This website displays information about Mytholmroyd Historical Society which is intended to be of interest and we welcome anyone interested in becoming a New Member.
Next Event
- 8th May – Calderdale Industrial Museum – Guided Tour + Refreshments £5 per person.There is a visit to Calderdale Industrial Museum in Halifax, between 2pm and 4pm on Wednesday 8th May 2024.Meet at the Museum at Square Road, Halifax HX1 1QG.The cost is £5, which includes Refreshments. The Museum is fully accessible. There is a ramp to the main entrance, there is a lift to all floors. If you have mobility issues and need to park in the museum yard then please let Lynda Thomas know on 07749 844896. If you would like to go please let Lynda Thomas know by Monday 22nd April.
The society needs an Annual Trip Organiser, if you are interested, please contact our Secretary, Dianne Harwood on 01422 350886.
One of our members, Glyn Lee has produced a book called
“A History of the Cragg Vale Area”
The book is available only in the Calderdale Libraries.
There are copies for library members to borrow at: Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge and Halifax.
The book is not for sale, due to its limited publication.
Latest Blog
Mytholmroyd Historical Society
Mytholmroyd Historical Society.
A report on the meeting of Friday 12th April 2024.
Dr Stephen Caunce gave us a talk entitled “A History of Farming in the Industrial Pennines”.
Dr Caunce opened the talk with a dismal picture of Industrial Colne in Lancashire. Southerners think that the North is industrialised but there is lots of Farming. Then Stephen showed us a photo of the Lumb Family of Erringden, they raised horses and then sold them on. There were many Agricultural Shows in our area in the Past – The Halifax Show, The Todmorden Show and The Hebden Bridge Show. There are lots of farms here in the Central Pennines. The farmers here are not “Stick in the Muds”, they were willing to try new things. The problems for local farmers were, the challenge of poor soils and poor climate, they were competing with intensive industrialisation for labour and space. Pennine Folk rise to a challenge, lots of industrial workers meant lots of mouths to feed. There were no corporate milkmen, a farmer would typically deliver green top milk from an old Land Rover.
Dr Caunce told us of the Medieval origins of farming in this area, he showed us a photo of Vaccary walling, (upright stones packed tightly together), to keep livestock in confined areas, it was low maintenance. At one time there were more people living on the lowlands such as near Pontefract, than there were people living on the Pennine tops. In Summer people from Pontefract moved livestock onto the hill tops and in Winter they moved the animals back down again. Gradually, people and animals stayed on the higher ground all year round.
In Calderdale there are landscape ridges, there are settlements on these gentle slopes, these settlements are called Hamlets. Yeomen farmers kept sheep and used the wool to weave cloth. THey took the cloth to Halifax to sell and became wealthy. Where the land is better, such as at Gomersal, there are open fields and the land is ploughed. On some farms beans and barley are grown and Hay is collected to feed animals through the winter. The speaker showed us a photo of a fine red bricked house owned by the Taylor family since the 1500’s.
Margaret Collinge gave a vote of thanks.
Other News
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