Yorkshire

Haworth to Heptonstall and Hebden bridge

Interesting website:

valendale.myby/roads

Haworth to Heptonstall and Hebden bridge. This would have been a well traveled route,  Heptonstall had a Piece Hall  long before Halifax. A cloth hall was built at Heptonstall in 1545-1548 by the Waterhouse family of Shibden Hall and called Blackwell Hall after the London market of that name.  bbc.co.uk  calderdale.gov.uk  
At Marsh, Oxenhope, along Lee Lane, Bodkin Lane, Thurrish Lane, turn right onto Waste Lane, Dick Dean Lane, Baby House Hill Lane, at the staggered crossed roads where there are signs of past life, the ruin on the right looks like it was once a fine building, an 1894 map tells us it was called Nook and also known as Higher Sunny Bank, In 1853 John Greenwood (b. 1790ish Wadsworth) tenant of Savile Estate in 1853 lived here with his family. To the right we have Coppy Lane which will take you to Walshaw, or the track to the left Sunny Bank Road, taking you to Old Lane, again looking at the map we see some buildings marked called Sunny Bank, these were on the right going down Sunny Bank Road, there is a photo of what remains of Sunny Bank on Flicker, or continue straight on and drop down to Hardcastle Crags, and then on to Hebden Bridge. 

Christmas Customs in Bronte Country

hristmas with the Bronte Family, and a look at the festivities celebrated in Yorkshire in the 19th century. Christmas in the Bronte Household; vessel maids and spice cake and Christmas accounts from the Bronte novels - all these and more are described in The Brontes Christmas. No matter how sheltered from the 'excesses' of Christmas, the Bronte children must have heard the Waits. They were the official city watchmen whose job was to patrol the streets at night and keep the peace. However, as they invariably played musical instruments and/or sang, to show they were on duty, that peace cannot have been kept very quietly! At Christmas time, hey played and sang the familiar Christmas carols and songs, and were occasionally rewarded with a few coppers, a pie or a hot drink, it being the season of goodwill. Carols were also sung at the houses by the choirs of local churches.  Carols were also sung at the houses by the choirs of local churches. We've little information about the services held under the Revd Patrick Bronte, the father of the literary family.  The children, after the death of their mother, were cared for by their aunt Branwell, a strict Wesleyan. Maybe, just maybe, their father's little church sang out with Christmas hymns. christmasarchives/brontechristmas

Hand Loom Weaving in Yorkshire

From:  Bancrofts from Yorkshire

There are many examples of 18th and 19th Century Bancroft families earning a living from hand loom weaving in their homes, before the invention of machinery, which made production on a large scale possible in the mills, and spelt the demise of this cottage industry.

My G/G/G Grandfather Joseph Bancroft [1755-1838] was a hand loom weaver all his life. He had 4 children with his first wife, Judith Smith, who died at the early age of only 34 years, and then went on to have a further 11 children with his second wife Ellen [Nelly] Bradley. Even at the time of his death at the grand old age of 82 years was still listed as a weaver. [An interesting fact on his burial record at Haworth, is the signature of Patrick Bronte, the famous vicar at Haworth at the time.] You will notice his cause of death on the death certificate was given as 'Old Age' which I guess is understandable, bearing in mind that there cannot have been many people who reached the age of eighty-two and three-quarters in 1838 !
Many Bancroft families, who were involved with farming, also had a hand loom in the house to supplement their income, particularly in the winter months, when there was a large family to feed and cloth. I wrote an article some time ago called ‘Auction at Fairplace Farm’ which  describes the contents of an Isaac Bancroft’s farm, called Fairplace near Cowling. When the contents of his farm was auctioned off in 1841, as well as all the usual farming implements he also had three looms!....which shows how the family all helped out to bring a bit more money into the household.
Read more:bancroftsfromyorkshire

Christmas Events in Yorkshire

http://www.yorkshire.com/

The clocks have gone back and it's starting to feel more festive in Yorkshire. So we thought we'd share a selection of Christmas themed Yorkshire activities and events to get you in the spirit!

Make sure you check out our Yorkshire Christmas Advent Calendar for loads of great prizes!

English Heritage This Christmas

English Heritage have 14 historic properties in Yorkshire, here's a selection of what's happening this Christmas.

• An Audience with Victorian Father Christmas at Clifford's Tower, York 26th - 27th November.
• Find all about a Victorian Christmas at Helmsley Castle, North Yorkshire, 3rd - 4th December.
• Enjoy Christmas Choirs at Brodsworth Hall & Gardens, South Yorkshire, 4th, 11th and 18th December.
• Learn new skills and try your hand at Christmas cake decorating at Brodsworth Hall & Gardens, South Yorkshire on 9th December.
• What would it of been like at a Victorian Christmas with a Butler find out at Mount Grace Priory, Northallerton, 10th - 11th December.
• Listen to Christmas Carols at Rievaulx Abbey, Helmsley on 18th December.