Heptonstall |
Ruins of the Church of St Thomas a’ Becket
Contact details
- St Thomas a Becket, Heptonstall, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX7 7LJ
- https://www.stthomasheptonstall.com/brief-history.php
Information on Ruins of the Church of St Thomas a’ Becket
Attraction type:
Interests
- Culture & Heritage
- Family
- Historic Sites & Trails
- The Calderdale Way
Uniquely, Heptonstall has two churches within one graveyard. At the centre of the village are the ruins of the Church of St Thomas a’ Becket built between 1256 and 1260. Later adaptations gave the Church two naves, two aisles and two chantry chapels as well as a tower.
Following a great storm in 1847 the west face of the tower fell away. Some measure of repair took place and the church remained in use up to 1854 when the present church, St Thomas the Apostle, was completed at a cost of £7,000.
The ruins of St Thomas a’ Becket are carefully maintained and are open to the public. Open air services are occasionally conducted there.
Visitors are asked not to bring your car or motor vehicle to the village if at all possible. Because of its unique hilltop location and ancient heritage, the roads in Heptonstall are narrow and parking is extremely limited
To avoid problems and enjoy your visit to this fascinating village, VisitCalderdale asks that wherever possible, you take public transport or walk to Heptonstall.
There are frequent Metro buses from Hebden Bridge. Please visit www.wymetro.com for full timetable details and to plan your journey.
You can walk up to Heptonstall via the Buttress, the steep cobbled pathway that begins towards the rear of Hebden Bridge Town Hall, off Royd Terrace / Old Gate.
Please note this is a demanding walk, as the Buttress is cobbled and steep. The Buttress brings you out onto Heptonstall Road, where you may complete your walk to Heptonstall on pavements and will arrive in the village by Town Gate Tearooms and Heptonstall Post Office.
If you must drive to Heptonstall, the only place that all motor vehicles are asked to park is at Heptonstall Bowling Club, which is clearly signposted.
Look out for the parking signs on your approach to the village and follow these, turning into Valley View Road and then continuing along Acres Lane to Heptonstall Bowling Club.
Please don’t park on any residential roads as this may severely affect residents. It is then a short walk (approx. 480metres, 0.3 mile) to the village from the Bowling Club.
Please follow the advice above to help ensure that Heptonstall remains a beautiful and happy place for both residents and visitors alike and enjoy your visit to one of the most historic villages in Yorkshire.
