UK's 'prettiest towns for Christmas shopping' according to The Times has Hebden Bridge as number one. Read article 28 Nov

Light up the Valley and the turning on of the lights took place in Hebden Bridge on Thursday, 23 Nov and Mytholmroyd on Saturday 18 November. from 3-8pm. More info

Inside Hebden Bridge - "from hippies to BBC's Happy Valley to one of UK's prettiest towns, . . . with its rolling green hills, historial architecture and the River Calder flowing through its veins." Read Daily Mirror feature 12 Nov

Twinning Society German Evening Long term members and potential new members talked, listen to German band music, and most of all enjoyed their sausages. Read more 11 Nov

Dr David Wild died on 18 October. Born in New Zealand in 1955, he spent over 35 years as a dedicated and tireless GP for the Hebden Bridge Group Practice. For comments, info and funeral details, see this Lives Remembered page 30 Oct

The Treasures of the History Archive On the hillside on the way up to Old Town is the Birchcliffe Chapel, housing a remarkable archive of books, papers, deeds and documents cared for by Local History Society. Read report of the talk give by Anne Mealia. 27 Oct

Cash boost for voluntary groups Local community and voluntary sector groups in our area are invited to apply for two grant schemes, providing significant funding to help them support some of the most vulnerable people. More info 25 Oct

Wavey Steps with the Old Bridge and Town Hall, 2.30 pm, 20 Oct 2023. Click photo to enlarge

Storm Babet - Flood alert now removed. See Environment Agency. Local flood wardens warned that flooding was possible. Keep up to date with the FB group: Calder Valley Flood Support 21 Oct.

Small Ads message: "Could you take down my ad? I had an overwhelming response. Hebweb is fantastic! Thank you."

Calderdale's Year of Culture will run from 6 April 2024 to April 2025, with a variety of cultural, arts, heritage and sports events and festivals across Calderdale, a pathways development programme to encourage people into creative careers, and programmes focusing on heritage and the famous Halifax diarist, Anne Lister. More info 24 Sept

Calderdale Food Gathering at Halifax Borough Market was on Thursday 5 October, with Hebden Bridge groups including Pennine Cropshare and Grow and Graze taking part. More info

Flood Sirens Flood Warning Sirens will be tested on Thursday 28 September 2023 between 11am and 11.15am. Sirens in Hebden Bridge, and Mytholmroyd will sound for two minutes.

Small Ads "We placed an ad for a 3-bedroom home to rent. We had an overwhelming response . . . And thanks for maintaining this important service to the Hebden Bridge community"

Flood Scheme - Vegetation Management & Wall Surveys Work will be carried during September involving some minor vegetation management work to a small number of river wall section along Hebden Water and the River Calder. Read more. 17 Sept

Former Holts greengrocers - now boasts a second piece of artwork, on the Bridge Gate side.

Extinction Rebellion protest in Hebden Bridge, against Yorkshire Water using the region's rivers as a dumping ground for effluent — and sometimes raw sewage. They claim that the River Calder is the 2nd most polluted river in Britain. See Morning Star report updated 6 Aug

Small Ads Thank you to everyone who responded (too many to reply to personally). I have somewhere now.

Market Street No pot holes, no bumps and no parking! This follows the work completed this month. 31 July

Ian McMillan's The Verb recorded for BBC Radio in front of a live audience at the Trades Club, Hebden Bridge. Listen now

Bluemoose Books featured in Guardian feature. "The two-up, two-down terraced house on a cobbled Hebden Bridge street does not look like the headquarters of a multi award-winning publishing house." Read article

Thousands flock to Christmas Markets Hebden Bridge was packed and traffic often at a standstill, as shoppers poured into our town for the weekend of 25-26 November. Click photo to enlarge.

Quiz raises over £500 for Victims of Torture Survivors of Torture Activity Fund held a quiz at the Trades Club on Wednesday 22nd November, raising the £500+ through ticket sales and raffle. Read more and see photo. 26 Nov

Tenters in the landscape: a remarkable history. Speaker Dr Graham Cooper told the Local History Society about the role of tentering – drying and stretching cloth on a frame, and discovering a world of challenges, cheating and regulation. Read report 26 Nov

Small Christmas Tree in George's Square is attracting attention in social and the wider media. See this BBC report. Hover over image above to see 2022 tree. 22 Nov

HebWeb Small Ads: "I found a new tenant in no time at all thanks to the ad, so much appreciated." From message received.

Labour row over choice of candidate Widespread anger is being expressed on social media after Calder Valley Labour Party members were offered just three people to choose from, when they come to vote for their parliamentary candidate for next year's general election. Read more

Numbers The speaker at the recent University of the Third Age meeting, Dave Calverley, spoke about numbers and other aspects of maths, including Fibonacci, the golden ratio, replacing Roman numerals with Indian ones and superstitions around certain numbers. Read the report 21 Nov

Palestine campaigner returns: Chris Drake, best known in Hebden Bridge for her one person protests in George's Square, has returned from the West Bank and spoken to Peter Lazenby about things that happened "that she'll never forget." Read Morning Star report 19 Nov

Eco Christmas lights: New ecological LED lighting will decorate streets this festive season. Alongside a new display planned for the cinema, further centrepieces include the Christmas trees, each decorated with over 2000 colour-changing LEDs. More info 16 Nov.

Forum Discussion - Israel and Gaza, Large Windfarm proposal. See Forum

Arthur Bailey Local character Arthur Bailey was regularly seen walking around Hebden Bridge with his friendly smile. Arthur sadly died recently. This photo was taken in 2015 as part of the After Alice Project. Click on photo for a larger version. 7 Nov

Silent Vigil for Peace in Palestine. Over 100 people filled George Square on Saturday afternoon. Organised by Calder Valley CND and Halifax Friends of Palestine to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, people gathered in a silent circle with candles, flags & placards from 4pm to 5.30pm. To be held every coming Saturday until a ceasefire is achieved. 4 Nov

'Community-spirited walkers' town' with independent shops and literary connections. "This proudly independent 'Happy Valley' town marches to its own beat and has dramatic Pennine walks on the doorstep." Read article in the "i" newspaper 3 Nov

High Hirst Woodmeadow Fungi Survey! Nature enthusiast or mushroom lover? Join the Town Council and National Trust mycologist and ecologist Steve Hindle for the annual fungi survey was on Sat 4 November. Read more

Vigil for Peace On Saturday, 28 Oct, Calder Valley CND for Peace and Justice organised an hour's silent vigil in George Square. It lasted for an hour and was intended to show support for all victims of war and to call for peace. It took no side and condemned the victims of violence both by Hamas and Israel. About 35 people took part. It is intended to hold further demonstrations.

Blackshaw Head and May's Shop were featured in a Daily Mirror artcile. Locals in village say that have an amazing community with people kind and helpful - and "if you can survive your first winter here you'll stay forever." Read article 21 Oct

Support is Everything Calder Community Kindness shop and Winnie Dot lingerie in Hebden Bridge have joined forces to launch 'Supporting the Women of Calderdale' at The Kindness Shop, Hebden Bridge marina on Thurs 26 October between 7-9pm. Read more

St James' Parish Church 190th Birthday - The Right Reverend Smitha Prasadam, Bishop of Huddersfield, led a service of Holy Communion with Thanksgiving for the 190th Anniversary of the Dedication of Hebden Bridge Parish Church. Read more 16 Oct

Eco-Fair at the Town Hall organised by the Town Council, ran together with the Pumpkin Trail Festival over the weekend of 14-15 October. More info

Small Ads "I have now found someone. Hebweb worked really well for me - so much interest." See Small Ads page

Early co-op housing and Hebden Bridge's part in it. The History Society's recent talk was addressed by Andrew Bibby whose latest book focuses on housing co-operatives. Read the report. 2 Oct

Small Ads Message received: "You can take the ad down now we have found a tenant through it already! Thanks so much Hebweb, don't know what we'd do without you!"

Small Ads messages received: "Had an amazing response to our House to Let ad!" "HebWeb ads magic at it again! Please can you take the VW Beetle ad down." "Please take this ad down as we have been indundated, and now have the perfect person"

Town Council vacancy A vacancy on the Council has arisen following the resignation of Councillor Sue Fenton.  More info.

Small Ads: "Had an amazing response
to our House to Let ad!"

The Gender Debate: Woman quizzed over sticker Today's Mail Online has a report about a Hebden Bridge woman, retired social worker, being quizzed in her own home by hate-crime police for taking a photo of a sticker that said: 'Keep males out of women-only spaces' - Read the Mail report - see also the several threads in the HebWeb Forum

Flood Alleviation Scheme: Trial hole work a series of trial holes are to be dug around the town during September, October and November, in order to fully map the various utility services beneath. More info 25 Aug

"Calderdale Libraries Hide Feminist Books" is the title of a new thread on the discussion forum. The HebWeb has raised the issue with Calderdale Council. Read messages and see BBC article - updated 9 Aug 2023

Local History Talks The upcoming 12 talks include the early co-operative housing movement, the Treasures of the local archive, Town Twinning, The Little Theatre, Yorkshire moderates during a revolution and much more. See What's On

The Tempest at the Town Hall Message received: "120 people came which is in my book a tribute to HebWeb!!"

Small Ads - Message received: "We've filled the room. Thanks for your help. Great response as always!"

Small Ads - "I am very pleased to say the response was terrific and both properties are now let." (Less than a week)

Small Ad Response "I've had a great response and am now sorted." Small Ads.

Craig Whittaker won't stand again MP for our Calder Valley constituency since 2010, Craig Whittaker has confirmed he won't contest the next General Election. See BBC report. 22 March

Holts front refreshed What was for many, many years Hebden Bridge's main greengrocers, had been lying empty, becoming an eyesore.

Small Ads "We placed an ad for a 3-bedroom home to rent in Mytholmroyd. We had an overwhelming response . . . And thanks for maintaining this important service to the Hebden Bridge community." See Small Ads

Scandal! Local cases before the bawdy courts Anne Mealia told the History Society how, years ago, cases which came before the bawdy courts dealt with offences against Church law, including offences of spiritual and moral misbehaviour, often involving drink and sex. Read more 11 Feb

Happy Valley: Two different views of our town:

Daily Mirror - Hebden Bridge: What life's really like in Happy Valley. Read article

The Sun - Hebden Bridge: What life's really like in Happy Valley". Read article

Hebden Bridge: one of the best independent high streets. Today's Observer says of our town: "Famous for its bohemian vibe, Hebden Bridge is a hotbed of independent designers, artists and craftspeople." Read report

Station booking office closure demo The news of proposed closure of the booking office at Hebden Bridge station has provoked outrage. A quickly arranged protest brought out more than 50 people in the rain to make clear that this booking office is valued by the community. Read more 12 July - see BBC News item

Small Ads: "I have found new tenants. Many thanks once again for a fantastic service.""

"HebWeb is our 'go to resource' that allows us to stay up to speed with all things Hebden Bridge." - from message received.

Gallows Pole brings more visitors The Guardian reports a surge of visitors captivated by the true story of illegal coin-minting operation. Read Guardian article 18 June

Calderdale Election Results: Labour's Israr Ahmed has won the Calder Ward, covering Hebden Bridge. Labour's Katie Kimber has won in Luddendenfoot, the ward which covers Mytholmroyd. Labour's Silvia Dacre takes Todmorden. See results and number of votes. 5 May,

Election Turnout: Calder ward had the highest in Calderdale with 48%, and Luddendenfoot ward, the second highest with 42%

No Vote for Town Council unless you live in the Fairfield ward. Labour retain control of Hebden Royd Town Council without a vote being cast. Five of the six wards had only three candidates meaning all were elected. 4 years until the next opportunity to vote for the whole Council. Fairfield ward election result - all three seats go to Labour. Read more and voting numbers.

Small Ads Message received: "Lots of response, as usual from Hebweb, and found a great tenant... many thanks, keep up the good work!!"

30+ Interviews George Murphy talks with interesting people from our area - more to be added soon. Read the interviews

Small Ads "I have now found a lovely place to live after being contacted through the ad within a week. Thank-you!" See Small Ads

Bernard Ingham, Margaret Thatcher's former Press Secretary, who started his career on the Hebden Bridge Times, has died. Click here to read some of the coverage of Bernard Ingham by the HebWeb over the past 25+ years 24 Feb

Read Murphy's Lore on Happy Valley

How Happy Valley affects house prices

Daily Mail: house prices 'plummeting' Read article

The Sun: house prices 'booming'.
Read article

Large Fire at La Perla Restaurant

The Fire Service and the Council asked people to avoid the area. Some roads in the centre were closed. 10 fire engines. See HebWeb news for more info, Local Giving Appeal and media links. Click photo to enlarge. 2 Aug 2022

37 degrees in Hebden Bridge at 3pm, 19 July. The last time the HebWeb reported such a high temperature, apart from 18 July, also 33 degrees, was 25 July 2019. See 2019 report.

Yorkshire Water sees highest water use in 15 years They provided more than 1.56 billion litres of water on Monday – which is around 260 million litres more than usual - enough to supply the whole of York and Leeds. Read more.

HebWeb Small Ads: Ad worked again, so can you please take my ad down. See Small Ads

Green Pages Archive 2000 - 2005, a collaboration between the HebWeb, Frogs Design, the HB Times and the former Alternative Technology Centre, now once again available - see here.

Message received to say thanks: "Brill. Where would our town be without Hebweb!"

Heptonstall: "The beautiful medieval village an hour's drive from Manchester with no cars on the cobbled streets" - see article in Manchester Evening News

Small Ads: Message received: "Delighted by the response and now happily accommodated."

CROWS - repairing and improving our local footpaths

Volunteers from CROWS - our local Community Rights of Way Service  - continue to improve and repair footpaths in our area and the rest of the Upper Valley. See video and read about some of their recent work

HebWeb Small Ads - received today: Please take this ad down as we have been indundated, and now have the perfect person.

Hebden Bridge traffic and carbon emissions set to increase argues Friends of the Earth campaigner Anthony Rae. He makes the case that the proposed A646 corridor improvement programme will increase traffic and carbon emissions. See this Forum message.

Small Ads: "We have now found a home.  Thank you for a fantastic service."

Small Ads successes: "We have been successful at finding accommodation through Hebweb" and "Successful sale to someone who will enjoy using the van. Excellent result from Hebweb."

Small Ads "We were overwhelmed with responses!" See Small Ads page

'Grotty' trains with 'filthy' seats Reporter Vicki Grimshaw spent over 24 hours travelling on our railway, with passengers complaining about delays and high costs. A man described the trains as 'a nightmare' Read Daily Mirror report

It Takes A Flood… ITV programme shown on Tuesday evening (2 Nov) features Hebden Bridge, our community Town Hall and Khalsa Aid, all towards the end of the programme. Watch now

Walking around Tod - "The industrial past blends with nature, the community runs on kindness and it's home to England's highest beach" See Guardian article

Small Ads response received: "I have found a tenant. Many thanks for this fantastic service."

Flooded six times since 2000 - there have now been six major floods, and many more smaller ones in the past 20 years. Links to HebWeb reports of previous floods.

Banking in Hebden Bridge: 'The only banks left in Hebden Bridge are grass ones down by the river'. See this weekend's article on the bankless town of Hebden Bridge in This is Money

The National Geographic's Cool List for 2019 has West Yorkshire at number 7. The Calder Valley is highlighted - "with hippyish Hebden Bridge as its epicentre" - as a "burgeoning hub for restaurants and independent shops." )

Small Ads: "Hebweb scores again! I have sold my electric lawnmower today"

HebWeb Small Ads We've been overwhelmed with the response and quality of applicants! Thanks so much!

No banks. No petrol. Lloyds Bank was the last bank left in Hebden Bridge. It closed this month. Shepherds was the last petrol garage still open in Hebden Bridge. It stopped selling petrol this month.

Crystal Wilde: Finding peace in hippie Hebden Bridge: "Hippies, hikers, kooky cafes, drugs and lesbians: my home town of Hebden Bridge is notorious for many reasons, some more surprising than others." See feature in The Independent

Small Ads response received: "Can you please remove my ad for the house at Tod as it's now been let, the response has been amazing"

Small Ad house sale response: "offer received within a week of listing on HebWeb. Brilliant, thank you!"

HebWeb Small Ads positive feedback: 1. "Brilliant as ever. Thank you. Ads fulfilled". 2. "We've been inundated with enquiries from potential tenants."

HebWeb Small Ads. Message received about ad for 2 bed house: "I've had so many people message about this I can't keep up with replying."

Small Ads - "We filled the vacancy thanks to the Hebweb, brilliant service"

Hebden Bridge on Woman's Hour (from around 28 mins in) - our area is praised for being friendly to lesbians the liberal minded, creatives and progressives, for its co-operatives, hippies and Sylvia Plath's grave. And they plan to do a Woman's Hour from Hebden Bridge.

HebWeb Small Ads - The HebWeb is brilliant. Found tutor within 3 days. The response was excellent as was the calibre of the candidates.

Small Ads - 3 two bed houses to rent, all announced the same day, on the HebWeb Smalls Ads page

Small Ads message - "Once again, great success by placing my house to rent on HebWeb!"

Huffington Post on Hebden Bridge: "You will find a town that was almost abandoned, but brought back to life by hippies, artists and lesbians looking for a place to make a life." Written by Sean Pert, who continues: "The town doesn't just tolerate its LGBT+ community, it values and embraces us." Read more

Hebden Bridge: How a thriving town lost its last bank: This Guardian article reports that, "Residents feel angry and let down as Lloyds departs, but one man (David Fletcher) has a plan to fill the gap." Only a few years ago, Hebden Bridge had five full time banks. The last one, Lloyds, closed last week. Read article)

Hebden Bridge is Cool - Hebden Bridge has made National Geographic's Cool list. "The Calder Valley - with hippyish Hebden Bridge as its epicentre - is a burgeoning hub for restaurants and independent shops." See article.

Fox and Goose one of top 50 pubs according to The Guardian

Hebden Bridge features in The Spectator "The Yorkshire town that’s gone from dirty old buildings to New Age nirvana" by William Cook.

Small Ads: "Please can you remove small ad. I had a response within an hour of the ad going live and the first viewer took the house. I had 8 requests to view in 24 hours. Brilliant!"

Small Ads message - "Just to say that my cottage has now been let. Thanks once again to HebWeb!"

Less than an hour from Hebden Bridge: try these halls, houses and galleries which many may not have heard about. Yet they are just on our doorstep. If you can't find anything to do locally (see What's On), have a look at this new HebWeb Feature.

Hebden Bridge, the UK's second city, BBC article by Evan Davis. "Hebden Bridge is an inverted city with a greenbelt centre and suburbs called Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool." Read the article

Small Ads: "House successfully rented through Hebweb. Fantastic posting wall!"

Selling my house on HebWeb was "extremely successful - I hope to complete on the sale in 2 weeks time, and I think I could have sold it a few times over."

Smll Ads: "I had so many wonderful responses to my ad for someone to help me re-organize my house post-flood, I wanted to employ everyone! Thank you." - Susan

Small Ads - I just wanted to let you know that through my small ad on your site I found my ideal new home, meeting all my requirements. Thank you very much for such a great resource

Small Ads: "Ad posted Monday, lease to be signed Saturday and tenant moving in Sunday. Thanks HebWeb."

"Unbelievable result Hebweb. So many enquiries in response to the small ad on your site and now have lovely new tenants. What a success - Thank you Hebweb."

HebWeb also available on the slightly shorter hebdenbridge.uk as well as hebdenbridge.co.uk

Small Ads - "We placed a job ad on the Hebweb recently, intending to keep it there for 2 weeks, but we had to take it down after 3 days due to the huge response generated"

Britain's favourite market town? Hebden Bridge has been shortlisted in the 'Britain's favourite market town' category in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2013. Read more

Guardian Northerner: Hebden Bridge the UK's coolest place? The Yorkshire Paradise has won its fourth accolade in a decade. Born, brought up and living here, Rachel Pickering is loyal, but has one or two cautionary thoughts.

Small ads: "We've successfully rented our house. Thanks for an excellent service - I'll heartily recommend Hebweb, as our house was previously listed through an estate agent who didn't manage to get us a tenant in 3 months - through Hebweb we had 4 prospective tenants within a week."

Small Ads: We had a prospective buyer view it, she loves the house and has put in offer we've accepted. So, thank-you!

"In a world where style often triumphs over substance, Hebweb is reassuringly informative, reliable and clear. An invaluable community resource and public information forum reflecting the independent spirit of Hebden Bridge. Lesley at Elmet Farmhouse.

Small Ads: "Amazing but my house in Tod got rented out within 30 minutes after putting the house on Hebweb."

Small Ads success - "Hi there I have found lovely tenants for my house in less than 24 hours. Amazing!" Re house to let in Mytholmroyd.

Small Ads - "Choosing to advertise the house for rent on the Hebweb was incredibly effective. The perfect tenants were found within 48 hours"

From Steve Farrell, now living in Mysore, India: "As someone who lives abroad, the Hebweb site has always been critical for keeping in touch 'back home' in Hebden. I've just needed to re-advertise my home for rent, so where to turn to? The Hebweb, of course. The Ad was up within minutes and there were 10 enquiries within 24 hours. Superb!" See Small Ads.

'Greatest Town in Europe' - as well as being the 4th funkiest town in the world, Culture Trip gives 12 Reasons why Hebden Bridge 'is known as the greatest town in Europe'. Read article

Far more than a large home page, the HebWeb is now an essential local resource. It has been around for 27 years, covering local news, events, opinions, tourist info, small ads, where to stay and much, much more. Updated every day. Read more and go deeper into the HebWeb.

Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire crowned best place in the UK - 'Machine learning' used millions of data points to discover top locations. Read more

From the archive: The Times listed the 30 coolest places to live in Britain. Number one was Hebden Bridge.

Let's move to Hebden Bridge From the Guardian. If the roots of its liberal and creative image are a mystery, its appeal is obvious. See also: HebWeb report from Sept 2005

HebWeb Small Ads message: "Please could you close the advert? We've been overwhelmed with the response and quality of applicants! Thanks so much!"

Hebden Bridge Station car park to expand: Calderdale Council is working with Network Rail, which owns the land to the east of the existing station car park to create 46 extra places. Read more.

Some years ago in the Guardian, Martin Wainwright wrote, "Witness current comments on the community website, the Hebweb, which is one of the best of its kind in the country. No, world." 25 Oct 2012

Guardian Northerner: What the UK can learn from Hebden Bridge? The BBC's Mind the Gap asks how London's success can be replicated elsewhere: Claire Donnelly argues that our small town could have the answer. Read more

"Many thanks Hebweb, the Small Ad asking for Volunteers to cook and help at Wadsworth Lunch Club has already had success. We now have someone coming to help cook. We'd still welcome a washer up, and occasional helpers please."