Thursday, 25 September 2025
Renovation work at Heptonstall Museum
Preserving the Past, Powered by the People: Heptonstall Museum's Community-Led Future
Having successfully reopened Heptonstall Museum in 2023 as a volunteer-managed organisation, there will be a temporary closure of the main exhibition space for renovation work. Planning for a fresh and exciting exhibition is well underway, with a launch date of Easter 2026.
The charity have successfully welcomed thousands through their doors to experience their exhibition "Criminal Coiners: Life and Death in Wild West Yorkshire", immersing them in the true story of Calder Valley's most notorious historic characters, the Cragg Vale Coiners. A cohort of regular volunteers support the operation of the museum, and a membership scheme has helped bring the museum back to life.
As a Grade II listed building, following consultations with English Heritage - Calderdale Council's contractors will undertake the essential works. This will involve removal of the temporary film production fixtures and internal wall repairs. Work will start at the beginning of October.
The museum will continue to host regular events for visitors to the idyllic village of Heptonstall. Creative workshops will continue to involve the community's contribution to the next exhibition, supported by Calderdale's initiative, Culturedale. Combined with the work of the affiliated Researching Heptonstall group, many fascinating, untold stories of past village life which will all provide a wonderful and fresh perspective on the history of Heptonstall.
Tim Machin, Chair said, "We are incredibly grateful to the volunteers and visitors who have supported us and made the museum such a success! When we started out, we hadn't anticipated the level of interest in both the story of the Coiners and the appeal of a small museum such as ours. We are really excited to be planning an ambitious next chapter for its future with so many more stories still to be told across history. There's a lot of love for Heptonstall and we look forward to sharing it."
The museum continues to be volunteer-led, though really needs help with all aspects of continuing to operate. If you would like to support or help with volunteering at the museum, you can contact them via their website or email for more info