Huddersfield
From Freepedia
| Huddersfield | |
|---|---|
| Image:Huddersfield - Kirklees dot.png | |
| OS Grid Reference: | SE145165 |
| Administration | |
| Borough: | Kirklees Metropolitan Council |
| Region: | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Nation: | England |
| Other | |
| Ceremonial County: | West Yorkshire |
| Traditional County: | Yorkshire |
| Post Office and Telephone | |
| Post town: | Huddersfield |
| Postcode: | HD1-5, HD7, HD8 |
| Dialling Code: | 01484 |
Contents |
Huddersfield is the largest town in Europe and situated in the county of West Yorkshire in England, near the confluence of the River Colne and the River Holme. The Huddersfield Broad Canal and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal are navigable canals, using narrowboats, passing through the town. Huddersfield is in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees.
History
A village during Anglo-Saxon times, Huddersfield appeared in the Domesday Book as Oderesfelt. However, there had been a settlement in the vicinity since Roman times, as evidenced by discovery of the remains of a Roman fort at Slack, just west of the town. Castle Hill, a major landmark of the town, was originally an Iron Age hillfort.
In 1952, in recognition of historic ties and links with The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) Huddersfield conferred on the regiment the Freedom of the Town. This gives the regiment the right to march through the town with 'Flags Flying, Bands playing and Bayonets fixed'. Many of the town and district's male residents have served in the regiment during its 300+ year history.
Huddersfield was always known as a Market Town, since Saxon times, but since the local Polytechnic gained University status, certain 'Up-market' elements of the town have insisted on calling it a University Town.
Attempts by the local council to gain support for City status were rejected by the town's population in an unofficial referendum, held by the local media.
Institutions
Schools and colleges
Huddersfield is the home to two sixth form colleges (Huddersfield New College located at Salendine Nook, Greenhead College), Huddersfield Technical College and the University of Huddersfield. The current Chancellor of the University is the actor Patrick Stewart, who comes from Dewsbury.
Historical landmarks
The colonnaded Huddersfield railway station in St George's Square was once described as 'a stately home with trains in it', and by Sir Nikolaus Pevsner as 'one of the best early railway stations in England' (see webcam at http://www.virtualhuddersfield.com/trial.htm).
A clock tower in the village of Lindley (a suburb to the west of the town) was constructed in 1902 by a local mill-owner, so that his workers would not have any excuse for being late for work! St Peters' Church, or 'Huddersfield Parish Church' was constructed in 1838 and is located in the town centre.
The picture on the New Zealand wine "Castle Hill" is of Victoria Tower atop Castle Hill overlooking Huddersfield (see picture above).
Transport infrastructure
Road
Huddersfield is well connected to the national motorway network via the M1 and M62 motorways. The M1 passes near the eastern fringes of the town about ten miles away. The M62 comes much nearer (about 21/2 miles away) and Huddersfield is served by three junctions at Mount (A640, J23 - limited access), Ainley Top (A629, J24) and between Brighouse and Cooper Bridge (A644, J25).
The Huddersfield Corporation built an inner ring round (part of the A62) in the 1970s. The area within this ring road has come to define the central business district of the town. The ring road is effective in relieving traffic congestion in the town centre where many roads are pedestrianised.
Rail
Huddersfield enjoys a comprehensive local and regional rail service. However, there are no InterCity services or a direct service to London. Many services are subsidised by the local-government public transport co-ordinator, Metro. A frequent service operates to the nearby principal cities of Leeds and Manchester and a regular service to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sunderland, Darlington, Middlesbrough, Scarborough, York, Hull, Bradford, Halifax, Wakefield, Barnsley, Sheffield, Manchester Airport and Liverpool.
Bus
Huddersfield Bus Station is the busiest bus station in West Yorkshire with a daily footfall of almost 35,000 (source). The majority of bus services pass through the bus station. Many services are subsidised by Metro who are also responsible for co-ordination, planning and timetabling of services throughout West Yorkshire. Three operators provide most of the services in the Huddersfield Area: First, Arriva Yorkshire and Yorkshire Traction.
Sport
Rugby
On August 29, 1895, 22 rugby clubs from across the north of England held a meeting in the George Hotel, next to the railway station. They voted to secede from the Rugby Football Union and set up their own Northern Rugby Football Union. In 1922 this became the Rugby Football League. Huddersfield is still a focus for rugby league, being represented by the Huddersfield Giants in the Superleague, and the Huddersfield Underbank Rangers in National League 3, as well as many amateur teams. The Huddersfield Giants play in claret and gold coloured hooped shirts with white shorts.
Football
Huddersfield Town A.F.C. are the town's senior association football team, and were founded in 1908. In the 1920s they became the first club to win the League Championship three times in a row, an achievement matched only by Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United. They left their ground on Leeds Road in 1994 and currently share the Galpharm Stadium with the Giants rugby league team and play in shirts with blue-and-white vertical stripes. Their most famous ex-players are Scottish international Denis Law (later of Manchester United) and Ray Wilson, a World Cup winner with England in 1966. They have been managed by Bill Shankly and Herbert Chapman.
Arts
Huddersfield is home to the Lawrence Batley Theatre, the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra and the Huddersfield Singers.
Notable people from Huddersfield
- Anita Lonsborough, Olympic swimmer and commentator
- Cameron Jerome, football player
- George Hirst, English Test cricketer
- Gorden Kaye, actor
- Harold Percival Himsworth, scientist
- Harold Wagstaff, rugby league player
- Sir Harold Wilson, British Prime Minister
- Lord James Hanson, British and international businessman
- James Mason, actor
- Joanne Harris, novelist
- Lena Headey, actress
- Roy Castle, presenter, dancer and entertainer
- Simon Armitage, poet and author
- Wilf Lunn, inventor
- Wilfred Rhodes, English Test cricketer
Suburbs of the town
Almondbury, Aspley, Berry Brow, Birkby, Bradley, Brockholes, Crosland Moor, Dalton, Deighton, Edgerton, Emley, Fartown, Fixby, Flockton, Golcar, Grange Moor, Hepworth, Holmfirth, Honley, Kirkburton, Kirkheaton, Lepton, Lindley, Linthwaite, Lockwood, Longwood, Marsden, Marsh, Meltham, Moldgreen, Nettleton Hill, New Mill, Newsome, Oakes, Outlane, Paddock, Salendine Nook, Scammonden, Scholes, Shelley, Shepley, Skelmanthorpe, Slaithwaite, South Crosland, Thornton Lodge, Upper Heaton and more.
See Also
- Haddersfield, Jamaica locally referred to as Huddersfield. *Map showing location of Haddersfield
External links
- Wikitravel article on Huddersfield
- icHuddersfield
- Virtual Huddersfield
- An aerial view of the town centre, viewed from South to North, can be seen on:- |http://www.huddersfieldtv.co.uk/aerial/aerial-huddersfield-2005-we.jpg
References
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