From Weaver to Web: Online visual archive of Calderdale History
Welcome to the online visual archive of Calderdale history. It gives you access to over 23,000 images, with supporting historical information.
The Calderdale area includes the towns of Halifax, Brighouse, Elland, Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden.
From Weaver to Web provides access to a wide range of materials. These may be very useful to local and family historians interested in this area.
You will find photographs, postcards, maps, trade directories, handbills and many other types of historical sources.
Archive feature
Central Library and Archives, Square Road, Halifax
The current Central Library & Archives building in Halifax incorporates what remains of the 1857 Square Congregational Church, with its magnificent, soaring spire.
Square Congregational Church occupied the site for 112 years, between 1857 and 1969. Walking round the inside of the library, there is much evidence of the church – from the view of the spire through a skylight window to the rose window and small features in carved stone.
Square Church was built when the congregation outgrew Square Chapel, dating from 1772, and with the new church, the Chapel became its Sunday School. For years, the new church was filled to capacity and annual Church Manuals detail the congregation’s involvement in the town’s life, in education, temperance, helping the poor, supporting charities and, in World War One, sending parcels to service personnel and supporting refugees. In 1969, however, declining numbers, in an area of Halifax that had become run down and depopulated, resulted in closure. Between 1971 and 1973, 2 fires and a gale destroyed much of the church and left it unsafe. In 1976, all but the spire, steeple and certain walls were demolished.
For many years, the future of the site was very uncertain but, ultimately, it was identified as a location for a new Central Library and Archives. This opened in August 2017, to the design of Edinburgh architects LDN.
This is the fourth site of a municipal central library in Halifax. The first opened in the Assembly Rooms in Harrison Road in 1881.Constant overcrowding, however, led to a replacement in Belle Vue Mansion, Hopwood Lane, bought from Sir Francis Crossley, who had earlier paid for Square Church spire. Belle Vue opened as a library in 1890. The desire for a more central location led to the construction of purpose-built premises in Northgate, which opened in January 1983. The library moved to the current site as part of the town centre development strategy.
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What's new
- Anne Lister Inspired Writing Workshop Zine
- Central Library and Archives, Square Road, Halifax
- Fielden Family Tree
- Anti Poor Law Riots, November 1838
- The Mankinholes Riot, November 1838 - testimony of Charles Ratcliffe
- The Mankinholes Riot, November 1838 - proceedings at the White Hart Inn (27th December 1838)
- Aftermath of the Mankinholes Riot - William Greenwood fined
- The Mankinholes Riot - William Greenwood's petition to the House of Commons
- Defrauding of the tolls, 1830
- The Mankinholes Riot - Magistrates meeting at Todmorden, 27th December 1838
Themes

World War One local newspapers
Browse or search the Halifax Weekly Courier 1914-1918 for news from the area we now know as Calderdale...