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
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.
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).
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.
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

VE-Day80 8 - 10 May 2025

Link to https://www.thesultansofswing.co.uk/

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

Ration Book Ticket - click for full size image

40’s Dance Party - all for £15 only!
Including Food Coupon for supper

Tickets on sale now at Corner Shop and also from Ticket Source

- see: www.ticketsource.co.uk/hampsthwaite-memorial-hall

VE-Day80 Celebrations
Hampsthwaite
8th - 10th May 2025

Throughout April Memorial Hall:

WW2 exhibition in Community Library

Thursday May 8th Memorial Hall:

10.30am - 12.30pm Café René service and sing-along with Vera Lynn!

Thursday May 8th St Thomas a’Becket Church:

3.00pm - 4.30pm Afternoon tea/coffee cake & Prosecco with music of the era by Ashville College.
6.30pm - church bells “Ring for Peace”

Friday May 9th St Thomas a’Becket Church:

Evening concert & sing-along with Voces Seraphorum

Saturday May 10th Joiners Arms Garden:

Family party afternoon (www.joinersarmsharrogate.co.uk)
2.00pm Spa Town Ukes (www.harrogatespatownukes.org)
3 00pm Churchill speaks to the nation
3.30pm Vera Lynn!

Saturday May 10th Memorial Hall 40’s Dance Party

7.00pm Doors open with licensed bar
7.30pm - 9.30pm Hog Roast service (www.the-hogfather.com - veg. option)
8.00pm Sultans of Swing Big Band (www.thesultansofswing.co.uk - set1)
8 45pm Swing Dance Leeds demo & taster class (swingdanceleeds.com)
9.30pm Sultans of Swing Big Band (www.thesultansofswing.co.uk - set 2)
10.45pm Last orders from bar (www.queensheadkettlesing.co.uk)

Hampsthwaite’s VE Day song

[Verse]
Through the fields of green they roamed
Far from the Yorkshire hills
Battles waged through midnight skies
Braving cold and chills
Letters sent from Hampsthwaite
Inked with words of love
Dreaming of their cobbled streets and stars up high above
[Bridge]
Trumpets call the dawn of peace
Skies no longer weep
The world awakens to the cheer
The end we longed to keep
Silks and ribbons flutter high
Echoes through the lane
In Hampsthwaite they dance tonight
No tears will fall again
[Chorus]
Raise a flag and raise a cheer
The world begins anew
Brothers marching home again
In coats of khaki hue
VE Day has written hope for all returning home
In Hampsthwaite the war is done
A brand-new golden age

[Verse 2]
Sunlight pierces grey old clouds
The day has found its glow
Feet where once were weary now
March steady as they go
Children wave their little hands
Mums hang banners wide
Hampsthwaite’s love embraces all
Safe where they reside
[Bridge]
Victory rings loud from our church bells
And echoes through the streets
Laughter rises like a song
In harmony they meet
Bonfires blaze across the hills
The night keeps warm with glee
Hampsthwaite stands forever proud
United now and free
[Chorus]
Raise a flag and raise a cheer
The world begins anew
Brothers marching home again
In coats of khaki hue
VE Day has written hope for all returning home
In Hampsthwaite the war is done
A brand-new golden age

Lyrics of the Hampsthwaite Song by Gina Crowther (38k bytes)

Continue

VE-Day80 8 - 10 May 2025

VE-Day80 8 - 10 May 2025

40’s Dance Party - all for £15 only!Including Food Coupon for supper

VE-Day80 CelebrationsHampsthwaite8th - 10th May 2025

Hampsthwaite’s VE Day song

40’s Dance Party - all for £15 only!
Including Food Coupon for supper

VE-Day80 Celebrations
Hampsthwaite
8th - 10th May 2025