WHAT WAS ON:
PAST EVENTS
NNHMN at The Trades Club
Berlin Darkwave Electro duo NNHMN are flying in to play an exclusive UK show at The Trades Club, Holme Street, Hebden Bridge - the only show they are doing in the north of the UK this year.
8pm until 1.30am.
Tickets: Tickets available here
Researching Heptonstall
11am – 1pm
Researching Heptonstall is a community-led group, launched by the Friends of Heptonstall Museum, for anyone with a passion for uncovering the past.
If you are interested in diving into your family history, discovering the story of your house, or have a particular passion for part of our village's history, join us for our first meeting at Heptonstall Bowling Club.
Making Friends Kitchen
The Friends of the Picture House Making Friends Group will be serving up a Middle Eastern Buffet lunch. All are welcome to come and have a delicious, hearty meal and get to know some of our members, all of whom are asylum seekers and are delighted to be exercising their culinary skills for the community.
Lunch will be served from 12-2pm, or until the food runs out!
Venue: Hope Baptist Church
Free - donations are optional
Commoners Choir at Wainsgate
3pm Wainsgate Chapel
Commoners Choir is a rag bag assortment of ne'er-do-wells, misfits, and cake eaters who have come together from all corners of the globe to sing harmonious insurrection, to rouse the rabble and to raise a smile or two. They are a singing newspaper: They sing about stuff that happens, stuff that should be happening, stuff that matters.
Commoners Choir formed in 2015 with a walk up to the summit of Kinder Scout in the Peak District (to commemorate the Mass Trespassers of 1932), and sang their entire repertoire (two songs) to a handful of startled hikers. From such small acorns, mighty oaks have grown.
Dark Matter Promotions presents....
Live Band Summer Showcase
Featuring a hand-picked selection of some of the most exciting up and coming bands on the music circuit
Threads // Billy Billy 5p // Rude Films // Meadow Meadow // Bau Cat
Golden Lion Todmorden (upstairs)
Doors 7pm
Tickets via Skiddle / more on the door
Hebden Bridge Open Studios
Come and visit over 100 artists' studios throughout Hebden Bridge, Heptonstall, Old Town and Mytholmroyd. More info
Pennine Platform Magazine Poetry Event
Pennine Platform Magazine established in 1973 is A bi-annual Mag that welcomes national and international writers both recognised published writers and unpublished writers.
On Sunday 7th July, from 2-4 pm at The Albert Pub in Hebden Bridge, the award winning poet Julia Deakin and editor of Pennine Platform will host a free poetry event with a selection of established published poets.The Albert is lovely pub.
This poetry and a meet the editor event is free and a great way to put your feet up relax after visiting the many super Open Art Studio's in Hebden Bridge.
Meadows Day at High Hirst Woodmeadow - On Saturday, 6 July, there's a family-friendly nature fun day at Town Council managed ancient grassland, and local wildlife site, High Hirst Woodmeadow. More info
Wadsworth Culture Day
Full day programme of free events, starting with a community breakfast and closing with a ceilidh, pie and peas. Includes bowling, gorilla gardening and bhangra dancing.
6th July, various start times, 8am to late.
Wadsorth Community Centre, Old Town.
Visit the website for more info.
Discovering Hebden Bridge's co-operative history
Heritage walk - UN International Co-ops Day
Meet Hebden Bridge Town Hall, 11am. Walk lasts about 90 mins and will include visiting the exterior of Nutclough Mill and Sandy Gate Baptist graveyard.
Walk leader: Andrew Bibby (Author: All Our Own Work: The co-operative pioneers of Hebden Bridge)
Please note, this is an informal walk, participation is at own risk.
Heptonstall Festival
Dancing, poetry, games, charity stalls, art stalls, children's arts and crafts right cross our beautiful village.
And it's free!
See Facebook page for more info
David Chatton Barker & The Whitworth and Healey Vale Brass Band
perform 'Brown Wardle Hill' With support from Sam McLoughlin
06 Jul 2024, 16:50 – 18:00
Todmorden, Todfellows Hall, Oxford Street OL14 5PU
Tickets (£7) available from the Folklore Centre website: www.folkloremythmagic.com
David spent several years exploring the windswept South Pennine moors surrounding Brown Wardle Hill, Lancashire, collecting the abundance of folklore, myths and legends found emanating from such a small aspect of the landscape. The lore and legends became bespoke arrangements written for the Whitworth and Healey Vale brass band, who rehearse close by to Brown Wardle Hill. In 2023 an LP featuring the recordings was released through Folklore Tapes which included an extensive booklet containing the research.
Coat of Hopes Visits Hebden Bridge on Weds 3 July. The Coat of Hopes is a patchwork coat that is on an ongoing walk through Britain. Made, worn and walked by hundreds of people during and since its pilgrimage from the south coast of England to COP 26, the UN climate summit, in Glasgow in 2021. Read more
General Election
Vote today
For information about the candidates, and details of previous general elections, see this HebWeb General Election Section
Meet the designer: Alison Duddle
An illustrated talk on making art for the stage by designer Alison Duddle. Find out how she approached the visual element of Hebden Bridge Arts' upcoming 'The Man Who Planted Trees' theatre production, which is on at Hebden Bridge Little Theatre from 11-14 July.
After the talk there will be a chance for audience members to ask questions. Tickets include a soft or alcoholic drink on entry.
£7 (includes a soft drink)
8.30pm-9:45pm
Choir in a Weekend
Birchcliffe Chapel
A few final tickets are now remaining for 'Choir in a Weekend' on June 29th-30th, at the Birchcliffe Chapel, with the legendary Scottish Songwriter Ali Burns.
Secure your 2-day spot now
for £90.00 here.
Ali Burns is one of the UK's most respected songwriters for choirs. Her songs are simple, profound and magical to learn by ear.
Whether you're a seasoned vocalist or just starting out, don't miss this chance to sing with a legend.
Join Ali for a weekend of lush harmonies, laughter and learning in the historic Birchcliffe Chapel in Hebden Bridge, June 29th-30th and help her create a Choir In A Weekend
Wadsworth Walking Market
11am-4pm
50 local makers, crafters and artists will be at Wainsgate Chapel, Wadsworth Community Centre, Old Town Cricket Club and Old Town Primary School.
£1 wristband gives entry to all 4 venues which are within walking distance (children free)
Hourly 595 bus service from Hebden Bridge
Have fun play bowls!
To coincide with Wadsworth Walking Market, Old Town Bowling Club are running fun, introduction to bowling sessions suitable for all ages.
11.30am to 1.30pm - Fun session led by qualified coaches using Bowls Buddies products.
2-3pm - More serious session using Crown Green Bowls for people interested in finding out about Crown Green bowling.
Full details here: wellbowled.co.uk/old-town-bowling-club
Music at Wainsgate
Paul Edis on piano
Vasilis Xenopoulos on saxophones. Sat 29th, 7.30pm at Wainsgate Chapel.
Bethan Oake - Satanic Moral Panic: Then & Now
4-6pm, Todmorden, The Folklore Centre, 65, Halifax Road
Tickets £5
When, and how, do rumours and conspiracy theories become widespread moral panics? The Satanic cult conspiracy theory (otherwise known as 'the Satanic myth' or 'the Satanic legend') alleges that secret, evil, Satanic cults exist who seek to morally subvert and control society – often through targeting and harming children.
The origins of the legend are traceable to the early Middle Ages, where it has since periodically resurfaced in the form of 'Satanism Scares': moral panics concerned with the threat of Satanism.
Lavena Saltonstall: Local Tailoress and suffragette
With Jill Liddington
Author Jill Liddington joins us to tell another story of Hebden Bridge's involvement in historic change. This time, Lavena Saltonstall, born in 1881 to a fustian dyer, who became part of the suffragette movement.
7pm at Heptonstall Museum.
Entrance is free for our members
£5 everyone else.
The Shaggy Dog Storytelling Club
Fable, fairy tale, folk tale, myth, legend, or just a good old yarn - whether you've got a story to tell, or just like to listen, join us in the upper room of the Stubbing Wharf Pub.
8pm start, free entry.
Dark Matter presents a night of
Afro/ Psych/ Fusion
Kontiki, Woioi
With DJ Red Tin Dave
Uplifting, energetic, and tightly interwoven beats and melodies for dancing hard
Golden Lion Todmorden
Friday 28 June Doors 8pm
Tickets via Skiddle/more on the door
Climate Hustings
7:00pm, Mytholmroyd Community Centre
Arrive from 7pm to write down your questions for the candidates. Speakers at 7:30pm. The event will be over by 9pm
Find out what your candidates have to say about the most important issues on the planet.
Come to our hustings, and ask them your own questions about how they intend to respond at this critical moment for all humankind.
Organised by Calderdale Green New Deal
Rebecca Freeman Exhibition
10.00am till 16:00
Wednesday to Saturday at the Folklore Centre,
Todmorden, 65 Halifax Rd, Todmorden, 5BB OL14 5BB, UK
(Free event)
Rebecca Freeman is a Cornwall based artist who makes art inspired by folklore, myth and nature. She mainly works with the traditional arts of drawing, printmaking, papercutting and painting.
For the last year Rebecca has been making drawings inspired directly from British folklore. Some of the characters in this exhibition have names that are tied to specific legends, others exist as a species or entity in the popular imagination, but their own names and deeds they keep to themselves.
Cragg Challenge 2024
Test yourself on the longest continuous climb in England
Events now open.
Book early to make sure of a place.
Coach to London for 'Restore Nature Now!' march and rally
Extinction Rebellion Calderdale has booked a coach to the Restore Nature Now! march and rally in London on Saturday 22nd June.
We'll join together with hundreds of nature, wildlife and climate groups to call for urgent action to restore nature and tackle climate change, in what aims to be the biggest gathering of people for nature and climate that the UK has ever seen. Find out more at restorenaturenow.com
The coach will pick up at Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Littleborough
For all the info, and to book your tickets please click on this link
The coach is open to anyone who would like to join the march, so please share with your family, friends and nature loving networks.
Ambient Bowling - Solstice Special
By the Hebden Water, just beyond Salem Fields
Ambient Bowling returns for another season. Come try your hand at crown green bowling, have a drink at the Blue Pig bar, enjoy the ambient sounds emanating from the pavilion, and wonder at the idyllic location.
All welcome, including well behaved dogs on leads. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the green and pavilion. Suggested donation £3."
Rob Chapman - Pink Moons and the Pantheists at the Gates of Dawn
4-6pm, The Folklore Centre Todmorden, 65 Halifax Rd, Todmorden
Tickets £5
Syd Barrett named the Pink Floyd's debut album after a key chapter in Kenneth Grahame's The Wind In The Willows. He drew on Mother Goose rhymes and children's classics by Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, and Hilaire Belloc for his lyrical source material, as well as the I Ching and other esoterica. Nick Drake developed a whole other metaphysical take on romantic poetry and remains a unique voice in the English music canon. Both men also drew directly upon the English hymnal for their inspiration.
The Victorian Era - a Legacy of Antiques
A Talk by Sheila Antrobus - to the Todmorden u3a Meeting at the Todmorden Learning Centre and Community Hub – Tod College at 1400 on the 20th June
At the start of Queen Victoria's reign, Britain's standing as a global industrial and trading power was already unrivalled. Throughout her reign, the Victorians produced some of the highest quality furniture, porcelain and jewellery. This talk will explore the legacy of this bountiful period of fascinating antiques and look at its impact on the modern antique market.
The meeting starts at 14.00 at Todmorden Learning Centre and Community Hub – Tod College in Todmorden. It is open to paid-up members of the Todmorden u3a, but if you would like to attend you can enquire by going to www.u3atod.org.uk or by contacting membership@u3atod.org.uk.
Ebb and Flow: Exhibition about river walk. Local artist Annie Harrison will be exhibiting artwork from 14-16 June at Northlight Studios, inspired by a walk along the river network from Mytholmroyd to Hull.
See this HebWeb news item for more info.
Gareth E Rees - Sunken Lands
Hebden Bridge Library, 5pm
Dreaming Valleys are pleased to present a welcome return visit by author Gareth E Rees, to discuss his book 'Sunken Lands'. He will be exploring flood myths and their relevance to the present day, taking in the sites of inundations both real and imagined from the deep past to the near future.
Booking is advisable - tickets are £5, redeemable against purchase of a copy of the book at the event, and are available from The Book Case, Hebden Bridge, or online from
www.northernearth.co.uk
Summer Music at Walshaw
2-5pm
Rowena Thornton, Soprano
Margaret Bruce, Piano
Walshaw Lodge, Hardcastle Crags, Hebden Bridge, HX7 7AX
Tickets £39 includes full buffet meal with drinks of your choice. All profits to Overgate Hospice.
Ticket – www.margaretbruce.com (no booking fee) or 07773 278477
Please advise of any special dietary requirements.
Midgley Open Gardens and Studios
The villagers of Midgley, near Hebden Bridge, are opening their hidden gardens to visitors for the weekend of June 15th and 16th.
17 gardens, ranging from secluded woodlands to intimate courtyards and large country-style gardens, will be displaying a variety of styles from traditional to the most contemporary. Two art and craft studios will be opening their doors to visitors.
The Gardens and Studios are open from 11am to 5pm on both days. Gardens will be hosting plant sales, and children's activities. Home made refreshments will be available at some gardens, and lunch will be available at Midgley Community Room and at Ewood Hall Barn.
For more details visit www.midgley-village.co.uk
Charlestown Open Gardens
11am - 3pm
A group of gardens in Charlestown open for charity. Come along for flowers, a walk, a chat and some cake.
Details and map available at charlestownopengardens.wordpress.com
Week of Events at Hebden Bridge Library
- Mon 10th, 10.30 Storytots for under 5's, repeated Saturday 15th.*
- Tues 11th, 3.45 Create a Comic, Bunny vs Monkey inspired, 5 - 10yrs.*
- Wed 12th, 2.30 Reading Spa, relaxed book chat.
- Thurs 13th at 7pm, In conversation with author Jessica Irena Smith about her first book "The Summer She Vanished"
- Fri 14th, all day, Choose a book based on the first two sentences.*
- Sat 15th at 10.30 Storytots, repeated from Monday*
* events need booking via www.ticketsource.co.uk/calderdalelibraries
Sat 15th at 5pm Gareth Lees talks about his book "Sunken Lands"
Book via www.northernearth.co.uk or at The Bookcase.
Tickets £5 but redeemable against a copy of the book.
Valley Musicians for Gaza
Des Horsfall & Kuschty Rye
The Khan Sisters
The Sentimentalists
Refreshments available
St Mary's Church, Todmorden
Door 7pm Tickets £8
Medical Aid for Palestinians
See HebWeb News item for more info
Dark Matter presents a night of
Fuzz Flavoured Grunge + Psychedlia
Maz & The Phantasms - a queer & female fronted, diverse, high-energy psych/alternative rock band on their uk and European tour from Glasgow with punk and disco influences. With support from Pray for Mojo and FADS
Golden Lion Todmorden
Friday 7 June Doors 8pm
Tickets via Skiddle/more on the door
The York Guitar Quartet
On Saturday June 8th at 3pm The York Guitar Quartet are returning to the Calder valley for the first time since their superb concert for Hebden Bridge Arts Festival in 2009.
The Quartet currently offers an inspiring and unusual repertoire which blends originals and arrangements of baroque, classical, romantic and twentieth century music. A unique mixture of instruments provides a range of five octaves, allowing the group access to music normally unavailable to the solo guitar or other ensembles.
"I know of no other guitar ensemble with a less clichéd repertoire."
Richard Wright - Musician
"..... a group that is growing in stature at each appearance" Martin Dreyer, Yorkshire Evening Press
Full details of their Programme plus a booking link are on the Wainsgate website.
Historic Building Mythbusting
4-6pm, The Folklore Centre Todmorden, 65 Halifax Rd, Todmorden,
Tickets £5
Uncovering Folklore, History and Archaeology James Wright will explain the development of such myths and investigate the underlying truths behind them. Sometimes the realities hiding behind the stories are even more interesting, romantic, and exciting than the myth itself…
Butterflies and Bees Weekend
Nanholme Mill on Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th June 2024
All things butterflies, bees and plants at Feline Woodcraf.
Experts, crafts and refreshments from 10am until 5pm.
Everyone is welcome at this dog and people-friendly accessible venue.
Feline Woodcraft/ Interesting Stuff, Nanholme Mill, Shaw Wood Road, Todmorden. OL14 6DA
Imtiaz Dharker and Amanda Dalton
At Wainsgate Chapel on Sunday June 9th at 3pm Imtiaz Dharker and Amanda Dalton will be reading poems from their new Bloodaxe collections– Shadow Reader and Fantastic Voyage - both published on the same day.
Imtiaz Dharker: "(…her) poetry shines a light in the dark… You cannot hear her perform without being somehow transformed by the experience. Witty, wise, profound and moving, her work crosses continents". Jackie Kay.
Amanda Dalton: "Dark, funny, wise, terrifying. She is searingly matter of fact about the most painful recesses of the human heart." Jo Shapcott
Hebden Bridge Arts
The Man Who Planted Trees
Our exhibitions will be open to the public and free to visit:
28 May-16 June: Town Hall Foyer & Cafe, Hebden Bridge (8.30am - 4pm)
5-7 July & 12-14 July: Holme Street Venue, Hebden Bridge (10.30am 5pm)
The project is inspired by the short story 'The Man Who Planted Trees' by Jean Giono. It will be created and co-curated with a small team of outstanding professional artists, environmental experts, local community groups and Calderdale people who want to be part of it.
Our exhibitions, featuring art made by local people on themes from the story, will run across three venues in Hebden Bridge & Elland from May to July, and we'll be sharing our progress and inviting you to get creative at our Community Creative Days on Saturday 1 June in Todmorden and Saturday 15 June in Rastrick.
If you are interested in submitting art for the exhibitions you can find further information and the submission form here
Withens Clough Reservoir landscape restoration: The National Trust and Yorkshire Water are to hold public information event and Q&A in Mytholmroyd on 4 June ahead of landscape restoration work at Withens Clough Reservoir. More info
Poetry at the Dusty Miller
Come along to hear four wonderful poets in the last reading before the summer break!
7.30 pm on Tuesday 4 June, in The Coiners' Room, Dusty Miller Inn, Burnley Road, Mytholmroyd HX7 5LH
Readings by:
Julia Deakin - Rachel Mann - John McAuliffe - Chris Preddle
Free. All Welcome. Hat passed round for poets - books to buy
Car park at rear - bus stop outside - station 5 minutes away.
Arvon North's First Festival of Writing is coming to Hebden Bridge as part of Calderdale's Year of Culture celebrations - a Festival of creative writing, imagination, and the power of storytelling, from 30 May to 2 June.
The Annual Todmorden Cream Tea and Plant Sale
1.30 -5 pm
Come and enjoy a traditional Cream Tea and bring and buy Plant Sale at 5, The Hollins, Todmorden OL14 8BJ
Cream Tea with clotted cream £6.00
Vegan and Gluten free options available
Raffle
Hand thrown ceramics
Live music
Donations of plants needed please - If you have any plants please contact John to arrange for collection or drop them off at 5, The Hollins OL148BJ Mob 07789 264770.
All proceeds will go to the support of Survivors of torture
Community Creative Day: Todmorden
Join Hebden Bridge Arts for a day of creativity and fun at our Community Creative Day! Free to drop in.
Bring the whole family to Todmorden College on Saturday, 1 June from 11am-4pm for a variety of nature-inspired activities. Dive into paper bird puppet-making, leaf printing, and upcycling projects. Don't miss the chance to meet our giant puppet and chat with our team about submitting your artwork for our July exhibitions.
For those looking for something extra, book your spot for wild clay seed bomb sculpting or join a scenic local walk. There's something for everyone to enjoy, so come along and get creative with us!
Date: Saturday, 1 June
Time: 11am-4pm
Location: Todmorden College
Find out more at hebdenbridgearts.co.uk/tmwptcommunity
Mytholmroyd Historical Society presents
Railways
Heritage Day
From 9.30am at St Michael's Church Hall and at the former station building.
Exciting selection of local history walks and talks by experts on local railways and history of Thornber' Chicks.
Special guest performance by the Three Valley Gospel Choir at St Michael's and the former station building where there will be exhibitions.
Further details from info@mytholmroydhistory.org.uk
The Shaggy Dog Storytelling Club
Fable, fairy tale, folk tale, myth, legend, or just a good old yarn - whether you've got a story to tell, or just like to listen, join us in the upper room of the Stubbing Wharf Pub.
8pm start, free entry.
Heptonstall: Village of Memories
With Nick Wilding
Nick Wilding's film about the history of Heptonstall spans centuries of fascinating life in the village and uncovers wonderful stories from those who grew up surrounded by its beauty and traditions.
7pm at Heptonstall Museum.
Entrance is free for our members
£5 everyone else.
'Bedazzled' - a celebration
3-10pm
Local arts group Music Street present 'Bedazzled', a one off special event celebrating the comedy of Pete 'n Dud, coupled with the pizazz and toe tappin' jazz of Dudley Moore.
You are hereby invited to the world premiere and one off screening of the only feature length filmed concert of the Dudley Moore Trio. Then things hot up as the devil (Peter Cook) runs rings around Stanley Moon (Dudley Moore) as he chases the one he loves (Eleanor Bron) in the original cult classic, Bedazzled. The event then builds to a rousing crescendo as we welcome the Chris Ingham Quartet for a scintillating live performance of the jazz of Dudley Moore.
So why not join us at the dazzling price of £15/£10 concessions for the whole triple bill and even Moore! at this unique event.
More info
resonance 003 Drone Bath
Wainsgate Chapel
Join us upstairs at the captivating Wainsgate Chapel on Saturday May 25th from 3pm for a special event blending a mass drone bathing ceremony with a diverse lineup of artists. From ambient and folk to drone and psychedelia.
Ghosts I have Met - Steve Jones
4pm
The Folklore centre
Todmorden,
Tickets £5
Steve Jones will talk about 3 of the strangest ghostly encounters he has had, including walking into one...."
Steve Jones from Wakefield, is a Pagan Fortean and folklore enthusiast. He was also Britains only pagan magistrate for 21 years. He runs the oldest Pagan Moot in the UK and has appeared in books, national and local papers as well as TV and Radio.
He has had a lot of weird things happen to him....
Repair Cafe Mytholmroyd
Bring out your repairs!
Repair Cafe Mytholmroyd will be up and running on Sunday 19 May from 1pm to 4pm
Mytholmroyd Community Centre,
Caldene Avenue, Mytholmroyd HX7 5AF
Hot drinks and refreshments.
We can look to repair, clothes, bags, furniture, toys, bikes electrical appliances (not microwaves) knife/tool sharpening
Come and see what its all about.
Contact us:
Email: repairmytholm@gmail.com
Facebook: Repair Cafe Mytholmroyd
Instagram: Repair Cafe Mytholmroyd
Open Doors Event at the Ground Floor of The Trades Club
12-2pm
Ground floor, The Trades Club, Holme Street, HX7
Northern Powerhouse Boxing Academy (NPBA) invites you to join us at the ground floor of The Trades Club
This drop-in session is a great opportunity to view the space, discuss our plans, and share your thoughts and ideas.
Everyone is welcome!
Access through the big blue doors to the left of The Trades. Please don't use the main entrance to the upstairs club.
We're excited to see you there and hear what you think!
Happy Hounds
The RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield, Bradford & District branch are excited to be partnering with Hebden Royd Town Council (HRTC) to host their annual event - Hebden's Happy Hounds! The event will take place on Saturday 18th May, 11am - 4pm at Calder Holmes Park, Hebden Bridge
Hepton Singers' 50th anniversary concert
On Saturday 18th May, 4pm at Heptonstall Church, this year's Hepton Singers May concert will mark 50 years since the choir's first public performance in the Spring of 1974. See HebWeb news item for more info.
Hebden Bridge Arts
Kids' Illustration / Art Workshop
With Jimmy Dolan
Mytholmroyd Community Centre
Saturday 18 May 2-4.30pm
Ages 7 - 11, plus their grown up
Come and join Jimmy Dolan, artist and educator to help create a massive mixed-media illustration inspired by 'The Man Who Planted Trees' by Jean Giono, which is Hebden Bridge Arts' new community project as part of Calderdale's Year of Culture.
We will listen to the story and then work collaboratively or individually on a section of a massive picture to create an amazing artwork for exhibition in one of our 'The Man Who Planted Trees' exhibitions, running across Calderdale from May to July.
Parents are welcome to stay and support their child. Kids should wear clothes they are happy to get messy.
This workshop is ticketed, and is on a pay as you can afford basis, with suggested donations from £1-£10.
Book tickets here
Ambient Bowling
By the Hebden Water, just beyond Salem Fields
Ambient Bowling returns for another season. Come try your hand at crown green bowling, have a drink at the Blue Pig bar, enjoy the ambient sounds emanating from the pavilion, and wonder at the idyllic location.
All welcome, including well behaved dogs on leads. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the green and pavilion. Suggested donation £3."
Music at Wadsworth - updated
Wadsworth Community Centre on Saturday 18th May. Due to illness, Sam Carter will replace Granny's Attic. More details on this HebWeb news item
We are (Nothing) Everything
- Anya Cloud & Makisig Akin
Wainsgate Chapel
8pm - £12
This dance duet is a queer reimagination of a creation story. With patience, tenderness, and prayer we epitomize the multiple ways that love can manifest. Intimacy facilitates straddling and queering notions of violence, care, pleasure, play, and gender.
Calderdale Wind Farm - A Hostile Act? Public Forum to explore the Environmental and Cultural impact of De-Wilding Walshaw Moor at 7.30pm, Weds 15 May at the Birchcliffe Centre.
Dementia Friendly Cinema Screening The next screening at the Hebden Bridge Picture House is Mary Poppins, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Monday 13 May at 1pm. See this HebWeb news for more info.
Georgian Ensemble Amer-Imeri
Workshop and Concert A workshop and performance of beautiful polyphonic songs by singers from the Republic of Georgia, including traditional dance, costume and rituals. The visit is hosted by local community choir Zarebi. Part of a weekend of song in Hebden Bridge, with 7 local choirs performing on Saturday evening.
Workshop: 2-5pm £25/ 15
Todfellows Space, Oxford Street, Todmorden OL14 5PU
Concert: 7-9pm £15 /10 Combined: £32 / 20
Parish Church of St James, 4 Church Lane, Mytholm HX7 6DS
More information
Vigil for Detained Asylum Seekers
Speak your anger.
Cry out your despair.
Sing, pray, hold each other
Stand in solidarity
Meet at St. Augustine's Centre at 4 pm
Or outside Wilko's at 4.30 pm
Hebden Bridge Arts
Community Singing Taster Workshop
With Charlie Rhodes
The Space, Hebden Bridge Town Hall
Saturday 11 May 2.30-4.30pm
Age 18+
Come along and engage in some fun and engaging community singing. At the end of the session, you can also find out about being part of our The Man Who Planted Trees production, on stage as part of the community chorus.
This singing session for those aged 18+, led by Musical Director Charlie Rhodes, will include singing games, rounds and simple harmony work, as well as an introduction to the story. Keen singers welcome, no prior stage experience is necessary.
At the end of the taster session you can find out more about being in the small community chorus for The Man Who Planted Trees and express your interest. Please note The Man Who Planted Trees is a professional production. The community chorus is a volunteer opportunity but travel expenses will be paid, and refreshments provided.
This workshop is ticketed, and donations at time of booking requested on a pay what you can afford basis.
Book tickets here
Flamenco at Wainsgate: Making a return to Wainsgate on 11 May after his sell-out appearance in 2021 is the flamenco virtuoso Samuel Moore, with a musical journey to the many countries, regions and cities that have shaped flamenco evolution.
Choirfest
To raise funds for local charity, Music for the Many
An evening of singing, with a selection of wonderful choirs (8 in total), of the upper Calder Valley has been organised by local acapella group 'Waiting for Dawn'.
The concert will be held at St James the Great Church on Church Lane, Hebden Bridge on the 11th May. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.
Tickets are £5/£3 for singers and £7/£5 for non-singers which are available on Eventbrite, but cash on the door preferred.
In addition, there will be tea, coffee and delicious homemade cakes available for a donation.
In The Eye of the Beholder: imaging and imagining UFOs.
11 May 2024, 16:00 – 18:00
Todmorden, 65 Halifax Rd, Todmorden, 5BB OL14 5BB, UK
This insider's view of contemporary UFO analysis and debate includes a practical demonstration of UFO fakery and a participatory activity.
Tickets £5
Poetry at The Dusty Miller
7.30 pm on Tuesday 7 May, in The Coiners' Room,
Dusty Miller Inn, Burnley Road, Mytholmroyd HX7 5LH
Readings by:
Lucy Burnett - Geoff Hattersley - Martin Kratz - Kim Moore
Free. All Welcome
Hat passed round for poets - books to buy
Car Park at rear - bus stop outside - station 5 minutes away.
Dark Matter Promotions presents...
An evening of avant-garde ethereal folkish jazz
Awen Ensemble
Mother Sugar
MENKO
Golden Lion Todmorden (upstairs)
Sunday 5th May 8pm
£8 adv Skiddle/£10 otd
The Trades 100th Birthday Weekend
May Day Rally with speakers and discussion
Free: Donations welcome
Doors 1.30pm
With speakers on Karl Marx's birthday and his relevance to the labour movement today, the 1984-5 miners strike, the 100th anniversary of the Hebden Bridge Trades Club building, and more to be announced.
The Trades 100th Birthday Weekend
Daniel Bath and Friends - Music for the Many
£12 | £10 | £6
Doors open 7pm
14+ seated event
Jazz pianist, ethnomusicologist and activist for equal opportunities in music, Daniel Bath is joined by a dazzling line-up of musical friends, the valley's finest, including Rosemary Howes (voice), Martin Davies (drums), Peadar Long (woodwind), Stephen Shulman (violin), Adam Medlock (bass) and a special guest appearance from Miss Airedale. Honouring the centenary of the Trades Club, this gig will celebrate traditions of activism, defiance, resistance and resiliance in a kaleidescopic journey through South African jazz, klezmer, socialist cabaret, Palestinian songs, the works of Joe Hill and some new, specially composed songs of protest.
All proceeds will go to Music for the Many, providing free instrumental tuition and musical opportunities for children, young people and families in Calderdale.
Friends of Hebden Bridge Picture House AGM
Are you interested in film? Are you keen to support Hebden Bridge Picture House? Would you like to know more about getting involved in the Friends of the Picture House?
If so, come along to the AGM of the Friends of the Picture House on Saturday, May 4 at 11am.
The meeting will be held at the cinema and all are welcome.
Hebden Bridge Arts
Walk and Draw Workshop
1.30-4.30pm: Hebden Bridge (age 16+)
We will begin with a walk local to our workshop studio, really taking notice of the environment around us. On this walk we will consider the history of the valley, and how its remarkable industrial heritage wrought profound changes that has resulted in the nature we find here today.
As we walk, we will gather inspiration from the colours and contrasts, the textures and patterns and sounds that we encounter, and we will look out for and collect natural materials to use in the workshop, thinking about how and why we find them here, and about their physical properties and how we might use these to create our artworks. You will then draw, paint and print with these materials, using them together with natural inks. You will layer your drawings with words to create your own individual artwork that has grown out of and with the environment around us. With your permission, the drawing you produce will be shared as part of our open art exhibition.
Suitable for those aged 16+. Please donate what you can afford when booking your ticket.
Book tickets here
The Trades 100th Birthday Weekend
Commoners Choir and special guest Maddie Morris
£8 | £10
Doors open 8pm
18+ event
A special event marking the Trades Club's 100th birthday sees Commoners Choir take to the stage, with special guest Maddie Morris followed by guest DJ Red Helen taking you into the early hours on the dancefloor!
Ripponden Bank Holiday
Spring Market
11am-5pm
In its usual location, opposite St Barts Church and at The Old Bridge Inn, the market will feature over 30 food and drink stalls to suit every palate bringing tastes from around the globe, and gift stalls for all ages.
Entertainment for all the family will also run throughout the day: vintage tractors, Punch & Judy, Friendly Brass Band and buskers' corner.
The church itself will be serving refreshments and all the shops and bars in the village will be open for business.
Look out for regular updates on the 'Ripponden Spring Market' Facebook page.
Bank Holiday Basement Party
Saturday 4th May 8:30 til 1am
Nelsons Wine Bar, Hebden Bridge, Crown Street
Free Entry
DJ Cutterz & J-Black play vinyl all night long. Disco edits, Funk, Soul, Dub, Deep House
Book Tickets
May election for Calderdale Council, and W. Yorks Mayor: Calderdale Council elections take place on Thurs, 2 May. See lists of candidates for Calder Ward which covers Hebden Bridge, Luddendenfoot Ward which covers Mytholmroyd and Todmorden ward. West Yorkshire mayoral candidates are also listed.
Hebden Bridge Arts
Needle Felting Workshop
1.30-4.30pm: Hebden Bridge (age 16+)
Make a felted wool landscape,
with Dani Lovett
The Space, Hebden Bridge Town Hall
Sunday 28 April, 2-4pm
Age 12+
Try out a new craft in a relaxed environment, working to together make a large textile landscape wall hanging for Hebden Bridge Arts' 2024 open exhibitions.
Taking a section of a landscape art work for yourself, you will work on your section of the picture using the dry felting technique. Selecting and shaping your coloured wool to reflect the colours, textures and shapes of the section of landscape you're replicating, and using a felting needle to press the roving fibres into the base fabric, all the needle felted sections will be joined together after the session, and will form a collaborative artwork for exhibition as part of our three 'The Man Who Planted Trees' exhibitions, running in Calderdale from May to July.
This workshop is ticketed, and donations at time of booking welcome. Suitable for ages 12+ but 12-15 year olds need to be supervised by a parent / guardian.
Book tickets here
WI Spring Rag Market on Saturday 27 April. The Rag Market is a twice yearly event run by Hebden Bridge WI to raise funds for their Charity of the Year and for an Educational Bursary with the chance to build new skills. See HebWeb news item for more info.
Holly Elsdon- Moral Panic! The Folklore of Fearmongering
The Folklore of fear mongering. Tracing the influence of urban myths/legends and conspiracy belief through the moral panics of the late 20th century and early 21st century.
27 Apr 2024, 16:00 – 18:00
Todmorden, The Folklore Centre, 65, Halifax Road
Tickets £5
Resonance
John Haycock & DBH, Peter Lee & Ruf Dug
Hope Baptist Chapel, from 5pm
Are you listening?
We are excited to explore the fabric of the graceful Hope Baptist Chapel, in Hebden Bridge on Saturday, April 27th for the next resonance.
We have a special collaboration between John Haycock and Dan Brigwood-Hill showcasing their new work, as well as Indian drone and Bansuri flute player Peter Lee, interwoven with NTS host Ruf Dug playing ambient records together with our own DJs.
We are excited to light up the building with wonderful ambient refraction lighting from Jamie House too, this will be an exciting, multi-sensory experience!
Donations are advised and welcomed to help support the series of events this year.
The Shaggy Dog Storytelling Club
Fable, fairy tale, folk tale, myth, legend, or just a good old yarn - whether you've got a story to tell, or just like to listen, join us in the upper room of the Stubbing Wharf Pub.
8pm start, free entry.
Dark Matter Promotions presents.... A new musical adventure and first airing from
Gnod members, blackened melodic rock… Born in a Headlock
With support
Golden Lion Todmorden (upstairs)
Doors 8pm
Tickets £7 + bf Skiddle/ more on the door
Medieval Churches of West Yorkshire
A Talk by David Weldrake
Todmorden u3a Meeting at the Todmorden Learning Centre and Community Hub – Tod College at 2pm.
This talk focuses on the development of church architecture in West Yorkshire from c. 900 to c. 1500. It highlights the range of styles which can be seen in the county and seeks to place them into their historical setting.
The meeting starts at 14.00 at Todmorden Learning Centre and Community Hub – Tod College in Todmorden and is open to paid-up members of the Todmorden u3a, but if you would like to attend you can enquire by going to www.u3atod.org.uk or by contacting membership@u3atod.org.uk.
Ceilidh for Medical Aid for Palestinians
Doors 7pm. Dancing starts at 8pm
Tickets £10
With Cahootenany Ceilidh Band
Historic Springs & Holy Wells of West Yorkshire
With Dave Weldrake
16:00 – 18:00
The Folklore Centre, 65 Halifax Rd, Todmorden, 5BB OL14 5BB
Tickets £5
Now that most people obtain their water from mains supply, the wellheads which once provided their only source of drinking water lie neglected by the sides of our busy main roads. However, their former importance cannot be underestimated. In times past wells and springs provided not only a source of clean water but also a meeting place, a site of religious veneration or a place to look for a cure for illness. In the 19th century this became big business as people sought to make their fortunes through the healing power of water.
World Dock Pudding Championship
Mytholmroyd Community & Leisure Centre
From 12 noon till 5pm
The Dock Pudding is a recipe unique to the Calder Valley. It uses the sweet variety of dock leaves which have a spinach like taste and grow quite widely round here - not to be confused with the more common form of dock leaves which grow throughout the country. Recipes vary slightly but they might include butter or oil, onions, oatmeal and seasoning. The World Championships take place each April in Mytholmroyd and have so since the early 1970s.
The Long Road.
The next Little Theatre play (April 8-13) is by Shelagh Stephenson and explores the emotions of a family that has lost a member via a stabbing. Directed by Rachel Doyle-Richards.
Hand and Treasure Art and Vintage Fair
Do visit this gorgeous fair on the 13th and 14th of April at Hebden Bridge Town Hall. Open 10.30am to 4.30pm. A lovely mix of art, jewellery, paper cuts, vintage homewares and clothes.
Flashes of Inspiration - A Very FAE Day
16:00 – 18:00
The Folklore Centre, 65 Halifax Rd, Todmorden, 5BB OL14 5BB.
Tickets £5
Come and join an informal bunch of inkers, thinkers and amateur scribes as we dip our toes into short form story telling.
Over two afternoons we'll take phrases and themes as our mutual jumping off point, work at a leisurely pace alongside each other, then share our scribblings with the group (optional of course!) Flash Fiction is a purposefully petite literary form (in this instance, containing no more than 250 words) so there's no pressure to write the next Shakespearian epic.
Expect the nonsensical, the poetic, and the mundane. Everything has its place and no level of previous experience is expected or required. The workshops will be led by Stefanie Elrick of FAE Club which gathers on the first Fri of every month to celebrate art and oddness. FAE Club is a group of friendly cinephiles intent on working their way through the Centre's extensive archive.
Wizard of Oz, 85 years on
Charity Screening with the Mayor
On 14th April at the Picture House hosted by the Mayor of Hebden Royd, Cllr. Bernice Hayes. Immerse yourself in the timeless wonder of one of her cherished classics, The Wizard of Oz, as we celebrate its 85th anniversary this year. All profits to Calder Food Support. Read HebWeb news item for more info
Zarebi Choir Concert
Polyphonic songs from the Republic of Georgia by Hebden Bridge based women's choir Zarebi. The event is to raise funds for a cultural exchange with Pletenitza, an award winning Bulgarian choir, who hope to visit Hebden Bridge and the Calder Valley in the autumn.
2-3.30pm Sunday 14th April, Fielden Hall, Ewood Lane, Todmorden.
Tickets £6, £5 concessions, from hil.taylor3315@gmail.com or cash only on the door.
Tea and cakes available during the interval.
Consultation for 2nd screen at Picture House On Monday 15 April, a public consultation with the project team will take place at the Picture House from 5-6pm.
Door to Door in 81 Days
Old Town Book Group Presents
Roger Gill Local Author
10-11.30am
A talk, readings and QA about Roger's solo walk from Hebden Bridge to Italy. 1327 miles through 6 countries. Be prepared to be fascinated.
Wadsworth Community Centre Old Town HX7 8RY
Free Entrance tea, coffee, cake - charity donation
Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Hebden Bridge Little Theatre: an illustrated history 1924 – 2024
Speaker: Vaughan Leslie
The story of Hebden Bridge Little Theatre, from its origins in the Literary and Scientific Society, in 1924, to the present day. During its hundred years the theatre has performed plays almost without interruption – a total of nearly 400 full-length plays, to over half a million people. The talk will highlight the people and events that have helped to make the theatre an enduring and endearing feature of Hebden Bridge life.
Vaughan Leslie has been a member of the Little Theatre since 1987 as a frequent actor, director, and in numerous other capacities. Over the last seven years he has put together a comprehensive digital archive on the website, which includes a timeline of all full-length productions during the last century, with links to images for all but four of them.
Methodist Church, Market Street. Hebden Bridge. 7.30pm, free to members; £4 for visitors
Duck Race
All profits go to the Rotary Club of Hebden Bridge Trust Fund which gives grants to local, national and international good causes.
Stumbling Over Eden by Steve Bonham
7pm, Thursday 4th April at Hebden Bridge Library.
Free but via booking here preferred
Stories and songs celebrating the adventurer, explorer and vagabond within us all.
Stumbling Over Eden starts with an idea born on the top of Mt Toubkal the highest peak in North Africa - to walk from the roof of the High Atlas Mountains to the sands of the Sahara Desert.
What results is a fantastical tale involving a Krupp cannon, arrest, being tailed by the secret service, the lairs of old warlords, a spirit dog, a lost tribe of dwarfs and an amorous camel. But more than that, it is a story of resilience, companionship, independence, the strange weave of history and the true meaning of adventure.
Steve Bonham is an award-winning psychologist, a musician, an adventurer and a vagabond philosopher. He is the author of A Little Nostalgia for Freedom, A Beautiful Broken Dream and How to Survive and Thrive in an Impossible World.
Cantorelli
Cantorelli presents 500 years of English songs, madrigals and motets
Friday 5th April 7.30pm at St James the Great, Parish Church, Hebden Bridge, HX7 6DS
Free admission - donations in aid of Never Hungry Again pledging to end child poverty in Calderdale. www.cantorelli.co.uk
Synchronicity
Harry Wheeler is a filmmaker and storyteller who specialises in DreamWork, guiding people to process their night-time dreams and uncover valuable insights from their unconscious.
He believes that DreamWork is a powerful technique for steering one's life toward a more positive path by consciously shaping their own narratives. In his talk, Harry will delve into the phenomenon of Synchronicity, where events, symbols, and actions interconnect to reveal undeniable significance.
This presentation will trace the origins of the term and its integration into modern dictionaries, sharing compelling examples from history, as well examples from his is own life.
06 Apr 2024, 16:00 – 18:00
Todmorden Folk centre, Todmorden, UK
Tickets £5
Mill Town Arts Easter Art Fair
Hebden Bridge Town Hall
Featuring 20 great artists work, ranging from Fine Arts, Illustration, Photography, Jewellery, Textiles, Metal work, Craft and Ceramics, all displaying high quality artwork, and all under one roof.
Mill Town Arts are a diverse group of creatives working in and out of the Valley. Mill Town Arts is a not for profit organisation supporting artists from the Calder Valley and beyond.
Free to enter and in support of Calder Community Kindness.
Keep an eye on social media for this and all up coming Mill Town Arts events: Instagram : @milltown_arts / Facebook : Mill Town Arts HX7.
Mill Town Arts Summer Arts Fair is sponsored by the Print Bureau.
Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Yorkshire moderates during a revolution
Speaker: Mike Crawford
Two local men, George Savile and John Tillotson, survived the hysteria and vindictive years of England in the 1680s. As the drama unfolded, they struggled to maintain their views, their positions and loyalty to their friends, not always successfully and not without raising doubts about their own motives. Ultimately, they played central roles in securing a new foundation after the revolution, but they paid a price for their moderation.
Mike Crawford was born in Halifax, and grew up in Midgley and Luddenden. He lived in Hebden Bridge for 30 years, teaching history at local schools before moving across the border to Lancashire. Formerly a member of the committee of HBLHS, he has worked on the transcription of 17th century probate documents from local townships, and with Stella Richardson, edited the Society's books of probate records.
Methodist Church, Market Street. Hebden Bridge. 7.30pm, free to members; £4 for visitors
More Pace Egg madness The Pace Egg Players hope to see you all on Good Friday (29 March) in Weavers Square, Heptonstall. Read this HebWeb news item and find links to background info and photos of previous years. Click poster above to enlarge it.
The Shaggy Dog Storytelling Club
Fable, fairy tale, folk tale, myth, legend, or just a good old yarn - whether you've got a story to tell, or just like to listen, join us in the upper room of the Stubbing Wharf Pub.
8pm start, free entry.
From Hebden Bridge And District Old Peoples Welfare Committee
Spring into to action
Hebden Bridge and District Old People's Committee are inviting older people the community to share a cuppa and share their views of living in the Valley. The event with a range of informative speakers giving health and activity tips will be held at Hebden Town Hall on Wednesday, March 20th at 10.30am. This date also coincides with Age without limits to combat ageism.
Ageism prevents older people living better in all areas of life. Many people have negative ideas about ageing including some older people.
This event aims to create a voice for older people in our part of the Valley to ensure that all policy developed by Calderdale Council and other agencies reflects the needs of older people.
This is a free event and we would like to encourage as many people as possible to attend.
To register, contact Nick Wilding by email or telephone 01422 843871
Crippen - A Case of Mistaken Identity?
A Talk by Dr Julian Sommerville - 'Crippen - A Case of Mistaken Identity?' to the Todmorden u3a Meeting at a new venue the Todmorden Learning Centre and Community Hub – Tod College at 1400 on the 21st March.
The talk describes how an attractive, adulterous actress turned her mild-mannered professional husband living a genteel suburban life in London into the most reviled criminal of Edwardian England; how an observant sea captain using the latest new radio wave technology of the day started a dramatic transatlantic sea chase culminating in the arrest of the fugitive Dr Crippen by a senior Scotland Yard detective disguised as a river boat pilot.
The talk looks at how modern-day DNA analysis and a re-examination of the trial evidence both shed further interesting thoughts on the trial of Dr Crippen and the safety of his conviction.
The meeting starts at 14.00 at Todmorden Learning Centre and Community Hub – Tod College in Todmorden and is open to paid-up members of the Todmorden u3a, but if you would like to attend you can enquire by going to www.u3atod.org.uk or by contacting membership@u3atod.org.uk.
The Brutish Multitude Theatre Company
Warp and Weft
Warp and Weft is a show of two one-act plays connected by theme and location: Waiting for Wesley and The House That Ethel Built.
Thurs 21 - Sat 23 March 2024
7:30pm evenings & Sat matinee 2:30pm
The Halifax Playhouse.
Tickets available here
Waiting for Wesley is set in the Calder Valley in the summer of 1842 when a wave of strikes engulfs Lancashire and Yorkshire. Thousands of troops confront strikers, killing five and wounding many more. In one family, tensions mount as a husband and wife are torn between allegiance to the church and organising the rebellion.
The House That Ethel Built concerns the life and work of Ethel Carnie Holdsworth (1886 – 1962). Ethel was the first working-class woman in Britain to publish a novel and is a rare example of a female working-class novelist. She was a former mill girl who also became a political activist producing possibly the world's first anti-fascist newspaper, The Clear Light.
Music at Wadsworth
Music at Wadsworth Community Centre with Lauren Housley and The Northern Cowboys on 23 March. At the 2024 Americana UK Awards, Lauren was awarded 'Song of the Year' as well as being nominated for 'Best Live Act.' Read HebWeb News item for more info
Dark Matter Promotions presents....
JuJu
Genre-bending experimentalism from Sicily
Corvus & the Morning Star psychedelic, melodic 5 piece
Golden Lion Todmorden (upstairs)
Doors 8pm
Tickets £9 + bf Skiddle/ more on the door
Heptonstall Charity Concert for Survival International & Medical Aid for Palestinians
Local acapella group 'Waiting for Dawn' and 'Friends' will be showcasing their talents to raise funds to support two international charities in Heptonstall on Sunday 24th March. Tea, coffee and homemade cake are available.
The show starts at 2.30pm prompt, doors open 2.00pm, finishing at 4.30pm.
Octagonal Chapel, Northgate, Heptonstall HX7 7ND
Tickets are £7 & £5 concessions - advance reservation recommended via Eventbrite:
Please come and support us raise much needed funds.
Repair Cafe Mytholmroyd
Bring out your repairs!
Repair Cafe Mytholmroyd will be up and running on Sunday 31 March from 1pm to 4pm
Mytholmroyd Community Centre,
Caldene Avenue, Mytholmroyd HX7 5AF
Hot drinks and refreshments.
We can look to repair, clothes, bags, furniture, toys, bikes electrical appliances (not microwaves) knife/tool sharpening
Come and see what its all about.
Contact us:
Email: repairmytholm@gmail.com
Facebook: Repair Cafe Mytholmroyd
Instagram: Repair Cafe Mytholmroyd
Six inches of Soil On 24th March, the Picture House, in partnership with Pennine Cropshare, will be screening Six Inches of Soil, telling the inspiring story of 3 young farmers standing up against the industrial food system and transforming the way they pro.duce food. Read HebWeb News item
Hebden Bridge Disability Access Forum works to improve access for disabled people in the Hebden Bridge area, and they meet on the 3rd Monday of each month. The next meeting is just after the AGM on 18 March. See HebWeb News item
Book Launch - A Place Apart: Hebden Bridge
Hebden Royd Methodist Church at 6.30pm, Wednesday 13th March, just before the Local History talk at 7.30pm.
A Place Apart:
Hebden Bridge
New book showing Hebden Bridge as seen through the eyes of the Spencer family in the late nineteenth century, written by Christopher Collier See HebWeb news item about the new book.
Hebden Bridge Local History Society
The farm that moved: Hollin Hey in Cragg
Speaker: David Cant
At the end of the 19th century a farmstead was rebuilt a field's length downhill from the old site of Hollin Hey. The background of those involved and the survival of old plans and drawings present a vivid picture of changing farming life in the area.
David Cant needs little introduction as a speaker on landscape and vernacular buildings, having contributed many talks to Hebden Bridge and other local history societies. After more than 35 years living in the area, he is still fascinated by the landscape, buildings and history, and still sharing his enthusiasm and his knowledge.
Methodist Church, Market Street. Hebden Bridge. 7.30pm, free to members; £4 for visitors
Film Festival 15-17 March Three Premieres, including World Premiere of The Appliance Of Science and showing the shorts competition line up in the Hebden Bridge Picture House for the first time. Read more about the Festival
Suzanne Owen: Is Druidry an Indigenous Religion?
16:00 – 18:00, The Folklore Centre, 65, Halifax Road, Todmorden,
£5 per ticket
Several contemporary Druid groups in Britain and Ireland claim that Druidry is a 'native spirituality' or that it is indigenous to these islands. While it would be difficult to argue that Druidry today has any continuity with ancient Druids, by employing a land-based definition rather than one based on ethnicity, Suzanne will discuss ways Druidry could be considered an indigenous religion as well as some counterarguments.
Although Druids do not claim to be indigenous people, can their emplacement activities – the way they relate to their environment and its past – provide a sense of belonging to the land found in indigenous cultures?
Foraging Experience
1pm-2pm
Location: Mytholmroyd
Join us for a Moonfull Foraging Experience, a unique and exciting hour-long walk where you can explore the wonders of nature with guidance and support.
We'll take you along well-maintained paths and easy terrain, therefore, children and dogs on leads are very welcome.
Tickets are available on a first-come basis from Eventbrite from 25/02/24.
Free to attend, donations are also welcome.
Book tickets
Ben Rushton and the Chartists: a walk and talk
A walk and talk from the Shepherd's Rest pub to Basin Stones. Sunday, March 10th at 11 am. Meet Shepherd's Rest car park.
Lumbutt's Road, Todmorden. £5 (children free)
This is a gentle ascent of roughly 30-40 mins. Sturdy footwear is advisable. Parking on the road, east side of the pub.
Ben Rushton was a handloom weaver who lived in Ovenden, Halifax. He became a leading figure in the chartist movement in the 19th century and was known across the West Riding for his inspiring oration. The Peoples' Charter supporters would often assemble at Basin Stones to hear him. It was here, in August 1842, that Rushton rallied forces during the general strike that engulfed the north.
The Brutish Multitude Theatre Company presents Michael Crowley's play Warp and Weft, which dramatises the events of 1842, showing at Halifax Playhouse from 21st to 23rd March.
Join us at Basin Stones to hear the actor who plays Ben Rushton deliver a rousing monologue from the play. This will be followed by a selection of Chartist anthems sung by Jennifer Reid. Along the route, Michael will take us through a brief history of the chartist movement.
Why not help us recreate this historical event by dressing for the occasion in 1840s attire (optional)?
Stop Calderdale Wind Farm rally on Monday, 11 March, 2.30pm outside Halifax Town Hall. Campaigners will hand in a letter and lobby councillors at their meeting. See HebWeb news item
Dark Matter Promotions presents…
Chemtrails and Gas Kunst
8pm, Golden Lion Todmorden, upstairs room
Showcasing two Manchester bands who are making waves on the music scene
Chemtrails - postgarage punk/ psychedelic power pop
Gas Kunst - Rock and/or Roll
£7 + bf via Skiddle / more on the door
Lit and Sci talk
Discovering the secret of sex - Professor of Zoology at Manchester University and a regular guest on Radio 4, Matthew Cobb will be addressing the Lit and Sci for their lecture on Sat 9 March at the Town Hall. See HebWeb news item 4 Feb
Organised by Halifax Friends of Palestine
Nabila Espanioly
Palestinian Israeli Guest Speaker from Nazareth
Founder of A/-Tufula, a women's centre that empowers Palestinian Israeli women in Israel using a feminist approach.
Nabila is a both a peace activist and a civil rights campaigner.
Named one of the 100 most inspiring women in 2011. Human Rights Award in 2022.
4.15pm for 4.30pm start
The Waterfront Hall, Town Hall, Hebden Bridge
Mayor's Charity Fundraiser - cancelled
We are sorry to announce that we have taken the hard decision to cancel the below event and apologise for any disappointment this may cause. This is due to low ticket sales, in addition to other events falling in the same week.
For more info, see this HebWeb news item
Demian Allan - The Magic of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
16:00 – 18:00, The Folklore Centre, 65, Halifax Road, Todmorden,
£5 per ticket
Demian's fascination with The Golden Dawn ritual magic group was sparked by his study of the Tarot and his exploration of Celtic and Egyptian folklore, myths and legends.
In this fascinating talk Demian explores how this late nineteenth century group used a a mixture of Egyptian Magic, Christian Mysticism, The Kabbalah, Astrology and Tarot as tools to seek a balance in their spiritual development. He will also consider how their powerful influence has moulded contemporary new age thinking and will delve into the group's activities in Yorkshire.
Demian Allan is the resident Astrologer for 'Mind, Body, Spirit Magazine' and 'Kindred Spirit Magazine'.
Poetry at The Dusty Miller
Readings by four wonderful poets
7.30 pm on Tuesday 5 March, in The Coiners' Room, Dusty Miller Inn
Burnley Road, Mytholmroyd HX7 5LH
Ian Humphreys - Tom Jenks - Saiqa Khushnood - Helen Tookey
Free. All Welcome
Hat passed round for poets - books to buy
Car Park at rear - bus stop outside - station 5 minutes away
From Friends of High Hirst Woodmeadow
Want to get involved in a
local environmental project?
Friends of High Hirst Woodmeadow
Annual General Meeting
7-8pm, The Terrace Room
Hebden Bridge Town Hall
Hebden Bridge, HX7 7BY
Everyone welcome
Scything, Haymaking, Fungi talks, Coppicing, Learning, Grasslands, Fascines, Biodiversity, Ponds, Fungi surveys Wildflowers, Sheep Watch, Community, Moth surveys, Orchard Restoration, Ecologv
Sermons in Wood and Stone: War Memorials and Their Purpose
Heptonstall Museum February 29 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
War memorials will always be subject to a variety of interpretations. Arguably it is hard to look back at the Great War – the trenches, mud, blood, poppies, and the memorials to a war to end all wars, without seeing it through the prism of 20th-century history: a Second World War, the ever-present threat of nuclear mass destruction etc, but memorials are always of their time. Mike's talk will be non-genealogical and has two main themes:
The Great War and its aftermath were catalysts for unprecedented social and political change as communities reflected on four years of death, suffering and grief. What had it all been for, what had it all meant? Questions are etched on the memorials that were erected to serve post-war communities. Mike will focus on specific memorials in the Upper Calder Valley. Secondly, the region's memorials, including figures of women, often depict a reaffirmation of pre-war gender roles. Still, noticeably, others acknowledge how the War had heralded a change in women's place in society.
Speaker Mike Edwards. Mike Edwards, a resident, was a volunteer for the War Grave Photographic Project for several years and a volunteer for the Imperial War Archive of War Memorials. He has recorded not just local war graves but family gravestones throughout the Upper Calder Valley, which record family members killed in war and buried elsewhere. Whilst many local chapels and churches have the names of those who fell in the Great War, Hebden Bridge's main war memorial does not. For the 1914 Centennial Mike researched over 400 names and created biopics of those from Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Erringden, Wadsworth, Heptonstall and Blackshaw Head who fell during the Great War. Funded by Hebden Royd Town Council they were compiled into a Civic Book of Remembrance now held in the Council Offices. He also compiled extracts for local churches, chapels, and schools for their books of remembrance.
Admission is free for Friends of Heptontall Museum
£5 Others
John Billingsley - Tales Along the Packhorse Way Part 2
16:00 – 18:00, The Folklore Centre, 65, Halifax Road, Todmorden,
£5 per ticket
Setting off from Heptonstall, we finish the journey from Burnley to Halifax that we began in January, with more stories and lore to share on the way...
Hay Fever On Monday, 26 February Hebden Bridge Little Theatre starts its Centenary year with Noel Coward's Hay Fever – written 100 years ago in 1924! Directed by Hannah Stow and starring Judith Bliss.
Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Jowett: the Yorkshire car
Speaker: Barbara Atack
Jowett cars were made in Bradford between 1910 and 1954 - the only Yorkshire car that was really successful. Benjamin and William Jowett formed the Jowett Motor Manufacturing Company in 1901 to undertake general engineering work and produced their first car by 1906. It was after WW2 that production flourished with over 40,000 Bradfords and 24,000 Javelins. Today many still survive and are lovingly looked after by their owners. The Jowett Car Club has just reached its centenary and is the World's oldest One Make Car Club.
Barbara Atack has long associations with HBLHS especially as its hard-working President. She is also the membership secretary of the Jowett Car Club. Barbara, together with her late husband, owned several Jowett cars over the years and travelled with them throughout the British Isles and as far afield as France and Spain.
Methodist Church, Market Street. Hebden Bridge. 7.30pm, free to members; £4 for visitors
The Shaggy Dog Storytelling Club
Fable, fairy tale, folk tale, myth, legend, or just a good old yarn - whether you've got a story to tell, or just like to listen, join us in the upper room of the Stubbing Wharf Pub.
8pm start, free entry.
Dark Matter Promotions presents
John J Presley Band
With special guest Fat Frances
A fuzzy blues fest with a touch of woozy psych for good measure.
Golden Lion Todmorden (upstairs)
Doors 8pm
Tickets £10 adv Skiddle/ 12 on the door
Craft Fayre
11am - 5pm, Hebden Bridge Town Hall, Waterfront Hall
A celebration of craftsmanship, and artistry - our Craft Fayre promises a beautiful array of handmade treasures from talented local artisans and crafters.
20 stalls filled with a variety of creations.
Support local artists and discover talented people who create from the heart, ensuring that each purchase directly contributes to the growth of the artisan community.
Find one-of-a-kind, handmade treasures.
Enjoy an atmosphere where creativity flourishes, fostering connections and shared love for artisanal craftsmanship.
Please bring cash where possible.
Mary Stark - Textiles and Magic
16:00 – 18:00, The Folklore Centre, 65, Halifax Road, Todmorden,
£5 per ticket
In the contemporary Western world, textiles are rarely linked to magic. But in ancient times, a key use of cloth was: "to invoke 'magic', to protect, to secure fertility and riches, to divine the future, perhaps even to curse…" (Wayland Barber, 1994).
Mary will talk about artefacts made from knitted yarn, ribbon, cord, rope and string at the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle.
She will examine their long association with women, voice, domesticity and craft, showing how textile practice has been, and continues to be, used in witchcraft and magic. She will highlight the idea that when we pick up thread or yarn with magical belief and intentions, powerful potential and ancient alchemy is in our hands.
There will be an opportunity to make a magical object with thread to close the session.
The Lost Chord Ensemble
7 pm, in the Little Theatre bar, Holme Street, Hebden Bridge HX7 8EE
The Lost Chord Ensemble is a small group of musicians who support the Little Theatre. They meet about once a month usually on a Sunday evening to play light music. Musicians (with their music stand) are invited to come and play.
If you are coming for the first time, please contact chris.browne@tiscali.co.uk with details of your instrument so that a pad of music can be made available.
Lit and Sci Talk
Artificial Intelligence "A Boffin's View" with Prof Lee McCluskey, a globally respected expert in AI. The aim of his talk to the Lit & Sci on 17 Feb is to give an insight into recent developments in AI, to help interpret news in a more balanced way. See HebWeb news item
Charlotte Coull - The Wandering Druid and his Time in India
16:00 – 18:00, The Folklore Centre, 65, Halifax Road, Todmorden,
£5 per ticket.
The Indian landscape is scattered with Megaliths of various designs. Some are associated with ancient human remains and some have been woven into local Indian folklore. But all of them were very confusing to the Victorian British archaeologists who rediscovered them and tried to explain them. So how did the druids fit into these explanations? How did this staple of British prehistory end up thousands of miles from home, building megaliths in the Indian sun?
Charlotte Coull is an independent scholar and public historian with a PhD from the University of Manchester. Her thesis examined the agency of stone in the development of British archaeological practice in India and Egypt and her research interests include materiality, environmental history, colonial knowledge creation and public engagement.
Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Community led education in industrial West Yorkshire, 1820-1900
Speaker: Hebe Gilbert
Working-class adult learning was a significant feature of political agitation, industrial religion, and civic associations between 1820 and 1900. The importance of learning was such that all working-class political movements had stated educational aims, and most religious dominations used adult education to retain the loyalty of their congregations. The talk will explore the efforts of men and women in Huddersfield, Halifax, Leeds and the smaller towns and villages of the West Riding to educate themselves and attempt to explain the impact that this had on them and their communities.
Hebe Gilbert grew up in Birmingham before moving to Yorkshire to study history at Leeds University in 2011. She stayed in Leeds for her teacher training and continue to live and work here, currently as a history teacher at Roundhay School. The teaching of Malcolm Chase and Simon Green at the University of Leeds led her to fall in love with the history of industrial Yorkshire and in particular the story of working-class political and educational associations. Whilst working as a teacher, she studied for a research Masters in history, through the University of Leeds which she completed in 2019.
Methodist Church, Market Street. Hebden Bridge. 7.30pm, free to members; £4 for visitors
Does Colour Exist?
A Talk by Dr Stephen Westland
New venue: Todmorden Learning Centre and Community Hub – Tod College at 2pm.
This talk explores our modern understanding of colour and presents many visual examples, including those that are often referred to as illusions. Are we any closer to understanding the nature of colour and can we finally answer the question of whether colour exists?
The meeting is open to paid-up members of the Todmorden u3a, but if you would like to attend you can enquire by going to www.u3atod.org.uk or by contacting membership@u3atod.org.uk.
Jenny Sturgeon & Boo Hewerdene
"Outliers" Album Release Tour
Wadsworth Community Centre, Billy Lane, Old Town, Hebden Bridge, HX7 8RY. BGR Events: 07841 842125. Doors: 18:45.
Outliers is the new self-titled album from Jenny Sturgeon and Boo Hewerdine. Written between their homes in Glasgow and Shetland during 2020/21, Outliers came to signify a creative outlet which they would never have had the chance to explore otherwise.
Meeting up online for an hour or so every few weeks gave them an opportunity to write songs in a way they had never done before. Recording at home and pinging melodies, sounds, ideas to each other via email gave them the space and time to experiment without a usual studio setting. The evolution and method of creating this music led them to settle on the name Outliers.
Poetry at The Dusty Miller
The first reading of 2024
Come along to hear four wonderful poets
Sarah Corbett - Amanda Dalton - John Duffy - Jo Haslam
7.30 pm at the Dusty Miller Inn, Burnley Rd, Mytholmroyd HX7 5LH
Free, all welcome
Hat passed round for poets - books to buy
Car park at rear - bus stop outside
Lindy Hop with Calder Valley Swing
Whether visiting Hebden Bridge or you're a local resident, come to our weekly drop in Lindy Hop classes every Wednesday at The Town Hall, Hebden Bridge 8:15pm for beginners.
You don't need a partner, just comfortable clothing, footwear and some enthusiasm. Suitable for complete beginners £6 per class
www.caldervalleyswing.co.uk
Cragg Vale Coiners - Wadsworth Community Centre, 2 Feb. an evening of words and music devoted to the Cragg Vale Coiners with author and descendent of Coiner 'King David' Hartley, Steve Hartley and Tom Kitching, musician, author, busker, and actor.
Retrofit Workshop: Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation
If you care about the health of your home, this training is a must. You'll learn about ventilation, indoor air quality, retrofit basics, and receive practical tips to ensure that your project will be a success.
10am-12.30pm, Town Hall
Book your place by email or call 01422 842181
Repair Cafe Mytholmroyd
Bring out your repairs!
Repair Cafe Mytholmroyd will be up and running on Sunday 28th Jan 2024 from 1pm to 4pm
Mytholmroyd Community Centre,
Caldene Avenue, Mytholmroyd HX7 5AF
Hot drinks and refreshments.
We can look to repair, clothes, bags, furniture, toys, bikes electrical appliances (not microwaves) knife/tool sharpening
Come and see what its all about.
Contact us:
Email: repairmytholm@gmail.com
Facebook: Repair Cafe Mytholmroyd
Instagram: Repair Cafe Mytholmroyd
Hebden Bridge Children's Chess Club
A club for children who enjoy playing chess and would like to meet and play with local players in the cafe at Hebden Bridge Town Hall, every Tuesday at 4pm-5.30pm.
Free to attend with half time refreshments, please drop me a message if you would like to attend/ more info, call on 07710 533233.
Calder Ward Forum
Dear residents and colleagues,
You are invited to participate in the Calder Ward Forum which will take place ONLINE over Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 24th January 2024 starting at 6:30pm.
This is to enable a representative from St. Ives Town Council to hopefully participate (awaiting confirmation that someone will be able to attend).
The meeting will include updates from the Police, on Culturedale and the Tourism Team re Rental Accommodation. Also under discussion will be the CMBC Budget, Ward Forum Grants and the Open Forum – where you can raise issues that matter to you.
If you have a question you would like to raise in the Open Forum section of the meeting please let us know by midday, Friday the 12th of January at the latest so we can try to have a response before the meeting if at all possible.
For login details contact jae.campbell@calderdale.gov.uk
Calder Retrofit Support Group
You are invited to Calder Retrofit Support Group - All welcome
Come along and join us if you're wondering where to start or are
already on your journey to Retrofit / fully insulating your home. If you've got questions about insulation, ventilation or clean heating we'll do our best to help
Wednesday 24th January, 7pm, The White Lion, Hebden Bridge.
We are an informal group of local householders who come
together to share stories of the pitfalls and successes we've learnt on our retrofit journeys so far.
If you want support, some useful information or just to bend an ear for an hour or so we look forward to seeing you.
See you there!
Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Jowett: the Yorkshire car - postponed till 24 April
Speaker: Barbara Atack
Jowett cars were made in Bradford between 1910 and 1954 - the only Yorkshire car that was really successful. Benjamin and William Jowett formed the Jowett Motor Manufacturing Company in 1901 to undertake general engineering work and produced their first car by 1906. It was after WW2 that production flourished with over 40,000 Bradfords and 24,000 Javelins. Today many still survive and are lovingly looked after by their owners. The Jowett Car Club has just reached its centenary and is the World's oldest One Make Car Club.
Barbara Atack has long associations with HBLHS especially as its hard-working President. She is also the membership secretary of the Jowett Car Club. Barbara, together with her late husband, owned several Jowett cars over the years and travelled with them throughout the British Isles and as far afield as France and Spain.
Methodist Church, Market Street. Hebden Bridge. 7.30pm, free to members; £4 for visitors
To Make Life More Joyous:
How Hebden Bridge & Heptonstall contributed to the early co-operative housing movement.
Heptonstall Museum, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm.
The years before the First World War saw the development of a widespread housing movement in Britain, which developed working-class homes at affordable rents through co-operative endeavours. The upper Calder Valley, one of the heartlands of the co-operative movement, contributed to the growth of this movement, not least through the contribution of Heptonstall-born architect George Sutcliffe.
Speaker Andrew Bibby. Andrew is a writer and journalist who has lived locally for over thirty years. His latest book, These Houses Are Ours'(Gritstone Publishing 2023) explores the history of housing and complements his earlier book, All Our Own Work, on the Nutclough co-operative mill in Hebden Bridge.
Read more about Andrew
on his website
Price is £5 for Non-Members and free for Friends of Heptonstall Museum
The Shaggy Dog Storytelling Club
Fable, fairy tale, folk tale, myth, legend, or just a good old yarn - whether you've got a story to tell, or just like to listen, join us in the upper room of the Stubbing Wharf Pub.
8pm start, free entry.
This workshop will help you look back on the year just gone, reflect on your priorities and create a clear vision and purpose for the year ahead. Venue: Wadsworth Community Centre. Times: 10:15 - 5:15. Cost: £30 (concessions available). Contact: Pam Barmby or Christine Brown. 07977 462769 or click here to register.
The Lost Chord Ensemble
7 pm, in the Little Theatre bar, Holme Street, Hebden Bridge HX7 8EE
The Lost Chord Ensemble is a small group of musicians who support the Little Theatre. They meet about once a month usually on a Sunday evening to play light music. Musicians (with their music stand) are invited to come and play.
If you are coming for the first time, please contact chris.browne@tiscali.co.uk with details of your instrument so that a pad of music can be made available.
Talk Postponed - more details soon
Hebden Bridge Local History Society
Hebden Bridge Little Theatre: an illustrated history 1924 – 2024
Speaker: Vaughan Leslie
The story of Hebden Bridge Little Theatre, from its origins in the Literary and Scientific Society, in 1924, to the present day. During its hundred years the theatre has performed plays almost without interruption – a total of nearly 400 full-length plays, to over half a million people. The talk will highlight the people and events that have helped to make the theatre an enduring and endearing feature of Hebden Bridge life.
Vaughan Leslie has been a member of the Little Theatre since 1987 as a frequent actor, director, and in numerous other capacities. Over the last seven years he has put together a comprehensive digital archive on the website, which includes a timeline of all full-length productions during the last century, with links to images for all but four of them.
Methodist Church, Market Street. Hebden Bridge. 7.30pm, free to members; £4 for visitors