Ted Hughes’ Birthplace case study

Ted Hughes was the poet laureate from 1984 until his death in 1998. His substantial and critically acclaimed body of work – poetry, translations of the classics, libretti and children’s books – has assured his place in the pantheon of great British writers.

A literary pilgrimage

Hughes was born in Mytholmroyd, a town with a population of over 4,000, in Calderdale, West Yorkshire. 1 Aspinall Street, his birthplace, was acquired through Yorkshire Forward’s Renaissance Market Towns (RMT) programme.

Fittingly, the intention was to transform the building into a writers’ retreat and self-catering holiday let. This project was financed by a joint initiative between Calderdale Council, Halifax plc and Yorkshire Forward’s RMT programme.

How it all began

1 Aspinall Street is not a property making capital out of a tenuous link with a celebrity who once slept there. The house was extremely important to Ted Hughes. It featured in his poetry, and he later spoke about moving from the house as a child:

‘That really sealed off my first seven years so that my first seven years seem half my life. I’ve remembered almost everything.’

The idea of creating an attraction for literary fans and a writers’ retreat was the brainchild of Royd Regeneration, the partnership established to involve local people in regeneration and supported through the Upper Calder Valley RMT programme.

Plan B proved better

Initially, the intention had been to develop a project which had been of interest to Ted Hughes himself: the renovation of Mytholmroyd’s old railway station building. After greater scrutiny, the working group of volunteers concluded this project was unworkable. However, they realised that, as the town had such a famous literary son, the opportunity to create events relating to poetry and literature was very compelling indeed.

The Calderdale Council house

As luck would have it, the house in which Ted Hughes was born came up for sale around this time. With funding from Yorkshire Forward’s Upper Calder Valley RMT programme, the house was acquired by Calderdale Council. The completion of the project was achieved with the impetus and stewardship of The Elmet Trust.

This non-profit organisation of volunteers is dedicated to promoting the work of Ted Hughes. The Elmet Trust now leases the property from the Council, and has worked in conjunction with Royd Regeneration, Calderdale Council, Halifax plc and Yorkshire Forward. Together, they have financed and completed the project.

The Elmet Trust’s structure

The trust’s status is currently that of a non-profit organisation consisting of local volunteers, but it is now applying for charitable status. It has a board of directors and an elected chair. And all income from the property is invested into the ongoing Ted Hughes project.

The achievement

In his capacity as patron of The Elmet Trust, Simon Armitage, the renowned and awardwinning local writer, was present at the official opening in June 2008.

Hughes’ birthplace – which can be rented at www.yorkshire-cottages.info – has been renovated in a manner sympathetic to the past yet mindful of its current use. All proceeds go to the trust, which is responsible for the property’s upkeep and maintenance.

Because The Elmet Trust’s intention was that the house would be somewhere people could stay in comfort, it rejected a preserved-in-aspic feel: the house is not a museum. So although an interior designer was employed to recreate a 1930s interior reminiscent of that of Hughes’ childhood, there are also modern comforts and appliances – such as the very un-’30s wireless broadband.

But, of course, the people drawn here from all over the world will get to enjoy far more than just a building. They’ll have the opportunity to experience the stunning landscape of the Calder Valley that inspired much of Ted Hughes’ greatest poetry.

What next?

The development of Hughes’ birthplace is just the beginning. There is now a three-year business plan for the Ted Hughes project in Mytholmroyd.

This includes:

• The development of a literary/poetry trail
• The establishment of a festival linked to Hughes’ birth.

Key successes

• The property has been in great demand since its opening in June 2008.
• Visit England has awarded the attraction 3 stars (only the lack of a garden prevented it from garnering a fourth).
• Numerous articles have appeared online and in the national press, including the front cover of the Independent on Sunday’s travel section and British Airways’ High Life magazine.
• A bond has been forged with Manchester University, and its creative writing summer school has brought visitors to Mytholmroyd from as far afield as the US.

Lessons learnt

• Everything appeared to be in place: there was a listed building; there was an idea for a Ted Hughes centre; a local architect was involved; funding for the project was at hand. Little wonder that the idea had much time and effort spent on it. But then came the feasibility study, and everything changed. Clearly, a feasibility study is vital – even if everything appears at first glance to be feasible. Much deliberation is required as to the form such a study should take. As is the decision of when, during the process, to commission it.
• It’s important never to underestimate the importance, however slow-moving it may at first appear, of the local authority’s support.
• Always use good-quality materials and fittings.

View the financial summary

View the operational finances

More about this success story

To find out more about the Ted Hughes project, please visit www.theelmettrust.co.uk or www.yorkshire-cottages.info
Alternatively, contact:
Eric Alston
Park Cottage
Park Lane
Mytholmroyd
HX7 5BL
07768 257726

Steph Hiscott
Yorkshire Forward
Victoria House
2 Victoria Place
Leeds
LS11 1AH
0113 3945792
stephanie.hiscott@yorkshire-forward.com