Hepworth, West Yorkshire

Hepworth is a small village to the southeast of Holmfirth and southwest of Jackson Bridge in West Yorkshire. It is in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees and the parish of Holme Valley.

view of Hepworth from Tenter Hill

Although it started as a fairly small hamlet it has grown considerably through the 1980s and 1990s with new housing and small businesses.

It has been extensively used as one of the locations in the BBC's long-running comedy series Last of the Summer Wine.

History

Early History

The name Hepworth is Anglo-Saxon. It may have been that Heppa, an Anglo-Saxon, was of great “worth”. There is also the view of Dr H. T. Moorhouse who states, in his History of Kirkburton and the Graveship of Holme (1861), that the name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon “Hep” meaning high and “worth” meaning place of residence. In the Domesday Book it is given the name Hepeuuord and is descried as the King’s land with steep streets. In medieval times the wool trade was the chief source of employment. During the fourteenth century Hepworth was in the parish of Kirkburton, which covered around fifty square miles. It incorporated the townships of Wooldale, Cumberworth, Cartworth, Fulstone, Shepley and others. In the fifteenth century a church was built at Holmfirth and during the Civil War a petition was submitted asking for Holmfirth to be made a parish in its own right. The petition was granted by Minister Gamaliel Abraham in 1651. Hepworth and its neighbour Scholes thus became part of the parish of Holmfirth.

The Great Plague

In 1665 – 1666 the Great Plague stuck England. It wrought devastation in London but spread to other parts of the country. Hepworth was the most northerly point that it reached. According to local legend it is supposed to have come in on cloth from London. In an effort to save the village the villages split the village in two at Barracks Fold. All those that were infected remained in one half and were isolated from the world. Thirteen villagers died. Thirteen trees were planted to remember them. They still stand today by the local football pitch, though two subsequently fell down. Thirteen dead was a blow at that time to such a small village. The end of the plague in Hepworth is still commemorated on the last Monday in June every year with Hepworth Feast.

Hepworth's Spiritual Founding

In 1777 a mighty storm caused the river Holme to swell and burst over its banks. It swept away people and property in Holmfirth including the parish church. It was rebuilt in its present state a year later with funding from local clothiers. During this period Wesleyan evangelicals were active in Holme valley and in Hepworth. They encouraged the locals of Hepworth to demand that church services be held at the Old Town School. This led to Hepworth becoming a parish. In 1862 Holy Trinity Church was consecrated by the Bishop of Ripon further boosting spirituality in Hepworth.

Events in Hepworth

Hepworth has a range of events on a regular basis. They are mainly held by the Village Hall Committee or the local church. Here are some examples of regular events:

Hepworth Feast

Hepworth feast is held every year on the last Monday of June. It commemorates the end of the Great Plague in Hepworth. Traditionally a pig was roasted for the feast but this tradition has only very recently died out. During the afternoon a precession of villages walks from Hepworth to Scholes and back up to Hepworth again in a circular trip, accompanied by Hepworth Persimmon Homes Brass Band. The local school children are given a dinner after the precession and in the evening the children take part in races at the Recreation Ground (Rec.). Before 2004 the feast had started to become known as an event to get drunk at, partly because youngsters from surrounding villages used it for that purpose. However since 2004 the Hepworth Feast Committee has sought to make the event more family orientated. They have introduced stalls for children on the main street. Punch and Judy, coconut-shies and magicians are some of the recently introduced events. There is also an exhibition of photographs from Hepworth in the past.

Hepworth Garden Trail

Hepworth Garden Trail is held every two years in the early part of July. Selected gardens in the village are opened to the public. Maps of the gardens positions in the village are issued and can be viewed. Many of the gardens feature plant stalls or sell refreshments.

Hepworth Garden Show

Hepworth Garden Show is held annually on the first Saturday in September at the Village Hall. Fruit, vegetables and flowers are displayed and judged upstairs. Children’s exhibits, cookery and handy crafts are displayed and judged downstairs. After any exhibits left behind are auctioned off at the local Sports and Social Club.