An almost spontaneous visit to one of my favourite little towns happened yesterday afternoon and it was such a treat. I am not one who likes 'retail therapy' or loitering in towns but I will make an exception for Hebden Bridge.
I love the quirky independent nature it has within a very traditional mill-town setting. You can feel the history as you walk where hundreds of clogs, for years, clattered before you. The stone steps bearing the scars of the iron 'shoes' that scoured up and down daily.
I often wonder about the homes that no longer exist along the terracing as we walk down into the town. The back walls are barely visible between the weed trees and scrub but they are there and you can just about make out the floor plans. How many generations of families lived in these tiny dwellings and walked down in to the town to the mills for work?We popped into a few of our favourite haunts and visited new to me ones too - and all too soon it was time to walk back up all those stone steps to the car and go home.
Please can you spare a moment and send hugs and love to Fil of Fil's Songs and Stories who has recently lost her Mum xxxx 💛
Not somewhere I have ever been, looks lovely - a "proper" town rather than an identikit high street with corporate shop fronts that could be anywhere in the country.
ReplyDeleteI would have 'crashed & burned' at the shop with baskets and china outside 😙
It is definitely an independent little town, the only 'chain store' is the co-op - all the bigger stores are in the neighbouring towns. You would love the china shop!
DeleteI think I would have been hauling myself up the steps by the handrail!
ReplyDeleteI like the look of the shop with baskets full of things outside too
The china and basket shop is definitely a place to visit - and breath in, the china is piled high EVERYWHERE! barely space to walk through - an absolute delight.
DeleteI too love Hebden Bridge & have wandered aimlessly about there & we had a coffee in a very nice old cafe. When we visited there was a canal boat, sign written for craft classes on board which I thought beautifully quirky. Thanks for bringing back memories, take care & hugs.
ReplyDeleteIt is most definitely a quirky town :)
DeleteHebden Bridge isn't somewhere I've been or ever wanted to go. I love that street art though, it's so colourful. And guess where I've been yesterday/today :)
ReplyDeleteGlasson???😁
DeleteCorrect :) Parked a little way down the hill where the 30mph sign is, I was going to move up after everyone else had gone but decided it was okay where I was. Lovely quiet night, only me there until about 9.30 this morning, it was blowing a hooley yesterday but otherwise the weather was fantastic :)
DeleteIt if is really bad (windy wise) and as long as it is either out of hours or on a weekend - you can shelter down against the building with the row of parking places (on left) just after the village hall (on right)
DeleteI did notice a car down there and wondered if it would be okay to stay there as an alternative but then there's no view :( The wind didn't really bother me that much, just meant I had to keep the van door closed when I was using the camping stove.
DeleteOoh no, all those steps! I too like HB but have not been for a while. Years ago we did park at the top and walked down to town, down lots of steps. Parking in HB is horrendous so unless one is prepared to walk some distance....x
ReplyDeleteoh yes! plenty steps and we only went half way - the rest of them were even more steep!
DeleteIt looks lovely there. I've only ever driven through the town before, so maybe it's time for a proper visit. X
ReplyDeleteDefinitely worth a visit - lots a lovely independent shops to ruffle around in :)
DeleteThe garage door looks stunning. Been a while since I have been to HB, I don't think I could sprint up those steps. X
ReplyDeleteI went for the trudging up the steps method haha - don't know how he does it
DeleteHebden Bridge looks beautiful. I have a feeling I went to a boozy brass band concert there many years ago. Younguns are just mad sometimes aren't they - stairs... sprinting !!! x
ReplyDeleteI can believe you - it is the perfect venue for boozy brass bands and other genre of music :D
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