Between 1831 and 1890 thousands of local Sunday School children would gather in The Piece Hall over Whitsuntide for The Big Sing. Records show that up to 34,000 would pack the vast courtyard for this popular event and celebration of song over what is now known as the Spring Bank Holiday.

Now, the Piece Hall Trust in partnership with Calderdale Music Trust and Music Director Sam Dunkley from Performing Arts etc. will recreate this magnificent tradition once again. The project will bring 1,000 children from over 20 Calderdale primary schools together to perform a selection of songs, a number of which have been specially comissioned and written by the schools involved.

Big Sing event marks Piece Hall's extraordinary heritage

This inaugral event will bring the Piece Hall to life in what is hoped will become an annual tradition. Come along and witness history being recreated as we celebrate the past, present and future of The Piece Hall and the local community!

The Piece Hall, which dates to the 18th century and is the UK’s only surviving cloth hall, is nearing the first anniversary of its re-opening this August after a £7.2million regeneration project funded by the National Lottery that has reimagined the hall as a new centre for culture and commerce in Yorkshire and the Humber.

[quote]The project will bring 1,000 children from over 20 Calderdale primary schools together[/quote]

The Big Sing is one of many activity projects taking place as part of the wider regeneration of The Piece Hall – made possible thanks to money raised by National Lottery players.

Schools include: Bolton Brow Academy, Barkisland Primary, Scout Road Academy, Old Town Primary, Calder Primary, Holy Trinity Primary, Bowling Green Primary, Salterhebble J & I School, Copley Primary, St Joseph's Todmorden, Woodbank, Savile Park, Cross Lane, St Joseph's Halifax, Lee Mount, Burnley Road, Moorside Community Primary School, Beech Hill, Ling Bob and St Andrews Junior, New Road Primary and Saint Chads Primary.

This programme has been supported by: The Community Foundation for Calderdale, The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust and The Ernest Cook Trust.

Visit the Piece Hall website for more information.