Hearth & Holme
11-20 September 2026
This year’s theme, Hearth & Holme, explores the idea of home in its widest sense, the houses, mills, farms, churches, workshops, streets, stories and gathering places that have shaped life in the valley.
Admission to all events is free. Any additional charges are only as shown.
For full details of venue locations and accessibility, please see Venue information
Why not try our Holmfirth History Picture Quiz?
Daily Events
A special Hearth & Holme window display of original photographs.
Date & Time: Daily, Open daily 24 hours
Location: Helen Bray Photographers, 16 Dunford Road, Holmfirth HD9 2DP
Open weekdays only
Experience Hearth and Holme: Explore the history of the Graveship of Holme with its 7 townships. Historic and contemporary photographs.
Date & Time: Open weekdays 10.00 to 16.00 (closed Saturday and Sunday)
Location: Holmfirth Tech, 140 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth HD9 3AR
Friday 11 September
‘Hearth & Holme’ immersive audio-visual experience – projected film, audio interviews and soundscapes, that present recorded local memories of home in the Holme Valley, past and present, alongside portrayals of hearth and home within the pages of literature. With thanks to contributions from pupils at Hade Edge J, I & N School Years 5 & 6 and members of the Coffee & Words Group.
Date & Time: Friday 11 September 12.00 to 16.00. Repeated shows each lasting 20 minutes.
Location: READ Bookshop, 41 Huddersfield Rd, Holmfirth HD9 3JH
Notes: Visitors with restricted mobility should note that this shop’s basement location has limited accessibility
Saturday 12 September
Visit the lovely Georgian Holmfirth Trinity Church and bell tower and learn about the history of this historic landmark, plus access to Th’Owd Towser building. Includes a small display about the architecture of the building.
Date & Time: Saturday 12 September 10.00 to 16.00
Location: Holmfirth Parish Church, Towngate, Holmfirth HD9 1HA
Walk Through Oldfield’s Hearth & Holme History. Enjoy a fascinating guided walk around Oldfield and uncover the stories hidden within its buildings, landscapes and local families.
Date & Time: Saturday 12 September 10.45-1200 noon and 12.45 – 14.00
Book free tickets for Walk 1 10.45 am https://buytickets.at/holmevalleytourismpartnership/2346238
Book free tickets for Walk 2 12.45 am https://buytickets.at/holmevalleytourismpartnership/2346263
Location: Meet at Oldfield Recreation Ground, Oldfield Road, Cross Lane, Oldfield, Holmfirth HD9 6RL
Notes: Be prepared for rough and uneven ground on village footpaths. Please dress suitably for the weather conditions.
A stonemason, a blacksmith and a stone-waller demonstrate their skills. In the past these crafts were often practised in domestic settings before moving to mills and forges. Discover the skills that helped shape the Holme Valley. Join us to learn from experienced craftspeople as they demonstrate traditional rural crafts and techniques.
Celebrate the knowledge, workmanship and heritage that has been passed through generations.
Date & Time: Saturday 12 September 11.00-1500 noon – Three sessions available. Free admission. Tickets for Session 1 at 11.00 from https://buytickets.at/holmevalleytourismpartnership/2336146. Tickets for Session 2 at 12.30 from https://buytickets.at/holmevalleytourismpartnership/2348234. Tickets for Session 3 at 13.30 from https://buytickets.at/holmevalleytourismpartnership/2348245
Location: New Hagg Barn, Oldfield Road, Honley HD9 6RN. Please either use the 308 bus or park on roadside and take the single track opposite Turner’s Farm /Self Storage /Cattery and follow to the Barn. The walk from the road or from the bus stop is about 200 metres.
Notes: The site is best accessed on foot after parking your vehicle on the roadside at end of the drive. You can also access this point by bus. If you have mobility challenges, please contact us on info@holmevalleyheritage.com to discuss special arrangements.Be prepared for rough and uneven ground on village footpaths. An outdoor event – please dress suitably for the weather conditions.
Sunday 13 September
Step back in time and discover the fascinating world of traditional cottage weaving at our interactive Family Day!
Meet skilled weavers Ruth and Anita who continue this ancient craft today, and enjoy live demonstrations of tabletop loom weaving and the process of spinning wool into yarn.
Explore the history of cottage weaving in the Holme Valley through informative displays, and get hands-on with our paper weaving activity table or have a go at peg loom weaving with Lucy and find out more about her flock of Woodland sheep and the yarn she spins from their fleeces.
With refreshments available and activities for all ages, it’s the perfect introduction to traditional crafts and local heritage for the whole family. Lucy will also have some yarn and sheep’s milk products for sale.
By request, St David’s Church will also have a ‘Memory Board” where you can share memories of special times and people relating to St David’s. Please bring along any photos you are happy to share. Find out more about about the life of St David’s – services, groups, children’s activities etc.
Our Craftsmen and Craftswomen of St David’s self-guided trail will be available.
Date & Time: Sunday 13 September 13.00 to 16.30
Location: St. Davids Church, Woodhead Road, Holmbridge, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, HD9 2NQ
Notes: With refreshments available and activities for all ages. Demonstrations will be on slightly raised platforms (2 inch step)
Monday 14 September
Step inside Holmfirth’s Grade II listed 1894 Technical Institute. Explore its history and transformation into a community-owned venue – the place to go for arts, learning, wellbeing and enterprise.
Explore “Our Place, Our Stories @ The Tech” through a series of engaging displays and informal activities bringing the building’s history to life. Discover how the Technical Institute supported local industry and education, and how it has been preserved and reimagined by the community since 2018.
Visitors can browse exhibition panels covering different eras of the building’s past, alongside interactive elements designed to encourage memories, conversations and shared stories. A dedicated display will explore the historic Graveship of Holme and its significance to the local area.
Friendly volunteers will be on hand throughout the day to welcome visitors, answer questions and share insights into both the building’s heritage and its current role. There will also be opportunities to find out how to get involved, whether through volunteering, attending activities or supporting the ongoing work of this community-owned building.
Suitable for all ages, with a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, this is a chance to connect with local history, meet others, and experience a unique heritage space at the heart of Holmfirth.
Date & Time: Monday 14 September 10.00 to 15.00
Location: Holmfirth Tech, 140 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth HD9 3AR
Hearth & Holme: Sharing Memories of Home. Some of the best history isn’t found in books – it’s found in people’s memories. Senior Citizens are invited to join us for Personal Recollections, a relaxed and welcoming discussion for older people to share stories of growing up, working and living in the Holme Valley. Together we’ll celebrate the memories, friendships and everyday moments that make up the story of our community. Everyone has a story worth sharing.
Date & Time: Monday 14 September 13.30 to 15.00
Location: Holmfirth Library, 47 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth HD9 3JH
Hearth and Holme: A special hands-on experience for young people! Come and discover what home life was like in ancient days. Dip into the Memory Baskets of items used in the past and hear about how we did home things yesterday and today. There’s even a Victorian laptop! Bring something to show from your house today, to compare with what happened long ago. Bring some coins!
Date & Time: Monday 14 September 16.00 to 17.00
Location: Honley Library, West Ave, Honley HD9 6HF
Notes: Children must be accompanied by a grown-up.
Tuesday 15 September
‘Hearth & Holme’ immersive audio-visual experience – projected film, audio interviews and soundscapes, that present recorded local memories of home in the Holme Valley, past and present, alongside portrayals of hearth and home within the pages of literature. With thanks to contributions from pupils at Hade Edge J, I & N School Years 5 & 6 and members of the Coffee & Words Group.
Date & Time: Tuesday 15 September 12.00 to 16.00. Repeated shows each lasting 20 minutes.
Location: READ Bookshop, 41 Huddersfield Rd, Holmfirth HD9 3JH
Notes: Visitors with restricted mobility should note that this shop’s basement location has limited accessibility.
Visit Longley Farm, a living community of dairy production: a tour of the award-winning Longley Farm dairy and community and a chance to learn about its long history in Holmfirth. Tickets available shortly through https://holmevalleyheritage.com
Date & Time: Tuesday 15 September 18.00 to 19.30
Location: Longley Farm, Holmfirth HD9 2JD
Notes: Pre-booking is essential. Tickets available only on https://buytickets.at/holmevalleytourismpartnership/2330163. Please note that this tour requires mobility to mount several sets of staircases.
Hearth and Holme: A special hands-on experience for young people! Come and discover what home life was like in ancient days. Dip into the Memory Baskets of items used in the past and hear about how we did home things yesterday and today. There’s even a Victorian laptop! Bring something to show from your house today, to compare with what happened long ago. Bring some coins!
Date & Time: Tuesday 15 September 16.00 to 17.00
Location: The Tech, 140 Huddersfield Rd, Holmfirth HD9 3AR
Notes: Children must be accompanied by a grown-up.
The Rise and Fall of a Holme Valley Yeoman’s House. A talk based on 2 houses in Oldfield, to explore how different historical events, legislation and innovation affected the architecture and lives of the inhabitants of what we would now call a rural hamlet. There is a limited capacity for this event and free booking is recommended on https://buytickets.at/holmevalleytourismpartnership/2348259
Date & Time: Tuesday 15 September 19.30 to 20.30
Location: Honley Library, West Ave, Honley HD9 6HF
The Bamforth Story: how Holmfirth entertained the nation. Join Kirklees curator Katina Bill and silent film expert Jonny Best for a fascinating journey into the story of Holmfirth’s Bamforth and Co. Katina will explore how Bamforth’s postcards depict daily life and Jonny will bring some of the lantern slides and short films to life with live music.
Tickets are free, bookable at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/northernsilents/2321036
Date & Time: Tuesday 15 September 19.00 to 21.00
Location: The Picturedrome, Market Walk, Holmfirth HD9 7DA
Notes: Pre-booking is essential. Book via Northern Silents as shown.
Wednesday 16 September
‘Hearth & Holme’ immersive audio-visual experience – projected film, audio interviews and soundscapes, that present recorded local memories of home in the Holme Valley, past and present, alongside portrayals of hearth and home within the pages of literature. With thanks to contributions from pupils at Hade Edge J, I & N School Years 5 & 6 and members of the Coffee & Words Group.
Date & Time: Wednesday 16 September 12.00 to 16.00. Repeated shows each lasting 20 minutes.
Location: READ Bookshop, 41 Huddersfield Rd, Holmfirth HD9 3JH
Notes: Visitors with restricted mobility should note that this shop’s basement location has limited accessibility
Hearth and Holme: A special hands-on experience for young people! Come and discover what home life was like in ancient days. Dip into the Memory Baskets of items used in the past and hear about how we did home things yesterday and today. There’s even a Victorian laptop! Bring something to show from your house today, to compare with what happened long ago. Bring some clothes wash!
Date & Time: Wednesday 16 September 16.00 to 17.00
Location: The Tech, 140 Huddersfield Rd, Holmfirth HD9 3AR
Notes: Children must be accompanied by a grown-up.
Experience Hearth and Holme: Ey up! Discover the Story Behind Yorkshire Dialect. A talk and facilitated discussion by Home Valley born poet and dialect speaker Ian Brooke. Why do we say the things we do?
Join us for an entertaining talk exploring the origins and evolution of Yorkshire dialect, with local history, fascinating stories and poetry celebrating one of Yorkshire’s greatest treasures – its language. Whether you’re broad Yorkshire or simply curious, you’ll be sure to learn something new!
Book free tickets on https://buytickets.at/holmevalleytourismpartnership/2330157
Date & Time: Wednesday 16 September 19.00
Location: Holmfirth Library, 47 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth HD9 3JH
Notes: Pre-booking is essential.
Thursday 17 September
‘Hearth & Holme’ immersive audio-visual experience – projected film, audio interviews and soundscapes, that present recorded local memories of home in the Holme Valley, past and present, alongside portrayals of hearth and home within the pages of literature. With thanks to contributions from pupils at Hade Edge J, I & N School Years 5 & 6 and members of the Coffee & Words Group.
Date & Time: Thursday 17 September 12.00 to 16.00. Repeated shows each lasting 20 minutes.
Location: READ Bookshop, 41 Huddersfield Rd, Holmfirth HD9 3JH
Notes: Visitors with restricted mobility should note that this shop’s basement location has limited accessibility
Hearth and Holme: A special hands-on experience for young people! Come and discover what home life was like in ancient days. Dip into the Memory Baskets of items used in the past and hear about how we did home things yesterday and today. There’s even a Victorian laptop! Bring something to show from your house today, to compare with what happened long ago. Bring a camera!
Date & Time: Thursday 17 September 16.00 to 17.00
Location: The Tech, 140 Huddersfield Rd, Holmfirth HD9 3AR
Notes: Children must be accompanied by a grown-up.
The Civic Society’s Heritage Week special presentation: Enjoy a superb presentation of old photos of the Holme Valley. Listen to Dan Aldous as he brings these captured moments to life. Share the stories behind these local images. To be sure of admission, book your free ticket on https://buytickets.at/holmevalleytourismpartnership/2336040
Date & Time: Thursday 17 September 19.30 to 21.00
Location: The Civic Holmfirth (Large Hall), Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth HD9 3AS
Notes: Usual admission charge is generously waived by the Civic Society
Friday 18 September
‘Hearth & Holme’ immersive audio-visual experience – projected film, audio interviews and soundscapes, that present recorded local memories of home in the Holme Valley, past and present, alongside portrayals of hearth and home within the pages of literature. With thanks to contributions from pupils at Hade Edge J, I & N School Years 5 & 6 and members of the Coffee & Words Group.
Date & Time: Friday 18 September 12.00 to 16.00. Repeated shows each lasting 20 minutes.
Location: READ Bookshop, 41 Huddersfield Rd, Holmfirth HD9 3JH
Notes: Visitors with restricted mobility should note that this shop’s basement location has limited accessibility
Huddersfield & District Family History Society have over the past few years completed over forty house histories, many in the Holme Valley.
We will illustrate the presentation by reviewing several case studies of properties in the Holme Valley.
Our talk will look at the many sources of information and records available for researching house history. These include:- construction, ownership, occupants, changes and historical information about the area.
Many sources are available online, but others can be accessed at the Local Studies Library or by visiting West Yorkshire Archives in Wakefield.
Other sources explored will be Tithe Records, the Enclosure Act, Ordnance Survey plans from around 1850-1855 and The British Newspaper Archive.
We have produced a Research Record booklet to enable information to be recorded and helpful hints sheet to conduct your own research. These will be available at the talk.
Even if you don’t live in a historical property yourself, there are many buildings in the Holme Valley worth investigating.
Date & Time: Friday 18 September 14.00 to 15.30
Location: Holmfirth Library, 47 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth HD9 3JH
Hearth and Holme: A special hands-on experience for young people! Come and discover what home life was like in ancient days. Dip into the Memory Baskets of items used in the past and hear about how we did home things yesterday and today. There’s even a Victorian laptop! Bring something to show from your house today, to compare with what happened long ago. Bring some clothes wash!
Date & Time: Friday 18 September 16.00 to 17.00
Location: Honley Library, West Ave, Honley HD9 6HF
Notes: Children must be accompanied by a grown-up.
Saturday 19 September
Explore Th’Owd Towser, Holmfirth’s former lock-up – a rare chance to step inside one of the town’s most intriguing historic buildings.
Date & Time: Saturday 19 September 10.00 to 16.00
Location: Th’Owd Towser, Daisy Lane, Holmfirth
Notes: Access is via a steep and uneven lane to the rear of Holmfirth Parish Church
Step Inside a Hidden Piece of Holme Valley History. The Friends Meeting House in Wooldale opens its doors during Heritage Week, offering a rare chance to explore one of the area’s oldest Quaker meeting houses. Learn about its fascinating history, its peaceful surroundings and the important role it has played in the local community for over 300 years. A hidden gem that’s well worth a visit.
Date & Time: Saturday 19 September 10.00 to 16.00
Location: Friends Meeting House, Pell Lane, Wooldale HD9 1QL
Hearth & Holme fun event for young children. Craft activities and a special story told by Keith Lockwood at 10.30.
Date & Time: Saturday 19 September 10.30 to 12.00
Location: Holmfirth Library, 47 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth HD9 3JH
‘Hearth & Holme’ immersive audio-visual experience – projected film, audio interviews and soundscapes, that present recorded local memories of home in the Holme Valley, past and present, alongside portrayals of hearth and home within the pages of literature. With thanks to contributions from pupils at Hade Edge J, I & N School Years 5 & 6 and members of the Coffee & Words Group.
Date & Time: Saturday 19 September 12.00 to 16.00. Repeated shows each lasting 20 minutes.
Location: READ Bookshop, 41 Huddersfield Rd, Holmfirth HD9 3JH
Notes: Visitors with restricted mobility should note that this shop’s basement location has limited accessibility
Sunday 20 September
Historic Buildings of Hinchliffe Mill: a guided walk. From the first settlement in the Middle Ages through to the woollen mills of the nineteenth century, Hinchliffe Mill has an interesting story. As well as examining the current buildings for clues about their history, we will use old maps and photographs at various stopping points on our tour. Places on this walk are limited for safety reasons. Tickets are free and should be booked on https://buytickets.at/holmevalleytourismpartnership/2335857
Date & Time: Sunday 20 September 10.30
Location: Meet near Londis Store, 126 Woodhead Road, Hinchliffe Mill, Holmfirth HD9 2NL
Notes: The 314 bus from Huddersfield and Holmfirth is scheduled to coincide with the meeting time. Bus stop opposite the Londis Store. Note that the majority of the route will be along tarmac roads and a few uneven paths. An optional steeper climb to reach one of the oldest houses in the Holme Valley will be the final call.
Another chance to see and hear all about ‘From ruin to redemption’-the story of Nowhere. Mike Wade’s fascinating documentary on the building of Nowhere, including a special talk by artisan stonemason and raconteur, Steve Spooner.
Date & Time: Sunday 20 September 18.00 to 19.30
Location: Nowhere Kitchen & Brewery, Norridge Bottom, Holmfirth, HD9 7BB
Notes: Showing in upstairs screening area
Admission to all events is free. Any additional charges are only as shown.
For full details of venue locations and accessibility, please see Venue information