The Metropolis of Dissent
In theory at least the sizes and locations of places of worship are determined by demography! In Saxon times the Spen Valley had a sparse, widely dispersed population. The early Christians erected...
Engineering in the Spen Valley
The legendary prosperity of the Spen Valley was dependent upon the diversity of the trades attracted to the area in the wake of the industrial-revolution. From the mid-1700s our Valley was host...
Textiles in the Spen Valley
The Pennines have for long supported a cottage industry of wool spinners and weavers. The outbuildings at Gomersal’s Pollard Hall were already equipped for processing cloth when rented by William Burnley in...
Working Below Ground Level – Coal Mining and Quarrying
Coal seams lay beneath the whole of Spen Valley. Almost everywhere coal has been extracted once upon a time. Until the industrial revolution in the mid 18th century coal was usually taken...
Full Steam Ahead – The Railways of Spen Valley
Railways were big business in the Spen Valley for over a century. Travel to all parts of the UK was possible, powered by steam almost to the end. Cleckheaton Line Spen Valley...
The Age of the Tram
For over 30 years from 1903-1934 electric trams provided public transport the length of Spen Valley before succumbing to competition from motor coaches. British Electric Traction devised, built and operated a 22...
Mine’s a half thanks – pubs, inns and brewing
Many of Spen Valley’s public houses have a long history. Some mark the centre of medieval settlements such as the Savile Arms, Hunsworth; the Shoulder of Mutton, one in Hightown, the other...
Verses of the Croppers Song
Luddites met upstairs at the Shears Inn. As the beer took hold John Walker announced he would sing a ditty before the business of the meeting got underway. Well before the song...
Whiff of Revolution
The whiff of revolution in Spen Valley was in the air twice in the 19th century; first with the luddites and then the chartists. Luddites England had been in conflict with France...
Music in Spen Valley
John Curwen was born in Heckmondwike in 1816 and was a Congregationalist Church Minister for 26 years. But he’s best known for teaching the world to sing. He developed the Tonic Sol-Fa...