Open Bandroom - 180yrs of Meltham Band
Meltham & Meltham Mills Band, Bent House, Tinker Lane, Meltham, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, HD9 4EX
Bent House on Tinker Lane, Meltham, is a landmark residence historically associated with 19th-century landowner Uriah Tinker, Esq. More recently, the house has served as the home of the historic Meltham and Meltham Mills Band for almost 80 years.
Formed as an all-brass ensemble in 1846, Meltham Band helped set the modern brass band standard now seen around the world. The band made history as the first to win a British Open "hat-trick", in 1876, 1877 and 1878. They were also the first Band in the world to incorporate 'Double B flat' basses into their ensemble in 1878 - instruments directly received from Madame Besson, the matriarch of the famous French instrument manufacturer.
When the band was re-formed after World War II by Jack Manchester and John Redfearn, it adopted the combined name of Meltham and Meltham Mills Band, and relocated to the former Victorian Billiard Room in Bent House. Originally built as an opulent leisure space, the room’s generous proportions and thick masonry walls offer ideal acoustics. Today, the Band Room is still home to the main band along with Meltham Community Band and Meltham Junior Blast, continuing a vital link between local history and the brass band movement.
To mark 180 years of banding history in Meltham, this Open Bandroom event offers the chance to visit this historic space and discover a wide range of rarely displayed band artefacts, uniforms and photos - showcasing the rich heritage of this beloved local musical institution.
Timings
- Sunday 20 September:
- 1300-1600
Location & directions
Meltham & Meltham Mills Band, Bent House, Tinker Lane, Meltham, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, HD9 4EX
- Directions:
- The Bandroom is accessed off Tinker Lane via a small iron gate (opposite the junction with Heather Road). Head through the small iron gate and follow the narrow cobbled path down the side of the building to the entrance (on your right).
- Contact on day:
- Mrs Imogen Heywood
- Telephone number:
- +447725403812
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
The entrance to the bandroom is down a narrow cobbled path (uneven surface). Once inside the rest of the exhibition is all on one level (ground floor).
