A brief history of the Heckmondwike Naturalists' Society 
Allhoiigh not the oklcsl Society of its kind in Yorkshire, the Heckniondvvike 
Naturalists' Society holds the uni(|ue record of beintj the only Society which has 
continuously upheld its membership of the West Riding Consolidated Naturalists' 
Society and the Vorkshire Naturalists' Union, during the whole 50 years of their 
j(^int existence. 
It was founded in 1861, ])ul a few months earlier than the "Consolidated 
Society,'" in the foundation of whicii tlie Heckmondwike Society took a jirominent 
part. It was at an Organisation meeting of the Heckmondwike Naturalists' 
Society" held in September, 1861, that the subject of a Tnion was first seriously 
discussed. Mr. W. Talbot, of Wakefield, introduced the matter, and it was 
unanimously decided to call a meeting of reproscntatix es of kindred societies for 
the special purpose of founding a Union of Naturalists' Societies. This meeting 
took place at Iludderslield, on January i8th, 1862, and on the motion of 
Mr. S. J. Swift, the president of the Heckmondwike ^-ociety, it was unanimously 
decided to name the Union the "West Riding Consolidated Naturalists' Society." 
Heckmondwike supplied the first Hon. Secretary in the persctn of Mr. fames Ellis, 
who was succeeded in 1863 In' Mr. Benj. Hradley, of Siieepridge, Huddersfield. 
In 1867 llie Heckmondwike Society again su[)plied this important officer, 
Mr. Robert Smith, of Dewsbury Moor, being appointed to succeed Mr. Bradley. 
In. 1870 Mr. (. M. Barber, of Heckmondwike, undertook the duties and continued 
to hold the office until the basis of tlie Society was broadened, and it became re- 
organised as the Vorkshire Naturalists' Union in 1877. 
During these years the Ileckjuondwike Society was very active, the number 
of members averaging about 30. l-'ollow ing Mr. Swift as president came Mr. J. 
Exley in 1863, Mr. Robert Smith 1865, Dr. T. B. Oldfield 1867, Mr. j. M. Barber 
1882, Dr. J. A. Krskine Stuart 1887. 
The meetings were first helil ut the Queen's Head Inn, Lower (ieorge Street 
(now Regent Street), and later for many years at the Wool Pack Inn. High Street, 
and from 1882 at the Mechanics' Institute and Club, Market Place. 
In 1877 was founded the Heckmondwike Juvenile Naturalists' Society, by 
Mr. I. M. Barber, in order that the young might be given an opportunity of 
studying the> wonders and beauties of nature, without the disadvantage of meeting 
at an inn. The meeting place was the old Mechanics' Institute in Back 
Lane, but in 1882 the Society migrated with the Institute to their larger prem.ises 
in Market Street, and, the original cause of its separate formation from the senior 
society being now removed, it later became absorbed in the parent society. 
In 1879 the Heckmondwike Society initiated another Union of Naturalist 
Societies. It was felt that the more distant fields visited by the Vorkshire 
Naturalists' Union took up more time and were more expensive than the working 
class members of the Society could afford. The Societies of Batle\, Bradford, 
Dewsbury, Heckmondw ike (senior and junior), Iludderslield, Liversedge, Mirfield, 
Rastrick and Brighouse, therefore, formed a Union known as the "Local Naturalists' 
Association," with Mr. J, M. Barber of Heckmondwike as Secretary. This 
Association flourished for a few years, but ceased to exist about the year 1885. 
In the later " eighties" the Heckmondwike Society sank to a very low ebb, 
but was held together by a few loyal spirits until such time as an oi)portunity 
l)resented itself of resuscitating its fallen fortunes, which happened about the year 
1896. From that time to this the Society has again flourished and continued its 
useful and valuable work. 
C.B.B. 
