Art at Hardcastle Crags

To the right of the image is a large canvas with a photo of a landscape at sunset, in the background are other art installations. — Nature’s Reflections captures the creativity and care for nature inspired by landscapes from Marsden Moors to Malham Cove. | © National Trust Images/ Sophie Fawcett

Gibson Mill, built in 1805, was one of the first cotton mills of the Industrial Revolution. Today, this historic building is home to a vibrant programme of art and exhibitions, showcasing creativity in a unique setting. Across its second and third floors, you’ll find regularly changing displays featuring local artists, thought-provoking installations, and works inspired by nature, heritage and conservation.

Gibson Mill Exhibition Space

Gibson Mill has been a landmark in Hardcastle Crags since 1805, evolving from one of the first cotton mills of the Industrial Revolution into a hub for creativity and sustainability. Once a bustling centre of industry and later an entertainment venue, today the mill’s second and third floors host a dynamic programme of art and exhibitions. These changing displays celebrate local talent and explore themes inspired by nature, heritage, and the mill’s own rich history. All within a building powered by solar and hydro energy, reflecting its commitment to a greener future.

The gallery spaces are occasionally closed between exhibitions, please check before travelling specifically outside of stated dates.

A line of oil paintings hang horizontal on a white wall — Discover Beth Cartwright's stunning artworks in the Weaving Shed Café | © National Trust Images/ Shelley Halliday

The Weaving Shed Community Art Gallery

This space gives Calderdale-based artists the chance to exhibit and sell their work at Hardcastle Crags - whether you’re a professional creative, a part-time artist, or a passionate hobbyist. Our aim is to showcase local talent while creating an inspiring experience for visitors. Displayed along the back wall of the Weaving Shed Café, we can accommodate wall-hung artwork in any medium.

Community Artist: Beth Cartwright

I am an artist based in Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire in the UK. I love to paint in an intuitive way, freely adding layers of acrylic paint and then gradually deciding how to refine and blend them until I am happy with the result. My paintings are heavily influenced by the hills and walks near my home, but also from so much of my day to day life, the colours in the sky, the music I am listening to, my spirituality and often just how I'm feeling on the day. Painting for me is a theraputic process, I lose track of time and come into a space of creativity and energy. I love how art can transport you to a different place and I hope my paintings can draw you in and take you to a good place.

Previous exhibitions

May - August 2026

Nature’s Reflections brings together artworks created by young people from three Kirklees schools as part of the Nature Calling project, commissioned by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and delivered by Shape North. Inspired by guided walks through landscapes from Marsden Moors to Stoodley Pike and Malham Cove, the exhibition showcases paintings, photography, poetry, film and crafted works that explore connection, creativity and care for nature. Through sketching, storytelling, music and making, the young artists discovered new ways of seeing the natural world and their place within it.
July 2026

Back in the summer of 2015, a piece of homophobic graffiti was seen in the town of Hebden Bridge, scrawled on a tarpaulin. A reminder that we are still fighting for equality, even in one of the most LGBTQIA+ welcoming towns in the UK. Four locals founded Happy Valley Pride and agreed on a mission:

“To celebrate LGBTQIA+ life in Hebden Bridge and surrounding areas. Promoting equality and diversity to eradicate discrimination, based on sexual orientation and gender identity, through arts, education and engagement.”

With the help of local artists, they turned the offensive graffiti statement on a tarpaulin into an art piece of celebration and acceptance. Sally Wainwright launched Happy Valley Pride early in 2016 where we proudly displayed the artwork to our community and allowed everybody to add their own messages of hope.

This amazing art work created ten years ago was proudly displayed on the lower floow of Gibson Mill throughout July 2026, and visitors were invited to add their own messages of solidarity and hope to this iconic symbol of community power.
January - April 2026

Blending creativity with environmental insight, this exhibition explored why peatlands matter, connecting science and art to inspire care and action for these remarkable landscapes. Peatlands play a vital role in locking away carbon, slowing the flow of water, and supporting endangered wildlife. Through artworks, installations, and shared stories, the Peat Appreciation Society invited visitors to see the moor in new and compelling ways.

The Peat Appreciation Society is an arts-led collective dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness of peat. Inspired by the textures, histories, and ecologies of moor, mire, and moss, the collective hosts creative events that deepen understanding of these habitats. They collaborate with artists, thinkers, and local communities, sharing knowledge through open, exploratory conversations.

Peatlands are unique, biodiverse, and essential - vast carbon stores, natural flood defences, and archives of cultural and archaeological heritage. This exhibition honours their beauty and significance within the Upper Calder Valley, part of the wider Great North Bog landscape.
June - December 2025

Fields, Folds and Farming Life offers a powerful and immersive journey through the rhythms of rural life in Bransdale, on the North York Moors. Spanning the seasons, this exhibition captures the resilience, dedication, and deep-rooted connection of the local farming community through evocative photography, specially commissioned artwork, and film. All expertly captured and curated by photographer Valerie Mather.

It sheds light on the challenges farmers face in a changing agricultural landscape - and how they continue to adapt, innovate, and care for the land they love. Their work is not only vital for food production but also for shaping a more sustainable future for people, nature, and the countryside.

Located on the second and third floors of Gibson Mill, this free exhibition is closely linked to our Ancient Grasslands Project, a conservation effort made possible by the traditional farming practices still alive in Calderdale. Here, farmers and landowners continue to use age-old methods like haymaking and grazing, helping to preserve these rare and precious habitats.

Over the past 80 years, up to 97% of ancient grasslands have been lost, many of them irreplaceable. This exhibition celebrated the people working to protect what remains.

Contact us

Email

To find out more about exhibiting in Gibson Mill or the Weaving Shed, please send us an email.

theweavingshedartgallery@nationaltrust.org.uk

Visitors on a bridge at Hardcastle Crags with Gibson Mill in view, West Yorkshire

Discover more at Hardcastle Crags

Find out how to get to Hardcastle Crags, where to park, things to see and do and more.

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History of Hardcastle Crags

Learn about the history and evolution of the landscape at Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill, including its industrial heritage and the mill’s time as an entertainment emporium.