Bridge plaques provide signs of the times in anniversary year

The signs, the work of local designer Mike Barrett of Frogs-design, were inspired by plaques on the packhorse bridge from which the town gets its name and which is 500 years old this year.

The bridge, built in 1510, was repaired in 1602 and in 1657, with each repair marked with a plaque.

Together, these inspired the style and the typeface that Mr Barrett created especially for the anniversary.

"The weathered lettering is now hard to read, but a photograph taken by Martin Parr in the 1970s shows the inscriptions quite clearly," he said.

"Lettering on the two plaques shows some variation: the earlier one being coarser and more rounded, but they both seem to be based on a similar model and show similarities to 17th century gravestone inscriptions."

As well as this welcome to the town during its birthday year, there are a number of events being held to mark the anniversary.

In June and July, local photographer Craig Shaw is showing photographs of historic bridges in the area.

The exhibition, supported by the Hebden Bridge Local History Society, is on at the Trades Club as well as being online at www.hebden500bridges.co.uk

There is also the chance to walk in the footsteps of Ted Hughes on a guided discovery of Heptonstall and the places and landscape that inspired him.

These events begins at 11am on June 12, September 4 and October 3 with a screening of the short film Sacred Place, which introduces Hughes and his childhood years in Mytholmroyd. There are also shorter walks on May 22, July 3 and September 25.