| Where: | Hepworth, Yorkshire - village centre |
| When: | Last Monday in June |
| Time: | 2pm |
Hepworth Feast is a commemorative event giving thanks for the cessation of plague, with its origins in the 1665 outbreak which claimed many lives locally. In earlier times there were similar events held at other settlements in the area but Hepworth’s alone survived; in the opinion of local residents it’s because theirs is held on a Monday and everybody likes the excuse of having a day off! A procession marches during the afternoon through the village to Scholes and back accompanied by a brass band; regular stops are made for singing hymns and songs of praise.There are stalls and entertainments in the village street in the evening, with childrens races and refreshments.
Helpful Hints
Some of the terrain is steep on the walks and the pace is pretty fast if you want to keep up with the band; there are rolling road closures for the procession as it winds around the route. Hymn sheets are given out at the start.Look out for the thirteen trees beside the football pitch, which were planted in memory of the plague victims from the village.
In 2025 it should be on Monday June 30th.
Click here for the Band Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/hepworthband
abd website : https://www.hepworthband.com
Click here for the village Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HepworthVillage/
Click here for the school (Feast is in their calendar): http://scholesprimarypri.kgfl.dbprimary.com/kgfl/primary/scholesprimarypri
Hepworth is easy to find and is a a pretty village with stone cottages in a jumble up steep banks and roads. parking for this is fairly easy in the lanes running into the village and is free.
i was handed a hymn sheet with 17 hymns. The band and procession started at the school and marched to the village centre,stopped outside the pub. for the first of several points to sing hymns.
the route is around 3 miles of it is quite long and steep, thus proving that not all miles are the same length! I was surprised at how many attended, all ages and lots of dogs. we puffed and panted our way up to Scholes,I spotted a young man in a Lochaber Mountain Rescue T shirt and hoped I wouldn’t need to call on him.
We gathered at scholes football pitch and sang with the local school children and then to the village post office and pub (All in there were 4 pub stops)
we wound our way back down to Hepworth some kids told me they were going to eat hot dogs for their feast and some of the locals took sneaky short cuts back to the school.
The local vicar told me that the running order for the event which was displayed on lamp posts was also available in the church magazine.He said he had to order up the last hymn which he did with a loud hailer.
Of course I didn’t have a note book and pen and I was at work in the evening so I left after the procession. As I recall the children were given a tea at the school, at about 6.30 there is a community sing outside the pub. 7.00 there are childrens’ races.
Clowns,street performers and a finale of fireworks (at 10-ish ?) So If possible I’ll go back next time.
All in, it was enjoyable and different and I would think suitable for all though those who are less mobile may find the walk difficult