Meetings April 2021 Update

Details
Written by Administrator
Last Updated: 13 May 2021
Hits: 51

Our regular monthly meetings have remained suspended for over a year but, with the COVID-19 situation beginning to look more promising, we are beginning to plan for the time when we will be able to meet again safely. Currently, we are thinking that maybe this September, 2021, might be possible. We are contacting speakers and tentatively putting together a Diary.

Of course, although we have not been able to resume our regular monthly meetings,  we have been continuing with our plans to commemorate the Cragg Hall devastating Fire of 11 August 1921. The first event is to be the special Presentation on Thursday 12 August, in St Johns at 19:30. We will be providing full details in the next weeks.

Meanwhile, stay safe , keep up the social distancing, face-covering wearing and hand washing and we hope to see all previous members and new members again soon!

CVLHG Committee

Any queries or comments, please contact Jane Frechette on 07733 326866.

History Calendar 2019-20, A Reminder

Details
Written by Administrator
Last Updated: 13 May 2021
Hits: 52

Calendar Dates

2019

  
April 18th AGM & 'Your Mystery Item is?'
May 16th Early Inns and Ale Houses of the Upper Calder Valley, Peter Robinson
June 19th Visit to Calderdale Museum
July/August  - Summer Break
September 19th Behind Closed Doors (Bronte Scandal), Pat Osborne
October 17th Hebden Bridge Cooperative, Andrew Bibby
November 21st The Triangle Mill Sisters and Standsfield Hall, Ruth Beazley
December 19th Christmas Extravaganza
   

2020

  
January 16th The New Cragg Hall and Hinchliffe family photgraphs, Roy Collinge
February 20th Ann Lister and the Walker Dynasty, David Glover
   
   
   

 

Cragg Vale History Group - About Us

Details
Written by Martyn
Last Updated: 03 March 2020
Hits: 611

The Cragg Vale Local History Group was formed in 2008 and we are still going strong. We are an informal, friendly and sociable group and we would love to welcome more people into the group, either as regular attendees or to drop in for individual sessions.

Meetings are at 7.30 pm, on 3rd Thursday each month from September to June. We take a summer break in July and August but try to arrange a visit to an interesting location during the break.

Venue: St John's Church, Cragg Vale. Refreshments are available at each meeting.

Membership: Just £15 for the year or £3 per meeting for visitors. Just turn up on the night.

If you are interested in joining, please just come along to one of our meetings.

For further information, contact Jane Frechette on 07733 326866

 

Spaw Sunday

Details
Written by Historian
Last Updated: 30 May 2016
Hits: 4442

Upper Calder Valley folk had no need to travel far afield to spa towns such as Harrogate, or Buxton to “take the waters”  -  their own local spa  was right here on their doorstep! Cragg Vale Spaw is reputed to be at least 300 years old and, with many nearby places bearing its name, has clearly been of historic importance - Spa Laithe Farm, Spa Terrace,  Spa Bridge etc.

 In medieval times and before, winter was a very difficult time.  The long season of cold and darkness, with limited food, caused hardship and ill health.  So with the coming of warmer weather in spring  people looked forward to gathering at the spa to celebrate the passing of winter and to drink the water, to cleanse themselves of winter ailments, and give them strength to face the coming year.  Whether the water had a medicinal effect is debatable, but there are anecdotes from a number of local octogenarians of the curative and restorative properties, attributing their long standing to regular  draughts of Spa water!  In the 19th century the gatherings were usually on the first Sunday in May  -  “Spaw Sunday”.

Children in their Sunday best 'taking the waters' in 1911.

It was said that on this day the water at Cragg Spa took on “an especial different taste”.  All you needed was a medicine bottle in which,  the spa water  and a stick of liquorice (to make it more palatable for drinking) were thoroughly shaken together and – if you didn’t want to look like a cissy! – swigged down in one.  The sulphurous water from the spa was deemed to be excellent for making tea, although some recommended a pinch of bicarbonate of soda to take the edge  off the “bad eggs smell”.

Over time Spaw Sunday became quite popular: in 1906,  one report  noted that only 500 people went afterwards, with the Hebden Bridge band, to the White House, Blackstone Edge !  And about this time, the Independent Labour Party saw an advantage in playing an important part in “spaw” celebrations, and early religious orators gave way to politicians.  The Second World War ended “Spaw Sunday “. The event was briefly revived in 1987,  but soon the Spa fell into disrepair, and its presence unknown to many Cragg Vale inhabitants – until 2009 when work was undertaken to restore it to its condition at the turn of the 19th Century,  with landscaping, and steps  for easier access.  In 2010 a simple Spaw Sunday celebration was revived,  and the hope to  re-establish  old traditions continues!

TAKE A SMELL of the sulphourous  water;  taste if you wish – but at your own risk!