Holme Valley Heritage

Sun 14 Sept 12.00 pm to 4.00 pm ~ St David’s Church, Holmbridge

Craftsmen and women – Past and Present. ‘Common Threads’ group exhibition.

The skills of so many people have gone into building and furnishing a church and making beautiful things for the glory of God.
We will showcase the work of the craft group Common Threads, based at the St David’s. this group share skills and knowledge of different techniques including embroidery, felting and quilting and have made some wonderful large group pieces which will be exhibited.

Wooldale Woodcarvers will be with us on Sunday, there will be demonstrations of woodcarving and an opportunity to see the work in progress of a large carving of St Paul, commissioned by a church in Barnsley.

Find out about Peat Cutting rights and lots more in an exhibition about the ancient Graveship of Holme

There will be a self guided trail round the church

Display about our Conacher Organ with its beautifully painted organ pipes, being restored by Huddersfield organ builder David Wood – find out about our Sponsor an Organ Pipe Scheme

Homemade cakes, hot and cold drinks available (Pickled Pheasant Pub across the road for meals)

We’d love you also to find out more about how the church serves the community at our end of the Upper Holme Valley.

Sun 14 Sept 4.00 pm ~ Nowhere Restaurant & Brewery, Holmfirth

‘From ruin to redemption’-the story of Nowhere.

Holme Valley Heritage presents Mike Wade’s documentary on the building of Nowhere and a special talk by artisan stonemason and raconteur, Steve Spooner.

Food on sale up to 5 pm, drinks on sale all night.

Thurs 18 Sept 10.00 am to 4.00 pm ~ The Carding Shed, Washpit Mills, Holmfirth

Working Lives: Washpit Mills. A creative exhibition and presentation of memories. The Carding Shed, now a Cafe and classic car garage, was once part of Washpit Mills.  Its history is rooted in the woollen industry. As part of Heritage Week, the Carding Shed is hosting an interactive exhibition about the lives of those who worked in Holmfirth’s industrial heartland.  It has been curated by Sian Salt, Chris Salt and Sue Duddridge, and we are grateful for the support from Colne Valley Museum. See photos and ephemera and hear former employees share their insights and reminiscences. Do you have your own memories and stories to add to this living archive? Enjoy a meal or snack whilst you are at the Carding Shed Cafe.

Thurs 18 Sept 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm ~ Holmfirth Library

Working Lives: ‘An Ordinary Life – Florence Lockwood, Suffragist’. A talk by historians Dr Rebecca Gill and Dr Janette Martin, editors of the recently revised edition of Florence Lockwood’s Memoir of Life, Suffrage and War in the Colne Valley. In her autobiography and in her artwork, Florence Lockwood (1861-1937) provides us with a vivid picture of the people, politics, communities and industry of the Colne Valley in the early twentieth century – a period of war, radicalism and change. She was a suffragist, artist and pacifist and her story, along with some of her paintings, are captivating.

Thurs 18 Sept 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm ~ The Civic, Holmfirth (Lesser Hall)

Working Lives: ‘Magnum’. A Holme Valley Civic Society presentation by Lawrence Baylin about the fascinating story of the quarry and village and their characters. Through the 19^th Century, the industrial revolution created a need for stone – for the factories, for the railway platforms, for the streets and houses of the expanding towns. What had been small-scale quarries meeting mostly local need, became much larger operations and also grew in number and with a greater spread of customers, reached by the expanding network of railways. Magnum Bonum Quarry was opened in 1830, extracting sandstone of exceptional quality from the moors above Hade Edge, Holmfirth, to use for flagstones and walling. By 1860 there were some 60 quarrymen employed and they set up a community of around 40 houses for themselves and their families. The village was arranged around a triangle of common land, with a pub at each corner, two wells for drinking water, shops, a butcher, a barber, a church and even a jail. There is now little remaining to see, other than the quarry workings. This presentation, kindly hosted by Holme Valley Civic Society and delivered by Lawrence Baylin, using material provided by Julia Hinchliffe, Roger Deakin and others, brings the quarry and village at Magnum to life.

Copies of Julia’s book will be available to buy.

Sat 20 Sept 10.00 am to 4.00 pm ~ Th’Owd Towser, Holmfirth

A rare opportunity to view and learn about this Holmfirth treasure. Th’Owd Towser is a very small building near to the Parish Church. The present building dates back to the early 1800s but the original prison was built in the late 1500s. The Victorian horse drawn ambulance and also the fire engine were kept here. There is also a story about coin clipping. Organised by Holme Valley Civic Society.

Sat 20 Sept 10.00 am to 4.00 pm ~ Friends Meeting House, Wooldale

The Quaker [Friends] Meeting House in Wooldale is primarily a building of 1783 but incorporates parts that are late 17th century, being partially remodelled internally in about 1900. This Grade II listed building includes a meeting room, gallery and elders bench. Quakerism came to the Holme Valley in the mid 1650s. The Jackson family of Meal Hill and Totties Hall, were largely responsible for establishing the Meeting House. Also to be seen is the burial ground, an ancient sundial and a parish boundary wall, as well as a pop-up Art Exhibition exhibiting paintings, textiles and photographs by local people.

Sat 20 Sept 10.00 am to 4.00 pm ~ The Carding Shed, Washpit Mills, Holmfirth

Working Lives: Washpit Mills. A creative exhibition and presentation of memories. The Carding Shed, now a Cafe and classic car garage, was once part of Washpit Mills.  Its history is rooted in the woollen industry. As part of Heritage Week, the Carding Shed is hosting an interactive exhibition about the lives of those who worked in Holmfirth’s industrial heartland.  It has been curated by Sian Salt, Chris Salt and Sue Duddridge, and we are grateful for the support from Colne Valley Museum. See photos and ephemera and hear former employees share their insights and reminiscences. Do you have your own memories and stories to add to this living archive? Enjoy a meal or snack whilst you are at the Carding Shed Cafe.

Sat 20 Sept 10.30 am to 2.00 pm ~ Holmfirth Library

Craft Activities. For children and families. Celebrating the rich heritage of the Holme Valley. Children must be accompanied by parents or carers.

Sat 20 Sept 

EVENT CANCELLED. When Conscription Came To Holmfirth.

Sat 20 Sept 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm ~ Holme Village Community Centre

Drystone wallers and their craft. A presentation at Holme Village Community Centre by Ian Spiers about this heritage craft, followed by a live demonstration.  The demonstration is optional for those attending. It will include some time outdoors, so please come prepared with suitable clothing and footwear for the conditions and note that the organisers cannot accept any liability for accidents whilst on this outdoor activity. This is also an opportunity to visit the community owned facility in the renovated historic building that was previously the Holme Liberal Club. Refreshments will be available.

Sat 20 Sept 

EVENT CANCELLED. Quiz at The Tech, Holmfirth.