Externally and internally, the heritage, stone built Choppards Mission is of architectural and cultural interest. Both the main building and the outdoor ‘Privies’ (now derelict) are Grade II listed. 

The Pennine hamlet of Choppards in the rural Ribble Valley is located just over a mile south of the town of Holmfirth. Its origins are interesting with a certain Robert Chobard or Chopard said to have settled in the graveship of Holme in the early 1300’s and taking possession of ‘14 acres with buildings, in Littlewood’ in 1313 and, three years later, paying 2 shillings for further land in Longley, then a distinctive territory in Wooldale. 

 The origins of the name Chobard or Chopard are believed to be French. Two families particularly associated with Choppards in the period up to c.1700 were the Hinchliffes and the Croslands.(Source: George Redmonds: Holmfirth: Place-Names and Settlement. 1994).  

The school building, commonly known as Choppards Mission, was built in 1839, and was originally used as a place to teach local children and to instruct them in the Christian religion. At this time, it was quite common for children to work in the valley’s mills whilst they received their education. Choppards was very well  attended. In 1843, there were 191 children on the register;  a huge number considering the size of the building.