Radical History Walks in the Calder Valley Launch

Pennine Horizons e-trails - Guided Walks & Walking Weekends

Tuesday, 21 April 2015

Riots and Protests - Radical History around Todmorden.

Sunday 26th April, 8 miles. 10am, Todmorden Train Station.
Introducing sites associated with the early radical social of the Upper Calder Valley while enjoying its unique topography and scenery. On this walk you will visit a hilltop gathering place (the Basin Stones) where Chartists in the 1840s demanded the right of all men to vote; learn about the local struggle to resist building a large workhouse; and see where the Plug Riots and one of the Anti-Poor Law Riots took place. If you listen to the mobile app. downloads you will hear modern renderings of ancient Chartist songs and re-enactments of the riots.

Cooperatives and Visions - Radical History around Hebden Bridge, 
Sunday 26th April, 4 miles. 1.30pm start Hebden Bridge Train Station.
A shorter version of this walk, learning about the local history of the cooperative and trade union movements, and women's struggles. On this walk you will see where the longest workers' production cooperative in English history was housed, see where Emmeline Pankhurst addressed crowds of striking mill workers about female suffrage, rest where local Clarion Socialist Choirs used to sing on days out and learn about an early vision for an Arcadia at Eaves, a vision later realised thanks to the Wheatley Housing Act.

If you can't make the walks, then why not download the App containing historical commentary, images, walk directions etc, for these and other e-Trails. Search 'Pennine Horizons' in your App Store, or see website for more details.  Paper guides also available.

Or email katie@pennine-horizons.org.uk   01422 844450 / 07910 933319

Bob Deacon, creator of the 2 Radical History Trails said: "These trails will take you back to the earlier roots of the contemporary cooperative spirit of the Upper Calder Valley; to the Chartists, the Suffragettes, the Worker's Cooperative, the Trade Union Movement, the early housing cooperatives, the radical Clarion Cycle Clubs.

"You will visit the spots associated with the predecessors of the Upper Calder Valley's present day radicalism, not only the buildings of the Industrial Revolution but also the open spaces surrounding them where the protesters were as likely to gather to protest but also to enjoy life."   

Pennine Horizons will also be leading 2 more historical guided walks on Saturday April 25th, to coincide with the Pennine Way loop celebrations;
Saturday 25th April

• Blackshawhead Packhorse e-Trail.  (2 miles)  Start: 12:35pm Blackshawhead Methodist Chapel- get bus 596 from Hebden Bridge.
• The Heptonstall e-Trail – an Ancient Village Explored. 2 miles. Start: 3pm Towngate Tearoom, Heptonstall.

(to coinicide with the Pennine Way loop opening and 50 year celebrations, see this Hebden Bridge Walkers Action web page)

Future walks include:
Saturday 2nd May - Hebden Bridge's Woodland Heritage. (3 miles) Start Birchcliffe Centre, Birchcliffe Road, HX7 8DG - front steps, 1.30pm.

Saturday 6th June - Sam Hill Story – Fortunes, Feuds and Scandals. (3.5 miles). Start: 11am St Bartholomew's Church in the centre of Ripponden.

Sat July 4th - Explore the Historic Roots of Hebden Bridge's Progressive Spirit, 2.00 p.m. till 3.30 p.m. Starting at the HB Tourist Information Centre

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