Spen Valley Literary and Scientific Society

The following source list was originally available only on paper in one of the West Yorkshire Archive Service offices. It may have been compiled many years ago and could be out of date. It was designed to act as a signpost to records of interest on a particular historical subject, but may relate only to one West Yorkshire district, or be an incomplete list of sources available.

In 1906 Thomas Mitcheson became the first president of the Spen Valley Literary and Scientific Society. One of the aims of the Society was to provide a museum for the Spen Valley. In 1907 Mr Cooke offered the Society the use of the old school room at Fieldhead. In the same year the Heckmondwike Naturalist Society became united with the new Society. The opening of the premises at Fieldhead, which became known as the museum, was marked by an exhibition which was visited by 1,500 school children. After a number of moves, the Society was without a permanent home after 1951 and in 1991, it wound up.

This collection is held by WYAS Kirklees, collection reference KC577. Other records relating to the Society can be found at S/SLS.