Shibden Hall

26/05/2026

Join Rachel Terry, Collections Manager, for a free talk at Halifax Central Library as part of Local and Community History Month.

📚 The Anne Lister Guidebook Revisited or The Perils of Writing a Short Book about a Long Diary

So much has happened in the world of Anne Lister studies since the guidebook 'Anne Lister of Shibden Hall' was first published by Calderdale Museums Service in 2018 - the digitisation and transcribing of the whole of the diaries, the broadcast of the BBC One/HBO series Gentleman Jack and the establishment of the Anne Lister Festival to mention but a few.

The museums service decided that it was time for a new edition. This talk gives the inside story of how we went about creating a book which brings new readers into Anne Lister’s world and gives them an introduction to her unique voice and perspective.

📅 Saturday 30th May, 11am
📍 Central Library and Archives, Halifax
🎟️ Free event in collaboration with Calderdale Libraries – booking required
https://calderdale.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/OPAC/EVSESENQ?SETLVL=&RNI=2020071

After the talk, why not make a day of it and head up to Shibden Hall for our Experience Tudor Daily Life event?
🌹 Find out more here: https://fb.me/e/6ssWZZE1d

24/05/2026

Happy bank holiday!

Don’t forget we’re open daily here at Shibden Hall and with over 600 years of history, a small tea room and beautifully restored gardens there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

🎟️ The grounds at Shibden are open to all, and tickets for Shibden Hall are available to pre book online at ticketsource.co.uk/calderdale-museums or to buy on the door.

22/05/2026

Coming up at Shibden Hall... 🌸

🌹 Experience Tudor Life with Lives of the Past
Discover how everyday life unfolded in a Tudor household with hands-on history activities.
📅 Saturday 30 May, included with ticketed entry
🎟️ We advise booking tickets in advance for this event https://www.ticketsource.com/calderdale-museums/shibden-admission-and-tudor-life-day/e-vrolxl

🎹 Pastime with Good Company
Enjoy live music from the 1500s to the 1700s while you look round Shibden Hall.
📅 Sunday 7 June, included with ticketed entry
🎟️ We advise booking tickets in advance for this event https://www.ticketsource.com/calderdale-museums/shibden-admission-and-pastime-with-good-company/e-ovzlrg

🔎 Children’s History Hunter Trail
Explore Shibden and look carefully for the objects on this trail - use your imagination and detective skills to deduce what they were used for!
📅 Throughout May and June, included with ticketed entry. Tickets can be pre-booked online via ticketsource.com/calderdale-museums

21/05/2026

Introducing Pastime with Good Company at Shibden Hall

🎹 Enjoy live music from the 1500s to the 1700s while you look round Shibden.

Tenor David Simcock and harpsichordist Robin Terry will perform music from Henry VIII to Handel. This musical tour of 250 years will also include pieces by William Byrd, John Dowland and Henry Purcell.

📆 Sunday 7 June
⏰ Performances will take place at 11.30am, 12.45pm and 2pm
🎟️ Included in the price of your regular admission ticket

🎫 We do suggest booking your ticket in advance at https://www.ticketsource.com/calderdale-museums/shibden-admission-and-pastime-with-good-company/e-ovzlrg

🎶 'Did you not hear my lady?' by G. F. Handel (1685-1759), performed by tenor David Simcock and harpsichordist Robin Terry. Recording by Harrison Simcock.

20/05/2026

🎈Today marks the 223rd anniversary of Ann Walker's birth.

Ann Walker, born in 1803, was a gentlewoman, landowner and businesswoman from a wealthy family in Lightcliffe near Halifax. In September 1834 she moved into Shibden Hall to be with her partner Anne Lister.

While there are no known images of Ann, a few personal effects survive including letters, drawings, a journal kept at the West Yorkshire Archive Service… and now a handwritten recipe.

📜 In 2024 a notebook of recipes was donated to Calderdale Museums and inside was found a recipe for ‘Imperial’, a lemonade drink popular in the nineteenth century. It is dated Sat 1 June 1839 from Miss Walker, Shibden Hall.

The notebook originally belonged to Joseph Booth - a man of this name was footman to Anne Lister - and comparisons with Ann Walker’s letters reveal that this recipe is likely to be in her own handwriting.

🥂 Cheers to Ann!

The recipe is on display now at Shibden Hall and has been recreated by members of staff and volunteers.

🍋 Imperial as written by Ann Walker.
The juice of 12 lemons, and the rinds of 6 lemons very thinly pared, 4lbs of loaf sugar, 3oz of cream of tartar, 3 gallons of boiling water. Bottle when cold and it will be ready for drinking in a week.

📷 Pictured is a batch prepared by one of our brilliant volunteers, Lynn, for last year's Anne Lister Memorial Community Evening. She has kindly shared her method which we will post in the comments below.

16/05/2026

Don't forget Shibden Hall and Folk Museum are open from 11am to 5pm this weekend with last entry just before 4pm.

And if you’d like a stroll around the grounds (weather permitting!), the park is now open late until 9pm. 🍃

🎟️ Tickets to the Hall can be pre booked online at ticketsource.co.uk/calderdale-museums or bought on entry.

15/05/2026

🛞 Then vs now!

In the 1950s, inspired by growing public interest in traditional ways of life, Frank Atkinson oversaw the development of a small folk museum at Shibden Hall.

One of the first of its kind in England, it still stands today and is included with ticketed entry to Shibden Hall. Displays include an apothecary, blacksmith, recreated wheelwright's and cooper’s workshops, an example estate worker’s cottage and brewhouse.

📷 The Folk Museum under development, 1950s
📷 The same view as it appears today
📷 The apothecary display
📷 The recreated Crispin Inn, which once stood near the Halifax Minster and was the headquarters of local Luddites

Did you know that following his time as Director of Halifax Museums and Art Gallery, Atkinson went on to be founder and director of Beamish – Living Museum of the North?

13/05/2026

Join Lives of the Past for another captivating journey into history at Shibden Hall and learn how everyday life unfolded in a Tudor household.

🌹 Experience Tudor Daily Life
📅 Saturday 30 May, 11am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 4pm

Be transported back to the end of the 16th century and get hands on with real Tudor objects, experience Tudor customs, and even have a go at some Tudor dancing!

Say hello to our Tudor resident and learn all about music, food, entertainment, religion and medicine in this fascinating period of English history.

🎟️ This lively and immersive event is family friendly and is included with regular admission tickets on the day.

🎫 You may wish to book your tickets online in advance as we expect these event days to be popular ticketsource.com/calderdale-museums/shibden-admission-and-tudor-life-day/e-vrolxl

Visit Calderdale

https://fb.me/e/6ssWZZE1d

12/05/2026

As part of Local and Community History Month and in collaboration with Calderdale Libraries, join Rachel Terry, Collections Manager, Calderdale Museums Service for a free talk:

📚 The Anne Lister Guidebook Revisited or The Perils of Writing a Short Book about a Long Diary

So much has happened in the world of Anne Lister studies since the guidebook 'Anne Lister of Shibden Hall' was first published by Calderdale Museums Service in 2018 - the digitisation and transcribing of the whole of the diaries, the broadcast of the BBC One/HBO series Gentleman Jack and the establishment of the Anne Lister Festival to mention but a few.

The museums service decided that it was time for a new edition. This talk gives the inside story of how we went about creating a book which brings new readers into Anne Lister’s world and gives them an introduction to her unique voice and perspective.

📅 Saturday 30th May, 11am
📍 Central Library and Archives, Halifax
🎟️ Free event – booking required
https://calderdale.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/OPAC/EVSESENQ?SETLVL=&RNI=2020071

After the talk, why not make a day of it and head up to Shibden Hall for our Experience Tudor Daily Life event?
🌹 Find out more here: https://fb.me/e/6ssWZZE1d

This Local and Community History Month, we’re rounding off our celebrations with a special Anne Lister event.

Join Rachel Terry, Collections and Exhibitions Manager for Calderdale Museums, as she introduces her new guidebook on Anne Lister, the perils of writing a short book about a long diary. Rachel will draw back the curtain on the process of writing a guidebook, sharing some of her favourite parts that she had to leave out and why they weren't included. This accessible and engaging publication brings her world to life—offering new readers an insightful introduction to her extraordinary voice, experiences, and legacy.

📅 Saturday 30th May, 11am
📍 Central Library and Archives, Halifax
🎟️ Free event – booking required
Book your place now: new.calderdale.gov.uk/libraries/library-events

08/05/2026

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming music event, Pastime with Good Company at Shibden Hall.

🎹 Enjoy live music from the 1500s to the 1700s while you look round Shibden.

Tenor David Simcock and harpsichordist Robin Terry will perform music from Henry VIII to Handel. This musical tour of 250 years will also include pieces by William Byrd, John Dowland and Henry Purcell.

📆 Sunday 7 June
⏰ Performances will take place at 11.30am to 12.15pm, 12.45pm to 1.30pm and 2pm to 2.45pm
🎟️ Included in the price of your regular admission ticket

🎫 We do suggest booking your ticket in advance online as we expect this event day to be popular ticketsource.com/calderdale-museums/shibden-admission-and-pastime-with-good-company/e-ovzlrg

🎶 'Did you not hear my lady?' music by G. F. Handel (1685-1759), performed by tenor David Simcock and harpsichordist Robin Terry. Recording by Harrison Simcock.