Civil War returns for bridge anniversary
Muskets at the ready!
Parliamentarians and Royalists will be clashing again on the weekend of July 10 and 11 as the Battle of Heptonstall is brought back to life in Hebden Bridge and in Heptonstall itself.
The weekend of skirmishes, displays and more is one of the highlights of the celebrations to mark the town of Hebden Bridge's 500th anniversary of the building of the old packhorse bridge in Hebden.
The bridge was a skirmish point and the Sealed Knot Society's visit promises to be one looked forward to in the upper Calder Valley.
The Battle of Heptonstall, organised by Hebden Bridge Local History Society and Lt Col John Lilburne's Regiment of The Sealed Knot, will start with a display of pike and musket drill in St George's Square, Hebden Bridge at 11.15am.
At 1.30pm on Saturday and 1.15pm on Sunday, there'll be a skirmish at the old bridge; and at 3.30pm on Saturday and 3pm on Sunday, pike and musket drill with explanations of drums and colours, followed by a chance for children to try pike drill in Weaver's Square, Heptonstall.
Troops then march to Heptonstall Social and Bowling Club for a display of musket firing at the Bowling Club.
It seems the HB500 celebrations have helped spark new interest in this exciting period of local history.
During the Civil War, Yorkshire came to be embroiled in the fighting after a major battle at Adwalton Moor near Birstall. The Parliamentarians headed for Lancashire, and attention focused on Halifax, with Royalist outposts at King Cross, Sowerby Bridge, Sowerby and Roil's Head.
The Royalist army was not being paid or fed well, so the men began to plunder the area, which roused local hostility. The Parliamentarians heard about this via the churches and rallied at Heptonstall under Colonel Bradshaw.
Various counter-raids and skirmishes took place, so the Royalists decided to attack Heptonstall in November 1643. Disaster struck as they tried to cross the swollen Hebden Water at what is now known as the Old Bridge. The Parliamentarians had a big advantage coming down the hill, rolling boulders down the Buttress. Many of the Royalists were captured, killed or drowned as they were forced back across the river.
The Parliamentarians continued to carry out raids until the Royalists brought in reinforcements and launched another attack on Heptonstall at the end of January 1644. On reaching Heptonstall, they levelled 14 buildings and torched and pillaged the village.
People will be better fed this time around – and hopefully there'll be less pillaging. The Bowling and Social Club has organised a pig roast from 2pm on the Saturday, and there'll be refreshments available in the village on both days. The Hole in't Wall pub in Hebden has brewed a special beer for the battle too.
On July 9, ahead of the weekend, members of the Sealed Knot will be visiting two local schools to bring history to life, and there'll be a talk on the Civil War in Calderdale at Heptonstall Museum on July 10.
Parking in Heptonstall is very tricky, so battle-watchers are advised to take the bus.
This event has all been made possible by the hard work of the History Society's Diana Monahan and a 1,000 grant from the business and economy section of Calderdale Council.
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Weather for Halifax
Thursday 17 May 2012
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