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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.
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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
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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).
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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.
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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!
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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
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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.
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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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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]
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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
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| 39 High Street
It is possible that this building was constructed before the publication of the 1853 Ordnance Survey Map for some such structure seems to be shown on the map, albeit indistinctly. When the West Riding Deeds registers are again open for inspection (2017?) it may be possible to date the construction more firmly.
At present, the earliest knowledge we have of the property is from the years before WW1 when it was the home and shop of a bootmaker called George Bell.
George Bell was born in about 1850, the son of William and Elizabeth Bell who appear to have arrived in Hampsthwaite from Ripon during the previous decade. William was a Cordwainer and Elizabeth a Shoe Binder.
By 1880, when George married Mary Ann Swale (daughter of James Swale the parish clerk) he was working as a Boot Maker. George and Mary had a number of children (six in total) including Mary Elizabeth born 1890 but who sadly died shortly before her second birthday. Mary Ann herself died in 1894 at the age of 38.
George married again in 1908 – to Margaret Ellen, the daughter of Robert Ellis, a labourer of Swincliffe. We are fortunate to have a photograph of Margaret standing outside No 39 and thought to have been taken shortly before the First World War (as indicated by the inscription found on the back of the photograph).
 Mrs Margaret Bell
 Inscription on back of photograph
The last available census records (1911) show George and Margaret living at no. 39 with their sons Alfred (18 - a bootmaker) and Frank (born less than one month before the census). George died in 1917.
The property is double – fronted but was it built as such or have two cottages been knocked together? Notice how the doorway is off centre and some mortar joints show evidence of re-pointing or even settlement.
39 High Street (click photo to enlarge)
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