Christmas Eve Carols in the Square took place this year for the first time since 2019. Photo: HebWeb

Hebden Bridge at Thurs, 15 December 2022 - the canal freezes as night time temperatures plummet to minus six. Click image to enlarge

Covid numbers: less than 3 cases in Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, and Tod for the week to 10 Dec. The rate per 100K for Calderdale as a whole is 22, the lowest this year, and for England 49. Read more. 15 Dec 2022

Happy Valley Series 3 starts on BBC1, New Year's Day. Above: filming in Hebden Bridge last April.

Local Food Summit Last weekend, a summit of local food groups took place with speakers, and to share info about each other's activities. Read Report 2 Dec

Little Park concerns continue with more demands for answers from local councillors in connection with the controversial development between the river and the children's playground. See messages in the HebWeb Discussion Forum

Christmas Tree in the Square
Click photo to enlarge

Trades Club lift update: The Building management committee and the Trades club are pleased to announce that the disability access lift is now open again.  20 Nov

Having helped Ukrainian artists and their families to come to live in our area, Artists in Exile are seeing a new wave of people desperate to leave Ukraine, due to recent attacks and fears about what the winter will bring.They would love to hear from anyone who might be able to help. Read more 4 Nov

Mytholm Works The Town Council have rejected current plans for a Residential development of 38 dwellings, because of the flood risk, insufficent affordable housing, and other reasons. See Planning Watch 3 Nov

Flood Alleviation Scheme - update The Environment Agency have announced that from next week their teams will be carrying out some vegetation management work to a small number of short river wall sections along Hebden Water and the River Calder. Read more 21 Oct

Craig Whittaker, our local MP and deputy chief whip for the Tories, is reported by The Spectator as having said, after exiting the House of Commons lobby following the the fracas over fracking, 'I am f***ing furious and I don't give a f**k anymore." Read report. Update: according to this Times report, Craig was backing Borris.

Small Ads "I have now found a lovely place to live after being contacted through the ad within a week. Thank-you!" See Small Ads

Fielden Brothers of Tod - wealth came from slavery Like other cotton firms, Fielden Brothers of Todmorden used cotton grown by enslaved people, as June Turner explained to the Local History Society. Read report of talk 15 Oct

Food Support: Struggling to pay for food and bills? Calder Food Support are providing food bags at Valley Road Surgery on Wednesdays 10am-12noon. The first four bags are free, after that they are £3. 25 Sept

Hebden Bridge Goes Pink from 1st-31st October for Breast Cancer Awareness month. 131+ businesses are dressing their shop windows pink. A banner will be over the river for the duration. Seasontech Ltd have donated £100.00 for the best dressed window and shops will have collection boxes.

Climate Emergency and Biodiversity Coordinator - job vacancy with Hebden Royd Town Council who are looking for an individual with a passion to make an effective response to the climate emergency and improve biodiversity in Hebden Royd. More info 2 Sept

Nutclough Woods stream is running bright green right now. Photo sent to the HebWeb. Update: now running clear again. 15 Dec

Carols at the Station Saturday, 10 Dec, £73 was generously donated by travellers to the small band of volunteer musicians and singers who turned out in the cold weather. Read more 12 Dec

Opposing coal mine in Cumbria Calderdale Trades Council has written to the HebWeb opposing the project and calling for job creation in insulation and renewable energy. Read discussion message 11 Dec

Tod Town Centre gets £10m worth of investment as part of the government's Town Deal project. Read more in this BBC News report. 9 Dec

The Yorkshire Coiners in 2022 John Styles, Professor at the University of Hertfordshire, told the Local History Society how time has changed the ways in which we look at the trade of counterfeiting money. He explained that it was a well organised business, with entrepreneurs seizing opportunities. Read report. 6 Dec

Hebden Bridge: one of the best independent high streets. Today's Observer says of our town: "Famous for its bohemian vibe, Hebden Bridge is a hotbed of independent designers, artists and craftspeople." Read report 4 Dec

Crown Street pedestrianised for the Christmas markets. Click photo to enlarge.

Northerners: A History.  From the Ice Ages to the 21st Century. The speaker at the recent University of Third Age meeting was Brian Groom, who started work as a journalist at The Goole Times, then spent most of his career at the Financial Times. Read this fascinating report. 24 Nov

Heptonstall concert for Pakistan Flood Appeal raises £1100 at a full house of more than 100 people on Sunday 13 Nov at the Octagon Chapel. Read more 18 Nov

Small Ads - "I am very pleased to say the response was terrific and both properties are now let." (Less than a week)

Osborne Street Local residents have told the HeWeb that "land was bought by the developers of the chapel for 17.5k from a Housing Association last year, to be a garden. They now want to put up a large detached house with multiple terraces etc. on there." See Planning Watch 3 Nov

Three Norths set to align in Hebden Bridge in August 2024. The alignment last happened in the 1660s but is set to pass through several places in the UK once again. Thanks to Jamie J for alerting the HebWeb, and who wonders whether the Town Council will plan a big party. Read explanation. 2 Nov

Town Council Launches Cost of Living Grants: The scheme will help local organisations support the most vulnerable from hunger and to provide 'warm spaces'. Read more 31 Oct

A Book of Condolence following the death of the Queen has been opened at Hebden Bridge Town Hall. For more info, see the Hebden Royd Town Council website. 9 Sept

Mytholm Works planning application Belmont Homes has submitted a planning application for 38 dwellings at the Mytholm Works (aka Brown's) site. See Forum message 1 Oct

Holts Squatters in court this morning, 29 September, at Bradford County Court. The owners, Royds Ices, who are filing for possession, failed to appear, so the squat continues. See Facebook page.

Current Forum threads also include the Co-op, Air BnBs and Boots. Read more

Asda buys Mytholmroyd Coop and around 130 other Co-op stores. Asda said the purchases are part of plans to move into smaller, convenience grocery stores.

Large Fire at La Perla Restaurant

The Fire Service and the Council asked people to avoid the area. Some roads in the centre were closed. 10 fire engines. See HebWeb news for more info, Local Giving Appeal and media links. Click photo to enlarge. 2 Aug 2022

37 degrees in Hebden Bridge at 3pm, 19 July. The last time the HebWeb reported such a high temperature, apart from 18 July, also 33 degrees, was 25 July 2019. See 2019 report.

Yorkshire Water sees highest water use in 15 years They provided more than 1.56 billion litres of water on Monday – which is around 260 million litres more than usual - enough to supply the whole of York and Leeds. Read more. 19 July

Small Ads messages received: "Had an amazing response to our House to Let ad!" "HebWeb ads magic at it again! Please can you take the VW Beetle ad down." "Please take this ad down as we have been indundated, and now have the perfect person"

Ten years ago on Friday evening, 22 June, Hebden Bridge and the Upper Valley area suffered the first of two severe summer floods. See photos and read the HebWeb report from 2012.

Small Ads "I have now found someone. Hebweb worked really well for me - so much interest." See Small Ads page

'Has my Yorkshire grit held me back?' 'I'll 'appen that's it.' Mark Piggott, who grew up in Hebden Bridge, comments on a recent report on regional accents and the 'serious social, economic and educational harm' they do. Read more. 15 June

HebWeb Small Ads: Ad worked again, so can you please take my ad down. See Small Ads

Elections: all 3 seats go to Labour
Cllr Sarah Courtney has been re-elected Councillor for the Calder Ward (covering Hebden Bridge) with over 3000 votes - more than any other candidate in Calderdale. Cllr Scott Patient has been re-elected Labour Councillor for the Luddendenfoot Ward, (including Mytholmroyd). Cllr Helen Brundell has been elected for Labour in Todmorden. And Calderdale now has its first Green councillor. See details.

Small Ads - Message received: "We've filled the room. Thanks for your help. Great response as always!"

Call for 'right to grow' food in UK's unloved public spaces. Todmorden's Incredible Edible says new law could give people better health, wellbeing and access to fruit and vegetables. See Guardian article.

Ray Riches has died. 1946-2022. Former teacher at Calder High and for many years active in the Little Theatre and as St George in the Pace Egg play. Pictured left above in 2011. Cheers were given for him at last week's performances by the Heptonstall Players. 19 April

Pace Egg Play back live for the first time since 2019. Good Friday. Click image to enlarge. More photos and info

Green Pages Archive 2000 - 2005, a collaboration between the HebWeb, Frogs Design, the HB Times and the former Alternative Technology Centre, now once again available - see here.

Heptonstall Postmaster passes Post Office to Community Community ownership 'best possible result', says retiring Heptonstall Postmaster. Tony Spink is retiring after 22 years, with the local community banding together to buy his branch. Read more 11 April

Small Ads message: "Could you take down my ad? I had an overwhelming response. Hebweb is fantastic! Thank you."

The January Dip on New Year's Day at Gaddings Dam and elsewhere - raising money for Crisis and to support those facing the worst forms of homelessness. Read more and see photos and video.

Mytholmroyd Station Partnership - plaque unveiled the blue plaque for the Railway Heritage Trust Award was unveiled at the beginning of this month, after being delayed by Covid. Read more and see photos

Walking around Tod - "The industrial past blends with nature, the community runs on kindness and it's home to England's highest beach" See Guardian article

Message received to say thanks: "Brill. Where would our town be without Hebweb!"

Heptonstall: "The beautiful medieval village an hour's drive from Manchester with no cars on the cobbled streets" - see article in Manchester Evening News

Small Ads: Message received: "Delighted by the response and now happily accommodated."

Don't Pay Calderdale - In the square today, a group of local activists were encouraging people to refuse to pay energy bills on Oct 1, unless price rises are reduced. They were asked to sign up to the Don't Pay website.

Small Ads Message received. "Lots of response, as usual from Hebweb, and found a great tenant... many thanks, keep up the good work!!"

Climate Action Roadshow Slow The Flow has just 2 weeks of events left in their Climate Action Roadshow which continues this week. More info about the events.

Calder Food Support Hot food at the Good Shephard in Mytholmroyd between 5 and 7 every Monday. Share food, have a chat or play a game. Children welcome with an adult. Donations welcome but not needed. Please ring Bernice for more details: 07741 457658.

Steampunk Weekend, 7 Aug 2022.
Photo: HebWeb. Click to enlarge

Hebden Bridge traffic and carbon emissions set to increase argues Friends of the Earth campaigner Anthony Rae. He makes the case that the proposed A646 corridor improvement programme will increase traffic and carbon emissions. See this Forum message. 28 July

Little Park closed as controversial development continues. Council plans to re-open the park after re-surfacing work. See discussion

Small Ads: "We have now found a home.  Thank you for a fantastic service."

Rail Strike: BBC Look North report the strike from Hebden Bridge. David Fletcher condemns the rail workers as extremely selfish while the RMT Union warns that job cuts will make the railways unsafe. See this 3-4 minute BBC report. 23 June

See HebWeb Forum about the Look North report

Swimming - natural lido: with fading prospects of a pool in Hebden Bridge or Mytholmroyd, local swimmers may be interested in plans for a natural lido just a few miles away, on the moors above Oxenhope. See Guardian article. Read more.

Wainsgate concerts The 2022 Wainsgate Concert Series gets underway the weekend after Easter with a series of events. Read more

Small Ads successes: "We have been successful at finding accommodation through Hebweb" and "Successful sale to someone who will enjoy using the van. Excellent result from Hebweb."

Small Ads "We were overwhelmed with responses!" See Small Ads page

£2 Trillion for Storm Arwen damage Gareth Hughes from Hebden Bridge has received a compensation cheque for more than £2 trillion in what Northern Powergrid has called an "oversight". See ITV report

'Grotty' trains with 'filthy' seats Reporter Vicki Grimshaw spent over 24 hours travelling on our railway, with passengers complaining about delays and high costs. A man described the trains as 'a nightmare' Read Daily Mirror report

It Takes A Flood… ITV programme shown on Tuesday evening (2 Nov) features Hebden Bridge, our community Town Hall and Khalsa Aid, all towards the end of the programme. Watch now

Former Mayor praises health workers In this article, Nader Fekri, former Mayor of Hebden Royd and Calderdale, explains why he's supporting the Fair Pay For Nursing campaign after meeting RCN members at a recent rally, and commends the great support health workers gave his father who has died from Covid. Read article

Coiners' story set to be BBC Drama, based upon local author Benjamin Myers' book, The Gallows Pole. UK filmmaker Shane Meadows is to make the drama with UK-Irish producers Element Pictures. Read full article in Screen Daily

CROWS - repairing and improving our local footpaths

Volunteers from CROWS - our local Community Rights of Way Service  - continue to improve and repair footpaths in our area and the rest of the Upper Valley. See video and read about some of their recent work

Yorkshire Water halts grouse shooting on its moorland above Hebden Bridge, and is seeking a partnership with a conservation agency or a sustainable farming operation for the future management of Baitings, Turley Holes and Higher House Moor. See Yorkshire Post article

Small Ads response received: "I have found a tenant. Many thanks for this fantastic service."

Snowy Canal at Hebden Bridge, with thanks to photographer, Andrew Smith. Click image to enlarge. More photos from Andrew Smith and others. (12 Feb)

Misty Morning, with thanks to photographer, Andrew Smith. Click image to enlarge.

HebWeb Small Ads - received today: Please take this ad down as we have been indundated, and now have the perfect person.

Flooded six times since 2000 - there have now been six major floods, and many more smaller ones in the past 20 years. Links to HebWeb reports of previous floods.

More tree cover still needed in Hebden Bridge, say Friends of the Earth. The organisation claims trees can act as effective flood defences, helping to reduce peak water levels by as much as a quarter. See ITV report.

BBC1 Countryfile at Hardcastle Crags "We're in West Yorkshire and this is one of its true hidden gems." And featuring the work of Slow the Flow Calderdale. (17 June)

Banking in Hebden Bridge: 'The only banks left in Hebden Bridge are grass ones down by the river'. See this weekend's article on the bankless town of Hebden Bridge in This is Money

The National Geographic's Cool List for 2019 has West Yorkshire at number 7. The Calder Valley is highlighted - "with hippyish Hebden Bridge as its epicentre" - as a "burgeoning hub for restaurants and independent shops." )

Small Ads: "Hebweb scores again! I have sold my electric lawnmower today"

HebWeb Small Ads We've been overwhelmed with the response and quality of applicants! Thanks so much!

No banks. No petrol. Lloyds Bank was the last bank left in Hebden Bridge. It closed this month. Shepherds was the last petrol garage still open in Hebden Bridge. It stopped selling petrol this month.

Hebden Bridge artist Kate Lycett featured in Yorkshire Post feature

Crystal Wilde: Finding peace in hippie Hebden Bridge: "Hippies, hikers, kooky cafes, drugs and lesbians: my home town of Hebden Bridge is notorious for many reasons, some more surprising than others." See feature in The Independent

Small Ads response received: "Can you please remove my ad for the house at Tod as it's now been let, the response has been amazing"

"HebWeb is our 'go to resource' that allows us to stay up to speed with all things Hebden Bridge." - from message received this week.

Brearley Fields flood overflow does its job Storm Christope last week turned Brearley Fields into a lake. The new measures will benefit birds, fish and other local wildlife, attract visitors to the area and provide educational opportunities. Read more

Small Ad house sale response: "offer received within a week of listing on HebWeb. Brilliant, thank you!"

HebWeb Small Ads positive feedback: 1. "Brilliant as ever. Thank you. Ads fulfilled". 2. "We've been inundated with enquiries from potential tenants."

Hidden in the valleys around Hebden Bridge

HebWeb Small Ads. Message received about ad for 2 bed house: "I've had so many people message about this I can't keep up with replying."

Small Ads - "We filled the vacancy thanks to the Hebweb, brilliant service"

Hebden Bridge on Woman's Hour (from around 28 mins in) - our area is praised for being friendly to lesbians the liberal minded, creatives and progressives, for its co-operatives, hippies and Sylvia Plath's grave. And they plan to do a Woman's Hour from Hebden Bridge. (27 Nov)

HebWeb Small Ads - The HebWeb is brilliant. Found tutor within 3 days. The response was excellent as was the calibre of the candidates.

HebWeb coverage of the 2019 General Election is at caldervalley.org.uk along with info on general elections back to 1997.

"Britain at its best: Hebden Bridge where Ed Sheeran was born is a true northern star,” declares Mail Online article. Apparently, our town is  'just right side of gentrified’. Read article

Small Ads - 3 two bed houses to rent, all announced the same day, on the HebWeb Smalls Ads page

Small Ads message - "Once again, great success by placing my house to rent on HebWeb!"

Huffington Post on Hebden Bridge: "You will find a town that was almost abandoned, but brought back to life by hippies, artists and lesbians looking for a place to make a life." Written by Sean Pert, who continues: "The town doesn't just tolerate its LGBT+ community, it values and embraces us." Read more

Hebden Bridge: How a thriving town lost its last bank: This Guardian article reports that, "Residents feel angry and let down as Lloyds departs, but one man (David Fletcher) has a plan to fill the gap." Only a few years ago, Hebden Bridge had five full time banks. The last one, Lloyds, closed last week. Read article)

Hebden Bridge is Cool - Hebden Bridge has made National Geographic's Cool list. "The Calder Valley - with hippyish Hebden Bridge as its epicentre - is a burgeoning hub for restaurants and independent shops." See article.

Fox and Goose one of top 50 pubs according to The Guardian

Hebden Bridge features in The Spectator "The Yorkshire town that’s gone from dirty old buildings to New Age nirvana" by William Cook.

Swimming pool latest. It's still going ahead but, because of the 2015 Flood, not yet. And not in Hebden Bridge. Read the latest statement from the Swimming Pool Association, and follow the links for how the HebWeb has covered this controversial issue over many years. More

Small Ads: "Please can you remove small ad. I had a response within an hour of the ad going live and the first viewer took the house. I had 8 requests to view in 24 hours. Brilliant!"

Small Ads message - "Just to say that my cottage has now been let. Thanks once again to HebWeb!"

Less than an hour from Hebden Bridge: try these halls, houses and galleries which many may not have heard about. Yet they are just on our doorstep. If you can't find anything to do locally (see What's On), have a look at this new HebWeb Feature.

Hebden Bridge, the UK's second city, BBC article by Evan Davis. "Hebden Bridge is an inverted city with a greenbelt centre and suburbs called Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool." Read the article

Small Ads: "House successfully rented through Hebweb. Fantastic posting wall!"

Selling my house on HebWeb was "extremely successful - I hope to complete on the sale in 2 weeks time, and I think I could have sold it a few times over."

Smll Ads: "I had so many wonderful responses to my ad for someone to help me re-organize my house post-flood, I wanted to employ everyone! Thank you." - Susan

Small Ads - I just wanted to let you know that through my small ad on your site I found my ideal new home, meeting all my requirements. Thank you very much for such a great resource

Small Ads: "Ad posted Monday, lease to be signed Saturday and tenant moving in Sunday. Thanks HebWeb."

"Unbelievable result Hebweb. So many enquiries in response to the small ad on your site and now have lovely new tenants. What a success - Thank you Hebweb."

HebWeb also available on the slightly shorter hebdenbridge.uk as well as hebdenbridge.co.uk

Small Ads - "We placed a job ad on the Hebweb recently, intending to keep it there for 2 weeks, but we had to take it down after 3 days due to the huge response generated"

Britain's favourite market town? Hebden Bridge has been shortlisted in the 'Britain's favourite market town' category in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2013. Read more

Guardian Northerner: Hebden Bridge the UK's coolest place? The Yorkshire Paradise has won its fourth accolade in a decade. Born, brought up and living here, Rachel Pickering is loyal, but has one or two cautionary thoughts.

Small ads: "We've successfully rented our house. Thanks for an excellent service - I'll heartily recommend Hebweb, as our house was previously listed through an estate agent who didn't manage to get us a tenant in 3 months - through Hebweb we had 4 prospective tenants within a week."

Small Ads: We had a prospective buyer view it, she loves the house and has put in offer we've accepted. So, thank-you!

"In a world where style often triumphs over substance, Hebweb is reassuringly informative, reliable and clear. An invaluable community resource and public information forum reflecting the independent spirit of Hebden Bridge. Lesley at Elmet Farmhouse.

Small Ads: "Amazing but my house in Tod got rented out within 30 minutes after putting the house on Hebweb."

Small Ads success - "Hi there I have found lovely tenants for my house in less than 24 hours. Amazing!" Re house to let in Mytholmroyd.

Small Ads - "Choosing to advertise the house for rent on the Hebweb was incredibly effective. The perfect tenants were found within 48 hours"

From Steve Farrell, now living in Mysore, India: "As someone who lives abroad, the Hebweb site has always been critical for keeping in touch 'back home' in Hebden. I've just needed to re-advertise my home for rent, so where to turn to? The Hebweb, of course. The Ad was up within minutes and there were 10 enquiries within 24 hours. Superb!" See Small Ads.

'Greatest Town in Europe' - as well as being the 4th funkiest town in the world, Culture Trip gives 12 Reasons why Hebden Bridge 'is known as the greatest town in Europe'. Read article

Far more than a large home page, the HebWeb is now an essential local resource. It has been around for 27 years, covering local news, events, opinions, tourist info, small ads, where to stay and much, much more. Updated every day. Read more and go deeper into the HebWeb.

Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire crowned best place in the UK - 'Machine learning' used millions of data points to discover top locations. Read more

From the archive: The Times listed the 30 coolest places to live in Britain. Number one was Hebden Bridge.

Let's move to Hebden Bridge From the Guardian. If the roots of its liberal and creative image are a mystery, its appeal is obvious. See also: HebWeb report from Sept 2005

HebWeb Small Ads message: "Please could you close the advert? We've been overwhelmed with the response and quality of applicants! Thanks so much!"

Hebden Bridge Station car park to expand: Calderdale Council is working with Network Rail, which owns the land to the east of the existing station car park to create 46 extra places. Read more.

Some years ago in the Guardian, Martin Wainwright wrote, "Witness current comments on the community website, the Hebweb, which is one of the best of its kind in the country. No, world." 25 Oct 2012

Guardian Northerner: What the UK can learn from Hebden Bridge? The BBC's Mind the Gap asks how London's success can be replicated elsewhere: Claire Donnelly argues that our small town could have the answer. Read more

"Many thanks Hebweb, the Small Ad asking for Volunteers to cook and help at Wadsworth Lunch Club has already had success. We now have someone coming to help cook. We'd still welcome a washer up, and occasional helpers please."