Welcome to this month’s newsletter, and a Happy New Year to all members! The next one will be out in mid-February – any items for inclusion by 9 February please.
Our next meeting – Monday 26 January
In 1926, Huddersfield Town became the first football club to win the English top flight three times in a row. So, how did a provincial side that had nearly folded a few years earlier pull off such a feat? Who were the main characters in the story? And what, if anything, does their success have to tell us today? Our January talk, by local historian James Chisem, attempts to answer all three questions. He says: ‘The Thrice Champions achievement seems to occupy a mythical place in the minds of many locals, so the centenary is as good a time as any to see what all the fuss is about.’
The meeting is on Monday 26 January at 7.30 pm in the Oastler Building at the University (the building above Shorehead roundabout).
Car parking at the University
Members continue to inquire about the best and closest places to park for our meetings, since the Market Hall car park was demolished – especially on the dark winter nights. The main options after 6.0 pm are these (nearest first):
- The car park beneath the adjacent University gym, accessed from Wakefield Rd heading into town, just before the roundabout traffic lights. Parking is by the RingGo App only, at about £1.50. There’s a lift which comes out near the Library in the Schwann Building, a few steps from the Oastler.
- Two hours free parking is available in the Sainsbury’s car park opposite, though crossing the road can be a challenge.
- There is free on-street parking in Oldgate, and in Queen St South and adjoining Chapel St and Milford St, which run though to Chapel Hill.
Discover Huddersfield …needs you!
Many members enjoy the popular Discover Huddersfield local walks and DH, in which we’re a partner, is now busily planning the 2026 programme– but is critically short of volunteers to support them. Could you help?
Vernon O’Reilly, who chairs the partnership says: ‘This is an ideal opportunity for those with an interest in local heritage, who may have some free time and enjoy the outdoors, to join us. Our support team help engage with those attending, ensure people are safe and keep together and, above all, learn something about the area we live in. What’s more, we pride ourselves on being a friendly and enthusiastic group and those who provide support are certainly not expected to help on every walk, allowing flexibility for those who have other commitments.’
If you are interested in becoming a Discover Huddersfield volunteer, please contact: info@discoverhuddersfield.uk – or, to find out more, just speak to Maureen Mitchell, our Discover Huddersfield link, whom you’ll find on the door at our meetings.
And if you’re pining for similar walks during DH’s off season, Calderdale Heritage Walks are in business throughout the winter.
Family History Society Big Booklet Giveaway
Big Booklet Giveaway
Births, Marriages & Burials
All in alphabetical order from almost every church in the district
Saturday 31 January 2026
11 am-4 pm
The Root Cellar
33a Greensend Road
Meltham
HD9 5NW
We have hundreds of books to give away – everything must go!
Other forthcoming events
Saturday 7 February, 1.0 – 4.0 pm: Edward Carpenter
Wakefield Socialist History Group present a talk by Patrick Hall on the Yorkshire socialist, poet and activist for gay rights. At Wakefield Red Shed, the labour club,
Vicarage Street, Wakefield WF1 1QX. All welcome, refreshments available.
Wednesday 11 February, 2.0 pm: Huddersfield Tramways
An account of the tramway system from 1883 to 1940 – a presentation by John May at Tolson Memorial Museum, Ravensknowle Park, Wakefield Road, HD5 8DJ.
Sunday 22 February, 10.0 am – 4.0 pm: Scouting heritage open day
The West Yorkshire County Scout Archive & Heritage Experience is opening its doors to celebrate the Founder of Scouting, Baden-Powell’s 169th birthday. Colin Walker, author of Scouting Milestones, will give a talk on the founder & Scouting. Guided tours of Yorkshire’s one and only Scouting museum will be available throughout the day. Have a go at blowing the famous Kudu horn, and stamp your Heritage passport as you travel through time, learning fun facts and Scouting stories as you go.
At Bradley Woods Scout Campsite, Jubilee Centre, Shepherds Thorn Lane, Brighouse HD6 3TU. Please book your free admission here.
…and looking further ahead
Saturday 2 May, 9.30 am – 4.0 pm: Local History around the Yorkshire Dales
The British Association for Local History presents a one-day conference on local history around the Yorkshire Dales. Join them in Grassington to explore the landscapes, buildings and people of the area. For more information see here.
(NB HLHS will have a stall at the event – shared transport may be possible. If interested, contact publications@huddersfieldhistory.org.uk )
Saturday 13 June, 2.0 pm: John Halstead Memorial Lecture
An annual lecture, organised by the Society for the Study of Labour History (SSLH), celebrates the life and work of John Halstead, who was a founding and long-standing member of HLHS. This year’s lecture is Reading by glow worm: the struggles of labouring-class poets, by Professor John Goodridge, and will take place at John Rylands Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3EH. Tickets must be booked – full details are here.
History Day follow-up
Over 50 members attended our History Day in November, on Self-Help and Mutual Improvement. After Linda Shaw’s talk on the Women’s Co-operative Guild, we were asked where more information could be found. The SSLH has created a guide to sources for co-operative history in the UK, which can be found here.
A member’s project: the Almondbury bioregion
Along with his wife Frances, Mike Prior has recently joined the Society, and has let us know that he has completed a piece of work, known as a ‘Bundle’, which looks at his local part of our ‘bioregion’, namely Almondbury. The founder of the bioregioning movement, Peter Berg, defined a bioregion as:
A geographic area defined by natural characteristics, including watersheds, landforms, soils, geological qualities, native plants and
animals, climate, and weather… [more information here]
Anybody can ask to see Mike’s Bundle at Huddersfield Local Studies Library, where he has deposited it, having received first class support from the teams there and at the Tolson Museum.
We are always interested to hear of members’ research projects – contact us at publications@huddersfieldhistory.org.uk. In this case, we’re reminded of the detailed mapping undertaken by pioneering Huddersfield naturalist Seth Lister Mosley (1848-1929), documented in our book Nature’s Missionary, Alan Brooke’s biography of Mosley, available at the Tolson and through our website.
