Welcome

 The Spen Valley Historical Society was founded in 1972 and 2024 is our 52nd year of continuous existence.

We meet on the second Wednesday of each month, with the exception of August when we do not have a meeting. The meetings start promptly at 7:30 pm at Our Lady & St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church Hall, Dewsbury Road, Cleckheaton.

Our first talk of the 2024/25 season is on 10th April  and is presented by  Max Rathmell and is the second part of his Local Railways talk.

The talks for the rest of the season are:-

8th May "An Eye for Colour" John Wyles. Please note this talk follows our AGM which will take place at 7:00pm

12th June "Joseph Priestley's Heritage 250 Years on" Les Woodcock

10th July "Heckmondwike: From Georgian Backwater to Edwardian Prosperity" George Hall

11th September "Manchester Ship Canal: From Quays to Pier" Anne Kirker

9th October "Bonnie Prince Charlie" Janet Niepokojezycka

13th November "John Harrison: The Uneducated Yorkshire Genius" Julian Sommerville

11th December "The Mobile PoliceMuseum" David Hardcastle

8th January "Origins of Brass Bands in the Dewsbury Area" Paul Harrison

12th February "A Brief History of Shibden Hall" David Glover

12th March "William Morrison's: A Local Success Story" Janet Senior

For more information our contact details are

spenvalleyhistoricalsoc.chair@gmail.com

tel 0786 631 0162

or spenvalleyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com

QUICK LINK TO HECKMONDWIKE WW1 OBITUARIES

--------------+++++--------------------What's New--------------------+++++-------------

12th April 2023 - Joe Frogatt is seeking information about Mercer Pneumatics that had premises on Moorside (next door to Stoneacre) which have now been converted to residential use.

13th February 2023 - Improved images of George  Batley, Joseph Brearley, Alfred Hinchcliffe, Tom Hinchcliffe, Raymond Lister, William Parker, Albert Quarmby, James Schofield, John Scorer, Edgar Sutcliffe, Norman Walshaw and Harold Wright added.  Our thanks to George Hall and Heckmondwike Grammar School. 

12th February 2023 - Image added to obituary of James Broderick our thanks to Hightown Liversedge and Spen Valley Photos & Memories on FaceBook.

10th February 2023 - Images added to obituaries of Frederick Batley and Louis Gladman

2nd February 2023 - Additional information added to obituary of A C Moffatt

22nd January 2023 - Madeleine Lee is seeking help researching a property in Heckmondwike built in 1802, 18 Oldfield Road, and her grandfather Wilfred Lee of Cleckheaton.

5th January 2023 - Avril Ravenscroft is seeking help in finding out more about a knitting wool known as Cleckheaton that was manufactured by Fred James Worsted Spinners.