“Wainstalls’ Waifs and Strays” - A talk by Kim Pearson

Schedule

Thu Apr 16 2026 at 07:30 pm to 09:00 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

The Maurice Jagger Centre | Halifax, EN

Advertisement
Kim Pearson tells the fascinating and sometimes sad story of over 250 young girls who came to work in the spinning mills above Halifax.
About this Event

Kim Pearson tells the fascinating and sometimes sad story of over 250 young girls who came from Liverpool’s Brownlow Hill Workhouse and Kirkdale Industrial School at the end of the 19th Century to work in the worsted spinning mills owned by I&I Calvert in Wainstalls Village, on the hills above Halifax.



Kim has lived in Wainstalls for over 40 years and has spent many of them researching the history of the orphan girls, driven by the fact that she now owns the land containing the graveyard where several of them were buried following their deaths while employed in the mills.
A postive aspect to the story is that several descendants of the mill girls still live in Wainstalls today.

Why not join us for a fascinating look back at this very little known aspect of local history.

Organised by Halifax Civic Trust volunteers. All donations support the ongoing work of our volunteers promoting and protecting Halifax’s heritage and our Blue Plaques Scheme.

Advertisement

Where is it happening?

The Maurice Jagger Centre, Lister Street, Halifax, United Kingdom

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

GBP 6.13

Icon
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Halifax Civic Trust

Host or Publisher Halifax Civic Trust

Ask AI if this event suits you:

Discover More Events in Halifax

My Darling Clementine
Sat, 18 Apr at 06:00 pm My Darling Clementine

Black Dyke Mills Heritage Venue

ART COUNTRY-MUSIC-FESTIVALS
Rookie Numbers
Sat, 18 Apr at 06:00 pm Rookie Numbers

Brighouse Civic Hall LIVE

MUSIC LIVE-MUSIC
The Bootleg Beatles
Sat, 18 Apr at 07:00 pm The Bootleg Beatles

Victoria Theatre

The Music of Whitney - The Candlelight Concert - Halifax Minster
Sat, 18 Apr at 07:30 pm The Music of Whitney - The Candlelight Concert - Halifax Minster

Halifax Minster

CANDLELIGHT-CONCERTS MUSIC
Mother Goose
Sun, 19 Apr at 01:00 pm Mother Goose

Victoria Theatre Halifax

Dinosaurs Live presented by Natural History Museum
Sun, 08 Feb at 12:30 pm Dinosaurs Live presented by Natural History Museum

Victoria Theatre Halifax

ART THEATRE
Victoria Theatre Tours - Guided by the Friends of the Victoria Theatre
Thu, 12 Feb at 11:00 am Victoria Theatre Tours - Guided by the Friends of the Victoria Theatre

Victoria Theatre Halifax

ART THEATRE
The Darker Side of Halifax haunted walk
Fri, 13 Feb at 01:00 pm The Darker Side of Halifax haunted walk

8 Horton Street, HX1 1PU Halifax, United Kingdom

FESTIVALS ART
A Taste of Halifax: Borough Market Food Tour
Fri, 13 Feb at 01:30 pm A Taste of Halifax: Borough Market Food Tour

Halifax Borough Market

Halifax Minster Guided Tour - As Part of  Halifax Goth Festival
Sat, 14 Feb at 12:00 pm Halifax Minster Guided Tour - As Part of Halifax Goth Festival

8 Horton Street, HX1 1PU Halifax, United Kingdom

FESTIVALS
A Taste of Halifax: Borough Market Food Tour
Sat, 14 Feb at 01:30 pm A Taste of Halifax: Borough Market Food Tour

Halifax Borough Market

The Darker Side of Halifax - Eerie Tales, Haunting Actors & Chilling Endings
Sat, 14 Feb at 02:00 pm The Darker Side of Halifax - Eerie Tales, Haunting Actors & Chilling Endings

The Grayston Unity

ART THEATRE
The Darker Side of Halifax - Eerie Tales, Haunting Actors & Chilling Endings
Sun, 15 Feb at 02:00 pm The Darker Side of Halifax - Eerie Tales, Haunting Actors & Chilling Endings

The Grayston Unity

ART THEATRE
A Brief History of Shibden Hall
Wed, 18 Feb at 02:00 pm A Brief History of Shibden Hall

Unmasked Mental Health

STORYTELLING
Votes for Women in Halifax \u2013 and across Yorkshire.  Author Jill Liddington.
Fri, 20 Feb at 06:30 pm Votes for Women in Halifax – and across Yorkshire. Author Jill Liddington.

Albany Club

ART LITERARY-ART
Antiques and a Little Bit of Nonsense
Mon, 23 Feb at 07:30 pm Antiques and a Little Bit of Nonsense

Victoria Theatre Halifax

ART THEATRE
Calling the Spirits: An Introduction to Victorian Spiritualism
Sat, 28 Feb at 11:00 am Calling the Spirits: An Introduction to Victorian Spiritualism

Bankfield Museum, Boothtown Road, HX3 6HG Halifax, United Kingdom

FESTIVAL OF WOMEN WORKSHOP 4 - Researching Calderdale's Women
Sat, 07 Mar at 10:30 am FESTIVAL OF WOMEN WORKSHOP 4 - Researching Calderdale's Women

Halifax Minster

WORKSHOPS FESTIVALS
Halifax Civic Trust - Spring Lunch - with Barrie Rutter OBE
Sat, 07 Mar at 01:00 pm Halifax Civic Trust - Spring Lunch - with Barrie Rutter OBE

True North Restuarant

ART THEATRE
WONDERWOMAN: The Astronomical Life of Caroline Herschel
Sat, 07 Mar at 07:00 pm WONDERWOMAN: The Astronomical Life of Caroline Herschel

Halifax Minster

FESTIVALS MUSIC

What's Happening Next in Halifax?

Discover Halifax Events