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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

Census returns - Old Post Office

Old Post Office

1841	It has not been possible yet to relate any entry in this census to the building which later became the shop/post office but the 1853 Ordnance Survey Map does appear to show the building at the junction of Hollins Lane and High Street.
1851	Adam HARKNESS (39) Draper and Wesleyan Preacher Charlotte HARKNESS (37) wife Jane DARNBOROUGH visitor (30) Dressmaker
1861	Adam HARKNESS Head (48) Grocer & Draper and Wesleyan Local Preacher Charlotte HARKNESS wife (46)
1871	Adam HARKNESS Head (58) Grocer & Draper and Wesleyan Local Preacher Charlotte HARKNESS wife (56) Jane FOSTER visitor (38) (s)
1881 Post office	Adam HARKNESS Head (69) Grocer & Draper and Wesleyan Local Preacher Charlotte HARKNESS wife (m) (67)
1891 Post office	William WILSON Head (m) (56) Grocer & Postmaster Sarah WILSON wife (m) (53) Clara M. STOCKDALE niece (s) (25) Grocer's Assistant
1901 Post office	William WILSON Head (m) (66) Grocer & Postmaster Sarah WILSON wife (m) (63) Clara M. STOCKDALE niece (s) (35) Assistant postmaster

N.B.
It has been assumed that entries for 1851/1871 relate to the same shop premises as were first described in 1881 as "Post Office" (presumably following the appointment of Mr Wilson to his new status) . . . . .

Clara Stockdale seems to have married a Mr Moon after 1901 (see the name-board in the early photographs).

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Census returns - Old Post Office