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 Nelson Inn

The Nelson Inn 2019

(click photos to enlarge)

The ruins of this ancient Inn including one wall with the original low mullioned windows, now serve as outbuildings to the adjoining Dyke Bottom farm. The packhorse road from Harrogate to Skipton formerly passed the door of the old hostelry, which fell into decay when the new turnpike road was made in 1776, as the line of this new road was 150 yards north of the old one.

The Nelson Inn was probably built around 1776 as a private house becoming an inn early in the 19th century. In 1822 there were three licensed victuallers in Hampsthwaite: John Goodall at the 'Nelson Inn’, William Haxby at the 'Lamb' and William Hodgson at the 'Joiners‘ Arms.

Book 5:Walker’s “History and Topography of Hampsthwaite and Mid-Nidderdale”

The Nelson pre-1980

The Nelson passed into the hands of the Long family from those of John Goodall and perhaps received its name to commemorate Nelson‘s great victory at Trafalgar on 21st October 1805.

"The Nelson was primitive, even by 1950s standards. The front door opened onto a narrow bare stone floored corridor which was so dark it was hard to see where it led, which was to a door into the living quarters at the back. The only lighting was through two small glass panels in the top of both six panelled pine doors to the sides of the corridor."

[Angela Sansam, 13 November 2022]

Download Angela Samsan's article about The Nelson in the 1950's and 60's (29.5k bytes)

The connection to Nelson

The possible connection between the Long family and Nelson is reinforced by an article in the Harrogate Advertiser on 7th June 1980, which celebrated the improvements made to the old Inn by the new owners, Richard and Ann Wood, who took over the The Nelson Inn in 1978:

"Trafalgar
Built ten years too late to celebrate Trafalgar,
the inn's name marks its first owner's
relationship with Admiral Long,
who served with Nelson."

"Long, Rear-admiral Robert, is said to have been born at Winsley Hall, near Ripley. He erected and endowed the Burnt Yates School, near Ripley, in the year 1760" [The History & Topography of Harrogate (1882) by William Grainge] . . . and the primary school has recently been renamed 'The Admiral Long Primary School'.

Robert Long was Rear Admiral of the Blue in 1752. He was appointed:

Commander 3 Oct 1719
Captain 21 Mar 1727
Superannuated as Rear Admiral before 1748
Died 6 July 1771

[From Commissioned Sea Officers of the Royal Navy (1660-1815) - see http://kingsman.one-name.net/kingsman/england/indiI12450.html]

Newspaper Cuttings:

The Leeds Mercury 27th June 1896

Harrogate Advertiser June 7th 1980

CAMRA Award July 13 1981

Newspapers provided

Oliver John Bitter

Oliver Johns BItter

Oliver Johns Bitter

Refurbishment and Re-Opening in 2022

The Nelson was acquired and re furbished by Brunning and Price in 2022 and now serves six local real ales. In 1989 Brunning and Price was born out of the friendship of Jerry Brunning and Graham Price. Since then it's grown from a small collection of pubs in the north west of England to a family of pubs spanning the country.