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Sunday 7th April 2024
SOWERBY BRIDGE EAST END
A walk to look at the historic development of the eastern end of Sowerby Bridge town centre, chapels, canals, mills and more. Dogs on a lead can come, but it is an urban walk. Not suitable for mobility scooters - there are some steps.
Meet David Cant outside the Moorings, Sowerby Bridge Wharf, HX6 2AG.
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Sunday 21st April 2024
pepper and ginger
A new walk exploring a corner of Shelf away from the main road which is full of history. A fourteenth-century cattle thief, the ‘Man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo,’ a Chartist Unitarian preacher and one of the last potteries in Calderdale were all to be found here. Good footwear is required. The walk is not suitable for mobility scooters. Dogs on leads are welcome.
Meet Ben Stables outside Pepper Hill Unitarian Chapel off Brighouse and Denholme Gate Road in Shelf (HX3 7TH)
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Sunday 5th May 2024
NORTH NORTHOWRAM LADIES IN COURT
Ladies fight in court in seventeenth century slander case. From Baxter Lane to Marsh Hall and Landemere. Older histories from the north side of Northowram Village. All roadside walking, dogs welcome.
Meet Mike Beecham at the corner of Baxter Lane, Northowram. HX3 7EF
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Sunday 12th May 2024
SAM HILL’S SOYLAND
Visit sites associated with irascible Sam Hill of Making Place, a well-known 18th century textile entrepreneur & the greatest landowner in Soyland at the time – he was quite a character! 2½ - 3 mile walk, mostly on quiet lanes and footpaths. One steep ascent from Mill Bank to Soyland Town. Stout footwear & outdoor gear recommended. 3 hrs.
Not suitable for mobility scooters
Meet Anne Kirker at St Bartholomew’s Church, Ripponden. HX6 4DF.
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Sunday 19th May 2024
TRANSPORT AND INDUSTRY IN TODMORDEN
The improvement of transport through Todmorden had a dramatic impact on the development of industry. This walk explores the development of road, canal and railway and how it opened up markets beyond the local area and changed the fortunes of local businesses. Dogs on leads welcome.
Meet Anne Mealia outside Todmorden Railway Station OL14 9BL
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Sunday 26th May 2024
LOST RAILWAY TERMINUS, TOFFEE FACTORIES AND ART SCHOOL
View a lonelychurch spire, ‘the smallest house’, Madam Oldroyd’s Dance Hall, new St Paul’s Church, site of St Paul’s railway terminus and coal yard, Mackintosh’s 1890s factory, a biscuit-making works, and locations of several lost chapels. We shall see a notable Art School, hear about a murder of 1889, and see the site of a 1938 ‘Slasher’ attack.
This is a linear walk of 2 ½ hours + [Paved surfaces all the way]. Suitable for dogs on leads. Suitable for mobility scooters. The final destination is Jasper Street, HX1 4NT.
Meet David Glover in the park by church spire King Cross Road HX1 3JP (opposite William IV pub)
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Sunday 2nd June 2024
HIPPERHOLME, LIGHTCLIFFE AND THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION
The area is remarkable in its many Victorian house and street names associated with Scotland. There is a school too, built by Ann Walker's Scottish nephew E C Sutherland Walker. We visit all the sites including the grounds of many of the properties and consider how the link came about. Suitable for mobility scooters. Dogs welcome.
Meet John Brooke in Lightcliffe C E School car park, off Knowle Top Road. HX3 8SH
Meet John Brooke in Lightcliffe C E School car park, off Knowle Top Road. HX3 8SH
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Sunday 9th June 2024
A WALK AROUND COPLEY
Built by the Akroyd family in the mid-19th century, Copley village not only provided a steady supply of labour for the Akroyd's mill, but was a social enterprise through which Akroyd hoped to improve the lives of his employees. Take a walk around this picturesque village, see Akroyd's vision for a better society, and learn how it all worked out.
Meet Steve Crabtree outside the Volunteer Arms, Wakefield Road, HX3 0UD
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Saturday 22nd June 2024
SUFFRAGETTES AND SLAVES
A four hour walk from Skircoat Green across Savile Park, visiting the homes of Halifax’s own nest of suffragettes. Our route goes along Queens Road and down Pellon Lane to the Mechanics’ Institute where in 1911, Emmeline Pankhurst urged women to boycott the census.
Please bring a packed lunch and drink. We return to Skircoat Green by bus about 3.30pm.
Meet Jill Liddington and David Glover at 11.30am by the Standard of Freedom, New Lane. HX3 0TE.
This walk is £6 per head.
Pre-booking is essential and it will not be possible to just turn up on the day!
Details and directions are sent out with the tickets.
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Sunday 30th June 2024
GENTLEMAN JACK MEETS THE KNIGHTS
A walk up towards the top end of Shibden Valley where Addersgate leads to Knightroyd and on to a Gentleman Jack filming location. Concludes with rowdy John Mitchell of Scout Hall. A more challenging walk with steep sections and rough surface pathways, walking boots essential.
Meet Mike Beecham at Shibden Mill Inn overflow car park. HX3 7UL. DONE TO HERE
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Saturday & Sunday 6th & 7th July 2024
outlaws & Nuns
These walks are on the private Kirklees Estate near Clifton, by kind permission of the owners. They include the former Nunnery site, Gatehouse, 15th to 18th century farm buildings, the Robin Hood connection and his grave there, plus other features of the estate. This is a working farm and dogs are not allowed.
The guides are David Cant, John Billingsley, David Glover and Ian Philp. The walk is 1½ miles, partly on woodland paths, and strong shoes are advised. Unsuitable for mobility scooters. The walk will be repeated several times over the 2 days. There are no buses to the Estate on Sundays.
These walks are £6 per head.
Pre-booking is essential and it will not be possible to just turn up on the day! Details and directions are sent out with the tickets.
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Saturday 13th July 2024
WHAT ANNE LISTER INHERITED AND WHAT SHE BEQUEATHED.
A short walk round the Shibden estate nearest the Hall. Judge for yourself how Anne Lister transformed her inheritance – and how her legacy went on to benefit Calderdale.
Meet Jill Liddington at the front entrance to Shibden Hall (by the blue plaque) at 10.30. The circular walk ends at noon. At this point, you are offered a choice: either browse the Shibden shop, have a cup of tea and Q&A or explore inside the magnificent Hall (for which you are advised to pre-book your ticket.)
This walk is £6 per head. Pre-booking is essential and it will not be possible to just turn up on the day! Details and directions are sent out with the tickets.
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Sunday 14th July 2024
Dobroyd castle
By kind permission of the owners, this afternoon walk goes to, around and inside the striking ‘Brass Castle’ built above Todmorden by John Fielden in 1869. It includes the house and walled garden with details of their history and the family. Timing and meeting point details are issued with the tickets. The Guide is Anne Mealia.
PRE-BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL and it will not be possible to just turn up on the day. This walk is £6 per head.
This walk is 1½ miles, part on woodland paths and strong shoes are advised.
Ticket-holders should meet the Guide in Todmorden at 2.15 pm (full details supplied with tickets) for a ½ mile walk up the wooded hillside to the Castle. No dogs allowed.Access to the Castle by car is difficult but if you need to go by car, route information will be supplied when booking.
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Sunday 21st July 2024
Two for the price of one
On this new extended walk, we explore the outskirts of two villages with two guides. We discover farms between Norwood Green and Shelf on paths that can be muddy and steep. We’ll pass a waterfall and a former picnic garden. At the end there is an option to visit the Wheel ‘Oile pub at Norwood Green – sadly it closed years ago!
Dogs welcome, about 2 miles with some steep sections, boots recommended.
Meet Ben Stables and Mary Twentyman at the turning circle in Norwood Green HX3 8QR
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Sunday 4th August 2024
Four ROUTES FROM HALIFAX TO WAKEFIELD
..but we're only going to west Hipperholme from Shibden Hall park.
We'll look at the transport links from the Middle Ages to the present with views of Halifax, two major construction projects of their time, down the old Dark Lane also known as the Magna Via and into Hipperholme and returning by Mytholm to Shibden Park. There are 2 gentle climbs and a long descent. Dogs on leads. Not suitable for mobility scooters.
Meet Ian Philp by the Shibden Hall car park next to the café.
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Sunday 18th August 2024
all about wainhouse
Often overlooked compared to other big names in Halifax, John Wainhouse is responsible for the creation of one of Calderdale's most famous landmarks - Wainhouse Tower - known locally as the Tower of Spite. This walk explores some other projects of Wainhouse, and the role he played in the development of King Cross.The walk includes steep slopes, cobbles and steps. Good footwear is required. The walk is not suitable for wheelchairs/mobility scooters.
Walk does not include entry to the tower.
Meet Steve Crabtree at Wakefield Gate, adjacent to the tower, off Skircoat Moor Road, HX2 7EN
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Monday 26th August 2024
heptonstall town
A bank holiday Monday stroll around the buildings and historic townscape of the upper valley’s mother settlement.
Meet John Billingsley at Heptonstall Bowling Club car park, HX7 7LT
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Sunday 1st September 2024
OLD HIPPERHOLME
There is no overlap with the June 2nd walk.
The village of Hipperholme has a long history with several old pubs, an old grammar school, old houses and a house lived in by an early mayor of Bradford. The walk includes a 20minute stroll through an old wood ending in a short steep slope. Dogs on leads are welcome.
Meet Ian Philp in the car park near to the Hare and Hounds in Hipperholme. HX3 8JG
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Sunday 15th September 2024
SOWERBY BRIDGE WEST END
A look at the history of this area around the old bridge, the mills and both railway stations.
Dogs on a lead can come, but it is an urban walk. Mobility scooter accessible.
Meet David Cant outside the Refreshment Rooms, Sowerby Bridge station HX6 3AB.
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Sunday 22nd September 2024
SOME HALIFAX HOSTELRIES
Halifax hotels & inns have been renowned for centuries for a variety of reasons – good and bad! And in recent years, the pub scene in Halifax has seen lots of changes. Find out moreon this updated walk as we hear about some of them, and we may even call in one or two! Suitable for mobility scooters.
Meet Anne Kirker in front of Bull Green House, Bull Green, Halifax. HX1 2EB
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Sunday 29th September 2024
EARLY HAUNTS OF BOOTHTOWN’S MASS MURDERER - AND OF A GAY FILMSTAR
John Reginald Halliday Christie was hanged at Pentonville Prison in 1953. Much of his youth was spent in Akroydon, Halifax, and we view various Christie family homes, his church, the site of his school and his parents’ grave. See the house from which Christie’s wife - whom he strangled in London in 1952 - was married. Plus – the early years of Akroydon-born actor / filmstar Eric Portman. Dogs on leads are welcome.
Meet David Glover outside Bankfield Museum entrance HX3 6HG
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Sunday 6th October 2024
THREE VILLAGES MEET
Northowram, Hipperholme and Shelf where their historic stories overlap. Older houses and the road to Paradise that takes the congregation to Coley Church. The site of a lost property and a Stone Age hoard. Mainly roadside walking with one flat path through fields. Dogs welcome.
Meet Mike Beecham on The Green, Northowram, outside Northowram Methodist Church. HX3 7JE.
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Sunday 13th October 2024
ONE SIDE OF SKIRCOAT: THE GREEN
Skircoat Green became, and still is, the nucleus of the ancient township of Skircoat, although it is no longer an isolated hamlet on the outskirts of Halifax. Today, it has an interesting mix of buildings spanning three centuries, waiting to be discovered on this walk.
There may be some cobbles and steep stone steps, depending on route. Good shoes advised. Not suitable for mobility scooters.
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Sunday 20th October 2024
TODMORDEN IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR
We will explore how the town and its people were affected by war, looking at war memorials and graves of those who died and the challenges faced by the town in supporting a military hospital, receiving refugees and keeping businesses going throughout the war. Dogs on leads welcome.
Meet Anne Mealia at Dalton Street car park OL14 5HJ
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To receive Programmes and Newsletters by email, contact us at : CdaleHeritageWks@gmail.com
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PRIVATE PARTY WALKS
We have around 100 walks in our collective repertoire covering much of Calderdale and can provide Guides to lead walks for private parties and societies. For more information email us at CdaleHeritageWks@gmail.com
If our walks have triggered an interest in Calderdale’s history, why not also visit Bankfield Museum, Shibden Hall, or the museum in Heptonstall (check opening times on the Calderdale MDC website). Calderdale Industrial Museum, next to the Piece Hall is well worth a visit on Saturdays. Tourist Information Centres at Halifax (now in the Piece Hall), Hebden Bridge and Todmorden have a range of information and literature about our fascinating District and its heritage.
PRIVATE PARTY WALKS
We have around 100 walks in our collective repertoire covering much of Calderdale and can provide Guides to lead walks for private parties and societies. For more information email us at CdaleHeritageWks@gmail.com
There’s more information about local heritage in Calderdale libraries. Halifax Central Reference Library has a wealth of books, photos, maps, pamphlet material and much more, covering the whole of Calderdale. You’ll also find significant collections at Brighouse, Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden libraries, regarding their local areas.
CONTACT US
To be added to our emailing list for programmes and newsletters or to contact us on other matters, please email us at: CdaleHeritageWks@gmail.com
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