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.

Hampsthwaite Memorial Hall What Next?

PLEASE HELP - YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND SUPPORT ARE NEEDED URGENTLY!

We are seeking ideas for how we might extend the facilities at the Memorial Hall. We are clear there is a need for better storage of some items and an enhancement of back-stage facilities to support our excellent Drama Productions.

Link to Survey

BUT - your views are urgently needed on what additional activities might we be able to accommodate. For example:

back-stage facilities to help in props and scene construction for drama and similar events?
better facilities for practical craft work generally (we have had folk building bee hives in the dining room before now!)?
perhaps a Repair Shop type facility? See www.repaircafe.org/en and www.remakery.org/
a Work Shed (Men's & Women's)- somewhere to just meet and 'potter' or perhaps also working alongside PayBack personnel to perform village maintenance tasks or make things for the school for example? See menssheds.org.uk
a general practical hobbies space for all ages? See www.stem.org.uk/ and wiki.dtonline.org/index.php/Category:Primary_Technology
somewhere an antique restoration, woodworking or jewellery class might be located?
free up the Sun Lounge so it can become a drop-in cyber cafe and family history centre?

a practical workspace also being where plant and fruit tree propogation, building bird boxes or hedgehog homes could also be done?
any more?

Please indicate your support or otherwise for these initial ideas by completing the short 2min survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KQSFNL7

OR JUST EMAIL YOUR GENERAL COMMENTS TO: survey@hampsthwaite.org.uk - or click the PDF icon below to download a paper copy of the survey or collect from the Memorial Hall Foyer.

Please return all completed paper surveys to the box in the hall foyer or email to: survey@hampsthwaite.org.uk

Please help - none of these things can happen without the clear evidence of your support various funding bodies require.

Download New Work Survey (306k bytes)

MS Word Version of Survey (358k bytes)