Midgley is one of the few settlements in this area mentioned in the Domesday Book. It's name translates as "midge infested clearing"! Introductory photographs showed Midgley's strategic position on a shelf of land along which the historic old highway passed. This major trading route stretched from Wakefield through to Halifax along this high ground to cross the river at Hebden Bridge, thence up to Heptonstall and on along Long Causeway to Burnley.

Glyn began his village tour at Lydgate, the lower end of Midgley nearest to Luddenden Foot. We saw the popular school originally built in 1877 as a Board School. Nearby the "ginnel 'ole" or Pin Hill Lane, is a unique stone walled and cobbled path leading to Oats Royd Mill where many of the villagers would have once worked.

Midgley once had eight public houses and a working man's club, now there are none. Old photographs of village building were compared with present day conversions. The Co-op was an important place built back in 1871, known locally as the "Grandstand". The hall there held concerts, political meetings, early schooling and paid out Co-op dividends. The former site is now a memorial garden, maintained by villagers. The Co-op started in Midgley in 1861. Folk could be seen queuing out of the doorways of the drapery and grocery shops which traded there until the 1960s. There was also a militant group of Chartists active in the village.

Continuing along the main street named Towngate, Glyn showed us the cobbled lane which leads up to Scotland Quarries by the moor edge. Stone quarrying began around 1750 and ended in 1993. Along here are properties of all ages from Tray Royd built in 1589, to modern infill sited houses. At Great House there is a witches' post for good luck. "Midgley Matters" is another village organisation set up to help maintain the Post Office. Midgley locals often run heritage days. Mummers portray the Pace Egg Play and someone acting as a petty criminal might be put in the village stocks.

Glyn showed photographs of former inns like the Shoulder of Mutton, The Royal George and the Delver's Arms, alongside transformations of these properties by their owners. At Scout Head stands the imposing stone built Providence Chapel, built in 1883 in just nine months. It closed in 1984 and is now upmarket apartments.

Next, Glyn took us out on to the moorland just above Midgley. He told of many anecdotes which surround Churn Milk Joann, the six foot tall standing stone. He also showed the quarrying spoil at Walton's Edge. Jonathon Bracken was a successful business man owning Dean Mills at Booth.