News, Features and forthcoming Events
Happy Valley writer loves Calderdale. "Hebden Bridge is vibrant; there's a lot going on artistically and it's also got great galleries, pubs and restaurants." Sally Wainwright talks of our "dramatic and awe-inspiring" landscape and the influence of local historian Jill Liddington's Anne Lister book. Read her Guardian article (17 July)
Arts Festival seeks new blood. The Festival Board has launched a search for a new Chair and new Board members who can help the organisation continue to flourish. Read more (15 July)
SAINSBURYS FIGHT BACK with a judicial review. Despite the application to build a Sainsbury store in Hebden Bridge being rejected by Hebden Royd Council, by Calderdale Council and by the Planning Inspectorate the developers are not giving up. Read more
Camera Club Annual Exhibition winning pictures: visitors were asked to vote for their 3 favourite images in order of merit. Read more and see the 3 winning photos. 6 July
Crossley Mill Nursery opened its gates to the public on Saturday 11th July for a day of fun. Read more
FESTIVAL STREET SUNDAE: 2nd weekend. Some of the nation's top street performers joined in the fun, including Phoenix Nights star Janice Connolly. Read more and see more photos from Paul Clarke updated 7 July
Neighbourhood Plan consultation for Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd and the hilltop villages. Have your say.
Hebden Royd Town Council annual report and councillors' attendance records both now online.
Car Park Closes: Calderdale councillor Janet Battye has told the HebWeb that she thinks the old Fire Station land should continue as a car park. Read more 29 June
Vigil in the Square, first anniversary - Christine Drake is calling for others to join her on 11 July to celebrate "the strength and the resilience of the Palestinian people." See What's on.
Arts Festival Street Sundae Hebden Bridge threw open its doors on Sunday, 28 June for the annual Street Sundae festival. See some photos from the afternoon
Move Parliament to Hebden Bridge, argues Professor Tony Travers in today's London Evening Standard. "With both MPs and peers in Parliament and the Queen in Buckingham Palace facing the possibility of decamping while renovations are made to their historic homes, is it now the time for power to shift in the UK?" To Hebden Bridge? Read article 25 June
BBC News: West Yorkshire Police to get £1.5m to review 'cold case' murders, including that of Hebden Bridge's Lindsay Rimer
Calder Valley MP's snub to climate change delegation. Craig Whittaker refused to meet a delegation from his constituency at Parliament, as part of the national Climate Coalition lobby of Parliament on Weds 17th June, despite previously having said that he would. Read more
Following Hebden Royd Town Council's lead, Calderdale Council has now also become a living wage employer. Employees will receive a minimum hourly wage of £7.85, instead of the national minimum wage of £6.50.
The Great Folk/Roots Picnic. Wainsgate Chapel's concert season continued on Saturday, 27 June with The Great Folk Roots Picnic, an all-afternoon event of traditional music from around the world. Read more
Our hills were alive with the sound of nuns. Nuns preparing for the Arts Festival's Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music, alongside a screening of the classic Julie Andrews film. Read more
Blackshaw Food Festival: Live music in a marquee and stalls outside the New Delight Inn at Jack Bridge, 28 June. In the pub there will be talks on different aspects of food. Read more.
Handmade Parade flies into Hebden Bridge sunshine: Hebden Bridge was blown away by Sunday's Parade, with thousands lining the streets to watch colourful creations soar above their heads. Read more and see photos (8 June)
Outside Theatre returns to Hardcastle Crags: Four men, four bikes and a 1500 mile adventure will stop en route at Hardcastle Crags to perform A Midsummer Night's Dream and Hamlet on 24 and 25 July. Read more
Vacancy for Town Councillor, White Lee Ward: A vacancy by co-option has arisen following the disqualification of the only Conservative Councillor, Nicola May. Read more (16 July)
Blackshaw Head Methodist Chapel is 200 years old. On Sunday, 12 July, a photo from around 1908 was recreated. Read more and see larger versions of both photos.
Drum Trek: On July 2nd, Hebden Bridge drummer Paul Dear left John O'Groats on a rhythmical odyssey, taking in 27 locations in 26 days, finishing at Lands End. Read more
Calder Valley Voices' Charity Summer Concert: Calder Valley Voices' concert of beautiful, restful and rousing songs from around the World was on 16 July. Read more
Mytholmroyd Arts Festival Launched on Thursday, 16 July. See What's on.
Norman Hurst: Graham Packham and others remember their friend, Norman Hurst, who died at home Friday, 3 July. If you wish to add your memories of Norman, who lived round here for over 40 years, see this Lives Remembered page.
Heptonstall Festival: graveyard fun in the old church ruins, on 4 July. Thanks to Bev Manders for the photo.
Justin Moorhouse: Destiny Calling: On Sunday 12th July he will be previewing an early version of his new show at the monthly Hebden Bridge Comedy Club Read more
Book Launch: All Our Own Work, Andrew Bibby's history of the HB Fustian Manufacturing Coop at Nutclough Mill. Launched Sunday 5 July. Read more
Arts Festival - Above: photos from Craig Shaw of first couple of days of Arts Festival: Poet Lemn Sissay and part of the trail of decorated trees throughout the town centre 28 June
The Lois and Lindsay Dilemma and the birth of 'cinemocracy' at HB Arts Festival. 95 year old Lois Smith, local artist now living in Hebden Bridge, talked with Nick Wilding about how in 1948 in Wakefield she produced the very first film made by then unknown director Lindsay Anderson. Read more 25 June
The Rise and Fall of a Northern Star Stella Grundy's one woman play uses some of her own experiences as front-woman of Manchester band Intastella - Arts Festival event. Read more (9 June)
The Shed Gallery, Hebden Bridge's newest pop up exhibition space, launches 26 June. Their first outing will be part of the Arts Festival, showing work by Louise Lockhart of Printed Peanut. Read more
Photos from 50 years ago: Terry Roberts grew up in Hebden Bridge and has been in touch with the HebWeb to make available some of his old photos. Read more and see photos. (17 June)
Hebden Bridge writer, Peter Riley, short-listed for for this year's Forward Arts Foundation prize for Due North, worth £10,000. Read more (12 June)
HebWeb Quirky Small Ads:
As well as services, and houses and homes offered and wanted, recent ads have included campervan, Mediterranean apartments, smallholding for sale, meditation for modern life, squash coaching, yoga, massage and fiddle tuition. See our Small ads page.
Calderdale Planning Committee has turned down an application to build 14 apartments towards the bottom of Heptonstall Road. See Planning Watch.
Handmade Parade report - in the sunshine - more photos
Nicola May, the only Conservative councillor elected to Hebden Royd Town Council has been disqualified for not accepting the post within the prescribed time period.
Rainbow over Hebden Bridge
5am, Saturday morning, 30 May
photo: Mike Barrett - click to enlarge
NO SAINSBURYS will be built at the old Fire Station site. The HebWeb has learned this morning that the Sainsburys appeal against refusal of planning permission has been unsuccessful. More info about the Planning Inspector's decision, and links to news and discussion over past 18 months. (22 May)
Craig Whittaker a Mormon? At the swearing in of MPs, our MP requested the Book of Mormon to pledge allegiance to the Crown, according to this BBC News report (21 May)
Arts Festival backs After Alice Local Artists asked to open their workspaces for new photography project and are seeking volunteers from the local artistic community to join in. Read more (19 May)
Fair for Youth 2015 took place on Saturday 30th May at Calder Holmes Park, showcasing the talents, abilities, interests and skills of local young people. Read latest news.
Hebden Royd Town Council: Update: Labour retain control with 10 seats, Lib-Dems have 5 seats, Greens and Conservatives have one seat each. Full results
Green Councillors in the Calder Valley: Penny Marrington and Dave Wardell will take their places on Todmorden Town Council and Elizabeth King, who topped the White Lee ward poll, will join Hebden Royd Town Council. Read more from Calderdale Greens
Calderdale Council Elections: Dave Young is returned for Labour in Calder ward (Hebden Bridge) with nearly double the vote of his nearest rival. (Turnout: 76%) Nicola May wins for Conservatives in Luddendenfoot ward, covering Mytholmroyd. See full results.
Conservatives hold Calder Valley with a reduced majority of 4,427. UKIP in 3rd place with 5960 votes. Lib Dem vote down 20%. Greens in 5th place with 2090 votes. Turnout: 69.18% (up 1.9%). See results details in the Hebweb Election Section
Long-lost letter from John Lennon to Hebden Bridge's Steve Tilston inspires an Al Pacino movie. Sent to the folk-singer in 1971, the letter didn't arrive for 34 years but now the story has inspired Hollywood film Danny Collins. Read Daily Mirror article (7 May)
Distasteful Craig Whittaker tweet row
Following uproar on Twitter and Facebook, the row has reached ITV, the Mirror and the BBC. See BBC news item (5 May)
Around 230 people turned out to question 6 of the 7 candidates standing for election in the Calder Valley constituency.
Global Wave: On Monday, anti-nuclear campaigners linked up the Calder Valley with places around the world when they took part in the 'Global Wave', to mark the start of the review of the Non-Proliferation Treaty taking place in New York. Read more (29 April)
Calderdale Liberal Democrats launch local manifesto, and to date are the only party to do so. They set out the policies and ideas the party would implement if they were running Calderdale. Read more
Local election candidate statements: So far, five candidates have sent the HebWeb summaries of why they want your vote, and photos. Read them here. (updated 20 April)
Local election candidates: following the close of nominations, the HebWeb is now able to publish lists of candidates for Calderdale and Town Council elections. Surprises include a first UKIP candidate for the Calder ward covering Hebden Bridge, and far fewer candidates for the Town Council. Read more (10 April)
General Election - at the close of nominations, 7 candidates have put themselves forward. See our election section for photos, links, views and discussion. (10 April)
Hope Baptist Church A Heritage Lottery Fund award of £215,000 will enable urgent repairs to this important locally listed building. Read more
Little Park, Victoria Road: More apartments planned. See Forum thread and Planning Watch
Flood Action Group - report. Formed in response to the floods of June-July 2012, the group has liaised with the Council and other bodies to look at actions in the event of further floods. Read more (31 March)
HEBWEB ELECTION QUESTIONS: The HebWeb wrote to each of the six Parliamentary candidates, posing six questions, designed to help voters understand the differences between the parties. Each of the candidates has now responded and you can read their replies here, in our Election Section.
New 2015 Hebden Bridge Visitors' Guide Published: The 2015 Guide, which points out all the places and sites visitors should not miss, is available throughout the town and for download here on the HebWeb. More info 23 March
Eclipse of the sun: Local photographer Bev Manders took this photo from Calder Holmes park. With glasses or filters, the eclipse was visible for most of its duration here in Hebden Bridge. 20 March
Better train services - but not yet: latest information from the Upper Valley Transport Group on electrification and what we should expect from the next franchise holder for our line. Read more 11 Mar
Hebden Bridge features in The Times list of trendiest cities, villages and market towns in which to live. 10 March
General Election: A lively Education Question Time with election candidates took place on Friday 6 March at Calder High. Read report
HebWeb election section: for news and discussion of the May 2015 General Election in the Calder Valley
Calderdale Budget - Council tax freeze confirmed, praise for ambitious energy target, Lib-Dems criticise Labour for not supporting energy reduction target, Labour say council statement glosses over cuts. Read more 25 Feb
Stop subsidies to sheep farmers and grouse moor owners - Guardian columnist George Monbiot gave a powerful speech to a packed audience at the Baptist Church yesterday evening, as part of the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival. Read more.
HebWeb also available on the slightly shorter hebdenbridge.uk as well as hebdenbridge.co.uk
All Our Own Work, new book from local writer, Andrew Bibby - how Nutclough Mill was home to one of the first Workers' Coops. The fustian workers' co-operative started in 1870 and ran for 50 years, each year profitable. More info about the book and its launch. (3 June)
HebWeb on Twitter - The HebWeb now has over 2000 followers.
Car park to close? The owners of the old Fire Station land have stated that they intend to close the 39 space car park on 25 June. Read more
Wadsworth Boundary Walk took place on Sunday, 31 May. Wadsworth is the second largest parish in the country. See What's on for more info about this and other events.
New Mayor for Town Council: The Annual Meeting of Hebden Royd Town Council took place at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Mytholmroyd. Cllr Karl Boggis was elected as the new Mayor of Hebden Royd. Read more (22 May)
Hebden Roots Festival a great a success! One organiser told the HebWeb: "The plan of putting shows on all over Hebden Bridge really worked. There were a variety of shows on offer and we had people drifting in and out all day". Read report and see photos (21 May)
650 Years on the South Pennine Moors by David Nortcliffe: an account of life over the centuries on the moors above Hebden Bridge. A brief history of what was the western end of the ancient township of Wadsworth - a Pennine Pens eBook. Read more (19 May)
Musicians were all over the streets of Hebden Bridge for the weekend of the Folk Roots Festival. Photo: Bruce Cutts
Folk Roots Act wins BBC Folk Award: organisers are celebrating after Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker win BBC Folk Awards Best Duo. Read more (13 May)
Council Minutes online: Hebden Royd Town minutes prior to 7 May election now available.
Hospice Shop needs volunteers. Hebden Bridge's local children's hospice Forget Me Not is calling on residents to show their support and volunteer in their Valley Road shop. Read more (7 May)
Riverside rated a good school: Staff, Pupils, parents are celebrating after Riverside School was rated good after a tough Ofsted inspection. Read more (5 May)
Tour de Yorkshire through Pecket Well - above photo from Jill Liddington: see also, this YouTube video from Jason Elliott. (3 May)
On Sunday, 3 May, the Tour de Yorkshire will pass through Hebden Bridge. Plans are being finalised across the area. More info, maps and links.
Summat a' Nowt: Tod's University of the Third Age heard from Steve Murty about life in Stubb, the township of 17 cottages in which he was born and raised, old ranges with a pot hanging above. Read more (28 April)
Pennine Loop Launch: The launch, Saturday 25 April, of the Hebden Bridge Loop fn the Pennine way was a huge success. Over 200 people joined the series of walks through the day. More info, photos and audio clip from Will Sutcliffe (89) Click photo above to enlarge
How Hebden Bridge was nearly Lost: a new film from Nick Wilding, 2 May at the Picture House, tracing 700 years, and the role of the Civic Trust in preventing further demolition. The film also reveals 1960s plans to demolish extensive parts of Hebden Bridge for a flyover and big named national stores. Read more (updated 18 April)
My Convict Ancestors: Todmorden University of the Third Age member Sue Hayter made no apologies for having convict ancestors when she spoke at the March general meeting, in a talk entitled My Convict Ancestors - A Genealogical Journey. Read more (12 April)
Town Centre 1965 'photographic gallery' opens As part of marking the 50th anniversary of the Pennine Way and the launching of the new Loop, HB Walkers Action and Pennine Horizons have put together an exhibition of photos of the town from the 1960s. Read more (11 April)
Lindsay Rimer: 20 years after Lindsay's body was found in the Rochdale Canal, her sister Katie, has spoken publicly. "From the beginning we have been filled with grief and we cannot stop the grief and instead, remember her with love until this comes to an end," she said. See BBC report and HebWeb Feature (9 April)
Pace Egg Play 2015 - read more
More photos
Parking chaos at Sainsburys in Mytholmroyd - YouTube video from Jason Elliott 25 March
125 years of Cresswells: Over 100 business owners, mainly from the Calder Valley, joined partners and staff of Cresswells accountants last night to celebrate 125 years in business. 20 March
Calder Ward Forum grants relaunched for 2015-2016. £5,000 available grants for activities and projects that benefit Calder Ward. Read more 19 March
Mytholmroyd Station Partnership bring together schools and local industry. Read more 19 March
Australian View of Hebden Bridge: from The West Australian - "This once-dying mill town reinvented itself as a beacon of alternative living; a quirky commuter hub where artists, writers, hippies and new-age gurus rub shoulders with teachers, estate agents and earthy Yorkshire folk". Read the article. 16 Jan
eBook from Pennine Pens - Theatre in a Time of Change - by Hebden Bridge's Michael Prior. This is not a book about stars and plays, but about the rise and fall of the theatre as a cultural and economic art-form since 1945. Read more. (11 Aug)
Guardian Northerner: What the UK can learn from Hebden Bridge? The BBC's Mind the Gap asks how London's success can be replicated elsewhere: Claire Donnelly argues that our small town could have the answer. Read more
Hebden Bridge, the UK's second city, BBC article by Evan Davis. "Hebden Bridge is an inverted city with a greenbelt centre and suburbs called Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool." Read the article
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Hebden Bridge: more plaudits - Last year's Valley of Lights won APSE's best community and neighbourhood initiative, and the Old Gate pub restaurant is Yorkshire Post's "Pub of the Week".
Britain's favourite market town? Hebden Bridge has been shortlisted in the 'Britain's favourite market town' category in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2013. Read more
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Guardian Northerner: Hebden Bridge the UK's coolest place? The Yorkshire Paradise has won its fourth accolade in a decade. Born, brought up and living here, Rachel Pickering is loyal, but has one or two cautionary thoughts.
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Please e-mail us to report dead links, inaccuracies, suggestions and comments. Thanks. The Hebden Bridge Web (Hebweb) is published by Pennine Pens and started in the summer of 1995.
