A village near the Rochdale Canal with two Saints

Moored in Hebden Bridge - a visit to Heptonstall is a must!

The village high up in the Yorkshire Pennines used to be a centre for hand loom weaving - a plentiful supply of wool must have come from the sheep grazing on the fields around.

The houses have large windows giving lots of light for weavinghouses

It is also known for a few other things including two churches dedicated to Thomas. As it happens, the two Thomases are separated by nearly 1300 years. Unlike the churches!

The Parish Church is dedicated to St Thomas the Apostleparish church

It was built in the mid 19 century to replace the Church dedicated to St Thomas a Beckett, founded in 1260. The original church was damaged by a gale and has been left to the elements since.

Ruined church of St Thomas a Beckettruin church

It stands alongside the "new" parish Churchruins

The churchyard boasts the grave of "King" David Hartley who was hanged at Tyburn near York. He was the founder of the Cragg Coiners. Counterfeiting coins was a "cottage industry" here abouts.

More notorious in death?grave

John Wesley was an important visitor to influence the village - he laid the foundation stone of the octagonal Methodist Chapel in 1764. This chapel is now the oldest used chapel in the world.

Methodist Chapelchapel

To bring things more up to date - Ted Hughes (20th C English poet) was born nearby and the grave of his wife Sylvia Plath (American poet and novelist) is in the cemetery.

We caught the bus back - we were tired as we had walked up above the village to look at the veiws of the Pennines. We had a quick wander around Hebden Bridge.

We bought some yummy lamb and mint sausages for dinner from one of the local butchers. He was telling us that when he used to go up to Heptonstall with his farmer father in the 1960s, many of the houses there were derelict and even used as pig sties!

Top owt Towntop owt town

Hmm - I wonder how many of the more affluent villagers know that!

Heptonstall, the centre of the village is "car free" as villagers park on the outskirts, is full of interest but sadly we missed some things as they seem to be only open at the weekend!

As usual, there are mor pictures in our gallery (opens in a new window).

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