Events &
Organisations
The Longwood Sing
To put this historical music festival in its proper context, the clock has to be turned back rather more than the 133 years of the 'Sing' itself, in fact to the summer of 1861
At that time, there was civil war in America and this led to a good deal of poverty and unemployment in areas such as Longwood, which normally depended on the sale of cloth some of which was still being produced on domestic hand looms as well as in the rapidly developing textile factories.
Very real hardship resulted with no welfare state to alleviate the desperate needs of families.
One of the features of prolonged unemployment, felt particularly by the men, was the unrelieved boredom which threatened to weaken their resolve.
Faced with this concern they decided to build something of lasting value for the local area and the idea of erecting a tower on the highest land in the village caught their imagination.
So it was, that with permission from the local landowner and the help of a blind stonemason, George Hellawell, they erected a stone tower on high land known as Nab End.
The tower was officially opened on the 10th August 1861. In the following year or two this date became a local holiday and attracted the name of 'Thump Sunday'.
Added to the name of George Hellawell must be that of Jabez Iredale who soon comes into prominence. He was a man of many parts; teacher, librarian, financial secretary but, by his own admission, no musician. Nevertheless, he was to provide the initiative and enthusiasm for what was to become an enduring musical event. Afterthe success of the building of Nab End Tower and the initial proposals to hold an annual 'Sing', a little to the North West a terraced area was constructed. This became known as the 'singing gate' and bears the date of original building as 1873, the year of the very first Longwood Sing.
In the early years, the Sing was held on a Sunday close to the l0th August and took place at 7.00 a.m. so that the singers could attend worship at their various churches. From the very beginning it was an ecumenical event.
In later years, both the date and timing were changed, eventually to the present arrangement of the second Sunday in September at 2.45 p.m.
The strength of support for the 'Sing' in these early years is testified to by a minute of the Sing Committee in July 1886 in which the ordering of 2000 programmes was agreed. From the very outset the income from the event has relied on programme sales and personal donations and again from the earliest days the income has been distributed to charities associated with health and welfare concerns. A payment of £15 to the Huddersfield Infirmary following the 1883 Sing is typical. This concern with the health of the community was emphasized when Jabez Iredale was appointed to serve on the hospital board of governors in 1895.
Longwood Sing soon became known as the 'Mother of all Sings', a title which recognised that very many similar events were organised throughout the West Riding in the years which followed and certainly the numerous local events were inspired by the enthusiasm of Jabez Iredale. The majority of these 'children' did not live to grand old age, but an interesting survivor is the Mollicar Wood Sing which takes place on Pentecost Sunday at 7.00am.
Leaping forward to the 21st Century, the Sing has been transformed and now forms the centre piece of a three day Longwood Festival, encompassing concerts in St Mark's Church and a three day art show in the Mechanics Hall. Again from earliest times, the 'Sing' has been followed by a feast in the 19th Century; 18 gallons of beer and 60 lbs of ham were regular features of this but in recent years, sandwiches and cakes, washed down with copious supplies of tea and coffee, have been the more normal but still eagerly appreciated fare.
Longwood's proud tradition is that the 'Sing' has survived two world wars and has an unbroken history of 133 years.
Event Calendar
The calendar below will highlight upcoming events in red. To see what events are occuring on a particular day, click the highlighted numbers.
The calendar below will highlight upcoming events in red. To see what events are occuring on a particular day, click the highlighted numbers.
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