Bingley and District Local History Society

Bingley is located on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, just down the Aire Valley from the famous Bronte area, an area rich in history with prehistoric Rombalds Way coming from the east, passing across what we now refer to as Ilkley Moor and on to the west coast. There is also much in the way of more recent history with the mills, railway and the Leeds Liverpool canal, all from the industrial revolution.

Bingley and District Local History Society was founded in 1988 by a group of local enthusiasts whose interest in Bingley’s history had been stimulated on a local history course run by Dr Gary Firth. The society’s main aims are to disseminate Bingley’s history and provide information in the form of talks, books and DVDs which will widen the local population’s knowledge of the history of the Bingley area which was once known as ‘The Throstle’s Nest of England’. Talks and presentations are given regularly at Church House in Bingley (for details see the calendar). The Society has grown and developed over the years and now includes in it’s program an increasing number of events including some summer walks.

Helen Mills - Past Society Secretary

Members of the Bingley and District Local History Society were saddened to hear of the death of their erstwhile secretary of many years, Miss Helen Mills. Helen was a founder member of the society in 1988, and for seventeen years was responsible for a yearly programme of Winter talks and Summer walks about Bingley's historic past. In 1991 she prepared a special tourist leaflet containing a map and detailed drawings of Bingley's historic buildings, and in 1995 was co-author of a book of archive photographs of Bingley. Until her illness in 2003 she never missed a meeting, and did much to encourage an interest in the town's past in the local primary schools. In 2005 Helen stepped down as secretary, and her colleagues on the committee immediately recognised her hard work by making her an Honorary Advisor and Life Member. For those with an interest in local history she was always a warm, friendly fountain of knowledge and expertise. She will be sadly missed by all those who came into contact with her.
Gary Firth
President.

Cup and Ring Stones

In 2008 the society launched an archaeological project in collaboration with Archaeology Department of Bradford University, sponsored by the Lottery Heritage Fund. The project named ‘The Stanbury Hill Project’ is being led by Dr Keith Boughey whose recent presentation to the society on prehistoric rock art and the Cup and Ring stones of Stanbury Hill gave the project its impetus. Stanbury Hill is on the edge of Bingley Moor overlooking the Aire Valley. The investigation is into the Cup and Ring Stone rock art on Stanbury Hill and its links to possible cairns of Bronze Age or Neolithic origin which have recently been discovered by Dr. Boughey and his colleagues.