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19/07/2008 - Everyday Haworth Art Exhibition

The “Everyday Haworth” of 100 painted canvasses depicting Haworth ... through the eyes of those who live and work here is officially launched today.

The project has been organised by Chris and Sandra McCarthy, and is showing on the outside wall at the Black Bull from 19th July to the 3rd August 2008.

Photos of the Everyday Haworth 2008 exhibition here...

360 degree view of the Everyday Haworth 2008 exhibition here...

The finished work will be dismantled on 4th August and the individual canvasses become the property of the individuals that created them.

A number of the finished canvasses will be donated for auction at the Black Bull on 7th September at 6pm.

It is hoped that the event will run next year. If you are able to help please contact on any of the following:
www.haworthartanddesign.com (opens in a new window).
chris.mccarthy4@virgin.net
mob: 0777 344 6030 mail@haworthartanddesign.com

Information about Haworth People's Art here...

Photos of the Haworth As WE See It 2007 exhibition here...
360 degree view of the 2007 installation here...

18/07/2008 - Haworth Library Update

HAWORTH LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY HUB
Community Consultation Update, July 2008

INTRODUCTION
The Council has committed £450,000 to establish a public library in Haworth following a Best Value Report that identified the Worth Valley as the only part of the District not to have a static library building. The project is supported by Airedale Connections.

THE CURRENT OPTION
After considering many possible locations, the Council appointed Bauman Lyons Architects and Deane Associates in early 2008 to examine the idea of constructing a new building combining the public library and community centre facilities on the current site of the tennis courts. (If taken forward, two new tennis courts would be created adjacent to the new building and the existing community centre would be closed.)

COMMUNITY CONSULTATION
So far we have:

* Consulted with the Parish Council and Ward Councillors

* Attended the AGM of the Community Centre management committee in order to
consult with a wide range of existing community centre users

* Organised a bus trip to visit interesting library and community centre projects on 24th April 2008. (This was attended by a mixture of Library Service staff and local people.)

* Interviewed over 20 stakeholders from the local school, churches, museums, and community groups.

* Distributed a flyer to promote the project to local people and enable people to send in written comments.

* Organised an open public drop-in exhibition and consultation event, held at the Haworth Community Centre, Saturday 31st May 2008. This was attended by about 90 people of all ages.

WHAT DO LOCAL PEOPLE SAY?
There has been an overall positive response from local people to the idea of a library in Haworth and to the proposal for a joint library/community facility. The broad consensus seems to be that Haworth needs more community and sports facilities. This is a summary of the feedback so far.

* The provision of a large multipurpose hall with an associated bar/lounge area is considered critical to the success of the project. (To accommodate minimum 200 people).

* There is widespread concern for the hall to continue to support a range of sports/fitness activities for people of all ages and abilities.

* There is some consideration that any development should not adversely impact on tennis court or football pitch provision.

* There is a public expectation that any new building will be of high quality - to match Haworth’s importance as a tourism and heritage centre.

* A second multipurpose room would be required in order to provide extra capacity for meetings, training, adult learning activities, etc.

* At least one small meeting/interview room and an office acting which could act as a box office for events would enable community uses when library is not open. (Such a space could also provide hot-desking and storage to meet the requirements of the Airedale Connection.)

WHAT NEXT?
The project is by no means a “done deal” - the cost of a new combined building would be far in excess of the existing budget of £450,000. The next step will be to undertake some additional funding research and draw up some sketch plans and costings for the building.

The Library Service hopes to submit a report to Bradford MDC’s Executive Committee before the end of the year making recommendations for the way forward. We would expect this to include further consultation with the local community.

CONTACT DETAILS
If you would like further information, you can contact us by email or letter at the contact address below.

Jackie Kitwood
Principal Libraries Officer: Operations North
Central Library, Princes Way, Bradford BD1 1NN
Email: jackie.kitwood@bradford.gov.uk

A download version of this report as a PDF document here... File size is 120kb's

10/07/2008 - HRH The Duke of Kent visits Haworth

Photo: 10th July 2008 Headteacher Janet Parkinson and children from Haworth Primary School present a bouquet to HRH The Duke of Kent at Haworth Parsonage.

The first Royal Train operated on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway on Thursday 10 July 2008 when HRH The Duke of Kent visited the world famous heritage line as part of the celebrations marking the 40th Anniversary of its reopening

The event started at Keighley and continued to Ingrow West. The Duke was invited on to one of the wonderfully restored buses from the Keighley Bus Museum, a brief trip down the Station yard to view the museums of the Vintage Carriages Trust and of the Bahamas Locomotive.

It left Ingrow for the location of the classic film of The Railway Children, Oakworth, to meet staff and view the station. The train terminated at Oxenhope to be met by the Acting Station Master Robin Richards, children from Oxenhope Primary School and the Chairman of Oxenhope Parish Council.

The Royal party then went on to visit Haworth Bronte Parsonage, HRH The Duke of Kent was presented with a bouquet from the children of Haworth Primary School.

Photos of the visit of HRH The Duke of Kent here...

Photos of the KWVR 40th Anniversary here...

The KWVR website: www.kwvr.co.uk
The Keighley Bus Museum Trust website: www.kbmt.org.uk

15/06/2008 - Haworth group sow seed for a Big Show

Organisers of the Haworth Show have announced an exciting plan to celebrate the show’s 90th year. The show which will take place at the Haworth Community Centre on Sunday 24th August will be run in association with Sue Ryder Care with proceeds to be presented to Manorlands Hospice at Oxenhope.

Eric Bates, Chairman of the Haworth, Oxenhope, Lees and Cross Roads Gardeners and allotment Holders’ Association, who organise the show, is very pleased to be working with the fundraising team at Manorlands on the event. “Already we are seeing an increased level of interest from entrants and class sponsors and we are certain that this will result in a great 90th Anniversary Show.”

Sue Ryder Care fundraiser Andrew Wood is hoping that the Manorlands faithful will get involved in the show and enter the many classes within sections including vegetables, flowers, handicrafts, baking and a children’s section. "With the cost of travel rising so quickly, people need good local events such as this to get involved with.”

The Haworth Show Committee will launch the new and improved schedule of over 80 classes when they run the plant stall at the Manorlands Garden Party on 13th July. Anyone who can’t make it to the Garden Party will also be able to collect the schedules and entry forms from Sue Ryder Care shops in Haworth and Keighley or order them by calling committee secretary Geraldine Lamb on 01535 648610.

About Haworth Flower and Vegetable show here...
About the Garden Party at Manorlands here...
360 panorama at Haworth Flower & Vegetable show here...
360 panorama at Manorlands Garden Party here...
About Haworth in Bloom here...
About Haworth Primary School Gardening Club here...
About Haworth Park here...
About Friends of Haworth Park here...

02/06/2008 - Haworth-Machu Picchu Twinning video

Haworth-Machu Picchu Twinning video can be seen on You Tube. The 10 minute video is about promoting the objectives of the Haworth-Machu Picchu twinning group, which are to twin the two communities for mutual benefit.



Click play button to watch on this page, direct link to the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw_93r9aDXc (opens in a new window).

A copy of the DVD can be picked up for free at
Haworth TIC
Number 10 the Coffee House
Sonia's Smile
Cobbles and Clay
Main St Post Office

About Haworth and Machu Picchu Twin Town Group here...

02/05/2008 - Worth Valley Local Election Results 2008

Bradford Council election results 2008 for Worth Valley ward are as follows:

Keith Dredge - Labour: 1027

Betts Fetherston - Green Party 308

Sam Harris - Liberal Democrat 312

Kris Hopkins - Conservative 2475

Information about Parish Council, Worth Valley Ward Councillors, MP for Keighley and Ilkley here...

18/04/2008 - Radio 4 walk to Top Withens

Radio 4 programme Ramblings first broadcast on 18th April 2008. Broadcaster Clare Balding is joined by Ann Dinsdale and Judith Bland from the Bronte Parsonage, they set out to walk to Top Withens and get lost!

You can hear the programme again by downloading as an MP3 file from the BBC website: http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/ramblings/ramblings_20080422-1230.mp3

You can find out more about dowloading the programme on the BBC website: www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/ramblings/

Information about walking to the Bronte Waterfall here... And then on to Top Withens here...

Information about the Bronte Waterfall here...
Information about Top Withens here...

18/04/2008 - Go Local for Free!

To All Who Live in BD20, 21 & 22! When did you last visit any of Keighley’s Local Tourist Attractions ?

Museum of Rail Travel – Ingrow Loco – Cliffe Castle - East Riddlesden Hall – Keighley Bus Museum – Keighley & Worth Valley Railway – Bronte Parsonage

“Go Local” on Sunday 27th April and visit ALL of them ABSOLUTELY FREE! (Just show a KWVR Local Residents Railcard or other proof of residence such as a recent utility bill, or council tax bill for example in BD20, 21 or 22)

Travel free from 1 attraction in Keighley to another on Heritage Bus Service 22

Bus Times
Hanover St (for Shops & Bus Stn) dep 1025 1110 1355 1240 1325 1410 1455
Ingrow Railway Centre (for K&WVR) dep 1045 1130 1215 1300 1345 1430 1515
North Street (outside Wetherspoons) 1050 1135 1220 1305 1350 1435 1520
East Avenue (for Cliffe Castle) 1051 1136 1221 1306 1351 1436 1521
West Lea Ave (for East Riddlesden Hall) 1058 1143 1228 1313 1358 1443 1528
Dalton Lane (for Bus Museum) 1105 1350 1235 1320 1405 1450 1535
Keighley Railway Station (for K&WVR) 1107 1352 1237 1322 1407 1452 1537
Hanover St (for Shops & Bus Stn) arr 1110 1355 1240 1325 1410 1455 1540

No fares will be charged. Passengers will be picked up and set down ONLY at the bus stops shown above. You can download the timetable as a word document here... or as a PDF file here...


This Heritage Bus Service will be operated by Keighley Bus Museum Trust Ltd

A restored London Routemaster Double Decker Bus will be used (subject to availability)

Whilst every effort will be made to maintain the service shown above, Keighley Bus Museum Trust Ltd accepts no liability for connecting facilities or any loss, inconvenience or delay thereby caused.

Keighley and Worth Valley Railway www.kwvr.co.uk
Keighley Bus Museum Trust www.kbmt.org.uk
Bronte Parsonage Museum www.bronte.info
Vintage Carriages Trust www.vintagecarriagestrust.org
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10/03/2008 - Haworth Captured Past exhibition

Update 7th May 2008
Ancestor day on 25th May 2008, help with family history from 1-4.

Update 18th April 2008
In partnership with Haworth Fairtrade, we are hosting a Fair Trade event in the meeting room of the Old School Room on the 10th May to co-incide with World Fair Trade Day.

There will be tea, coffee, buns on sale (all to go towards the refurbishment of the building), Doreen and Maureen the tea-ladies, a singer and story tellers. It will be open from between 12-4.

About Haworth Fairtrade here...
Haworth Fair Trade website www.haworthfairtrade.org.uk
The International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) website www.ifat.org

Photos of Doreen and Maureen cleaning Haworth Main St here... Doreen and Maureen Gravy Browning TanNing Salon here...

Update 18th April 2008
‘Captured Past’ exhibition, a real success say organisers

Since the ‘Captured Past’ Photographic exhibition opened last month it has attracted an impressive 2400 visitors.

The exhibition, which was officially opened on March 21st, is being staged in the Old School Room on Church Street in Haworth as part of the campaign to conserve the building that has strong links to the Bronte Family.

Dr Angela Redmond, Project Development Officer, who is responsible for managing the project said: “We have been impressed by the numbers of people wanting to see both the exhibition and the building, which was recently re-opened for public access.

“We did not know how many people would want to see the pictures from Haworth and district’s past or the inside of this historic building, and it has been very satisfying to have received so many visitors in such a short space of time.”

The exhibition, which is running concurrently with a project planning phase, funded by a £43 000 Project Planning Grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), is designed to provide access to and raise awareness of one of Haworth’s most historic buildings.

Added Dr Redmond: “The feedback that we have received from the visitors and local residents has been very positive, and indeed we have been able to raise extra cash by selling copies of the photographs.

“Eventually we would like to turn the building into a heritage centre for the region as well as offer it as a facility to the local communities, including schools in the area.

“Its historic importance fits in well with the literary connections of the village and when the project is up and running it will help complete our understanding of life in Haworth and district in times gone by.”

As part of the development of the project visitors to the Old School Room have been asked to fill in a questionnaire concerning the future use of the building and its relevance to the local lifestyle.

“The responses have confirmed our initial thinking about the need for a locally based heritage facility,” said Dr Redmond. “They have made very interesting reading and we’ve gained a considerable amount of knowledge from the information the visitors have provided. We are grateful for everybody’s contribution.”

The exhibition, which will run until September this year, is a precursor to a programme of other events to be staged at the Old School Room.

The ultimate aim of the project is to seek sufficient funding to conserve and maintain the fabric of the historic building and offer it as a heritage amenity for the community.

Haworth’s ‘Captured Past’ exhibition

The exhibition of photographs from Haworth and District at the 'Old School Room’ in Church Street, Haworth is now open to the public. Admission is free and the opening hours are normally 1.00pm to 4.00pm seven days a week until September 2008.

Local historian Steven Wood will give a talk/powerpoint presentation on the pictures in the exhibition on the Sunday of the 8th June, at the Old School Room at 730 pm - tickets £2 on the door, to go towards the restoration project.

When the Rev. Patrick Brontë built the ‘Old School Room’ in Church Street, Haworth next to his Parsonage he could not have imaged that 176 years later in 2008 that the building would not be able to fully serve the Pennine village.

Today the ‘Old School Room’ is feeling its age and in need to a major face lift.

At the end of last year the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded a grant of £43,300 to Brontë Spirit, the partnership of the Brontë Society and Brontë’s former church, St Michaels and All Angels, to plan a restoration project.

The grant has been allocated to construct a plan which will eventually see the old school room where the Brontës taught village children refurbished and developed for use in the future given a major face-lift.

The first part of raising awareness in the schoolroom and the restoration project is an exhibition of photographs from Haworth and District which were taken from the early days of photography during the reign of Queen Victoria through to the 1970s.

‘Old School Room’ Project Officer Dr. Angela Redmond explained: “The ‘Old School Room’ is the only building where all four Brontë children worked at one time or another.

“It‘s the building where Charlotte and Arthur Bell Nicholls held their public wedding feast following their marriage in St Michael’s Church just across the street.

“The Haworth district has an amazing past and we want people to be able to access it.

“Part of our thinking is that the ‘Old School Room’ could become a heritage centre for the area as well becoming a major site for the advancement of the Arts and Education within the district.

“Many people who live in the district have never been inside the ‘Old School Room’ and this will be their chance to have a look around as well as appreciate the exhibition”.

The photographs in the exhibition have been supplied by Haworth historian Mr Steven Wood and the exhibition organiser is Mr Stephen Whitehead. Dr Redmond added: “The oldest photograph was taken in the mid 1850s and perfectly illustrates the kind of life-style that the Brontë family experienced. It also has the Old School Room as backdrop which is a wonderful link with what we’re trying to achieve today.”

The exhibition will be officially opened with a media and VIP launch on Thursday, March 20 and then to the public at 2.00pm the following day. The opening will be rung in by the bell ringers of the Parish Church, lead by Captain of the bells, Simon Burnett. Admission is free and the opening hours are normally 1.00pm to 4.00pm seven days a week until September 2008.

As part of a study to help restore and utilise the Old School Room, Brontë Spirit (a partnership between Haworth Parish Church & the Brontë Society) needs to know your ideas and any concerns.

We would be very grateful if you would spend a few minutes completing this on-line questionnaire - many of the questions simply require a tick or number in the relevant box. You can download the questionnaire as a word document here...

To include the information you provide in the project we need your response by 26th September 2008. Please print and return your completed questionnaire by post or by hand to the Old School Room, Church or Parsonage Museum - a box will be left inside the entrance.

About the Old School Rooms here...
Bronte Parsonage website www.bronte.info (opens in a new window).

02/12/2007 - Christmas Fair success for Manorlands

Update from the event organisers of The recent Christmas Fair for Manorlands.

"The Christmas Fair for Manorlands Hospice on November 17th at the Baptist Church in Haworth was very successful raising the fantastic sum of £5,300. This included £750 from Barclays Bank and £310 from Terry & Lynda Logan (Miss July of the Calendar Girls) for the auction of one of Terry’s paintings.

We’d like to thank all who contributed donations and gifts, helped on the day and came and supported us."

Photo of the opening: Calendar girls, Miss July, Miss September, Bev Jenkins from Barclays Bank and Miss January, accompanied by Santa Claus, his helper (Danielle Spencer) and Michael Walton as Town Crier. Photo courtesy of event organisers.