A storied hotel where history meets heartfelt hospitality

Let’s start in 1819, when the elegant Regency façade of what is now the Old Bridge Hotel first graced the banks of the River Holme in Holmfirth. It began its life as the grand residence of William Dickinson, a mill‑owner in his prime, steeped in the booming wool trade. With its neo‑classical portico and tastefully appointed interior, it was the very picture of cultured provincial affluence.

Shortly after, in 1837, Joseph Charlesworth, another baron of Holmfirth’s textile elite took possession, renaming it Eldon House in tribute to the venerable Lord Chancellor. Here, Charlesworth weathered both societal acclaim and profound tragedy. He guided the town’s recovery after the catastrophic 1852 flood, only to succumb himself soon after. Over the latter part of the 19th century, Eldon House became the heartbeat of Holmfirth’s social life.

Its grounds gave way to riverside shops, a printers’ office home to the Holmfirth Express and in 1913, the delightful addition of the Holme Valley Theatre, a cradle of silent cinema.

Advance to 1929, when the estate transformed once more, this time into the Holmfirth Conservative Club serving gentlemen and ladies until 1984. Then, after a brief transition, a visionary builder acquired the property in 1986, lovingly converting it into the splendid hotel we know today. The original Regency portico remained, a dignified nod to its heritage, even as the remainder was reshaped for contemporary comfort . And so, from a mill‑owner’s grand home to a wool‑baron’s retreat, from a hub of early cinema to a genteel social club, and at last, a gracious hotel, the Old Bridge embodies two centuries of Yorkshire character, resilience, and transformation.