~History in Heptonstall~
11th May 2013
The Cloth Hall
Scroll down for photos and a description of the visit....
St.Thomas the Apostle Church, Heptonstall
There are two churches in this churchyard. This one replaces the original, which was damaged in a storm in 1847. A very noticeable feature of the churchyard is the massed ranks of gravestones., You might say that this is unsurprising, but such is the plethora that some of the old ones from the original church feature in the flooring of the new one.
 |
 |
Sutcliffes
A website viewer from Indianapolis, with ancestry here in the Pennine hills of West Yorkshire, wonders if her great, great etc. grandparents might have a gravestone in this churchyard. I'm looking for John and Olive Sutcliffe - Olive died in 1793. Two significant challenges lie ahead: Sutcliffes are all around - and - many of the older stones are badly worn, damaged or even hidden by other stones or overgrowth.
 |
 |
St. Thomas à Becket - the old, ruined church
This church was originally founded in 1260 and in the photo on the right, you might be able to see two rooflines; the earlier one from the 13th Century and the later one from the 15th Century. Higher up the tower, there appears to have been an extension.
David Hartley
David Hartley was one of the Crag Valley Coiners - counterfeiters, making money to supplement the small incomes of the weavers. David was caught and sentenced to death. After hanging near York, his body was returned to Heptonstall. Justice in 1770, compare with the modern way!
Sutcliffe Tomb
Numerous Sutcliffes lie here, but could I find Olive?
Here, I have found "John" & Oct 1793 Aged 72. Sadly, while there were lots of Sutcliffes, many John Sutcliffes, I couldn't find any "Olives".
"A Rose Just Blooom'd To Die"
"In memory of James, son of Napoleon and Eliza Brown of Hebden Bridge, who died .. aged 4 weeks; William Brown 5 years and 4 months; Jospeph ... 4 weeks; John ...3 weeks" ... All circa 1870/80.
~~~~~
The Methodist Chapel
Inside the Methodist Chapel
This chapel was completed in 1764. Originally a symmetrical octagon, one end was knocked down and the side walls extended to accommodate thriving attendances. The door was unlocked, the sign said "Open", there's a warmth in here and a feeling of security and yet the heating isn't on and there's nobody on guard!
Heptonstall Methodist Chapel
Weavers' Cottages
Towngate Tearoom
In terms of refreshment opportunities, there are two pubs and one tearoom in Heptonstall. The keen-eyed observers will notice that it has started raining, this prompted a visit to the tearooom.
Longfield House
Heptonstall Museum
Hosted inside the old grammar school, which was in use from 1641 to 1889. It is worth a visit; free admission but limited opening hours - mainly weekends.
Inside the "new" church
I suppose the visit to Heptonstall was a substitute for the usual Saturday walk, poor weather forcing the issue. The road through Heptonstall is "No Through Access" - however at the time of writing, the road which avoids the village and joins Hebden Bridge with "The Long Causeway" to Burnley is closed. So more traffic than usual was using the cobbled streets. The diversionary route does not go through the village and is a long way round.
Towngate Tearoom - a fine place with a very good "Breakfast" menu and a splendid bacon & sausage butty!
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2013 ©
Take me back to the start ....