingham, Sir Cyril Smith, Tam Dalyell and Tony Benn.

What emerges is a highly principled character, who has commanded great respect in his time and since, but who still evokes some strong feelings of passionate hatred in his own hometown.'

Not to be missed. Seating capacity of the hall is limited to 80, so come early to ensure yourself a seat.

Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Meeting - 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall Market Street

The First Weeks of the War a local perspective on 1914

Mike Crawford

Everyone has some awareness of The First World War; some sense of ownership. Just what were the experiences of West Riding people in the first six weeks of the war? What was the story of those weeks, for men at the front and for their families at home?

Mike Crawford is a history teacher; he is especially interested in that juncture between national and local experience.

Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Meeting - 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall Market Street

Scandal and Humour from Halifax Parish Records

David Glover

All kinds of past records, from the Wakefield Court Rolls through Parish Registers, Diaries and Newspapers, contain items of smut and scandal which today we may find both titillating and ludicrous. Some are plain funny. This talk is designed to inform about curious past events, whilst (hopefully) making the audience laugh!

David has always been interested in history. Although he is a Londoner by birth, he has lived in Halifax for 25 years. Interest in Family History gradually developed into a fascination with local history. He is currently Publications Officer for Halifax Antiquarian Society, Publicity Officer for Halifax Civic Trust, and Chair of the Friends of Lister Lane Cemetery. He is also a regular contributor on local historical subjects to the Halifax "Courier."

Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Meeting - 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall Market Street

The Story of Castle Carr

David Cant and Clive Lloyd

David and Clive tell how wealth from the textile trade led to the creation of a large estate and disputes over rights of way. How Halifax's need for water resulted in elegant water gardens with a lofty fountain. And how changing fortunes led to the rise and fall of an extraordinary building in a spectacular setting.

Clive is President of the Halifax Antiquarian Society and has researched the history of farming in the Luddenden valley and, with David, traced and updated the story behind Whiteley Turner's Springtime Saunter. David is particularly interested in old buildings as well as local and industrial history.

Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Meeting - 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall Market Street

Calder Valley Volunteers: The Fight against Franco

Simon Manfield

Like many the world over, volunteers from the Calder Valley joined in the fight against Fascism during the years of the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). Simon Manfield will discuss the lives and altruism of these oft-neglected heroes.

Simon Manfield is a visual artist based in Hebden Bridge. In the summer of 2003 he illustrated the excavation of a Spanish Civil War era mass grave in the village of Valdedios, Asturias in N Spain.

Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Meeting - 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall Market Street

Temperance in the Upper Calder Valley

Corinne McDonald

The temperance movement began in the 19th century in the United Kingdom, and lasted for over 100 years. Come along and hear about the key local players and their efforts to steer people away from the demon drink.

Corinne was born and brought up in Surrey but has lived in Halifax for nearly 20 years. She is the syllabus secretary for the Halifax Antiquarian Society.

Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Meeting - 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall Market Street

www West Wadsworth

David Nortcliffe

Dramatic changes in that area and its adjuncts 1800 – 2000.

(Does our speaker mean World Wide Web ... or... What?, Where?, and When? ...or... is it something entirely different.) All will be revealed on the night.
A new look at this upland area - a 'wilder' part of Calderdale's west.

David Nortcliffe has a B.A. in History of Science & Technology; Secretary of Calderdale Heritage Walks; 35 years a member of Halifax Antiq. Soc (and former committee member); past Chairman of Yorkshire Archaeological Society's Industrial History Section.

Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Meeting - 7.30pm at the Methodist Hall Market Street

J.M. Carpenter and the pace-eggers,
An American folk collector in Yorkshire

Eddie Cass

Carpenter was an American academic who came to Britain in 1928 to collect folk performance material. He assembled the largest collection of such material which had been collected up to that time. He travelled 40,000 miles in search of ballads, songs, plays and customs.

Dr Eddie Cass will talk about what Carpenter collected in Yorkshire and will illustrate his talk with some of his cylinder recordings.

Eddie Cass has been working on the Carpenter collection with his colleagues for ten years. He is currently a Research Fellow at the Elphinstone Institute, the University of Aberdeen where he is editing the 300 play texts for publication by the University of Mississippi Press. They will be the first volumes in a series which will encompass the whole Carpenter collection.