Recent articles

  • Hampsthwaite Housing

    Local planning authorities need to regularly identify and update their supply of sites for housing development as part of their adopted local plan. North Yorkshire Council is currently drawing up a new county wide local plan and a new consultation (Issues and Options) is about to begin.

  • VE-Day80 8 - 10 May 2025

    Our Memorial Hall was built to honour the fallen in two world wars and give thanks to those who returned. It is appropriate therefore that we play our full part in the national celebrations and village activities are planned for May 8th VE-Day and Saturday May 10th 2025

  • 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

  • The Execution of Hannah Whitley

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  • Joshua Tetley

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  • Blind Peter Barker

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  • 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

  • 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!

  • 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
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Percy Townend Hough

- click for full size image

Percy Townend Hough arrived as Headmaster of Hampsthwaite C.E. Primary School in 1925. He was highly regarded by villagers as a humane and excellent teacher who commanded great respect from the pupils. He had fought in the Great War as a Captain in the Royal Engineers and received the MC for gallantry. He was a tunneller, laying explosives under Vimy Ridge (described evocatively by Faulks in Birdsong).

He lived in the school house with his wife and son, Richard. He had a lovely garden with lots of roses and he had beehives, so the childen got lessons in Beekeeping. He died very young at the age of 44 in 1937. His widow continued to live on in the village for many years after his death and was an active Church  member.

View the articles below for accounts of his experiences in WW1:

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Percy Townend Hough

Percy Townend Hough arrived as Headmaster of Hampsthwaite C.E. Primary School in 1925. He was highly regarded by villagers as a humane and excellent teacher who commanded great respect from the pupils. He had fought in the Great War as a Captain in the Royal Engineers and received the MC for gallantry. He was a tunneller, laying explosives under Vimy Ridge (described evocatively by Faulks in Birdsong).

He lived in the school house with his wife and son, Richard. He had a lovely garden with lots of roses and he had beehives, so the childen got lessons in Beekeeping. He died very young at the age of 44 in 1937. His widow continued to live on in the village for many years after his death and was an active Church  member.

View the articles below for accounts of his experiences in WW1:

- click for full size image