Hardcastle Crags as a beauty spot needs no introduction. The aim of 'Mill Murder and Railway' is to get beneath the surface; to use the visible evidence to demonstrate how people in the past viewed the Crags with very different eyes. What we admire as a fast-flowing river coursing through a beautiful valley was seen as a source of wealth by the second Abraham Gibson around 1800. Why not harness the power of the river for industrial purposes? Hence the building of Gibson Mill. The main theme of this booklet is the changing fortunes and functions of this old cotton mill which still survives, remarkably intact, in the very heart of Hardcastle Crags.

The 'murder' and 'railway' aspects of the booklet are contained in two smaller sections. The latter provides yet another view of the valley, this time- as a transport route for the 'navvies' who built the Walshaw reservoirs in the first decade of this century. As for the 'murder', this is a story of human greed and error which could have taken place in any context, but the old yew tree at Hawdon Hall still provides a link with a violent event which took place in 1817.

These glimpses of the history behind the beauty will add to the interest and pleasure of any visitor to Hardcastle Crags. 'Mill Murder and Railway' is a much revised version of the booklet published under the same title in 1973.

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GIBSON Mill, Hardcastle Crags, occupies the main section of “Mill, Murder and Railway” by Peter Thomas, the revised and highly welcome new edition of a booklet first published by the author in 1973.

Only 500 copies were then available, explained Peter, and over the years he has received many enquires. He admitted: “I didn’t even have a copy of it myself and only managed to buy one in a local charity shop!” In itself a good enough reason for a re-issue.

There’s even more information about Gibson Mill in the Latest version and many more photos, several supplied by the Alice Longstaff Gallery Collection. Referring to the mill in his preface, Peter states: “It is very much a ‘flesh and blood’ story of a little luck, a lot of hard work. and the creation of a little industrial empire in the heart of a rural beauty spot, with the Industrial Revolution as a backcloth.”

The “blood” seemed contributed mainly by the unfortunate emplyees who, Peter records, generally worked a 72-hour week. For its time Gibson Mill was rated one of the better places, however - stoppages for both breakfast and dinner were allowed in a nine-and-a- half hour day which was not always the case - but children formed a large section of the work force.

“In 1833 the Gaukrogers, then renting the mill from the Gibsons, stated that the children from ten to sixteen years were best for their work,”records Peter.

Harsh facts such as these contradict the beautiful setting of the mill which in those days must have been just as breathtaking and possibly made life even harder for children and adults denied fresh air and sunshine. Visitors today may find it difficult to reconcile the two conflicting faces of the mill.

The author traces its history through more lighthearted days as a "fun palace" at the turn of the century to its latest incarnartion as a setting for TV dramas. Recently it was the scene of a luddite rebellion featured in an episode of Bernard Cornwall's "Sharpe".

The "murder" centres on Hawden Hole, now a "fine restored property which rejoices under the far grander name of Hawdon Hall," writes Peter, and which is also sited in Hardcastle Craggs. A yew tree played a part in the sinister story which took place in 1817, "for it is said that two murderers hid in its branches before committing their crime." They were Micheal Pickles, also known as "Old Mike," and John Greenwood, also known by the far more colourful soubriquet of "John at Bogg Eggs." Their unfortunate victim was Samuel Sutcliffe and the one thing they all has in common was bizarre nicknames, his being "Sammy o' Katty's." The crime centred on one of the private banknotes then issued by local firms and among property stolen by the inept pair which was to lead to their eventual capture and execution.

The third section of the booklet focuses on the railway which connected the building of the reservoirs at Widdop and Whitehill Nook, Heptonstall, where the navvies lived between 1901 and 1908 in "Dawson City.". This story is equally well researched and illustrated and provides a helpful aid to those wanting to identify the site of the once impressive and towering trestle bridge.

Peter, who was head of history at Hipperholme Grammar School and head of the sixth Form t Brighouse high School untill four years ago, has lived in Hebden Bridge all his life and his love of the area is evident in the booklet, which manages to pack a remarkable amount into its 32 pages. Peter also co-wrote a guide book to the area in 1970 and it is to be hoped his latest effort is just the begining of a fresh literary inspiration.