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.  
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A History of Hampsthwaite - Books 1, 2, 3, 4 (and 5)

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A History of Hampsthwaite - book series written and published by people in Hampsthwaite.

To Order your copy or copies [Books 1 & 4 are £5.95 each + £3 postage, Book 3 is £6.95 + £3 postage and Books 1,2,3 & 4 (a set) are £25 + £3 postage] send your order with a cheque payable to Hampsthwaite Village Society to:

Hampsthwaite Village Book, Lamb House, Church Lane,
Hampsthwaite, Harrogate HG3 2HB.

Please enclose your name, address and a contact telephone number.

* Covers Postage and packaging for UK mainland only. For postage outside UK mainland, please email book@hampsthwaite.org.uk for price

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

*AVAILABLE NOW!*  £5.95

The first four books in this series on our village history dealt with specific aspects of our community life but now we turn to a more general narrative that reaches back to Roman days and continues up to the last century. Book 5 owes its existence to a collection of typewritten essays, described as written between 1921 and 1958 by a ‘C. Thompson Walker’ who it is believed, resided in BirstwIth.

The publication covers a general history of the area around Hampsthwaite and including the townships of Felliscliffe, Swincliffe, Kettlesing, Birstwith, Darley, Menwith, and Thornthwaite with Padside. The essays offer an impressive overview of historical events touching upon: the murder of Becket in 1170, the Black Death, Wars of the Roses, Dissolution of the Monasteries, the Inclosure Acts and on to the impact of industrialisation in the Dales.


Note:

The Book 5 will be of great interest to anyone who wishes to find out more about the history of this area. It covers many familiar places and touches on some well-known local family names. Perhaps readers may wish to follow some of the many routes described such as “up Swincliffe down Swarcliffe and ower t‘ new briggs inta Hartwith”.

Throughout the book there are extensive Footnotes, mainly to provide records of court proceedings. The Appendices are posted here only to provide the materials the Footnotes refer to. They are not intended to be read in isolation - and make little sense on their own

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Book 4: Village Buildings on the Eve of the Great War *AVAILABLE NOW!*  £5.95

It is very clear that the village has changed enormously since WW1 and that those Hampsthwaite men who served in that war but failed to return would be astonished at the degree of expansion. They would, however, still find the village they knew identifiable in the buildings clustered around the village green, in Church Street and the High Street.

Although we comment upon some modern buildings as they are encountered, this volume concentrates on an examination of that recognisable portion not only because, in 2018, we remembered especially the events of 1914-18 but also because the Edwardian years provide our most useful research material.

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Book 3: School Memories *REPRINTED!*  £6.95

A new edition of the publication of a ‘Book of Memories’ which was published to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of the school in 1861. The book contains many photographs covering almost each of the15 decades and many descriptions from both staff and pupils of school life over that time. 

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Book 2: Places of Worship *Sold Out*


Available now only as a PDF download (see below)
or access online HERE

This volume brings together accounts of those buildings in the village and surrounding areas that have been used for worship.  It includes sections on St. Thomas à Becket Church, the Methodist Chapel, Felliscliffe Chapel of Ease, Saltergate Mission Room and the Hampsthwaite Church Turret Clock. There are numerous photographs of the past plus 20 colour plates.

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Book 1: Villagers' Reminiscences *BUY NOW!*  £5.95

A collection of villagers' reminiscences describing life in Hampsthwaite since the early 20th century. Old photographs of the village including Church Street, High Street and properties that have disappeared or been replaced. Tales of school life, lunch in the café, the village shops, working on the farm and much more.

A History of Hampsthwaite - Books 1, 2, 3, 4 (and 5)

A History of Hampsthwaite - book series written and published by people in Hampsthwaite.

To Order your copy or copies [Books 1 & 4 are £5.95 each + £3 postage, Book 3 is £6.95 + £3 postage and Books 1,2,3 & 4 (a set) are £25 + £3 postage] send your order with a cheque payable to Hampsthwaite Village Society to:

Hampsthwaite Village Book, Lamb House, Church Lane,
Hampsthwaite, Harrogate HG3 2HB.

Please enclose your name, address and a contact telephone number.

* Covers Postage and packaging for UK mainland only. For postage outside UK mainland, please email book@hampsthwaite.org.uk for price

Link to 303