WELCOME TO THE FOLKLORE CENTRE
Todmorden, West Yorkshire
A home and meeting point for Folklore in the North of England.
Arts Film Crafts Library Archive Education Workshops Exhibitions Storytelling Conferences Local Folk History
Autumn/ winter Opening times:
Wednesday-Friday 10am-3pm
Saturday 10am-4pm
Sunday- events only
We are really excited to announce that we have been awarded a Heritage Grant to run a volunteer drive project over the next 8 months! This will strengthen the Centre and its ability to deliver a range of arts, of arts, heritage, and culture events, exhibitions and projects for the community.
More info to follow - watch this space!
2024
Events
Forthcoming
exhibition!
Private view and artist's talk
Saturday 23rd March 2024
Suzanne Owen
Is Druidry an Indigenous Religion?
For tickets: see events tab
Andy Roberts:
Thursbitch Revealed
Saturday March 30th 2024
For tickets see events tab
Harry Wheeler
Saturday April 6th 2024
4pm
For tickets: see events tab
Dave Weldrake
Historic Springs
and Holy Wells
of West Yorkshire
Saturday April 20th 2024
4pm
For tickets: see events tab
Holly Elsdon
Moral Panic!
Saturday April 27th 2024
4pm
£5
For tickets: see events tab
James Wright
Historic Building
Myth-busting
Saturday June 8th 2024
4pm
£5
For tickets: see events tab
PREVIOUS EVENTS
Andrew Lang Exhibition:
Into the Kaleidescope of Fairy Land
From October 18 2023
Demian Allan
The Magic of the
Hermetic Order of
The Golden Dawn
Saturday 9th March 2024
For tickets, see events tab
John Billingsley
Tales Along the Packhorse Way
Part Two
Saturday 2nd March 2024
For tickets, see events tab
Mary Stark
Textiles and Magic
Saturday 24th February
For tickets: see events tab
Charlotte Coull
The Wandering Druid
Saturday 17th February
For tickets see events tab
Andy Roberts
Go Ask Alice
Saturday February 10th 2024
For tickets: see events tab
John Billingsley
Tales Along the Packhorse Way
Part One
Saturday 20th January 2024
For tickets: see events tab
Jennifer Reid
Saturday 13th January 2024
For tickets see events tab
New Beginnings:
A story evening
6th January 6-8pm
FREE
please register on events tab
Amy Boucher
The Devil's County:
the Satanic Folklore
of Shropshire
9th December 2023
4-6pm
For tickets see events tab
Ceri Houlbrook
Winter's Wishfall
Saturday 2nd December
FREE
Please register on events tab
Gordon MacLellan:
Sacred Animals:
renewing our connections with the animal world
Saturday 25th November 2023
For tickets: see events tab.
Mikey Kenney
11th November 2023
doors open 6pm
7pm start
For tickets see events tab
Dave Weldrake:
Witchcraft in 16th and 17th Century Yorkshire
4th November 2023
For tickets see Events tab
The Devil at the Window
with
Jacqueline Harris
28th October 2023
4pm
For tickets: see events tab.
Bryony Good
Uncanny Writing Workshop
28th October 2023
For tickets: see events tab
Tales We Tell
Saturday 14th October
Free entry
Folkloristan
presents
Whispers of the Past:
Pakistani Folklore Unveiled
21st July-21st September 2023
FAIRY LIGHT
21st July- 23rd September 2023
Harry Wheeler
Precognitive Dreams
Saturday 23rd September 4pm
For tickets see events tab
Ali Matthews:
A Fungal Gothic
Saturday 16th September 4pm
For tickets see events tab
Witch of Salopia
Harvest Traditions of Britain
Saturday 9th September 4pm
For tickets see events tab
Jacqueline Harris
The Cinderella Experiment
19th August 2023 4pm
See events tab for tickets.
Garry Stringfellow
Sowerby Rushbearing:
History and Tradition
Saturday 12th August 2023
For tickets: see events tab
Acting Out Mushroom Language
Ali Matthews with Live Wild
Saturday 15th July
1-3pm
Helen Frisby
Traditions of Death and Burial
Saturday 1st July 2023
For tickets, see events tab.
Cerys Hafana
Triple Harp
Friday 16th June 2023
for tickets, see events tab
TELL ME WHERE ALL PAST YEARS ARE: A JOURNEY THROUGH PSYCHICAL CALDERDALE
An art exhibition by Oliver Neilson
Launch event 5pm 26th May 2023
FOLKLORE TAPES PRESENTS THE RITUAL YEAR- BOOK LAUNCH
24th June 2023 5-8pm
For tickets, see events tab.
HOODED ENTITIES
Steve Jones - Saturday 10 June 2023
This talk will look at sightings of hooded entities large and small, both at sites and by people being haunted and suggest a possible explanation, as well as covering Steve's own sighting at Tamworth Castle.
Steve Jones is the founder of Britain's oldest Pagan Moot. A co-founder of The Oakleaf Pagan Camp and for 21 years Britain's only Pagan Magistrate. He has featured on TV, Radio and both local and national newspapers as well as being mentioned in books. He is interested in folklore, paganism, Forteana or anything weird!
See Upcoming Events page for tickets
LUCKY TOD EXHIBITION
1ST APRIL TO 21ST MAY 2023
EXTENDED!
Launch event Saturday 1st April, 4pm with guest speaker Ceri Houlbrook.
FREE, all welcome!
Supported by Todmorden Town Council
STORYTELLING- DEMONS, DARKNESS AND DEADLY DAMSELS
Graeme Cooke - Saturday 27th May 2023
Storyteller Graeme Cooke performs tellings of two darker stories from English legend, taken from his podcast Tales of Britain and Ireland.
Starting off with some very atypical Princesses, and finishing with a tale about the night the moon (foolishly) came to Earth.
Told with humour, wandering asides and above all else a great love for the stories.
Please note that, as with much folklore, adult themes will be covered - 16+ recommended.
See Upcoming Events page for tickets
IN A LAND - CREATIVE LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Bryony Good - 20 May 2023 11am - 1pm
Join Bryony for an inspiring walk around the local environment, be guided in your photographing and then bring your photos back to the Centre for a creative workshop.
See Upcoming Events for tickets
THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY ARMSTRANG
Talk, Film and Live Performance from John Armstrong and Friends
Saturday April 29th 2023, 4pm
See events tab for tickets.
SOPHIE PARKES-NIELD
OUT OF HUMAN SIGHT- WRITING A NOVEL FROM THE FOLKLORE OF MURDER
SATURDAY 22ND APRIL 2023, 4PM
Please see events tab for tickets
DIRECTOR GEORGE POPOV PRESENTS SIDEWORLD: DAMNATION VILLAGE, WITH Q&A
Saturday 15th April 2023, 4pm, £7
EXHIBITION
JEREMY BURGOYNE
ECHOES OF ELMET
11th January to 11th March 2023
FREE to view during opening hours
LUCKY TOD PROJECT
Throughout January and February we are collecting anecdotes from the people of Tod leading to an exhibition and publication which will be launched on 1st April. We'd love to hear from YOU!
What do you keep of do for luck? What did your parents or grandparents do? What do your children still carry on doing? We want to find out the customs and traditions of Todmorden. From seeing two magpies, not stepping on the cracks in the pavement, a black cat crossing your path, ladders, umbrellas, see a penny, pick it up... four leafed clover, turning your purse under a new moon, a coin in the Christmas pud... please get in touch and let's find out what customs and traditions we have in our town. Please us the contact page, email folkloremythmagic@gmail.com or pop in and see us!
JO HIRONS MCAVOY
KILL THAT WOMAN!
The Fatal Princess and the Forgotten Pandemic- the True Story of Oscar Wilde's Salome and the Dance of the Seven Veils
Saturday 18th March 2023, 4pm
For tickets, see events tab.
Burd Ellen plus support
Sunday 5th March 2023, 3pm
For tickets, see events tab
JACQUELINE HARRIS
THE SECRET LIFE OF STORIES
Saturday 4th March 2023, 4pm
See events tab for tickets
MOSS MATTHEY QUEERING FOLKLORE
Saturday 25th February 2023, 4pm, £5
For tickets, please see events tab.
HOLLY ELSDON
PORTALS, OTHERWORLDS AND THE LEGEND OF ONG'S HAT
Saturday 18th February, 4pm
For tickets: see events tab.
GARRY STRINGFELLOW
THE RUSHBEARING TRADITION IN CALDERDALE AND THE NORTH
Saturday 4th February 2023, 4pm
For tickets, see events tab.
JACQUELINE HARRIS
THE CINDERELLA EXPERIMENT
WORKSHOP
Sunday 22nd January, 1-4pm
For tickets, see events tab.
CLAIRE SLACK AND HOLLY ELSDON- FUNGI FOLKLORE EXHIBITION
Part of the Being Human Festival event- Breaking Through to Faerie: Re-enchantment and the Gothic Folklore of Fungi. (see below) Runs until January 21st, 2023, Free. In the Saker Tea Room.
ELIZABETH HOPKINSON
MORE ASEXUAL FAIRY TALES LAUNCH
Saturday 21st January 2023, 4pm
Readings
Book signing
Art for sale
Cake!
FREE please register your place on the events tab.
JEREMY HARTE AND HOLLY ELSDON: THE COMING OF THE FAIRIES: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW...
Free exhibition in the Saker Tea Room, runs until December 31st, 2022
WHITBY KRAMPUS RUN ON TOUR
WITH JOHN BILLINGSLEY AND FRIENDS
Saturday 17th December 2022
We will be joined by the Krampuses of Whitby for an afternoon of talks and thoughts about European Christmas traditions from Krampus to Yule and more...
Followed by our Alice meets the Krampus Mad Hatter's Tea Party- a well deserved Christmas party to celebrate all we've acheived this year. Expect lots of Krampus mischief!
SUE TERRY
THE DOMESTIC OCCULT OR EVERY WOMAN'S LUCK
Saturday 10th December 2022, 4pm
For tickets, please see events tab.
SIMON YOUNG
MARY DOHENY: A 19TH-CENTURY IRISH FAIRY RESURRECTIONIST
Saturday 26th November 2022, 4pm
This is an in-person event for the audience, Simon will be joining us from Italy via Zoom to present his talk and share his vast knowledge of fairy-lore with us, an great opportunity to ask him all your questions!
For tickets, see events tab.
BEING HUMAN FESTIVAL
Breaking Through to Faerie: Re-enchantment and the Gothic Folklore of Fungi
We are pleased to be part of the national Being Human Festival which runs from 10th to 19th November, in partnership with University of Hertfordshire's Open Graves, Open Minds Project. This will be a FREE day of fungi related activities! More details at: https://www.opengravesopenminds.com/2022-breaking-through-to-faerie/
POSTPONED!
until early 2023
Sadly Amanda is unwell and cannot travel at the moment, we wish her a speedy recovery!
LET'S CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF THIS STUNNING AND CONTROVERSIAL FILM- WITCHCRAFT, SATANISM, DEMONOLOGY...
SATURDAY 12TH NOVEMBER, 4PM
This will be a free event, no need to book, just come along!
(Donations welcome)
JOHN BILLINGSLEY
THE THINGS WE DO FOR LUCK: CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS FOR MANAGING LUCK
5th November 2022, 4pm
For tickets, see events tab.
SPINE-CHILLING TALES FOR HALLOWE'EN
Ingrid Burney
John Billingsley
Emily Oldfield
29th October 2022, 4pm
Prepare yourself for Hallowe'en/ All Soul's Night with a feast of spinechilling stories from Ingrid Burney, together with fascinating, folklore facts from John Billingsley and Emily Oldfield. Also opportunity for two of you to tell your favourite ghost story.
JACQUELINE HARRIS
CONTEMPORARY FIRST-PERSON SUPERNATURAL ORAL NARRATIVES AND BELIEF
22nd October 2022, 4pm
Jacqueline Harris will share contemporary first-person supernatural oral narratives that she has collected and discuss the role of belief in influencing the way such stories are told and received.
Tickets- see events tab.
FOLK HORROR FROM NEWCASTLE
Saturday 15th October 2022
3-6pm
Icy Sedgwick: North country Sprites: Fairies or Ghosts?
Rich Blackett: Occult Tyneside: the Legacy of Black Jacky
Darren Charles: Urban Witchcraft
For tickets, see events tab.
Paul Degnan & George Murphy
Sunday 9th October 2022
4-6pm
Myths, Mysteries and Monologues- Tales Tall and Short
Come and be enthralled by this conjuring of characters, mysterious and humorous, bread and buttered in the hills and valleys of Upper Calder
Tickets: see events tab
HOLLY ELSDON
PROPHECY: FATIMA OR FICTION?
Saturday 8th October 2022
4pm, £5
In 1917, three shepherd children witnessed a series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary near Fatima, Portugal. Our Lady revealed three secrets to the children including a number of prophecies, all of which have come to pass in the intervening years.
Or so the official story goes...
This talk will take in saints, miracles, Spiritualists, conspiracies, the Cold War, imposters, trouble at the Vatican, lots of Popes, a nun, and aliens, to ask: What did the events at Fatima actually foretell, and are there more revelations to come?…
See events tab for tickets.
DIANE RODGERS
GENERATION HEXED
'70S KID'S HORROR TV AND ITS LEGACY
1st October 2022
4pm, £6
Saker Tea Room, Halifax Road
For tickets please see events tab.
INGRID BURNEY
SHAPESHIFTING TALES
17th September, 2022
7-9pm
Ingrid invites you to spend an evening with a motley group of shapeshifters from myth and folklore.
Prepare to be entertained, enthralled, mystified and horrified as you find out why the man changed into a hawk, the woman into a deer, the boy into a grain of wheat, the girl into a wolf, and much more. You may never look at the living world around you in the same way again!
For tickets, see events tab.
You may bring your own drink to this event.
SPELLS AND POTIONS: MAGICAL ELEMENTS IN 18TH AND 19TH-CENTURY FOLK MEDICINE
Debora Moretti
10th September 2022
4pm
The advancement in witchcraft studies across Europe has shown that although decriminalisation of the act of witchcraft and magic did indeed take place across Europe from the end of the 18th century – mainly through a change in the legislation and a growing disinterest from European intellectuals and professionals – witchcraft and magic beliefs did not decrease at a popular level.
Join me on this journey throughout Italy and discover the most popular spells, incantations, potions, and materials used in the 18th and 19th- century and see how some of them have survived into the 21st century.
For tickets: see events tab.
Talk- Brian Hoggard- Within Walls: The Archaeology of Counter-Witchcraft
27th August 2022, 4pm
In this talk Brian will talk about the evidence of witchcraft beliefs which has been discovered in the fabric of buildings throughout Britain and far beyond. Objects such as witch-bottles, dried cats, horse skulls, written charms and markings which have been carved onto surfaces are all testimony to these strong the beliefs which were once commonplace.
Brian has been studying history, archaeology and folk beliefs since his teens. His undergraduate dissertation focused on folk beliefs and witchcraft and, having previously read Ralph Merrifield's Archaeology of Ritual and Magic (1987), he noticed there was a huge amount of work which could be done to further explore the archaeology of witchcraft. At that point – back in 1999 – his research really escalated into a major project which has culminated in the publication of Magical House Protection: The Archaeology of Counter-Witchcraft (Berghahn 2019).
www.apotropaios.co.uk https://www.berghahnbooks.com/title/HoggardMagical
This talk will take place in the Tea Room, afternoon teas will be available until 3.45pm. For tickets, see events tab.
SARAH CALDWELL-STEELE
20th August 2022, 4pm
There’s dark…and then there’s jet-black.
Jet, often referred to as ‘The Witch’s Stone’ remains one of the least understood gemmological materials on earth. With its roots in prehistory, jet has unusual and anomalous properties, and that these attributes, often described in Anglo-Saxon texts as eight powers, have resulted in its association with magic, witchcraft, and the occult for millennia. It’s present-day association with death and the macabre however, is a Victorian concept, a remnant of the deep wave of mourning which swept through the British Empire following the death of George IV in 1830. Modern pagan practices often seem at odds with the evidence presented in the archaeological record and the literature of classical antiquity. Have we lost touch with these old beliefs, or are they indeed hiding below the surface of our modern practices?
For tickets, see events tab.
SPEAKER-
CERI HOULBROOK
MONEY DOES GROW ON TREES:
THE BRITISH COIN-TREE CUSTOM
13th August 2022, 4pm
For tickets see events tab
SAM GEORGE-
THE FOLKLORIC VAMPIRE AND ITS ENGLISH PROGENY: WHARRAM PERCY TO CROGLIN AND BEYOND
6th August 2022, 4pm
See events tab for tickets
TALK- THE SHADOW OVER ILKLEY
Phil Legard
When twilight shadows fall across Ilkley Moor, strange things happen. Torches flame, flute music meanders beneath darkened boughs, heralding rites of Baphomet, Choronzon, and Yog-Sothoth. Elsewhere people camp at a newly discovered stone circle, beholding apparitions and glowing earth energies. Do they have something to do with the UFOs and Earth Lights that haunt the place? Magical rites, visions, and awakenings all happening in an area of 1670 acres.
Giants, cunning men, hermits, UFOs, witches, occultists, fairies: Ilkley Moor has attracted its own share of curious lore and esoteric characters over the centuries. This talk, by Phil Legard, explores the use of Ilkley Moor by West Yorkshire’s occultural milieu from the late 1970s to the 2000s, illustrating how the moor drew together loosely connected groups of chaos magicians, Ley Hunters, UFOlogists, witches, and Psychic Questers, whose presence can be felt to this day.
Phil Legard is a musician, lapsed chaos magician, lecturer, and PhD candidate with the Leeds School of Social Sciences. His current research explores the lived experience of occultism through autoethnography, phenomenology, and discourse theory. With Al Cummins he is the co-author of An Excellent Booke of the Arte of Magicke: The Magical Works of Humphrey Gilbert and John Davis (Scarlet Imprint, 2020).
ALISON COOPER
Roses in Folklore and Song and Rose Balm Workshop
Sunday 24th July, 3-5pm
Inspired by the seasons and local plants, join folklore inspired musician and herbal enthusiast Alison Cooper to learn about the beautiful herb Rose. In the session you will have the opportunity to learn folklore and song surrounding the beautiful plant and take part in creating your own pocket sized tin of soothing Rose balm. The balm can either be plain in colour or a natural rosy red to use as a natural lip and cheek tint. Both options will be available!
All materials and ingredients will be supplied on the day and you will take home your own rose infused balm at the end of the session.
For tickets, please see events tab.
FOLKLORE FORAY 1
An evening of talks to raise funds for the work of the Centre.
Thursday 21st July, 7pm, on Zoom.
Co-hosted by Claire Slack
The culmination of a photographic project documenting the wide variety of wildflowers to be found in Todmorden during Spring and Summer 2021, accompanied by associated folklore.
Wildflowers of Todmorden
by Holly Elsdon
21st May to 21st June 2022
Downstairs in the Tea Room
EXHIBITION AND TALK- JOHN BILLINGSLEY
Magical 'protections are clearly visible, but misunderstood: others are concealed within the fabric of the building. All are part of a vibrant body of folk magic in the past.' This talk will offer a 'guide to known examples of magical protection in Calderdale, showing what to look for and what it may mean. Whether you're interested in Calderdale's history and folklore, or renovating an old building, this' talk will be useful! Although the examples are Calderdale based, and you can go and hunt for them afterwards, many of the motifs are to be found across the UK and this talk will be a useful introduction to this area of study. For tickets, see events tab.
The month long exhibition is an introduction to the folklore of Todmorden and surrounding area, with words by John and pictures by John and Holly. Downstairs in the Saker Tea Room.
EXHIBITION AND TALK- COLIN LYALL
“A Landmark event in British UFO history”.. not as you might be forgiven for thinking, a rather pompous and opinionated description of the birth of Tod UFO meet. But rather a quote from Jenny Randles excellent book ‘Pennine UFO mystery’, a book which has at its heart an account of P.C. Alan Godfrey's encounter with a supposed alien craft in Todmorden.
The Godfrey event provided me with the inspiration to create a triptych pencil piece. This attempted to encapsulate in graphic form, the anomalous events that occurred before, during and after Godfreys bizarre life changing experience.
The subsequent drawing was exhibited at the Water Street Gallery in Todmorden over the summer of 2016. A steady stream of interest followed, both in the work and in the desire of visitors to find out more about Todmorden UFO heritage.
Well what would you do?… For tickets, see events tab.
Colin's month long exhibition will display a choice selection of his colourful and eye-catching UFO Meet posters. Upstairs in the Folklore Library.
WHO WE ARE
Overview
The Centre’s activities will provide benefit to the community of Todmorden, and the Upper Calder Valley, through expansion of the tourism offer, education opportunities, links to well-being through exploration of landscape- walking- and the benefits of storytelling, community cohesion, economic regeneration, promoting intercultural and intergenerational understanding, preservation of heritage and environment, including the wider community to engage with storytelling, art, drama, music, dance and craft, and recognition for Todmorden through the setting up of an academic research centre, archive and resource unit.
Tourism
Expanding Todmorden’s offer through museum type/ art exhibitions as well as events including talks and conferences and workshops, working towards a multi-attraction approach, the Centre will contribute to Todmorden’s growing reputation nationally and internationally and boost economic regeneration.
Exploration of landscape
Engaging adults and children with landscape and place through storytelling, art, workshops, promoting social and community cohesion and well-being through connection to place and walking as well as solidifying links with the focus on sustainable living already apparent in Todmorden and looking at changing narratives concerning human’s role and relation to nature at both a local and global level.
Community cohesion
Through shared narrative and local history- we will be recording and archiving oral folk history with a resource unit accessible to local and wider community, as well as presenting as part of a permanent exhibition of local folklore, customs and beliefs.
Storytelling
Using stories and metaphor to promote well-being, dealing with issues such as overcoming adversity, promoting equality and diversity, addressing social and cultural issues. Using storytelling to promote and develop ideas around sustainability and more environmentally friendly living. Developing curriculum linked learning opportunities for children outside the classroom, encouraging literacy as well as confidence and independence.
Workshops
Offering alternative learning with emphasis on imagination and creativity using art, drama, craft, storytelling, dance, music and land skills for adults and children, a space for others in the community to share skills.
Links to museums, academic institutions and other organisations nationally
Bringing an opportunity for sharing ideas, bringing knowledge, talks, exhibitions and events to Todmorden, providing best practice, linking Todmorden with a wider national network.
Research unit
Recognition for Todmorden as part of a wider network of an expanding body of work in the field of folklore, links to academics and universities nationally, benefits to community through an understanding of underlying concepts and how they feed into everyday contemporary living. Public access resources and workspace facilities will enable the wider community to access ideas as part of their own personal endeavours, research and arts practice.
WHAT DO WE DO?
We aim to engage like-minded people in a variety of folklore related activities, from research to storytelling, conferences to traditional craft workshops.
Upcoming Events
- Fri, 02 FebTodmorden02 Feb 2024, 18:30 – 31 Jan 2025, 21:30Todmorden, Centre for Folklore, Myth and Magic, 65, Halifax Road
- Sat, 24 JunTodmorden24 Jun 2023, 17:00 – 20:00Todmorden, Centre for Folklore, Myth and Magic, 65, Halifax Road
- Fri, 26 MayTodmorden26 May 2023, 17:00 – 01 Jul 2023, 15:00Todmorden, Todmorden, UK
- Sat, 01 AprTodmorden01 Apr 2023, 16:00 – 21 May 2023, 16:00Todmorden, Centre for Folklore, Myth and Magic, 65, Halifax Road
CONTACT CENTRE FOR FOLKLORE MYTH MAGIC
65, Halifax Road, Todmorden OL14 5BB
01706 816249