NEWSLETTERS
We publish one newsletter each year in September previewing the following season's lectures. Short articles on local and family history are usually included. These can be accessed here.
SOCIETY NEWS
Enews May 2026
Our lecture season is over until September and some very interesting lectures for the next season are being planned. The archives are open as usual and family history meetings on a Tuesday continue at the Birchcliffe Centre. Details are under Archives and Family History.
OTHER LOCAL HISTORY EVENTS
Pennine Heritage, Birchcliffe Centre, Hebden Bridge
20th May 2026 6.45 pm 'Fight for the soul of Labour and the salvation of the miners': The General Strike of 1926. Talk by Professor Keith Laybourn, York St John University. £5
Website: https://www.pennineheritage.org.uk/
Calderdale Heritage Walks
There are several interesting walks coming up.
14th June 2026 Going to church in Todmorden, led by Anne Melia
12th July 2026 Dobroyd Castle – pre-booking from 5th June via
https://www.ticketsource.com/calderdale-heritage-walks
Website: https://calderdaleheritagewalks.org.uk/about.html
Cragg Vale History Group
21st May 2026 Whatever happened to the Townships – Mytholmroyd and Cragg Vale area; speaker David Cant
https://www.craggvalecommunity.co.uk/index.php/history-group
Heptonstall Museum
Museum closed; planned reopening at the end of May 2026
Website for news: https://heptonstallmuseumfriends.org.uk/
Mytholmroyd Historical Society
8th May 2026 Edleston’s- A History of Asquith Bottom Mill and Dyeworks, Sowerby Bridge. Speaker Mike Gray.
Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Talks resume in October
Details: https://todmordenantiquarians.co.uk/speaker-events/
Todmorden U3A
Have occasional local history meetings. Many other groups and regular talks
https://u3atod.org.uk/events/
Todmorden Folklore Centre
1st July 2026 Zoom talk: Lincolnshire Witches and Cunning Folk.
https://www.folkloremythmagic.com/
FAMILY HISTORY
Family History Federation
Useful summary of resources.
https://www.familyhistoryfederation.com/
Calderdale Family History Society
Recently moved to online meetings only – coming up this year: https://www.cfhsweb.com/documents/Syllabus.pdf
General website: https://www.cfhsweb.com/
FACEBOOK – local groups of interest
Hebden Bridge History and Memories
https://www.facebook.com/groups/538333474995431/
Hebden Bridge Local History Society
https://www.facebook.com/hebdenbridgelocalhistory
Heptonstall Museum
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofHeptonstallMuseum/
Mytholmroyd and Cragg Vale Local History Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/791138454297392/
Ryburn Valley History Society
https://www.facebook.com/groups/879719096808975/
And finally another dip back into the history of Todmorden
Extracts from the Annals of Todmorden 1552-1913. A Record of People, Events and Circumstances from Earlier Times. Compiled by Dorothy Dugdale.
April – June 1877
• Committees of the Todmorden Rural Sanitary Authority, and the Hebden Bridge Local Board, confer as to the appointment, jointly, of a nuisance inspector for their districts, to devote the whole or part of his time to the duties thereof.
• At a ratepayers’ meeting at Hollins, Walsden, a sharp protest made against the busy-bodies of the Ratepayers’ Association.
• Order published of the Local Government Board to the effect that no part of the “Sowerby Ramble” shall belong to Todmorden district.
• 2nd May, Cuckoo heard in Gorpley Wood for the first time this year, its lateness indicating that of the season. Usually a fortnight earlier.
• Shore chapel reopened. Closed for a month for improvements. Expenses £105; collections and contributions over £131.
• Annual dinner and meeting of the Todmorden Botanical Society. Reported ordinary and associate members 94 and 19. Over £30 balance in hand.
• Thos Francis Copenshaw (brought up for drunkenness in Todmorden) admitted he has paid £94 in fines, and served three months in prison, during the last four years.
• Short time at some of the mills in Cornholme.
• The Todmorden Local Board discharged Mr Abm Barker from the important office of “pinder” , or cattle pounder, for Stansfield. No pension for long and true service.
• Salad show at the Lord Nelson Inn. Fine samples, on the relative merits of which the judges scarcely could decide.
April -June 1902
• Death of Wm Greenwood, alias “Tettle” and “Flower” in his 51st year. Being accustomed to sleeping out at night he was found in an outhouse at Shaw Farm, Shore, and he died the following morning, as a result of exposure to the cold, before he could be removed to the Union Workhouse.
• At the Golden Lion Hotel, Mr Jonathan Gledhill, auctioneer, opened the sale of about 1500 books, several bookcases etc the property of the Todmorden Old Library, established in 1798. There was a moderate attendance of buyers each evening, including a number of secondhand booksellers from Burnley, Manchester, etc.
• 6th May at about 2 o’clock in the morning three stirks, the property of Mr Abm Ormerod of Walsden got astray on the mainline of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway , near Walsden station, and were killed by a goods express.
• Married at the Register Office, Hall Street, Mr Fred Dawson, of Melling Farm, Todmorden, to Miss Margaret Ann Sessford, Roomfield House, Todmorden. This being the first marriage at the new Register Office, Mr Hollinrake, the Registrar, presented the newly married couple with a bible as a memento of the event.
• A second batch of local volunteers who went out to South Africa, along with Sgt John Mason, of the first batch, arrived safely back home after travelling all night, about 7.10 on the morning of 14 May.
• 18th May at about 11 o’clock the water main from Ramsden Wood reservoir burst at Shade with a loud report, ploughing a considerable portion of the roadway up.
• 1 June: Peace was concluded late on Saturday night (31 May). Lord Kitchener, in a despatch dated Saturday 11.15 pm announced that the document containing terms of surrender had just been signed by all the Boer representatives, as well as by Lord Milner and himself. The news was given out by the war office between 5 and 6 o’clock this (Sunday) evening, but the glad news was scarcely known in Todmorden owing to the telegraph office being closed. Elsewhere the news was pretty generally known by 7 or 8 o’clock, and announced from the pulpits of churches and chapels. On the Monday morning, however, at a very early hour, signs of rejoicing were soon manifest. The flag at the Town Hall, which had been at half mast owing to the death of Mrs E B Fielden, was raised most high. The large flag at the Liberal Club, and the flags on the church towers, and at the Drill Hall, were also soon hoisted, and shortly after 8 o’clock the bells of the parish church were ringing a merry peal and shopkeepers and householders all over the borough hung out bunting. At about 9 o’clock the illuminations at the Town Hall were set going and the Brass Band appeared on the scene about 9.20pm.
• The greatest alarm was caused in the country shortly after noon on 24 June by the report that the Coronation would be postponed on account of the illness of the King.
• 26 June. Mr Saml Fielden JP, Waterside, died very suddenly at his Blackpool residence, Derby Road. On Monday June 30th the remains of Mr Fielden were interred in the graveyard of St Peter’s church, Walsden.
Enews March 2026
Lectures 11th March Murder at Snow Booth: Gender and justice between the wars: a talk by Matilda Wilding
It’s midsummer. Hill top farmers above Hebden Bridge are taking in the hay. Evening is falling. The final act of a cruel and brutal marriage is about to play out. What can the story of a local 1933 murder tell us about gender and justice between the wars? What might it reveal about those same themes in the modern day?
25th March ( last lecture of the season)
Lawless ladies: a thousand years of female criminals: a talk by Trish Colton and Diane Holloway
For more than a millennium, women have been committing a range of crimes, including piracy, highway robbery, witchcraft and religious crimes. Some of these women were from Yorkshire, a few even from Calderdale. This talk describes the times, the women involved and the punishments they received.
Full details on the website: https://www.hebdenbridgehistory.org.uk/events
Reports of previous lectures are also on the website: https://www.hebdenbridgehistory.org.uk/lecture-report
Book Reviews
One of the Society’s publications has received a very favourable review in the Local Historian “….. The Hebden Bridge Local History Society are to be congratulated on undertaking the reprinting of this most interesting book, and also for providing an introduction outlining the life and work of W.B. Crump, which it is hoped will make his work available to local historians far outside his native Yorkshire. It is a truly pioneering work, which should be on the shelves of all students of rural history. MARTIN SPEIGHT is a past chairman of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society, and lives in a former upland farmhouse in the Shropshire hills.”
Review by Martin Speight in The Local Historian, February 2026
Also, online review, by Sarah Keates, of Lightcliffe Cricket Club by Bob Horne
https://www.balh.org.uk/publication-review-february-2026-reviews
The Hebden Bridge Lit and Sci have a talk coming up soon 14th March Calderdale Badger Protection Society: A snuffle through the secret world of Calderdale’s Badgers. More details on the website: https://hblitandsci.org.uk/
OTHER LOCAL HISTORY EVENTS
7 -8 March Blackshaw Head Heritage Weekend.On 7th Pennine Stories event At Blackshawhead Chapel. Explore our amazing Pennine Heritage Digital Archive, which holds over 70,000 images.
8 March 10am – 1pm The HB signal box will be open for pre-redevelopment visit.
18th March another Pennine Stories event, Todmorden Town Hall 12:30-2:30pm
30 March – 6 April Anne Lister Festival www.annelisterofhalifax.co.uk
Calderdale Heritage Walks
There are several interesting walks coming up.
15th March THIMBLE BY THIMBLE THROUGH SOWERBY BRIDGE
29th March THE CENTRE OF ELLAND
Website: https://calderdaleheritagewalks.org.uk/winter.html
Cragg Vale History Group
19th March Barbara Atack The History of the Jowett Car
16th April Ann Kilbey Moderna Blankets
https://www.craggvalecommunity.co.uk/index.php/history-group
Heptonstall Museum
Museum closed until Spring 2026
Website for news: https://heptonstallmuseumfriends.org.uk/
Mytholmroyd Historical Society
13th March Ruth Beazley, Mill Bank and Cottonstones- books available to buy.
10th April Anne Kirker, 4 Squares in Halifax
Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Next events: Tuesdays at 7.30pm at Todmorden Learning Centre and Community Hub
3rd March The Role of Chaplains on the Front Line in WWII
17th March Neil Hanson The Inn at the Top
31st March Sarah Browning - Secrets of Christ Church
14th April Peter Watson - Funny You Should Say That
Details: https://www.todmordenantiquarians.co.uk/speaker-events/
Todmorden U3A
Have occasional local history meetings. Many other groups and regular talks
https://u3atod.org.uk/events/
Todmorden Folklore Centre
https://www.folkloremythmagic.com/
FAMILY HISTORY Family History Federation Useful summary of resources. https://www.familyhistoryfederation.com/
Calderdale Family History Society
Recently moved to online meetings only – coming up this year https://www.cfhsweb.com/documents/Syllabus.pdf
General website: https://www.cfhsweb.com/
FACEBOOK – local groups of interest
Hebden Bridge History and Memories
https://www.facebook.com/groups/538333474995431/
Hebden Bridge Local History Society
https://www.facebook.com/hebdenbridgelocalhistory
Heptonstall Museum
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofHeptonstallMuseum/
Mytholmroyd and Cragg Vale Local History Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/791138454297392/
Ryburn Valley History Society
https://www.facebook.com/groups/879719096808975/
And finally another dip back into the history of Todmorden
Extracts from the Annals of Todmorden 1552-1913. A Record of People, Events and Circumstances from Earlier Times. Compiled by Dorothy Dugdale.
March/May 1876 (150 years ago)
1 Anti-vaccination meeting in Sobriety Hall, Todmorden. Resolutions were passed denouncing the vaccination acts, and pledging the meeting not to vote for any candidates for parliament, or for any office, who favour compulsory vaccination.
2 Fire at Messrs Coupe and Rainford’s sizing-mill, Gatebottom, near Todmorden. Estimated damage £6,000.
3 A “Homing Pigeon” society was formed at the Lord Nelson Inn, Todmorden.
4 Thos Sutcliffe (alias Tom O’Garrets) threw himself into the canal at Dobroyd, intending to commit suicide. Sentenced at Manchester sessions, four months’ to prison.
5 Sunday riding out party from Todmorden to Deerplay and back, spilled at Bacup. Some of them taken, insensible, to a neighbouring inn. They reached home the same night. A jury awarded Geo. Stansfield, bill poster, £5 as damages, and costs, at the County Court, Todmorden, expressing the opinion that the driver (a servant of the Carriage Co) had been guilty of fast and negligent driving.
6 Short-time meeting of manufacturers of Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Burnley valley; 24 firms represented. Resolved to run 38 hours per week, after 24th to end of June.
7 The Board of Guardians resolved to borrow £5,000 from the public works loan commissioners, for 30 years, the loan and interest thereon to be repaid in equal annual instalments. To be used in building a workhouse for the Todmorden Union, at Beggarington in Langfield, otherwise New Houses.
8 Huge blocks of stone and debris fell from the quarry opposite Gauxholme Toll Bar. One man, who was at work on the face of the rock, had a narrow escape.
March/May 1901 (125 years ago)
1 The Corporation Fire Brigade held a ball in the Town Hall, the proceeds of which were set apart towards establishing a horse ambulance in the borough. A profit of about £10 was realised.
2 The re-opening services took place at Patmos Chapel, which attracted good congregations. The place had been re-lighted and thoroughly renovated, and quite a transformation had been effected.
3 Pte S Wilson of the local active service volunteers, was accorded a hearty send off by his numerous friends and neighbours in the Shade district. He was entertained at the White Lion Inn, and afterwards escorted by an enthusiastic multitude, headed by the Todmorden Brass Band, to Todmorden station, in time to return to Bury Barracks by the 9.45 train.
4 With very few exceptions the census papers for this district were collected on this date (1 April 1901) by 40 enumerators.
5 The Todmorden half-yearly cattle fair took place, and it is worthy of note that it was held in Stansfield Road, instead of the heart of the town as on previous occasions.
6 At the first meeting of the newly constituted Board of Governors for the Todmorden Union, Mr David Henry Astin, newsagent, Roomfield Lane, was appointed Chairman of the Board, and Mr Saml. Fielding, of Hebden Bridge, vice-chairman.
7 The Lumbutts Road, from Copperashouse Bridge to the bottom of Shaw Wood, was declared free from toll.
8 “Lord” Geo. Sanger’s Royal circus visited Todmorden and camped at the Holme. There was the usual noonday procession through the principal streets of the town, the weather being fine.
9 The first batch of Volunteers from Todmorden who went out to South Africa, arrived back this evening, and were accorded a tremendous reception, the Mayor and Town Council, along with volunteers, meeting them at the station.
Enews January 2026
SOCIETY NEWS
Lectures
On 14th January: Anne Kirker will be telling us all about Sam Hill of Soyland, one of the most successful textile manufacturers of the 18th century.
28th January: From Westerman to Website ; a well illustrated presentation of a mill worker’s photographic business that led to the setting up of our digital archive with Ann Kilbey.
11th February: Did he leave me anything? The history and traditions of will making with Anne Mealia.
25th February: Wainstalls Waifs, a talk by Kim Pearson about the migration of young girls from the Liverpool Workhouse to Wainstall’s mills and their life that followed.
More details on the website: https://www.hebdenbridgehistory.org.uk/events
Reports of lectures before Christmas are on the website:
https://www.hebdenbridgehistory.org.uk/lecture-report
LOCAL HISTORY EVENTS
Calderdale Heritage Walks
There are several interesting walks coming up.
Mytholmroyd Meander 18th January;
West Vale from 1300 to the Present 1st February;
Cornholme Cornucopia on 15th February;
and Dean Clough in detail on 22nd February.
Website: https://calderdaleheritagewalks.org.uk/winter.html
Cragg Vale History Group
15th Jan 2026 Julian Carr: The Making of Sowerby Bridge
19th Feb 2026 David Glover : Calderdale Murders 1857 - 1957
https://www.craggvalecommunity.co.uk/index.php/history-group
Heptonstall Museum
Museum closed until Spring but there may be talks later in the year.
Website for news: https://heptonstallmuseumfriends.org.uk/
Mytholmroyd Historical Society
9th January Ann Kilbey: Moderna, a village within a village
13th February David Glover: Trams of Halifax and district
Details: https://www.mytholmroydhistory.org.uk
Todmorden Antiquarian Society
Next events: Tuesdays at 7.30pm at Todmorden Learning Centre and Community Hub
20th January 2026 Anne Lister: What Did She Ever Do for Calderdale?
3rd February 2026 250 Years of Hare Hill House, Littleborough
17th February 2026 John Smeaton – The Making of an Engineering Genius 1724-1792
3rd March 2026 The Role of Chaplains on the Front Line in WWII
Details: https://www.todmordenantiquarians.co.uk/speaker-events/
Todmorden U3A
Have occasional local history meetings. Many other groups and regular talks
2nd February: David Glover: ‘August 1842 - The People versus the Establishment’
FAMILY HISTORY
Family History Federation
Useful summary of resources. https://www.familyhistoryfederation.com/
Calderdale Family History Society
Recently moved to online meetings only – coming up this year https://www.cfhsweb.com/documents/Syllabus.pdf
General website: https://www.cfhsweb.com/
FACEBOOK – local groups of interest
Hebden Bridge History and Memories
https://www.facebook.com/groups/538333474995431/
Hebden Bridge Local History Society
https://www.facebook.com/hebdenbridgelocalhistory
Heptonstall Museum
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofHeptonstallMuseum/
Mytholmroyd and Cragg Vale Local History Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/791138454297392/
Ryburn Valley History Society
https://www.facebook.com/groups/879719096808975/
Todmorden Past and Present
https://www.facebook.com/groups/282407925782272
And Some Local History from many years ago*
Extracts from the Annals of Todmorden 1552-1913.*
A Record of People, Events and Circumstances from Earlier Times. Compiled by Dorothy Dugdale.
Jan/Feb 1876 (150 years ago)
St Josephs Roman Catholic New School opened, Ridge Street. Tea party, concert and presentation to Miss Byrne who had taught the school five years in another place.
Spelling Bee at Vale. Several held during the year at Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, etc. Interest in them began to wane during the year in the country.
Co-operative tea at Dale Street, to 739 persons. Meeting in the Town Hall afterwards: addresses etc given.
Thos Mitchell, Landlord of the Railway Inn, Lydgate, died from loss of blood. He cut an artery in one wrist in drawing the cork of a soda water bottle, and was on his way to Todmorden for surgical assistance, in a cab, when he died about Tod Carr.
Meeting at the York Hotel, Todmorden, to take steps to petition Parliament to terminate the trusteeship of the Todmorden Turnpike Roads, and abolish the tolls thereon, either at once or specify a time when they should cease. The meeting was well attended. Mr J Blackburn, grocer, etc, presided.
Mr Edmund Lord appointed Postmaster at Walsden, in succession to his father, the late Mr.Jas Lord.
Jan/Feb 1901 (125 years ago)
The Calder Valley United Cage Bird Association held their first annual exhibition of canaries and other British and Foreign birds in the Co-operative Hall, Dale Street, Todmorden. There were 120 entries and the show was undoubtably the best ever held in the town or district.
Pte Lawson, son of the Superintendent of the Todmorden Division of the West Riding Constabulary, sailed for the Cape. His regiment, the 1st Kings Dragoon Guards, having been ordered out for active service at the front.
The Town Hall presented a brilliant appearance on the occasion of the Todmorden Hospital Ball. The company numbered 150 and included the Mayor and Mayoress, and representatives of leading families of the borough. A clear profit of £29.0s.4d was the result.
The news reached Todmorden shortly after 7 o’clock (on 22 January) of the death of our most beloved and revered sovereign, H M Queen Victoria, Empress of India. Born 24th May 1819; became Queeen 20th June1837.
Robert Crabtree, aged 73, an inmate of Todmorden Union Workhouse, died in the Carriage Company’s bus during the journey from Hebden Bridge to Todmorden.
During the dinner hour, a notable scene was enacted near the Town Hll, on the open space facing the White Hart Fold. This was the proclamation of King Edward VII, by His Worship the Mayor. His Worship and the Town Clerk were both attired in their picturesque robes of office, and the ceremony, performed in a heavy snow storm, in the presence of a crowd numbering several thousands of the loyal inhabitants of the borough, was one which will be long remembered.
Enews November 2025
LECTURES
12th November a talk about the High Hirst Meadows by Paul Knights;
24th November The Staffordshire Hoard with Stephen Dean;
10th December Making of Sowerby Bridge with Julian Carr
Reports on previous lectures are on the website
Made in Manchester; Victorian Stained Glass; Pecket Well area walks
https://www.hebdenbridgehistory.org.uk/lecture-report
LOCAL HISTORY EVENTS
Calderdale Heritage Walks
There are several interesting walks coming up.
Transport Links in Sowerby Bridge 16th November; Chaos in Shelf 30th November and Victorian Halifax on 7th December
Website: https://calderdaleheritagewalks.org.uk/winter.html
Cragg Vale History Group Thursday 20th November: Calderdale - talk by Michael Peel https://www.craggvalecommunity.co.uk/index.php/history-group
Hebden Bridge Town Hall Exhibition 185 years of Train Travel – until 28th November
Heptonstall Museum Museum closed until Spring but there may be talks later in the year. Website for news: https://heptonstallmuseumfriends.org.uk/
Mytholmroyd Historical Society 14th November Jowett – The Yorkshire Car. Barbara Atack 12th December Annual General Meeting
Todmorden Shared Histories Project: Commonwealth soldiers in World War II Thursday 20th November 7 – 8.30 pm Speaker: Jahan Mahmood at Todmorden College
Todmorden Antiquarian Society Next events: Tuesday at 7.30pm at Todmorden Learning Centre and Community Hub 18th November 2025 The Peterloo Massacre. Speaker– Mike Brennane 2nd December 2025 Magic of the Musicals. Speaker– Marilyn Shalks Tuesday 16th December 2025 Life on the Stage – The Story of Sam Ranson and Blanche Slater. Speaker – Anne Mealia Details: https://www.todmordenantiquarians.co.uk/speaker-events/
Todmorden U3A 20th November 2025 at 2 pm. The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on the Ordinary Person: Speaker - Bob Hayter. At Todmorden Learning Centre and Community Hub
FAMILY HISTORY
Family History Federation Useful summary of resources. The latest issue includes an article on Emigration from the UK in C19: https://www.exploreyourgenealogy.co.uk/files/1003-1-1.pdf
Calderdale Family History Society Recently moved to online meetings only – coming up this year https://www.cfhsweb.com/documents/Syllabus.pdf General website: https://www.cfhsweb.com/
FACEBOOK – local groups of interest
Hebden Bridge History and Memories https://www.facebook.com/groups/538333474995431/
Hebden Bridge Local History Society https://www.facebook.com/hebdenbridgelocalhistory
Heptonstall Museum https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofHeptonstallMuseum/
Mytholmroyd and Cragg Vale Local History Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/791138454297392/
Ryburn Valley History Society https://www.facebook.com/groups/879719096808975/
AND SLIGHTLY LESS CURRENT NEWS THAT MIGHT PIQUE YOUR INTEREST
Extract from: Annals of Todmorden 1552-1913: A record of people, events and circumstances from Earlier Times. Compiled by Dorothy Dugdale
Nov and Dec 1875 (150 years ago)
• Christ Church, Todmorden, was re-opened after being closed for about two months for repairs and painting. At the same time a splendid new organ, built by Messrs Gray and Davidson, of London, was used for the first time.
• Laying of the corner stone of Wesleyan Chapel, Shade.
• The 11th annual Soiree of the Walsden Institute and Working Men’s Club was held in St Peters Church (Crossley’s) School. Miss Becker of Manchester, and several gentlemen addressed the meeting.
• Mr John Whittaker of Langfield House, Todmorden, gave his annual dinner for 25 of aged and infirm poor.
• John Duffield, aged 44, plumber, Dale St, Todmorden, accidently killed in Winterbutlee Tunnel.
Nov and Dec 1900 (125 years ago)
• At the annual meeting of the Todmorden Town Council, Ald W Ormerod, of Scaitcliffe Hall, was elected Mayor of the borough by the unanimous vote of the council.
• The annual show of poultry and pigeons in connection with the Cornholme and District Fanciers’ Society, was held in Springwood Mill, Cornholme, and was well attended by local fanciers. The entries numbered 114.
• Pte Robt Allister, of the 1st King’s Royal Rifles, one of the Todmorden soldiers who passed through the siege of Ladysmith, arrived home, having been in the hospital for some defect of the eyes.
• Mr John Howard, of Manchester, formerly a grocer in Water St, and afterwards a manufacturer, was appointed Weight Clerk for the Todmorden Corporation, at 15s per week. There were 23 applications.
• At a special meeting of the Watch Committee, it was unanimously resolved that Mr Edward Haywood, of Oldham, be appointed Superintendent of the Todmorden Corporation Fire Brigade, and driver of the engine, at a salary of 30s per week, with house, coal and gas.
• Mr E B Fielden MP, was sworn in and took his seat in the House of Commons.
• At the White Hart, Todmorden, Mr J Gledhill offered for competition Clough House, Walsden, the property of Miss Lord of Blackpool. The bidding reached £340, at which figure the bid was withdrawn.
Enews September 2025
Lectures
The first lecture of the season for 2025-26 is on 24th September is by Brian Groom entitled Made in Manchester -the astonishing story of the people of Manchester and the surrounding towns (including Hebden Bridge) from Roman times to the present day.
This is followed on 8th October by “A story of Victorian Stained Glass” a talk by David Smalley including details of our local St James Church.
And on 22nd October Paul Degnan will be taking us around Pecket Well and telling us about the making of the Village Walks leaflet, the latest in a series of leaflets about our local area.
Publications
The Society has published 2 new titles and full descriptions are in the Autumn Newsletter.
Heptonstall Court Rolls 1570 – 1626 edited by Nigel Smith and Neville Ingrey
Everyday Life in Seventeenth-Century Calderdale by Peter Brears
Copies can be found in local bookshops or ordered through the Society website
https://www.hebdenbridgehistory.org.uk/pages/publications
LOCAL EVENTS
The Annual Sowerby Bridge Rushbearing
Walk around the local landscape following the Rushbearing cart : visit churches and be entertained by traditional dancing and rest at local inns. 6 & 7th September
https://rushbearing.com/this-years-rushbearing/route-schedule/
Heritage open days are coming up from 12th to 21st September. Details can be found at https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/whats-on.html
I spotted Ted Hughes’ birthplace, Wainsgate Chapel, the Birchcliffe Centre and Todmorden Unitarian Church when I did a search but there are more….
Pennine Horizons and Pennine Heritage Digital Archive
13 & 14 September Heritage Open Days at Birchcliffe Chapel
https://www.pennineheritage.org.uk/
Sharing Moor Stories – Peatzine project
https://turquoisearts.org/projects/
Events on Saturday 13 September at Tod College and Saturday 27 September Mytholmroyd Community Centre
https://turquoisearts.org/sharing-moor-stories-a-drop-in-heritage-gathering/
Calderdale Heritage Walks
There are several interesting walks coming up.
Coke, Coal and Corves on 28th September. A new walk led by Mary Twentyman around
Norwood Green.
David Glover leads a walk about the Lost Churches and Chapels of Halifax on 5th October.
Another Side of Skircoat Green- another new walk on 12th October led by Anne Kirker.
And further up the valley Anne Mealia will be leading a walk on 26th October called Todmorden Folk -find out about the people who have made Todmorden such a great place.
https://calderdaleheritagewalks.org.uk/summer.html
LOCAL GROUPS
Cragg Vale History Group
https://www.craggvalecommunity.co.uk/index.php/history-group
Meetings are at 7.30 pm, on 3rd Thursday each month from September to June.
Venue: St John's Church, Cragg Vale. (no programme on website yet 24/08/2025)
The Lit & Sci (Hebden Bridge Literary & Scientific Society)
https://hblitandsci.org.uk/
Meetings at the Town Hall
Saturday 27 September 2025 Giles Duley – Legacy of War Foundation
Founder of the Legacy of War Foundation, Giles Duley, will share his extraordinary experiences.
Saturday 11 October 2025
Some Highlights from Three Decades with Historic Buildings
Alan Gardner, Head of Climate Adaptation for Buildings at Historic England
Heptonstall Museum
https://heptonstallmuseumfriends.org.uk/tag/local-history/
6th September 3pm. Author Talk: Sophie Calon & Kathryn Tann – In Conversation https://heptonstallmuseumfriends.org.uk/event/sophie-calon-kathryn-tann-in-conversation/
Mytholmroyd Historical Society
https://www.mytholmroydhistory.org.uk/ Monthly meetings at 7.30pm on Fridays at St Michael’s Church, Mytholmroyd
· 12th September Brian Harkness – Halifax Diamonds.
· 10th October Peter Thornton (Pathways films) who will show his new film, Calderdale Heritage by Air.
Ryburn Valley History Society
9 September Kevin Illingworth: Lesser Houses open to the public
14th October Martin Parrott talking about the civil war (amendment to programme)
Meet 7.30 at Ripponden Club (contact via Facebook)
FAMILY HISTORY
Family History Federation
Useful summary of resources. This month’s includes an article on Body Snatchers, and info on the Metcalfe family, mainly north Yorkshire. Latest publication:
https://www.exploreyourgenealogy.co.uk/files/1000-1-
1.pdf?utm_source=brevo&utm_campaign=FHF%20August%202025%20FHF%20REALLY% 20USEFUL%20Bulletin%202025%20No%2060&utm_medium=email&utm_id=531
Calderdale Family History Society
Recently moved to online meetings only – coming up this year
https://www.cfhsweb.com/documents/Syllabus.pdf
General website: https://www.cfhsweb.com/
OTHER NEWS
Calder Civic Trust- a recent notice
After six decades of dedicated service, it is being proposed that Calder Civic Trust will be formally wound-up in the next few weeks. Founded in 1965, the Trust sought to promote high standards in architecture and town planning, and to preserve the unique beauty and heritage of the Calder Valley. The Trust also played a pivotal role in saving Hebden Bridge from demolition in the 1960s, helping to preserve its character and charm for future generations. The Trust has continued to work with Calderdale and Hebden Royd Councils contributing to the plans for the Hebden Bridge Conservation Area including the successful re-development of Hebden Bridge Town Hall. As we prepare to close this chapter, we invite any interested parties who may wish to carry forward aspects of the Trust’s work or preserve its archives to contact us by 12 September Please direct enquiries to: caldercivictrust@gmail.com. Thank you to all who supported the Trust.
New Book on Halifax
John Patchett, formerly of the West Yorkshire Archive Service, has recently published “A New Guide to the Town Centre of Halifax” A very detailed book with many illustrations and historical pictures. Order a copy by contacting John on 01422 346088 or 07828 947849 or Email j.patchett@btinternet.com