This is the start of a brand-new monthly series where we’ll be keeping you updated on our Heritage Lottery-funded project, SLAWIT SHOP—a celebration of Slaithwaite’s rich history of local shops and businesses, the community that supports them, and the stories behind the people who keep them thriving. As part of this project, we’re also celebrating 100 years of the eight shops on Carr Lane Parade, highlighting their past, present, and role in shaping our village over the last century. Each month, we’ll explore different aspects of our high street’s history and its importance in community life.


Episode 1 - Moonraking

Welcome to Slawit SHOP! where we celebrate the past, present, and future of our vibrant village. In this episode we learn more about the project as Sky, Suzie and Gill take you on a journey down Carr Lane, and uncover the story of Slawit SHOP — a community project that celebrates a parade of shops and stories over the last 100 years.


Episode 2 - What Is Slawit Shop?

In this episode we’re heading out onto the streets of Slaithwaite to visit the eight shops on the historic Carr Lane parade. Built 100 years ago, this beloved stretch has been home to drapers, hairdressers, crumpet makers, butches, stationers, florists, grocers and cafés, co-working spaces and more. It’s a living timeline of change, resilience and community.
We’ll be talking to business owners, team members, and hopefully catching a few Thursday morning shoppers too – gathering memories, stories, and reflections on what makes this street the beating heart of Slawit.


Episode 3 - Meet The Shops

Welcome back to Slawit SHOP Radio — our Heritage Lottery-funded project that celebrates 100 years of the eight shops on Carr Lane, and the vibrant shopping village life here in Slawit.

The project is well underway now. You’ve been following our journey — from celebrating 40 years of Moonraking, to introducing Slawit SHOP, sharing stories from our heritage research groups, and meeting some of the business owners keeping Carr Lane alive today.
And now, in this episode, we’re catching you up on our schools heritage outreach programme. We’ve been working closely with three fantastic local primary schools: Wilberlee, Two Gates, and Nields.

The Year 4 and 5 children have been digging into the history of the last 100 years — discovering what the Carr Lane shops used to be, and how they’ve changed over time. They've been learning real research skills, practicing interview techniques, and applying their new knowledge to uncover the hidden stories of our vibrant high street.


Episode 4 - Schools Projects

In this episode, we’re shining the spotlight on our incredible 19–25 research group — a brilliant team of recent graduates who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes.
Their mission? To dig into the mysteries, missing pieces, and untold stories hidden in the history of our high street. They’ve been exploring the different types of businesses, uncovering the fascinating characters who have run them, and capturing the personal memories that bring these shopfronts to life.
It’s been part detective work, part social history, and part celebration — and we can’t wait to share what they’ve discovered with you.


Episode 5 - The 19-25's Group

In this episode, we’re shining the spotlight on our incredible Slawit Sifters, led by Gill Bond. This dedicated group has been unearthing stories through land registry records, family history deeds, oral history interviews, and yes — endless hours of painstaking transcription. 
Their work has uncovered remarkable tales from across the parade and every detail has been uncovered thanks to the Slawit Sifters’ patient and passionate detective work.

Episode 6 - Slawit Sifters

In this episode we’re tuning in to the voices of Carr Lane — the people whose memories, reflections, and stories bring our local history to life.
Over the past year, we’ve conducted over 40 interviews with local people about the shopping parade — with huge help from our Slawit Sifters and our 19-25 Research Groups. Together, they’ve sat down with residents, families, and shopkeepers to record the memories that make Carr Lane so special.
Collecting these oral histories is more than just capturing information — it’s about listening deeply: catching the warmth in someone’s laugh, the pause in their reflection, the details that photographs could never tell.
Each conversation has been carefully recorded, transcribed, and preserved — turning hours of listening into a living archive of Slaithwaite’s past.
In this episode, we’ll share some of those snippets — voices that transport us back into the shops they remember: the chatter behind a counter, the scent of fresh bread, or the buzz of the barbershop on a Saturday morning.
So sit back, listen, and let’s explore the Voices of Carr Lane.

1.45.       	Mary Hirst (born 1927) and Betty Robshaw 
5.50        	Muriel Morrison re Mary Hobson Fancy Drapery  1926  - 1938 (now Colne Valley Motor                         Parts)
7.51 	  	Royston Hoyle re growing up in Slawit 1930s - 1940s (sweets and cigarettes and                         Slaithwaite training barracks)
13.68		Vera Cowgill - living at 14 in 1940s (Daker’s  green grocers now Green Valley Grocer)
16.19 		Andrew Crowther re 15 Crowthers Butchers in  1940s (now Culture)
17.39 		Muriel Morrison (nee Robinson) working in Harry Robinson’s Hairdresser 1950s  (Now                                 Colne Valley Motor Parts)
19.13 		Royston Hoyle re buying unusual goods from LeslieThackrah Hairdresser (now Colne                                      Valley Motor Parts)
21.15               Anne Whitehead re the bustling village early 1960s
22.23 		Benny Parker at  20 Speciality Cheese Shop and pop star in the 1960s-1970s (now                                                   part of Vanilla Bean Bistro)
28.49 		Elma Coppley at the Crumpet Factory of 1970s at 19 (now Vanilla Bean Bistro)
31.29 		Mick Dyson at  Dyson’s newsagent in 1970s (now Ryder & Dutton) 
33.12 		Terry Waterhouse, builder, re Rowell’s Bakery (now Mateer)  and parade architecture.
36.00 		Mary Hirst the smell and noise of Globe Mill 
36.40 		Helen Coxan and Graham Mitchell founders of the Green Valley Grocer

Episode 7 - Interview Recollections

Today we’re focusing on how the stories behind those shops have sparked a wave of creativity across our village.

Dozens of local artists, makers, musicians, poets, performers, and young people have taken the true stories of Carr Lane’s shopkeepers, characters, and everyday life — and transformed them into brand-new creative works. These responses are imaginative, heartfelt, playful, and completely unique.
We’ll be speaking to a selection of the artists — including Belinda O’Hooley, Rose Condo, Andy Burton, Adam Strickson, Jane Horton, Jessica Burnand-Martin, and a member of TALKdrama Youth Theatre — but we’re also celebrating every artist who contributed to this extraordinary creative collection.

Here is the full list of creative responses produced for SlawitSHOP!

Belinda O’Hooley – Folk song celebrating the whole parade
Andy Burton – Children’s song inspired by shop #16
Sam Hodgson – Song based on Jane Townend’s newsagent (#12)
Jimi – Digital video overview of the parade 1925–2025
Jessica Burnand-Martin – Ceramic Moon Jar inspired by 1925–1960
Adam Strickson – Filmed poetry & dance based on Harry Redman’s fish shop (#20)
Jane Horton – 1950s-style colouring book of all shops
Ammie Sykes – Ceramic sculptures of each shop (“shop awards”)
TALKdrama Youth Theatre – Verbatim theatre from real interviews
Nicola Sill – Painting of Rowell’s (#18)
Rose Condo – Spoken-word poem about the crumpet factory (#19)
Susanna Meese – Storytelling piece on James Bottomley (#17)
Mason Whittle – Musical performance of Benny Parker’s Decca EP (#20)
Jess Baker & local schools – Creative responses from Wilberlee, Slaithwaite C of E, and Nields Primaries

All these works will be unveiled at our big celebration on 17th January 2026, and afterwards on the SlawitSHOP website and exhibition, where they’ll be accessible for years to come.
So, let’s meet the makers behind the magic, and explore how Carr Lane’s stories have inspired a burst of creativity across the Colne Valley.

Slawit SHOP!

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