Discover the top cultural sites in Halifax with The Arts Society

Discover the best of the arts, culture and history of the West Yorkshire town of Halifax with tips from those in the know: members of the local Arts Society

Illustration by Michael A Hill

Set in the rolling hills of West Yorkshire, Halifax is rich in history and has a thriving arts scene.

Its name is thought to come from the Old English ‘halh’, meaning ‘nook’ or ‘remote valley’, and ‘gefeaxe’, meaning ‘area of coarse grass’. It’s a minster town of some 89,000 inhabitants and is multicultural in ethnicity and religions. Just three hours from London by train, visitors come for our stories and sights.

The town’s architecture ranges from medieval to current, and its layout of streets and names reflects the history and development of the town: look out for Market Street, Commercial Street, Corn Market and South, North and East Gates.

The poet, writer and defender of Victorian architecture John Betjeman described Halifax as a ‘quintessentially Victorian town’ – a large number of Victorian buildings are intact today. We also have a proud industrial heritage, with Halifax having been a centre of woollen cloth manufacture. John Crossley and Sons at Dean Clough was, by 1879 (and as Crossley Carpets), the largest carpet manufacturing firm in the world.

The town also has a sweet side: we’re the home of the famous toffee confectionery brand Quality Street, first developed here by John and Violet Mackintosh from 1935, building on their successful toffee-making business. It’s enough to make you want to sing, which Halifax Choral Society (HCS) famously does. Founded in 1817, in December 2023 it marked its 205th year of performance. HCS had a close relationship with Felix Mendelssohn and introduced many of his works to Britain. In gratitude, Mendelssohn dedicated his setting of Psalm 114 to HCS, which it first performed in 1842.

Music aside, here are just some of the sites we love to share with visitors to our town.

Dean Clough

A vibrant Grade II listed 22-acre mixed-use historic mill complex, once the home of Crossley Carpets. Inside you’ll find all kinds of arts activities and more, including theatre, music and one of the UK’s largest private art galleries.

deanclough.com

Halifax Gibbet

Take a gentle detour to see a grisly guillotine. The original was installed in the 16th century to execute those who had stolen property to the value of 13 and 1/2 pence or more. It was last used in 1650. The replica stands at the town end of Gibbet Street. In 1617 one John Lacey escaped execution and reached the town boundary, where he was safe. He returned seven years later, was arrested and didn’t escape the second time. There is a nearby public house called The Running Man.

The Town Hall

Our Grade II* listed town hall was designed by Charles Barry – the architect, with Augustus Pugin, behind the Houses of Parliament.

Borough Market

Grade II* listed, this large Victorian covered market was opened in 1896 by the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George V and Queen Mary.

The Walled Garden

Manor Heath Park holds everything from roses to prairie planting.

visitcalderdale.com

Bankfield Museum

A museum since 1887, Bankfield lies at the centre of Akroydon model village, a mile from the town centre. It has collections of costumes, fabrics, jewellery and more. It also houses the archive of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, which was first raised in Halifax.

museums.calderdale.gov.uk

Calderdale Industrial Museum

Four floors of industrial and social history, with much of the machinery still working.

calderdaleindustrial.co.uk

Eureka! The National Children’s Museum 

A great draw for families, with six zones of interactive exhibits.

eureka.org.uk

Shaw Lodge Mills

This Grade II* listed Holdsworth Mill – once known for the textile moquette, used in overground and underground trains and buses throughout the world – now houses a vibrant gallery and arts teaching centre.

everybodyarts.org.uk

Halifax Minster

Grade I listed and largely 15th century, evidence of an Anglo-Saxon church remains, with records of probable occupation by Cluniac Benedictines. The astronomer William Herschel, known for the discovery of Uranus, was the organist here during 1766 (his active career as a talented, freelance musician now often forgotten). The Minster is also the burial place of Anne Lister (1781–1840), the local landowner, intrepid traveller and well-known diarist dubbed ‘the first modern lesbian’ and famously known as ‘Gentleman Jack’.

halifaxminster.org.uk

The Piece Hall

This beautiful Neoclassical Grade I listed cloth hall is unique in that it is the only remaining Georgian cloth hall in the world. It opened on New Year’s Day in 1779 with 330 rooms for handloom weavers to sell their ‘pieces’ (a 30-yard length of woven woollen fabric produced on a handloom) each Saturday between 10am and 12 noon. Today it’s a major venue for music, art and a host of independent traders.

thepiecehall.co.uk

Magna Via

This is the former packhorse route that connected Halifax to Wakefield, finishing in Halifax at the Union Cross Inn. Five-and-a-half miles long, with stories to explore along the way, guided walks are organised occasionally and the route is available online through walk websites.

visitcalderdale.com/event/halifax-civic-trust

Dove Cottage Nursery and Garden

Close to Shibden Hall and seen on the BBC’s Gardeners’ World.

dovecottagenursery.co.uk

Shibden Hall

Grade II* listed, this fine timber-framed hall dates to at least 1420 and was the home of Anne Lister and her family. It featured in the BBC drama series Gentleman Jack, which was written by Sally Wainwright who was also behind the series Last Tango in Halifax and Happy Valley.

museums.calderdale.gov.uk/visit/shibden-hall

Find out more

The Arts Society Halifax

Established in 2000, The Arts Society Halifax meets at the Square Chapel Arts Centre. Non-members can get tickets via the box office on 01422 353073. For more on the Society, see theartssociety.org/halifax

This year is Calderdale’s Year of Culture: visitcalderdale.com

For tours, events, heritage news and more, see halifaxheritage.co.uk