Heptonstall, W Yorkshire - Ruined church of St Thomas a Becket -postcard c.1970s

Please ask if you need any other information and I will do the best I can to answer.

Image may be low res for illustrative purposes - if you need a higher definition image then please contact me and I may be able to send one. No cards have been trimmed (unless stated).

------------------------------------------------

Postage & Packing:

Postage and packing charge should be showing for your location (contact if not sure).

No additional charges for more than one postcard. You can buy as many postcards from me as you like and you will just pay the fee above once. Please wait for combined invoice. (If buying postcards with other things such as books, please contact or wait for invoice before paying).

Payment Methods:

UK - PayPal, Cheque (from UK bank) or postal order

Outside UK: PayPal ONLY (unless otherwise stated) please.   NO non-UK currency checks or money orders (sorry).

NOTE: All postcards are sent in brand new stiffened envelopes which I have bought for the task. These are specially made to protect postcards and you may be able to re-use them. In addition there are other costs to sending so the above charge is not just for the stamp!

I will give a full refund if you are not fully satisfied with the postcard.

----------------------------------------------

Text from the free encyclopedia WIKIPEDIA may appear below to give a little background information (internal links may not  work) :

*************

Heptonstall is a small village and civil parish within the Calderdale borough of West Yorkshire, England, historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. The population of Heptonstall, including the hamlets of Colden and Slack Top, is 1,448,^[1] increasing to 1,470 at the 2011 Census.^[2] The town of Hebden Bridge lies directly to the south-east. Although Heptonstall is part of Hebden Bridge as a post town, it is not within the Hebden Royd town boundaries.

The village is on the route of the Calderdale Way, a 50-mile (80 km) circular walk around the hills and valleys of Calderdale.^[3]

Heptonstall is not mentioned in the Domesday Book, unlike the neighbouring townships of Stansfield and Wadsworth. Its earliest appearance in written record dates to 1253, where John de Warrene claimed free warren there.^[4] It initially formed part of the manor of Halifax-cum-Heptonstall, itself subinfeudatory to the manor of Wakefield, and so does not explicitly appear in early taxation records, such as those for the 1379 Poll Tax. In 1626 the manor was spun-off and sold^[5] and was extinguished in the late 19th century.

Heptonstall was the site of a battle during the early part of the English Civil War in 1643.^[6]

Historically a centre for hand-loom weaving, Heptonstall's cottages and terraced houses are characterised by large first-floor windows to maximise the light for weaving.^[7]

The older churchyard claims "King" David Hartley amongst notable graves there.^[8] Hartley was founder of the Cragg Coiners and lived as a rogue in the Calderdale area until he was hanged at Tyburn near York in 1770.^[6]

The foundation stone of its octagonal Methodist chapel, the oldest still in continued use,^[9] was laid following the visit of John Wesley in 1764.^[8][10]

In the mid-1980s the paving on a road through Heptonstall was removed, revealing the original stone setts. Although there was a plan to remove the setts, local protests convinced the council to restore them. At the same time the existing concrete street lights were replaced with late 19th century cast-iron gas lamps. Both developments acted as a traffic calming measure.^{[citation needed]}

A local park is used for sport and includes a playground for children.^{[citation needed]} Around Heptonstall are walking and cycle routes.^{[citation needed]}

A small local-history museum is based in what was once the village grammar school.^[11]

Adjacent to Heptonstall lie the National Trust woodlands of Hardcastle Crags with walking paths and a restored 19th-century mill.^[12] Half a mile out of the village is Lumb Bank, the first of the Arvon Foundation's residential centres for writers.^[13]

Each year on Good Friday there are performances of the Heptonstall version of the traditional Pace Egg play. These are held in Weavers' Square next to the old graveyard.^{[citation needed]}

The village is a day-trip destination for tourists and walkers, especially in the summer months. The two public houses are the Cross and the White Lion. There is a small post office – the original post office, on Smithwell Lane, is now a residential property. A cafe/delicatessen is situated in Towngate.^{[citation needed]}

The village's oldest house is Stag Cottage (c.1580), which is within a small courtyard called Stag Fold. At the back of the cottage, on the level of a public car park, is a doorway to a dungeon, once used as a lock-up.^{[citation needed]} Nearby there is a pinfold, built to hold livestock, but now a picnic area.^{[citation needed]}