What was once known as ‘Trouser Town’ thanks to its influence in clothing manufacturing is now synonymous with art, community, and heart. A far cry from its industrial roots when it was once a powerhouse for the Industrial Revolution, Hebden Bridge has now established itself as one of Yorkshire’s most creative destinations. Water powered weaving mills have been replaced with art galleries and independent shops, home to the town’s dominant artistic community. Upholding its innovative identity through unique initiatives such as the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival, and Hebden Bridge Open Studios, the town is one of those rare places dedicated to celebrating inspiring artists within the community and supporting its own.
The canal at Hebden Bridge is popular with lovers of a waterside walk. Image: Getty Those in the neighbouring towns of Halifax and Todmorden have been well aware of its special qualities for quite some time, but it wasn’t until the BBC crime drama series Happy Valley that Hebden Bridge was really put on the map to the outside world. A booming tourist scene has followed, increasing the town’s popularity and desirability for those looking to relocate out of London. This has been helped by its variety of accolades it’s received over the years from winning the Best Small Market Town at the Great British High Street Awards to being voted the fourth funkiest town in the world by British Airways. Certainly quirkier than many of Yorkshire’s well-known towns, Hebden Bridge has been doing veganism since before it become trendy and was even one of the first places in the country to ban plastic bags. Not afraid of being itself is what makes it such a special place.
Supporting the British high street and shopping amongst independents is something that’s become popular in recent years, but for Hebden Bridge, this has been a way of life for as long as can be remembered. Large high street stores can be found in nearby Leeds and Bradford, but there’s artisan shops and special finds aplenty here and we can guarantee you’ll have fun in the process. Start at the heart of the town – the market – where four days a week Old Lees Yard just off St George’s Square is taken over by 40 stalls with vendors showcasing different wares each day. The award-winning open market is open 9am to 4pm with Thursdays featuring fresh produce and wider retail, Fridays are for secondhand goods, Saturday discover arts, crafts and artisan products, and Sundays are focused around local produce and food.
Wander a couple of minutes down the road and you’ll stumble across Market Street, the town’s main thoroughfare. Here, you’ll find Tall Poppies, a wonderful little gift shop offering various accessories and lovely finds to take home with you. Take a trip down memory lane by dropping into Something Sweet to pick out some traditional sweet, fudge and chocolates straight from the jar. There’s no better place to enjoy them than Hebden Bridge Picture House which is like stepping back in time.
There’s no better place to burn off those calories than in the Calder Valley which is home to some renowned walking, running and cycling spots thanks to its stunning scenery. Discover more than 400 acres of unspoilt woodland to play in at Hardcastle Crags and the opportunity to hop on a traditional narrowboat with Hebden Bridge Cruises along the Rochdale Canal.
So what exactly will it set you back to get a slice of Hebden Bridge? Well, according to Rightmove, properties in Hebden Bridge had an overall average price of £268,756 over the last year. The majority of sales in the town were terraced properties, selling for an average of £232,441. Semi-detached houses sold for an average of £373,000, while flats fetched £254,676.
One thing you may notice in the town is the popularity of ‘upstairs downstairs’ houses. These came about thanks to the steep valleys making building conditions a bit tricky. Architects naturally got inventive and designed these terraced houses which are also known as under and over dwellings, that are formed of four to five storeys and consist of one house in the bottom two stories and the other house taking the rest. These are mainly found in the town centre, while further out you’ll find cottages and apartments, followed by spacious family homes with stunning views in the surrounding countryside.
Of course, a move to Hebden Bridge means a welcoming community, sustainable way of life, and a bit of a slower pace. There’s no wonder it’s become one of the most desirable places to live in Yorkshire thanks to its position between Leeds and Manchester making it an ideal commuter town. A Co-Op and a Sainsburys can be found in the town, along with a plethora of independent food shops. There are plenty of primary schools in the town and secondary schools not too far away, including some prestigious grammar schools.
David Smith-Markl has run the popular Visit Hebden Bridge website since 2017 and has a real love for the town. ‘It’s such a beautiful place, but from day to day you can have so many different interactions, such a variety of people and so many ways of life lie within one town. When I’m out taking pictures, I might go into a pub and I can sit and have a drink and I say hello to someone on the next table that I might not know but I can start having a chat with – it’s just the friendly nature of the place. As well as the variety of people in the town, there’s an amazing variety of independents in Hebden Bridge run by very dedicated and passionate people.’
