Little Theatre

Big Christmas Sing

Carols and Christmas music, 7pm, Hope Baptist Church

A collection for Christian Aid's work in South Sudan.

There is a varied line up: Hebden Bridge Junior Band, Bright Shiners, Calder Valley Voices, and Twig and Wonkeyman aka Jim and Hazel will play harp and accordion; all interspersed with opportunity to sing a few carols and followed by a hot drink and a mince pie.

Hope Baptist is a large venue and we are making sure that everything will follow covid guidelines.

The Alan Petford Memorial Lecture

THE DAM THAT ISN'T AND THE GREAT FLOATING PLUG OF THE COLDEN

Dave Smalley

Dave has agreed to re-visit his lecture that was originally part of the research that contributed to the compilation of the late Alan Petford’s festschrift History in the South Pennines. Initially it was about investigating another “fax fallacy”, a giant floating plug of dam wall! But like much research, as it developed it revealed unexpected insights into the early construction history of dams built for the textile industry.

Dave Smalley has been a resident of the upper Colden valley since 2000.  With a background of Earth Sciences and the building industry followed somewhat eclectically by Cultural Diplomacy, he now continues a lifelong interest in the evolution of the landscape and the history of man’s impact on it. Since the first presentation in 2015 he had been researching aspects of the Stansfield road network from the late eighteenth century to the early 1920’s. He is currently studying the art history and manufacture of Victorian stained glass.

The Mill 3rd Birthday

The Mill, a much loved pub, restaurant and live music venue located in the heart of Walsden, have just announced their 3rd birthday celebration event - and they've really gone all out for it!

On Friday 10th December, they're bringing a host of incredible live acts and DJ's along to mark the celebration.

Announced so far as part of the lineup are X-Ray Ted and Shaka Loves you, with one more DJ yet to be revealed. Attendees can expect an evening of Funk, Soul and Disco to mark this special occasion.

The Mill Venue opened in late 2018 and occupies an impressive first floor space within a 19th century West Yorkshire cotton mill. A modern food - music - party centric venue serving up a great food and drinks menu, with craft ale from small independent breweries. They are open daily and provide excellent facilities for dining, private functions, live sporting events, comedy shows and musical performances.

Ticket prices start at just £8 for early bird tickets, these can be purchased on Skiddle here Tickets are also available for purchase at the venue.

Mytholmroyd Festive Market

Community Centre Car Park
Spaces available for stallholders

Royd Regeneration would like to invite stallholders to apply for a place at this year's Festive Market, which is being held on Saturday 11 December (12noon-6pm) on the car park at Mytholmroyd Community Centre.  Please email Hazel for an application form, prices and full details.

The market is part of a joint initiative with the Rotary Club of Hebden Bridge and the Hebden Royd Business Forum who are organising a series of 'Light Up The Valley' events around HX7, in an effort to kickstart life for the local community and the economy for local businesses. 

One of these events is also taking place at this venue on the same day and will hopefully be a fun day for all the family with illuminations, live entertainment, food and drink, ice sculptures, competitions, a performance by Handmade Parade and much more.

We hope you can join us and look forward to hearing from you.

The 844s

- live show at Wadsworth Community Centre

Calder Valley rhythm and blues band The 844s will be playing at Wadsworth Community Centre, Old Town on Saturday 11 December. Admission is £5 at the door, and there will be cask ales and hot food available. Doors open at 7.30pm.

EGGSMAS!

The Egg Factory's Christmas shopping fest is back! In an exciting new venue in the centre of town, EGGSMAS will be your go-to place for unique and locally made presents for everyone!

It'll be bursting at the seams with incredible makers showcasing their work; textiles, ceramics, jewellery, prints, decorations and much more including Cheese! 

Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th December, 11 til 5pm

The Old Pool, Central Street, Hebden Bridge, HX7 6HB (next to Central Street School)

Cantorelli Charity Christmas Concerts

Cantorelli, Calderdale based vocal ensemble, will be giving two concerts of Christmas Carols and Readings in the upper Calder Valley on Sunday 12th December in aid of the Todmorden Food Bank.

Cantorelli's charity Christmas concerts have become a feature of the choir's annual concert programme when the choir have been able to raise money for several local charities each year.

The first performance on Sunday 12th December is in St. Mary's Church, Todmorden at 3.30pm and the second in Hope Chapel, Hebden Bridge at 6.00pm. The programme includes Christmas music from the 15th Century to the present and follows the Christmas story. The choir will be joined by local actress Alexandra Mathie for Christmas readings.

Admission is free and donations will be taken at the door for the food bank.

The Lost Chord Ensemble

7pm-9:30pm, in the Little Theatre bar, Holme Street, Hebden Bridge

The Lost Chord Ensemble meets about once a month and supports the Little Theatre.

Musicians (with their music stand) are invited to come and play some light music selections. If you are coming for the first time, please contact chris.browne@tiscali.co.uk with details of your instrument so that a pad of music can be made available.

Chris, who conducts the local Little Theatre Choir, has a wealth of light music including some of his own compositions.

University of the Third Age

The Christmas Magic Show!

World famous Magician Steve Price

1.45pm for 2pm start

Steve Price, one of the UK's busiest and most established magicians and a Gold Star Member of the Inner Magic Circle, will be using his astonishing magical skills to amaze and amuse the Todmorden u3a members at their Christmas meeting on the 16th December. The meeting will be held at the Central Methodist Hall, Todmorden starting at 14.00.

The meeting is open to all paid-up members of the Todmorden u3a but due to covid regulations numbers are limited and so applications should be made to the speaker finder. Steve has performed everywhere from New York to St Petersburg, the Arctic Circle to Easter Island and now he can add Todmorden to his list.

If your not a member of the Todmorden U3A, and you would like to attend as a prospective member, it is free and all you have to do is go to: www.u3atod.org.uk or info@u3atod.org.uk and follow the links.

Carol singing at Hebden Bridge station

Hebden Bridge station, Saturday 18th December 1.30pm to 3pm

Collection for Railway Children charity

An informal evening of festive jazz piano

Hebden Bridge Town Hall

8-10pm (doors 7.30)

Tickets available online only - ticketsource.co.uk/hbpiano

-Ticket numbers are limited to allow for social distancing
Wrap up warm as doors and windows will be open for ventilation
Please wear a mask when moving around the building.

A fundraiser for Hetden Bridge Piano Festival

In partnership with Henden Bridge Community Association

CINEMA IN HEBDEN BRIDGE: A HISTORY

Kate Higham

The history of cinema in Hebden Bridge spans over 120 years, and takes us from silent flickering images projected onto the walls of travelling theatre tents to the sharp digital images we enjoy today in the Picture House. Kate will discuss the old Royal Electric Theatre, and the local people who have played their part in the story too.

Kate lives locally, loves going to the cinema, and has enjoyed being on the committee of the Friends of the Picture House for the last 10 years. Along with her father, she has also written a book about the history of cinema in Hebden Bridge - Hebden Bridge Picture House, the Life and Times of a Local Treasure.

THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE OF THORNBER

Ann Kilbey

MANAGING SPACE, MANAGING PEOPLE: Constables and highways in seventeenth century Sowerby

Murray Seccombe

The chance survival of Sowerby’s book of constables’ accounts for this period – the best from any part of Yorkshire – opens a window onto a formative stage in the way townships managed social welfare, access and mobility. The crisis years from the 1630s to the 1660s saw social and governance changes, including a precocious use of taxation for highways. The legacy was a network of tracks and causeys connecting the parish to a wider world.

Murray has lived in the area for 36 years, and is on the home stretch (he hopes) of a PhD at Lancaster University, researching manorial and township governance of highways in the parish of Halifax, c.1550-1700. Before retirement, he worked in the community-based transport sector. Given half a chance, he’d rather be out walking or reading very long books.

A Notable Epidemic: the 1880-81 Scarlet Fever outbreak in Halifax

John Brooke

More than five hundred people were affected by this outbreak of scarlet fever and over a hundred people died. This was no ordinary epidemic and John will explore how a farmer, a hired man and a local milk round were all involved.

John Brooke was a headteacher for 25 years and a part-time school inspector for a further seven. Most recently he has lectured for the WEA and has a number of publications to his name, including Cruel Lives: a history of some West Yorkshire epidemics. He lives in Lightcliffe where he is secretary of the local history society, president of the cricket club and leader of a litter-picking group!

REMEMBERING CRAGG HALL 1820-1921

Shirley Daniel and Roy Collinge