You can find out more about our sub-groups below or just go along and find out first hand or - do both. We would like to say hello and to meet you. We currently have four very active groups:
- The History group
- The Carbon Neutral group
- The Environmental group
- The Neighbourhood Watch sheme
- Annual activities and
- Other activities
Details of each group are described below.
The Cragg Vale History Group
The Cragg Vale History Group has been running since April 2008 and has hosted many interesting talks to date and we have many more planned.
What is our aim?
This valley and the hillsides have so many tales to tell and we want to help share them; some of the more obvious ones that spring instantly to mind are the Coiners (possibly our most infamous “claim to fame”!), the industrial heritage, the Hinchliffe family – and there are so many more large and small waiting to be investigated! Have you heard about Spa Sunday or the Cragg Vale Carols, for instance? It would be a challenge to see how much we can uncover – and, no doubt, to find the time to do it!.
Who are we?
The history group has over 40 members currently and growing - all are welcome!
Shirley Daniel, Roy Collinge, Yvonne Broadbent and Margaret May are the committee members running this sub group. We meet regularly on the 3rd Thursday of most months. Check the notice board or What's On for details.
How can I join?
If you would like to join the Cragg Vale History Group please contact Shirley Daniel, Roy Collinge or Margaret May or ring 884509, 885068, 886152, or email mailto:shirley@jsd.me.uk. The annual subscription for CVCA members is £10, CVCA non-members £12, retired household or in full time education £5, non-members £2 per meeting.
Other Events of Interest:
We now have more news of Duchy Parade Films project to make a full lenght fictional drama film based on the explouts of the local "Cragg Coiners". A series of workshops took place at the Square Chapel in October and November, to build up a picture of the background of life and times during the period of coining, with contributions from specialists throughout the country. Filming is due to begin in spring next year. Watch this space!!
Anyone intersted in the coiners story may like to check out Steve Hartley's (a decendent of the nortorious David Hartley) website to find out more about the Yorkshire coiners and the Hartley family.
Future Proposals:
Participation in the Film about the Coiners
Researching the history of Cragg Spa
Building an archive of photos, documents, and oral histories. We have already digitised several hundred old photos that members brought along to the group.
Any other suggestions please let us know. Come and join us, all welcome!!
What have you missed?
6th Dec 10 - Christmas visit
18th Nov 10 - National Farm Survey Ian Bailey
21st Oct 10 - Edgar Wood & Cragg Hall Gatehouse John Rumsby
16th Sept 10 - Have you Any Old Photos of Cragg Vale? Frank Woolrych & Ann Kilby
19th Aug 10 - The Origins of Surnames Peter Watson
15th July 10 - Education in Cragg Vale Yvonne Broadbent
17th June 10 - History through Postcards Molly Sunderland
20th May 10 - Cragg Vale History Group Ancestry
15th April 10 - CV HIstory Group AGM
18th March 10 - CV History Group Reminiscenes and Old Photos
18th February 10 - Ian Dewhirst "Life in the 1950s"
20th January 10 - John Hargreaves Cragg Coiners
17th December 09 - Christmas visit to Stubb
19th November 09 - Nick Wilding - “One Man and His Shed” December
22nd October 09 - Ann Kilby - The History of the House of Thornber
- 17th September 09 - Doris Hirst and Carole Wolstenholme “Entertainment in Cragg Vale” – Part 2
- 20th August 09 - Yvonne Broadbent “Entertainment in Cragg Vale” – Part 1
- 16th July 09 - Clive Lloyd and David Cant - Castle Carr
- 5th July 09 - Visit to Castle Carr Fountain
- 18th June 09 - Professor Davies – Sport in the Calder Valley
- 21st May 09 - Cragg Vale Mills (Power from the River)
- Mid April 09 - Annual General Meeting and "A race through time"
- 19th March 09 - Nigel Smith - "The Medival Park of Erringden
- 19th February 09 - Glyn Lee - "Mytholmroyd Past and Present"
- 15th January 09 - Ian Dewhirst "Victorian and Edwardian Leisure"
- 4th December 08 - Visit to Longley Old Hall, Huddersfield with Supper
- 20th November 08 - General meeting -“Reminiscences”, Local Characters
- 23rd October 08 - John Billingsley “Folklore”
- 4th September 08 - Dr John Hargreaves - Mill Owners of Cragg Vale/Coiners
The Cragg Vale Carbon Neutral Group
The
Cragg Vale Carbon Neutral Group is a group of Cragg residents who are
concerned about climate change and are keen to do something locally to
address this global issue. The CVCN first started meeting in November
2008 and currently has 22 members. It operates as a sub-group of the
Cragg Vale Community Association.
What is our aim?
The long term aim of the Cragg Vale Carbon Neutral (CVCN) group is to make the valley of Cragg Vale carbon neutral.
We
hope to achieve this through a mixture of supporting people in the
valley in taking individual actions to reduce their emissions and
community-based efforts to develop renewable energy and carbon sinks.
How can I join?
We always welcome new members. We meet on the 2nd Monday of every month in the Robin Hood Inn on Cragg Road. For more details visit our website or contact Maggie Smallwood at 07984637798 and maggie@maggiesmallwood.com.
The Cragg Vale Environmental Group
The
Cragg Vale Environmental Group are ad-hoc groups of Cragg Vale residents who come together to deliver specific one off projects, which demand more time and effort than can be provided directly by the committee. It also encompasses a few regular annual activities to redue regular appearances of litter and unwanted weeds.
What is our aim?
The long term aim of the Cragg Vale Environmental group is to ensure the successfull delivery of the projects and activities that are key to the future well being of Cragg Vale and it's residents- that is, us.
Following are lists of projects in progress, projects under discussion as future opportunities and some of the projects that have already been completed.
Regular Annual Activities
- Litter clean up in March
- Balsam baching dring June and July
In Progress
Revitalising the park - stage two
Replacement of the shelter. The existing shelter is in very poor condition and fast becoming dangerous. A new shelter, built of green oak with a shingle roof is currently being built by Calderdale craftsmen and will be installed later this year.
Tree sculpture. The very large ash tree on the edge of the Park has honey fungus and was potentially dangerous, so it's been felled, leaving a large bare trunk. We have some remaining funds to commission a specialist wood carver to create a sculpture in the trunk, and are going to be consulting with local children and the wider community on ideas for the subject.
Sustainability' plan. A range of activities designed to make the very best use of the Park and provide interest and enjoyment to the whole community.
Under Dicussion
Cragg In Bloom
Inspired by the wonderful blooms along Cragg Road- you can’t fail to notice the house opposite Cragg School with all of its wonderful hanging baskets - Jackie Scarf wonders if we have the potential to do more and enter ourselves in the Yorkshire in Bloom competition. Cragg in Bloom is not just about hanging baskets though, it’s about promoting a safer, cleaner and greener local environment. We’d need new volunteers too. Are you a keen gardener with time /seedlings to spare? Can you make window boxes/planters? Spare time to litter pick/tidy the environment? Any creative ideas? Give the idea some thought and get in touch with Jackie 882555 or email thescarfs@hotmail.com.
Already Achieved
- Revitalising the park - stage one
Funded by £50,000 from Community Spaces, who
allocate money from the Big Lottery fund, a £10,000 grant from
Calderdale MBC and £3,000 from Hebden Royd Town Council the diggers moved in during May 2011. Woirk was completed by August with new drainage of the site prventing future waterlogged, unusable services, and new play equipmentincluding a set of goal posts.
Cragg Vale Park was officially reopened by Mayor Scott Trickett on Saturday 10 September in a fun filled community event. Luckily the sun shone and more than 150 people (that's about 25% of the Cragg Vale population) showed their support for the redevelopment. Children from all 3 local schools, Cragg Vale J&l School, Steiner School and Montessori School, as well as The Ark, were represented at the event. They enjoyed playing on a bouncy castle, being entertained by "Peanut the Clown", and having their faces painted. There was also a fancy dress competition, a penalty shoot out competition and various running racing which all the children enjoyed. As well as the amazing new play equipment and football goal, there is a new walkway up to the park lined with beautiful wooden animal carvings and a sensory garden area. The event was coordinated by members of the Cragg Vale Community Association, and volunteers from the Lloyds Banking Group helped to clear and prepare the site for the launch.
It was so successfull in bringing the community together that plans are well advanced to have an annual fete every year in the park. It's a great event to bring parents with children new (and maybe not so new) to Cragg together so that they can find sources of help amongst the community and develop new friendships., was so successfull in bringing the community together that plans are well advanced to have an annual fete every year in the park. It's a great event to bring parents with children new (and maybe not so new) to Cragg together so that they can find sources of help amongst the community and develop new friendships., was so successfull in bringing the community together that plans are well advanced to have an annual fete every year in the park. It's a great event to bring parents with children new (and maybe not so new) to Cragg together so that they can find sources of help amongst the community and develop new friendships.
- Restoration of the spa
- Bulb planting by all of the schools
How can I participate?
We meet on the 2nd Monday of every month, alternating between the Robin Hood and The Hinchliffe and we always welcome new members (check What's On for location). Just say hello, have a drink or offer to lend a hand; either way it will just be nice to meet you.
The Neighbourhood Watch Scheme
TBC.
What is our aim?
TBC.
How can I join?
TBC.
Annual Activities
May - Spaw Sunday
On the 1st Sunday of May many of us meet to revive the (Victorian) Spaw Sunday custom of visiting the spa to drink some water, cleanse ourselves of winter ailments and celebrate the beginning of Spring. The day starts with a walk from St Johns in the Wilderness, alongside the river to the spa where the water is blessed and we all enjoy a good sing song. The brave amongst us try the water to see if it really did have any effects before washing it down with a delicious cake or sandwich, prepared by the Robin Hood. Those who find the taste of the water just won’t go away can tackle a yard of ale in the Robin Hood. Congratulations to those who take part and entertain us all. It's a lovely community event and the weather is mostly to us. We thank Royd Regen, Hebden Royd Town Council, Leeds University and Calderdale Volunteers for all their support in refurbishing the Spa during 2009 and all who help on the day! We look forward to every year.
June - Cragg Vale at the Mytholmroyd Gala
September - Cragg Vale in the Park
December - Chris Tingle
How can I participate?
Other Activities
.
What is our aim?
.