Welcome

Huddersfield Local History Society is a membership organisation for anybody and everybody interested in the history of the town. Our established activities include monthly talks from September to May; a summer outing; an autumn seminar; an annual journal, free to members; and a series of publications. We are keen to recruit new members and to develop opportunities for members to share their interests in local history and work together to find out more about our fascinating town.

Please explore our website and contact us for further information.

Stories from St George’s Square

We all have our different memories of Huddersfield’s St George’s Square. So many things have taken place here – happy and sad, public and personal. From the many businesses carried on in its splendid buildings to royal visits, carnivals, pageants, fairs and Festivals of Light, it has a rich and colourful history. Politics, music and religion have all played their part and, of course, the Rugby League was founded at the George Hotel. For many people, whether they are coming to Huddersfield to start a new life or just visiting, it is the first thing they see.

The Memories of Our Square project has culminated in the publication of “‘Meet me at Harold Wilson’: Stories from St George’s Square”, an illustrated book telling the history of the Square through eye-witness accounts from the past and the memories and stories that we have collected.

The book is now available to order from here for £5.

The Memories of Our Square project is a three-year project funded by the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) programme, a government funded scheme led by Historic England, supported further by Kirklees Council. It is led by a consortium which includes arts organisations, local businesses and institutions and voluntary groups

2023 History Day – ‘A Square for the Town’

This year’s event takes place on Saturday November 4th at Brian Jackson House, New North Parade, Huddersfield. The programme and a booking form can be found here.

2023/24 Season of Monday Evening Talks

Full details of our current season of monthly talks can be found here.

2023/24 Journal

Our 2023/24 Journal is now out, and just £5.00 for a 75-page issue.

Inside, you’ll find articles on topics such as accidents in St George’s Square, the life and work of shopfitter and signwriter Joseph Spratt, Huddersfield Auxiliary Peace Society, growing up in Huddersfield the 1950s and 60s, and much more.

The full list of contents is available.

 

Discover Huddersfield

The Society is a partner in Discover Huddersfield, a community-led project with the Huddersfield Partnership, Civic Society, University and Kirklees Libraries just some of the other organisations involved. The project has been supported by funding from Kirklees Council’s High Street Innovation Fund; the aim is to offer new and exciting ways to experience our town through guided walks, talks and trails. Printed town trails are now available, including one on Historic Buildings based on our own Town Centre Heritage Trail, and there is a season of guided walks.

Society members have contributed two new town centre trails to the growing series published by Discover Huddersfield – the Ramsden Heritage Trail and European Exile Communities Trail. These follow the Radical Heritage Trail published in 2014.


Supporting research

The Society is keen to encourage local history research both by individuals and community groups.

We cannot offer to research your local history queries, but we will do our best to point you in the right direction — check out our research resources page or useful links, or contact us. You can also post queries on the forum of the Huddersfield & District Family History Society (which is a separate organisation) or make use of their family history search service; this charges £6 per hour for members, £7 for non-members, and you can contact their research team. Huddersfield Local Studies Library have also set up links to a wide range of family history resources.

Our website

This website is always under development and we would like your feedback on how to improve it.