Heptonstall School PFA (Parents and Friends Association) are hoping to raise some money this term to support the school in activities linked to the ‘Grand Depart‘.
We’re asking for donations of unwanted CD’s, DVD’s and electronic games (in working order and no copies please) for resale.
If you have any that you no longer need, please drop them off at the school office.
Work has started on making a new community woodland and new paths on the land which used to be the village tip. Local resident Matt Taylor has been behind the work on behalf of the Council.
There will be a network of new paths, wildflower verges, woodland planting and the fencing has been replaced. Clearance work of the old overgrowth has revealed a lovely new view point, with a vista down into Hebden Bridge and a new gate to provide access to the tops of the quarry.
This project brings a new lease of life into the old tip, will enhance the amenity and biodiversity of the area without compromising public access to this well used dog walking area.
St Thomas’ Church has a new Sunday School run by retired teacher Val Perry, who organised a successful crib service before Christmas.
Children aged four to 11 are welcome to attend the class, which starts at 9.15am. They hear stories and take part in activities at the back of the church, before joining the rest of the congregation for a blessing at the end of the service.
This week, the children heard about Jesus healing the lepers, then drew pictures about being thankful for our blessings.
The class will be held every Sunday except the first Sunday in each month, which is an all-age service suitable for children.
If anyone would like to get involved in helping to run the class, they are welcome to get in touch with vicar Howard Pask.
The Cross Inn is following up Thursday’s haggis supper with a family event “Bush Tucker Trial” event from 5pm on Sunday, 26 January.
Try your stomach with a large and wacky variety of strange foods. There are prizes to be won with all proceeds to local charities.
For the more “traditional” palate, there will also be a family barbeque. Terry looks forward to seeing you there.
New housing estates in Heptonstall will be considered as part of Calderdale’s “Land Allocation and Designation Plan”, and the council is urging local residents to make their views known.
The plan will influence all future planning decisions for many years to come, and a series of public workshops are being held. Three major plans for housing estates and several smaller schemes have been submitted for the Heptonstall and Colden area as part of the first stage of the plan.
Plans now on the Calderdale Council website which have been submitted for consideration include:
Land next to Draper Lane, Slack: 187 semi-detached and terraced dwellings (reference CFS-0256) (this is part of the land now being considered for a caravan site).
Land next to Towngate, Heptonstall: 57 semi-detached and terraced houses (reference CFS-0226)
Land next to Lily Hall, Heptonstall Road, 5 to 10 terraced cottages (reference CFS-0303)
Gypsy Flats, Colden Road, Blackshaw Head: up to 90 houses (reference CFS -0181)
The meeting for Hebden Bridge area is on 6th February @ 7.00 to 9.00 p.m. – at Hebden Bridge Town Hall
Places are limited, so if you wish to attend, please contact 01422 392206 or email spatial.planning@calderdale.gov.uk.
Full details of these and other smaller plans can be seen by searching from Calderdale’s planning page for site submissions.
Ted Hughes’ poem “Heptonstall Old Church” has been set to music by acclaimed acoustic folk singer-songwriter Milly Hirst.
You can hear this lovely, haunting track here. Perhaps Heptonstall’s festival committee might like to consider her?
Heptonstall.org’s correspondent is musically illiterate, but this is what alphabetbands has to say about it:
“We’ve spoken before about the divine sounds of Milly Hirst and the bewitchingly delicate songs she sings. Such is the level of elegant beauty that she exudes, it’s worth talking about her some more, especially as she recently released a new song, “Heptonsall Old Church” which is as heavenly and soothing as anything she has done so far.
“Based on the Ted Hughes poem of the same name, “Heptonstall…” is like a countryside walk at dusk. It’s as tranquil and beautiful as dwindling light flickering amongst the woodland while the noise of the city is a distant, forgotten sensation replaced instead with gentle guitar picks, graceful strings and backing vocals (courtesy of Jessica Wilson). Serenity abounds as the majestic sights of rolling fields and farmland unfurls before you, a line of trees on the horizon silhouetted by the faint amber glow of the sunset behind (making the artwork choice particularly apt). A warm fire and steaming mugs of tea or chocolate await but, like when listening to Milly sing, you can’t leave; you must stay and take in the beauty of the view one more time.
“She remains the only person we have ever seen literally silence a room when singing, to hold a man so drunk he can’t stand in raptures as he listens, understandably muted by the mesmerising beauty of the sounds filling the room. Just like everyone else who hears her play then.”
The poem reads:
A great bird landed here.
Its song drew men out of rock,
Living men out of bog and heather
Its song put a light in the valley
And harness on the long moors.
Its song brought a crystal from space
And set it in men’s heads.
Then the bird died.
Its giant bones
Blackened and became a mystery.
The crystal in men’s heads
Blackened and fell to pieces.
The valleys went out
The moorlands broke loose.
The Cross Inn is now running a regular Sunday evening meat raffle, tickets priced £1.
Raffle of farm fresh meat starts at 7pm, with eight winners of a large selection of meat.
The Cross Inn is now doing take-aways as well as eat in menus on Friday and Saturday evenings, as follows:.
The new landlord is planning several events, watch this space for further details.
The Cross Inn page has now been updated with new opening times and information. New landlord Terry is also planning a special New Year’s Eve celebration with live entertainment and a hot buffet.
The Bowling Club is set for a Christmas season full of fun with events from a charity bike ride to a New Year’s bash, as follows:
Sunday, December 22, 12 to 4pm, annual charity bike race, registration noon, first race 12.30pm.
Monday, December 23, club open as usual 7.30pm til late.
Christmas eve, club open 6pm til late.
Christmas day, club open 12 to 2pm.
Boxing Day, open 8pm til late with quiz and bingo.
Sunday, December 29, 1pm til whenever! Games day.
New Year’s Eve, 8pm til next year. Party night with the village’s own Dave Redman.
Saturday, January 4, 10am, Heptonstall Cancer Research Walk. Entry fee £5 including festive snacks and mulled wine. for info, contact Susan Greenwood on 07944 466724 or sue.greenwood@talktalk.net.
Everyone is welcome to join in carol singing around the village this evening, starting at St Thomas’ Church at 6.30pm. This event usually finishes at about 8pm at the vicarage, but singers are welcome to drop in or out as they like.
The third Heptonstall 10 mile Cancer Research Charity Walk will take place on Sat. 4th Jan 2014, leaving Heptonstall Bowling Club at 10am.
Entry fee is £5 and includes mulled wine and festive snacks at the start and soup at the end when there will also be a raffle, with a shorter walk which is pushchair friendly for anyone not able to commit to the full route.
For further information please contact Susan Greenwood on 0794 4466724 or by email sue.greenwood@talktalk.net
A Celebration of Sylvia Plath in music, poetry, and readings will be held on Sunday, 15 December, followed by a party with klezmer/gypsy music, including the first performance of a new piece by local musicians. Starts at 4pm at the White Lion pub, Heptonstall.
The Parish Council will be considering plans about a community group’s self-build project for the “Co-op field”, directly opposite the Bowling Club car park, at their next meeting on December 9.
Hebden Bridge & Todmorden Community Self Build Housing Community Interest Company (usually known as HATS CIC) are looking for a site suitable for self-building about 20 houses – a mix of 2,3 and 4 bedroom houses according to this article by energyroyd.org.uk., which says the houses would be sustainably built to a high standard, with room for gardens and allotments.
They say the houses would be available for modest rents, and would remain the property of the trust so they could never be sold at a profit on the open market.
Roger Greenwood, clerk to the parish council, said: “The council is not aware of any specific intentions in respect of this land – a request for Asset Transfer from Calderdale Council to the Parish Council failed and therefore remains in C/dale ownership. The HATS CIC issue will be considered at a future meeting.”
More information about the Hebden Bridge & Todmorden Community Self Build Housing CIC is available on their website. The following is taken directly from it:
The Hebden Bridge & Todmorden Community Self Build Housing CIC is a community interest company incorporated by volunteers and residents of the Upper Calder Valley concerned over the long term provision of affordable housing within the community.
The objectives of the project is to deliver a housing development and mechanism for narrowing the differential gap between average housing cost and average wage of young people and families in Hebden Bridge and Todmorden, through:
– Community Land Trust
– Self Build
– Flagship Development for the Zero Carbon Challenge
– Co-operative Housing
What is a Community Land Trust?
A Community Land Trust is a mechanism for acquiring and holding land for the benefit of a defined locality or community, and operates to capture the value of the land for the community in perpetuity. The formation of a Community Land Trust can deliver affordable housing for local people on modest incomes by taking the land cost out of the total price of a home.
Why Self Build?
Self Build Initiative – by inviting members of the community, in need of an affordable option for family housing, to contribute 15 hours per week of their own labour, to build part or all of their home, up to 25% of the build cost may be represented in terms of sweat equity.
Why Flagship Zero Carbon Development?
Flagship Development for the Zero Carbon Challenge – Construction and designs to flagship zero carbon targets may achieve up to 70% reduction in typical household fuel consumption costs.
What is a Housing Co-operative?
Housing co-operatives are groups of people who collectively own and manage the properties they live in. The premise of housing co-operative is that it will never be sold or flipped for profit so members can choose to remain in the co-op for a long time. This encourages involvement and commitment to the community and allows members to feel secure in their co-op and their neighbourhood.
This weekend is a busy one in Heptonstall. On Saturday, Christmas trees will be on sale in Weavers’ Square from 3pm, with all proceeds to the Heptonstall Lights and Planting Group.
Hebden Bridge Brass Band will play from 5.30pm for the switch-on of the Christmas tree lights. At 6pm they will move into the White Lion, where pie and peas will be served.
On Sunday, Heptonstall School’s Christmas fair runs from 2pm to 4pm in the school hall, with attractions including Santa’s grotto, games for the children, face painting and many other stalls.
Further ahead, Christmas events include:
Sunday, 15 December, 3pm, Christingle Service at St Thomas’.
Sunday, 15 December, time tbc, a concert of Klezmer music at the White Lion.
Sunday, 22 December, 10.45am, Nativity Service in the Methodist Chapel. Children from the village and school are invited to take part in this enjoyable event. We also need a baby to play Jesus – contact Margaret Coupe on 01422 842550 if you want to put your baby on the road to stardom.
Sunday 22 December 6.30pm, Village Carol Service at St Thomas.
Wednesday, 25 December, 9.30am, Joint Christmas Day Service at the Methodist Chapel.
Heptonstall’s Community Bunting Project is to be displayed at Heptonstall museum until the end of the month, and again when the museum re-opens in Spring.
The first showing of the flags was at the Heptonstall Festival 2013 and they will now be displayed in Heptonstall Museum.
How to get involved…
On the front, do your design inspired by the theme of ‘our villages and the views all around us – near or far.’ Use whatever fabrics you like and create your design by sticking, hand stitching, machine stitching, patchwork, knitting or appliqué. Anything goes! Interpret the theme however you like, just so long as its meaningful to you. Perhaps you’ll do an image of a monument like Stoodley Pike or Heptonstall Church; or something more personal such as your washing blowing in the wind, your guitar, your favourite tree or your dog!
On the back, put letters to describe the view you’ve chosen e.g. SP for Stoodley Pike, HC for Heptonstall Church, T for Tree, B for Bluebells etc. This is so that children can play an ‘I Spy’ game with the flags when they are displayed.
Thanks so much for taking part, please spread the word and pass this on to your friends! Any questions please contact anothercuriousidea@gmail.com or zeitgeisthair@gmail.com.Mr Jones had recently become the father of triplets. The minister stopped him in the street to congratulate him.
“Well Mr Jones,” he said, “I hear the Lord has smiled on you.”
“Smiled on me!” repeated Mr Jones, “He laughed out loud.”
……………………………………..
Harassed woman to very deaf husband: “Oh I do wish you would wear your hearing aid!”
“But I do lass,” he replied, “I wear it many a time when I’m by myself.”
……………………………………..
And now to the news items:
Thanks for things past: the sponsored walk and tea in May raised £1,480, and the Sunday School Anniversary in June, led by Mrs Susan Watson and her puppets, raised £975. A coffee morning at the home of Mrs Jessie Breeze raised £150, of which half went to the Forget-me-not Trust, the rest being used for chapel funds. Many thanks to everyone who supported these events.
Looking ahead: The new Methodist minister, Mrs Christine Perry, will be leading the Chapel Anniversary and Gift Day on Sunday, 13 October, at 10.45am.
On Monday, 14 October, at 2.30pm, there will be a Ladies’ Evening in the Sunday School, with speaker Leah Coneron on her visit to China. Gifts for the stall should begin with E or F.
Sunday 10 November will be the Village Rememberance Service at the Methodist Chapel with superintendent minister Rev Alistair Newton.
Monday, 12 November, 2.30pm, Ladies Evening in the Sunday School. Gifts for the stall should being with G.
Saturday, 23 November, 11.30pm. Kick off the Christmas fun at the Fair in the Sunday School, many things for children, various stalls, lunch served from 12.30pm.
Sunday, 15 December, 3pm, Christingle Service at St Thomas’.
Sunday, 22 December, 10.45am, Nativity Service in the Methodist Chapel. Children from the village and school are invited to take part in this enjoyable event. We also need a baby to play Jesus – contact Margaret Coupe on 01422 842550 if you want to put your baby on the road to stardom.
Sunday 22 December 6.30pm, Village Carol Service at St Thomas.
Wednesday, 25 December, 9.30am, Joint Christmas Day Service at the Methodist Chapel.
Sunday, 5 January, 10.45am, Covenant Service at the Methodist Chapel.
Looking even further ahead: It is the chapel’s 250th birthday next year and we are hoping to have a number of events to celebrate this.
Were you caught on camera? Check out the beautiful pictures taken by Rory Prior on Flickr, with more pictures of the procession and children’s events in the ruins by Amy Binns.
All Amy’s pictures are free to download, print and share for personal and non-commercial use.
If you took some pictures of the day, why not add them to the Flickr Heptonstall pool and share them with us all?
If you’re already missing the festival, relive the fun in these videos.
Hebden Bridge Times’ video includes an impressive performance from Heptonstall’s Class Four. Gremlins are preventing us from displaying it here but you can see it on their website. Full coverage will be in next week’s paper.
Traditional dancing from the Hill Millies, complete with scarves and pinnies, can be seen here:
Luke Concannon performs Give It All from his new album in Weavers Square:
And who could forget headliners Nizlopi performing here
Metro and First bus companies are proposing to scrap through buses from Heptonstall to Halifax.
There will be a half-hourly service from Blackshaw Head through Heptonstall to Hebden Bridge, and a bus every ten minutes from Todmorden via Hebden Bridge to Halifax.
Their statement below:
First are considering making substantial changes to bus services in Hebden Bridge, particularly services 591 and 593 at the end of January 2014. The company plan to operate every 10 minutes (Monday to Saturday) between Halifax and Todmorden via Hebden Bridge. To achieve this there will no longer be a direct service to Halifax from Heptonstall and Old Town.
Metro is proposing a revised minibus network for the area which will both address recent unreliability problems and maintain links to Hebden Bridge which would be lost following the changes to services 591 and 593.
Metro and First would like to seek your views on these proposals.
Why change is needed
Proposals by First
Proposals by Metro
What type of buses will be used?
Metro are proposing to increase the number of minibuses from 3 to 4 and to use smaller vehicles which are better equipped for roads in the area. This will enable us to serve more areas. The smaller buses will carry up to 16 passengers. Unfortunately the use of smaller buses will mean less room for shopping, buggies etc. Also some passengers may find it harder to get into and out of a smaller minibus. We will finalise the make and model of buses when we appoint a bus operator for the services.
To complete the survey, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/hebdenbridgebusreview
Alternatively, public consultation drop-in events during August, where First and Metro staff will be available to answer questions and listen to your suggestions.
| DATE | TIME | LOCATION |
| Wednesday 07 August | 10:00 – 18:30 | Hebden Bridge Town Hall |
| Thursday 15 August | 14:30 – 18:30 | Halifax Bus Station |
If you need to contact Metro regarding these proposals, please email busconsultation@wypte.gov.uk
“Political, intense, angular, and beautiful” according to Colin Murray, BBC Radio 1.
“The real thing” according to the Guardian.
But who are our Festival headliners?
Festival organiser Matt explains what Heptonstall can expect:
“They are John Parker and Luke Concannon, a duo whom when you close your eyes, sound like a four piece, folk hip-hop band, on Devine fire.
“They are most widely known, for being the underground, independent act, that topped the UK and Irish charts with ‘The JCB song’ in 2005. However they offer far more than this one song, having recorded two albums and four EP’s, this soulful, passionate, and articulate pair, go for broke with their writing and playing.
“It is skilled, sonorous, Double bass beat box, acoustic roots rap and they have long had a fierce reputation for inspiring, moving live shows.
Having been doing their own things for the past 4 years, they have come back together to enjoy playing for folk this Summer and Autumn with some new songs, including Material from Luke’s new album ‘Give It all’.
“They play, joyful, honest, atavistic heavenly folk stories; from heart cracked open Love songs, to their people power invocation ‘England Uprise!’ John Martyn and Danny Thompson, meet The Roots, meet Ani Di Franco.”
Heptonstall Festival organisers hope local people will continue to support fundraising for next month’s festival.
Jan Lymer said they planned to distribute one more flyer, together with donation envelopes, in early September.
In the meantime, pink collecting boxes have been placed in both pubs, Towngate tea rooms and the post office.
She said: ‘Cheques should be made out to Heptonstall Festival. If anyone wants to donate now, they can give them to Tony in the post office.’
A new chef is starting work at the Cross Inn with a themed night of food from his native Thailand on Thursday.
Landlord Simon Fancy said: “Tatts wants to show people what he can cook.
“Every month we will have one night a week with a special. Thai nights will run for a month, then steak nights, etc.
“Tatts is a very good chef who can cook Italian, French and other continental dishes so I am sure we won’t short of inspiration for our speciality nights.
“The food we will be serving will all be freshly prepared and cooked on the premises all from local suppliers so I can guarantee the food should go down a storm.”
On offer from 5pm will be a choice of 3 starters, 3 mains and 3 desserts. Two courses are £13.99 and three courses are £14.99.
The regular menu will start on Friday serving 12noon – 3pm, then 5pm – 9pm on weekdays; and from 12noon – 8pm on Saturday and Sundays.
Some interesting early aerial photographs of the building of the Gorple reservoirs and Hebden Bridge are available on the Britain From Above website.
Taken in 1929, the Gorple pictures show the building of the dams with the navvies’ huts close by. The Pack Horse pub is visible in the distance of one of the 13 pictures. To find the whole set, search for Heptonstall, one is shown below.
The four Hebden Bridge pictures, taken in 1931, show the many mills in the valley bottom with Heptonstall Road leading up above it, the now demolished Cross Stones Methodist Chapel at the top of the buttress is also visible.
New drama classes are on offer for children aged two to 11 at Heptonstall Social and Bowling Club.
They are run on Fridays by qualified teacher Melanie Daniels and are bookable half-termly, though children are welcome to join at any point.
Classes cost £5 per session, trial class free.
Timetable as follows:
2:30pm – 3:15pm, age 2/3
3:40pm – 4:25pm, age 4/5
4:30pm – 5:15pm age 6/7/8
5:20pm – 6:05pm age 9/10/11
For more information, visit the dramasaurus website, email info@dramasaurus.co.uk or call
07554368232.
Heptonstall Parish Website 