Halifax & West Yorkshire, holiday home.

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Halifax is a small historic market and mill town in heart of West Yorkshire.

In the fifteenth century the town became an economic hub for woollen manufacture and is home to the magnificent Piece Hall.

Halifax is also known for Mackintosh's chocolate and toffee products like Quality Street which are still produced at the Nestle factory. Halifax is also the Head Quarters of the Halifax Bank which was founded in 1853. The town was notorious for its gibbet, an early form of guillotine used to execute criminals by decapitation, that was last used in 1650.

Halifax extends to Brighouse in the east to Heptonstall in the west and is surrounded by beautiful countryside, woods and an extensively restored canal network. You can visit all these things by staying in our holiday home in Halifax. 

Build in 1779, the Piece Hall was the designed for handloom weavers to sell their pieces of cloth. It’s the only surviving intact cloth hall in the UK and one of Britain’s most outstanding Georgian buildings.

With two floors of galleries around a gigantic central courtyard it’s a sociable piazza, fringed by shops, restaurants and bars. On a sunny day it’s a fantastic place to mooch and drink in the atmosphere. You can also catch some fantastic gigs and events throughout the year.

Shibden Hall dates back to 1420 and still retains its’ original Tudor timber frontage. For 300 years (c. 1615–1926) the Shibden estate was inhabited by the Listers, wealthy mill- owners and cloth merchants. It is now the focus of the hit TV series Gentlemen Jack.

The grounds contain a lovely park with terraced gardens and a boating lake. A museum at the hall is open to the public.

Hebden Bridge is a charming market town on the edge of Calderdale. Just 20 mins drive or a lovely long canal walk from the cottage. Hebden is brimming with quality shops and places to eat & drink.

Just outside Hebden in the surrounding countryside is Hardcastle Craggs. The craggs are owned and managed by the National Trust and fabulous for walks.

Just round the corner from the cottage is the famous Wainhouse Tower. At 253ft with 403 steps to the top it’s regarded as one of Britain’s finest follies.

The tower is open to the public on Bank Holidays and the stunning views of the surrounding countryside make the climb to the top worthwhile.

As a girl interested in all things fashion and home I’ve got a few recommendations of the best places to shop in Halifax.

Halifax Town Centre.

Harveys - This independently owned department store has a lot of well known fashion brands. French Connection, Mint Velvet, Phase 8, Superdry, Barbour, Dune, Powder and Moda in Pelle. They also have a gift shop in the Piece Hall. 

The Piece Hall - This place is full of lovely gift shops and stylish homewares. Some of the best are Manjo Home, The Heart Gallery, Yorkshire Soap Company, Hudson Belle, Jewella, The handmade gift shop and The Chocolate Box. 

Hebden Bridge.

Dragonfly Boutique - The best independent clothes shop around. Quality finds from many European brands such as Numph, Fabbiene Chapot, Mos Mosh, Black Color, Cras, Nu Denmark and Stardust. Their dresses are amazing. Plus owner Jo is friendly and can help you style up an outfit. There may even be a glass of fizz on offer.

Gina B - Glass - Gina is a Halifax institution - her fused glass is beautiful. She’ll make bespoke pieces to your colours and style but her shop is also full of unique finds for special gifts of treats for yourself.

Other little shops in Hebden:

- Tall Poppies (bags and accessories)

- The Yorkshire Soap Company

- Fat Face 

- Jules (pottery)

- Gina B (amazing glass works) 

- The Barn (home)

- Element (quality Jeweller) 

The Halifax Gibbet was an early type of guillotine used in the town in the 16th century, it was used as an alternative to beheading by axe or sword. Ancient custom and law gave the Lord of the Manor the authority to execute by decapitation any thief caught with stolen goods to the value of 131⁄2d or more (equivalent to £10 in 2023), or who confessed to having stolen goods of at least that value. Decapitation was a fairly common method of execution in England, but Halifax was unusual in two respects: it employed a guillotine-like machine that appears to have been unique in the country, and it continued to decapitate petty criminals until the mid-17th century. You can find out more in the brilliant piece by Christoper Jennings 

A lovely walk or short drive from Tower Cottage is the village of Warley. It’s also home to what could be the world's smallest museum. Villagers created the attraction by transforming a disused phone box into a tiny attraction full of interesting objects. Only big enough for one person at a time - the rest of the group can pop into the Maypole for a pint if there is a queue. 

1. Scarr Bottom Woods – Right next to and around the cottage is Scarr Wood. There are paths all around. If you come down the road a little towards the woods and turn left there is a winding path up- to Albert Promenade. The prom has great views over Norland hillside across the valley.

2. Calder and Hebble Navigation and the Rochdale Canal – You can easily get down to the canal via one of the paths through the woods. There are miles of paved paths to walk or cycle all the way to Hebden Bridge.

3.  Warley – A cute little village with excellent pub / eatery. Surrounded by lots of fields and countryside paths to explore.

4. Sowerby Bridge  – The walk through the woods and on the canal into Sowerby bridge is nice and there are a few good pubs and places to eat when you get there.