Recent articles

Blind Peter Barker
Remembering Hampsthwaite’s Blind Joiner - an article by Shaun WilsonLike the market town of Knaresborough, who had ‘Blind Jack’ – John Metcalf, the road builder of Yorkshire in the eighteenth century, the small rural village of Hampsthwaite had it’s blind hero also, almost a century later – Peter Barker who became known as ‘The Blind Joiner of Hampsthwaite.’ Though there are some similarities between John Metcalf and Peter Barker’s lives, these are purely co-incidental and each fulfilled a life, character and career in their own right.
Jane Ridsdale
JANE RIDSDALEAged 33 years, born at Hampsthwaite, near Harrogate, Yorkshire, her height is 31 ½ inches.She is remarkably chearfull & enjoys very good health.Published July 1st 1807 by Jane Ridstale, at Harrogate where purchasers of this Print will have the opportunity of seeing and conversing with her
Joshua Tetley
Joshua Tetley was the founder of Tetley’s Brewery in Leeds, and he retired with his wife Hannah to Hollins Hall on the outskirts of Hampsthwaite (Hollins Hall Retirement Village).
The Execution of Hannah Whitley
Arsenic Poisoning in Hampsthwaite - The Execution of Hannah Whitley In 1789, Hannah Whitley of Hampsthwaite used a pie as the delivery medium for a fatal dose of arsenic, with the poison concentrated in the crust. She claimed She had been coerced into the act of poisoning by her employer, a local linen weaver named Horseman, who was involved in an on-going feud with the intended victim.
Scrubbers and Stones
SCRUBBERS & STONES - Sat 29th June 10.30am - 2.30pm - Entry FREE! Explore the Memorials at St Thomas a'Becket Memorials Treasure Trail - for children if all ages Self-Service / Self-Checkout BBQ from 12 noon (inc. veg option) Food £2, Drink £1, Donations? - yes please! Hot & Cold Drinks Laptop & Screen to show Mapping Hampsthwaite’s Past Use a Bucket & Brush to help reveal Inscriptions on the older memorials . . . or just Sit & Enjoy CORPUS CHRISTI BRASS BAND . . . from 11.30am . . . followed by Afternoon Tea & Cakes at the Memorial Hall!
Hampsthwaite Open Gardens
Hampsthwaite Open Gardens - Sat 29th June 12.30am - 5.00pm - Entry £5.00 (accompanied under 15's FREE) Tickets on the day from Hampsthwaite Memorial Hall Plant sales - many named varieties of plants Delicious homemade refreshments Afternoon tea and cakes served from 12.30pm at the Memorial Hall
Genealogy Websites
Free genealogy websites will help you start your family history research at no cost as listed by the 'Who Do You Think You Are' magazine.
Kitchen Refurbishment
Memorial Hall kitchen is now completely, and expertly, refurbished by Neil,Batty Builders Ltd as a result of a grant awarded by the National Lottery's 'Reaching Communities' fund.See also the equivalent
Amy Woodforde-Finden
A highly successful composer of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, Amy Woodforde-Finden, together with her husband and step-son, is laid to rest in the churchyard of St Thomas à Becket Parish Church. Inside the church there is an impressive marble monument of her, created by the renowned sculptor George Edward Wade. It was unveiled in 1923 and a few years later, Finden Gardens in Hampsthwaite was named in her honour.[Click on title or image to link to articles]
Amy Woodforde-Finden Centenary Events (2)
Amy Woodforde-Finden : 'An Evening with Amy'A centenary concert to celebrate the life and works of Amy was held in Hampsthwaite Memorial Hall on April 21st 2023 Click on images to open full-size in new window and use the Browser back arrow to return to here.

The Tour de France 2014

Link to the Official site for the Tour de France Grand Départ Yorkshire 2014

The world's greatest cycle race - the Tour de France - will start in the world's greatest county on 5th & 6th July 2014 bringing millions of fans to the Yorkshire roadside to cheer on the champions of the sport.

The Tour de France is the world's biggest single sporting event and 3rd biggest sporting event overall (behind The Olympics and the World Cup). It will affect the lives of everyone living in and around Harrogate. We are privileged to live where this immense free sporting event passes close by us on two occasions over a summer weekend and near where we can see the first day start and finish and the awarding of the coveted 'Yellow Jersey'.

Against this, there will be disruption: roads will be closed each day for about 4 or 5 hours (or more in some cases), crowds of spectators will be huge and it will be difficult to get to some places . . . so . . . best to do your shopping well before the 5th July!

Visit http://letour.yorkshire.com/ for more information
See http://letour.yorkshire.com/the-grand-d%C3%A9part-2014/timings for guidance on race timings
Click HERE for Allez Yorkshire - Official Newsletter of the Grand Départ 2014

198 riders with support vehicles plus a 'caravan' of up to 120 vehicles will create a 20km parade. They will be escorted by the French Gendarmerie and watched over by 9 helicopters making quite a show. The Caravan is a terrific spectacle and a great family attraction. A procession of elaborate floats and vehicles precedes the racing action distributing 15 million items to fans at the roadside across the 3 weeks of the Tour. It is a great way to catch yourself a souvenir of Le Tour.

It is estimated there will be 345,000 visitors just to see the finish and, over the weekend, each day will about 7 times bigger than the Great Yorkshre Show! The last hour of the race each day will be broadcast live across Europe and beyond.

Hampsthwaite - the ideal base for followers of Le Tour

Stage One
regular train services from Harrogate to see the Start of Stage 1 in Leeds at 11.00am local time
return to Harrogate and wait for the Finish of Stage 1 and the awarding of the coveted 'Yellow Jersey'
or return to Hampsthwaite to see the riders and caravan come through Killinghall from Ripley late afternoon - and then go back to Harrogate
or simply cycle to Ripley from Hampsthwaite on the new Nidderdale Greenway to join in the Festival and watch the riders and caravan come though late afternoon
Alternatively and throughout the day, Hampsthwaite is in easy reach of any part of the Stage 1 route

Stage Two
regular train services from Harrogate to see the Start of Stage 2 in York at 11.00am local time
or stay in Hampsthwaite to see the riders and caravan come from Harrogate towards Skipton early in the afternoon of Sunday 6th July.
and from Hampsthwaite, Skipton and Keighley are in easy reach to follow the route southwards to Sheffield for the end of Stage 2

The Yorkshire Grand Départ Stage 1 - Saturday 5th July 2014 - Leeds to Harrogate: 190KM

Leeds - Harewood - Otley - Ilkley - Skipton - Kettlewell - Aysgarth - Hawes - Reeth - Leyburn - Ripon - Harrogate

The Yorkshire Grand Départ Stage 2 - Sunday 6th July 2014 - York to Sheffield: 200KM

York - Knaresborough - Silsden - Keighley - Haworth - Hebden Bridge - Elland - Huddersfield - Holmfirth - Sheffield

Grand Départ Cultural Festival

Plans are underway to hold a cultural festival in the 100 days leading up to the Tour de France Grand Départ. Submit your ideas NOW to be part of this exciting programme.

Continue

The Tour de France 2014

Visit http://letour.yorkshire.com/ for more information
See http://letour.yorkshire.com/the-grand-d%C3%A9part-2014/timings for guidance on race timings
Click HERE for Allez Yorkshire - Official Newsletter of the Grand Départ 2014

Link to the Official site for the Tour de France Grand Départ Yorkshire 2014