Mytholmroyd Historical Society

Mytholmroyd Historical Society & Mytholmroyd Station Partnership

Heritage Day & 150 year Anniversary of the opening of the former Railway Station Building  1^st June 2024 

The Society in conjunction with Mytholmroyd Station Partnership which is also a voluntary organsation concerned with both the Railway Station gardens and at present the former Railway Station Building ran a joint day of Heritage day events to commemorate the 150^th  Anniversary of the opening of the former Railway Station Building in 1874. It is hoped that next year the Railway Building will open as a Community Hub known as the Local Motive Centre.

The day was commemorated at both venues by a number of events and exhibits.

In the Church Hall the Historical Society laid on Speakers, Walks, Exhibits and joint refreshments whilst at the Railway Station there were guided tours of the buiding, exhibits and joint walks. At both venues during the day The Three Valleys Gospel Choir sang. Luckily it was a dry sunny day so at the Railway Station as they could not be accommodated inside the buildings due to its restricted space they kept dry. Raith Thornber brought down a 1960’s era famous red van he still has one of a former fleet of red vans which older members of the community which will remember which his salesmen had to sell Thornbers chicks & cages etc all over the country.

In the morning at the Church Hall Alan Brooks spoke about his recollections as a Booking Clerk at the Station in the early 1960’s and the fact that the  Station was very important for the transportation all over Britain for Thornber’s young chicks. (You have to remember that at that time the railways were the main form of transportation of goods and passengers)

Alan Brooks was at first a trainee clerk and performed other various jobs including loading detonators for trains travelling in thick fog where in days of steam trains visibility was additionally limited. His short talk was followed by a longer programmed  illustrated talk by Noel Coates on the Lancashire- Yorkshire Railway locally which too, was very interesting and also included some history regarding the possible stages of erecting the former Railway Station.

Building. This was followed by a short walk around the village. In the afternoon session Ann Kilby gave a very interesting, lengthy illustrated talk on the history of Thornber’s from its humble beginning and its ultimate decline but how it has survived by renewing itself through the growth of its various business parks.

The various exhibits on display were interesting and included much material on the history of Mytholmroyd Methodist Church, Mytholmroyd Cricket Club, Red Star now Hebden Royd Football Club including the current trophy it holds and numerous other memorabilia.

At the former Railway Station building there were guided tours provided, much memorabilia, old and new photographs etc and a most interesting a tapestry embroidered on old photographs performed by many people collectively from Mytholmroyd and Cragg Vale which had taken many hours of work when they met in the function room of the nearby Shoulder of Mutton pub where it is also thought the official opening of the Railway Station building was celebrated in 1874.

This embroidered tapestry will probably be on permanent display when the Local Motive Community Hub opens in 2025.

As stated, the Three Valleys Gospel Choir sang at both venues during the day.

The Heritage Day which included some large display boards around the village ended about 3.15pm

Mytholmroyd  Historical Society would like to thank Hebden Royd Parish Council for the £500 grant towards defraying much of the cost of the Heritage Day as it applied to events in the Church Hall and to our Treasurer for the work he did in our application.

The Society meets every second Friday of the month at St. Michael’s Church Hall, Church Street off New Road ( adjacent to the Church ) in the Winter months which runs September to April inclusive at 7.30 pm. The annual day excursion has been revived this year and in conjunction with Heptonstall the trip is to the Elsecar Heritage Centre near Sheffield on Thursday 8^th August. Cost is £18.00.  understand the trip is now fully booked

Cost of annual membership is £15 & for non-members £5 per visit. ( It is for many cheaper to become a member )  Remember all members and non members are welcome. 

To all members : Due to errors the Blue Membership Card should be destroyed and all should now have the card replaced by the amended or new Red coloured Membership Card.

The Winter Programme for 2024 – 25 as indicated earlier will start the Second Friday of September 2024.

                                                     Mike Darke

                                                     Press Officer