USEFUL WEBSITES

Kirklees Local and Community History Month

www.kirklees.gov.uk/HistoryMonth

Dr. Annie Gray

www.anniegray.co.uk/

Groundwork

www.groundwork.org.uk/sites/newy

Huddersfield Film Makers Club

http://huddersfieldfilmmakersclub.huddsnet.uk/

Kirklees Curiosities

https://sites.google.com/site/kirkleescuriosities/

Kirklees Libraries

Local and Community

History Month

May 2017

Kirklees has a wide and diverse history and we will be celebrating and exploring this history throughout May across many of our libraries. From walks to talks we hope there’s something to interest everyone in our varied package of events. Our guest speakers include Dr. Annie Gray, who will be talking about and signing copies of her brand new book about Queen Victoria, and the Huddersfield Film Making Club, who will be showing selections from their archives. If you’d like to find out more about Victorian crime in Huddersfield, the heritage of Dewsbury or what it’s like to travel through Stanedge Tunnel (and much much more) then this is the month for you. In addition to the many events listed here there will also be other activities going on throughout May – a local history quiz, displays, a special edition of the Local Studies Newsletter – so visit your local library to find out more! You can also find out more at our website—www.kirklees.gov.uk/HistoryMonth.

Kirkburton Library

Local history group, 10.00-12.00, every Friday

Kirkheaton Library

Local history group, 6.00-7.00, every Thursday

Mirfield Library

Family history session, 2.00-4.00, first and third Wednesday of every

month

Shepley Library

History society meeting, 7.30-9.30, monthly on Wednesday—phone

library for date of next meeting

Skelmanthorpe Library

Family history meeting, 2.00-4.00, monthly on Monday—phone

library for date of next meeting

Almondbury Library

Local history group, 10.30-11.30, first Saturday of every month

Cleckheaton Library

Family history group, 10.00-1.00, every Friday

Dewsbury Library

Family history session, 9.30-12.30, every Tuesday and Saturday

Golcar Library

Family history session, 10.15-12.15, first Tuesday of every month

Holmfirth Library

Family history session, 1.30-3.30, first and third Wednesday of every

month

REGULAR EVENTS

In addition to the events arranged for our local and community history month, we also hold regular family and local history activities in some of our libraries, which are listed here. These are recurring monthly events—contact the individual library for more details. They include family history sessions with local experts to help you trace your family tree and meetings of local history groups where you can delve into the history of a particular area in more detail. Booking is essential for some sessions while others are drop-in; please contact the library for more information.

Dr. Annie Gray is an historian,

cook, broadcaster and writer specialising in the history of food and dining in Britain from around 1600 to the present day, conducting her research both in libraries and in kitchens. She has worked at Audley End among other historical kitchens, and gives lectures all over the country.

Guests and speakers

Friday 19th May, 2.30-3.30, Batley Library

Eating with Queen Victoria: a Greedy Queen. A talk and book signing

Annie Gray’s new book is both a biography of Britain’s most iconic monarch, and a look at the changing nature of cooking and eating in the Victorian era. From her greed to her selfishness at the table, her indigestion and her absolute reliance on food as a lifelong companion, with her when so many others died or were forced away by political factors, Victoria had a huge impact on the way we all eat today.

Friday 19th May, 7.30-8.30, Holmfirth Library

The History of gin: a guide through four centuries of a spirit to - literally - die for

Gin: a seventeenth century pick-me-up; an eighteenth century drug craze, resulting in mayhem, malaise and murder. Scourge of the masses, and ruin of the rich, gin has been loved and hated in equal measure.

Groundwork was established in

Merseyside in 1982 to bring together communities, businesses and government in a joint effort to improve the quality of life and promote sustainable development. The organisation now operates across Britain to provide training and create jobs, reduce energy and waste, re-connect people with nature and transform whole neighbourhoods.

Saturday 6th May, 10.00-12.00, start and finish at Dewsbury Library

A fun family-friendly walk down to Dewsbury Canal to feed the ducks with nature exploring along the way. Join us for a craft session at the library afterwards. Meet at Dewsbury Library at 10am and please be prepared for the weather! Duck food will be provided and the walk will be suitable for pushchairs. Walk duration approximately 1 – 1½ hours.

Friday 12th May, 10.00-12.00, start and finish at Huddersfield Library

A guided walk around Huddersfield town centre delving into its rich history at a relaxed pace. Meet at Huddersfield library at 10am; please wear sensible footwear and be prepared for the weather! Walk duration approximately 2 hours. Please note this walk is suitable for adults only.

Thursday 18th May

Kirklees Curiosities, 1.00-2.00, Heckmondwike Library

Friday 19th May

Eating with Queen Victoria, 2.30-3.30, Batley Library

The history of gin, 7.30-8.30, Holmfirth Library

Sunday 21st May

Family nature and history walk around Dewsbury Country Park, 2.00-

4.00, Greenwood Centre

Tuesday 23rd May

Kirklees Curiosities, 2.30-3.30, Kirkburton Library

Friday 26th May

Dewsbury and Earlsheaton heritage walk, 10.00-12.00, Dewsbury

Library

Saturday 27th May

Kirklees Curiosities, 2.00-3.30, Batley Library

CALENDAR OF EVENTS—MAY 2017

To find out more about any of these events or to book a place, see our website at www.kirklees.gov.uk/HistoryMonth or call 01484 414868 and say the name of the library you require.

Saturday 6th May

Family nature and heritage walk to Dewsbury Canal, 10.00-12.00,

Dewsbury Library

Monday 8th May

Using newspapers in local history, 5.00-6.30, Huddersfield Library

Thursday 11th May

Using newspapers in local history, 5.30-7.00, Dewsbury Library

Friday 12th May

Huddersfield heritage walk, 10.00-12.00, Huddersfield Library

Kirklees Curiosities, 10.30-11.30, Mirfield Library

Monday 15th May

Film show, 1.00-3.00, Marsden Library

Wednesday 17th May

Beerhouses, brothels and bobbies, 1.00-2.00, Huddersfield Library

Film show, 7.00-9.00, Lindley Library

Sunday 21st May, 2.00-4.00, start and finish at the Greenwood Centre

An interactive family-friendly walk around Dewsbury Country Park, exploring nature and history, followed by a craft session at the Greenwood Centre. Meet at the Greenwood Centre at 2pm; please be prepared for the weather! The walk will be suitable for pushchairs. Walk duration approximately 1 – 1.5 hours.

Friday 26th May, 10.00-12.00, start and finish from Dewsbury Library

Join us for a relaxed walk from the Library exploring the heritage of the local area – we’ll take a trip through Dewsbury’s past and see how this has shaped the Dewsbury we know today! Meet at Dewsbury library at 10am; please be prepared for the weather and wear sensible footwear. Walk duration approximately 2 hours. Please note this walk is suitable for adults only.

Huddersfield Film Makers Club is a friendly group of film-making enthusiasts who hold regular meetings to watch films, hear talks, share tips, embark on practical projects and discuss everything about film or video making. The history of the club stretches back to 1932 and throughout this time members have been actively involved in recording important local events. Their films have built up into a substantial archive of the history of Huddersfield and surrounding areas over the years.

Huddersfield Film Makers Club

Paul Ward is Professor of Modern British

History at the University of Huddersfield. He researches 19th and 20th century histories of British national identities. He is course leader for the MA by Research in Public History, Oral History and Community Heritage and teaches an undergraduate module called ‘Digital Victorians’, that combines ‘walking’ Victorian towns with digital methods of researching the past.

Monday 8th May, 5.00-6.30, Huddersfield Library

Thursday 11th May, 5.30-7.00, Dewsbury Library

Professor Paul Ward discusses the use of local newspapers in historical research. After an introductory talk by Paul, there will be the opportunity for you to conduct your own research, with guidance from Paul, using online sources – please bring your own laptop or tablet if you are able. A limited number of tablets will be available on the night for those without their own. Paul will tailor the talks to look at the Huddersfield and Dewsbury areas.

Professor David Taylor is Emeritus

Professor of History at Huddersfield University. He is a modern social and political historian working in the fields of 19th and 20th century English and German history. He specialises in the history of crime and policing and has published widely on the subject.

Wednesday 17th May, 1.00-2.00, Huddersfield Library

Professor David Taylor will be speaking about his new book “Beerhouses, brothels and bobbies – policing by consent in Huddersfield and the Huddersfield district in the mid-nineteenth century”. This talk is part of our regular Local History Lunchtime Club activities – pick up a copy of the 2017 programme or ask staff for details.

Monday 15th May, 1.00-3.00, Marsden Library

Huddersfield Film Makers Club will be screening a fascinating collection of clips from their archives, showing a wide range of events and activities from across the Colne Valley and Huddersfield areas. The screening will include clips of a journey through Stanedge Tunnel, a Luddites’ weekend at Colne Valley Museum and the Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival as well as many others.

Wednesday 17th May, 7.00-9.00, Lindley Library

A chance to see another fascinating collection of clips from the archives, showing events and activities from across the Lindley and Huddersfield areas. The screening will include clips of Lindley Clock Tower, the Lindley Gardens Open Day and Town grounds old and new as well as many others. Come and see if you can spot yourself in any of the films, or your friends and family!

Kirklees Curiosities is a website created to record any oddities

across Kirklees that may easily disappear from local knowledge unless they are recorded now. These include old, faded business signs, village stocks, old lettering on pavements, post boxes and manhole covers. The intention is to photograph and record them as a lasting reminder as well as finding out more information about them when possible. Their history is inextricably interwoven with the history of Kirklees.

Friday 12th May, 10.30-11.30, Mirfield Library

Join in an entertaining talk about Kirklees and your local area. How do we know the price of petrol in the early 1900s? The talk includes interesting features of architecture, unique advertising and lots more.

Thursday 18th May, 1.00-2.00, Heckmondwike Library

An interesting and enjoyable talk about weird and wonderful things in Kirklees and your local area. Find out about early gas illumination and discover which famous footballer was a regular visitor to Heckmondwike.

Tuesday 23rd May, 2.30-3.30, Kirkburton Library

One of the very early parishes in Kirklees, with a church dating back to at least the 13th century, but can we find any curiosities? Come and find out!

Saturday 27th May, 2.00-3.30, Batley Library

A thought-provoking and entertaining talk about Kirklees and your local town. Bats, buildings, textiles, people—and more.