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Heptonstall Museum

Introduction

The ancient village of Heptonstall sits on top of a steep hill on the north side of the Calder Valley, overlooking Hebden Bridge.

Heptonstall once thrived on the woollen trade until the end of the 18th Century when water, and then steam, powered mills determined that the industry was located in the tributary valleys of the Calder. As a result, Hebden Bridge developed below, with the help of the Rochdale canal.

In the centre of this charming village lies Heptonstall Museum, situated in the Old Grammar School Building. Heptonstall Grammar School was established in 1642 - the present building was rebuilt in 1771, where it continued to be used as a school until 1889.

In 1898 it became the Yorkshire Penny Bank whose staff were careful to preserve some of the original features of the school: including a black oak desk at which pupils took their lessons which can still be found inside the Museum today.

Heptonstall Museum is the ideal starting point for exploring this intimate and charming village. Other important features of the village include:

• the ruined church, founded between 1256 and 1260 with remains from the 15th Century.
• the Cloth Hall (1545 / 1558) where local handloom weavers brought their cloth for sale to dealers.
• the Methodist Church, built in 1764, which is the oldest surviving Methodist Church in the world that is in continuous use.
• ‘Weaver's Square’ - a fine example of different types of Yorkshire paving from cobbles to flagstones
• the traditional Pace Egg Play which takes place on Good Friday.

Why not come and pay us a visit!

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