Holmfirth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Holmfirth | |
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| Population | 17,970 (for Holme Valley South ward)[1] |
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| OS grid reference | |
| Parish | Holme Valley |
| Metropolitan borough | Kirklees |
| Metropolitan county | West Yorkshire |
| Region | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HOLMFIRTH |
| Postcode district | HD9 |
| Dial code | 01484 |
| Police | West Yorkshire |
| Fire | West Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| UK Parliament | Colne Valley |
| European Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire | |
Holmfirth is a small town located in the Holme Valley parish, in the Kirklees district of West Yorkshire, England. Centered upon the the confluence of the River Holme and the River Ribble, Holmfirth is three miles (4.8 km) south of Huddersfield, and broadly consists of stone-built cottages nestled in the Pennine hills.
The Peak District National Park around Holme Moss borders the south of the town. The Holme and Ribble feed from the Holme Styes Reservoir at Cartworth Moor, just off the road to Dunford Bridge.
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[edit] Description
Holmfirth was the setting for the BBC's long-running comedy Last of The Summer Wine. Thousands of tourists flock to the area each year to enjoy scenery and locations familiar from the series. More recently filming of the TV Slaithwaite-based drama, Where the Heart Is, has also taken place in and around the area.
The former Lodge's supermarket building had been sitting empty in the heart of the town since the Co-op moved to new premises in Crown Bottom. Lodge's was built in the 1970s by the prominent local grocery company. It was opened by Radio 1 DJ Tony Blackburn and occupied an unusual location over the River Holme, beside the town's small bus station. Lodge's was bought in the 1990s by Co-operative Retail Services who eventually closed the store down in 1997, after investing in a brand new £2 m supermarket for the town. Local residents, led by the Holme Valley Business Association, campaigned for its demolition. Their campaign was featured in the 2005 Channel 4 documentary, Demolition. The building is now undergoing extensive modernisation into several smaller shops, with some planned accommodation on the top floor.
[edit] History
Holmfirth was the home of Bamforths cheeky sea-side postcards for many years - although around the time of the First World War, they produced postcards of a more sober nature. The printing works, on Station Road, has now been converted into residential apartments.
During the early 1900s Holmfirth was well known for film making. Interestingly ancient documents have the town's name spelt 'Holm Frith' which translates as Holly Wood.
[edit] Flooding
There are a number of instances when flooding has occurred in the Holme Valley affecting Holmfirth and other settlements in the valley. The earliest recorded one being in 1738 and the latest in 1944. The most severe flood occurred early on the morning of February 5, 1852, when the embankment of the Bilberry reservoir collapsed causing the deaths of 81 people. Following a severe storm in 1777 the River Holme burst its banks, sweeping away people and property with the loss of three lives, and the stone church built in 1476, was swept away. A storm in 1821 again caused the river to burst its banks. The flooding on the night of 29 May 1944 was not nationally reported and it was then overshadowed by the invasion of Normandy the following week.
 Holmfirth viewed from above Cliff Road |
 View across Holmfirth to Castle Hill, Huddersfield, taken from Dunsley Bank Road |
 Holmfirth centre showing the Parish church |
[edit] Transport
[edit] Rail
Holmfirth used to have its very own railway branch line off the Huddersfield to Sheffield line (commonly referred to as the Penistone Line). This short, two-mile line branched from the mainline just south of the village Brockholes. A viaduct took the line across the valley and into Thongsbridge where a station was sited. The line then went along the side of the valley coming to a halt just outside the town centre on Station Road. Plans did exist for the line to be extended up the valley and then tunnel under Black Hill to join the Sheffield to Manchester line near Woodhead. The line closed to passengers in 1959, with goods traffic lasting until 1965. The station building and platform still remain as a private house. Other sections of the line further down the valley have been sold off for private housing and the viaduct, crossing the valley between Woodlands and Brockholes has been demolished, though the small section spanning the A616 road, at Scar End, still remains.
[edit] Buses
Buses run regularly from and to Huddersfield and other places in West Yorkshire from the centre of Holmfirth. The main bus line from Holmfirth to Huddersfield are the buses 309-316 which take varying routes to get to their location. Most services are operated by First Calderdale and Huddersfield.
[edit] Arts
The Holmfirth Artweek is an annual event which showcases the talents of local artists, while also raising money for the Macmillan Cancer Support.
Holmfirth is home to the galleries of two prominent artists:
The Holmfirth Festival of Folk takes place in late spring.
The Holmfirth Choral Society hold classical choral music concerts, on a regular basis, in Holmfirth Civic Hall.
[edit] Surrounding villages
Holmfirth constitutes a town of its own three miles south of the larger town of Huddersfield. While the town Holmfirth itself is comparatively small, it is surrounded by several hamlets and villages. These neighbouring settlements are often collectively referred to as "Holmfirth" and include:- Austonley, Burnlee, Cartworth, Cinderhills, Cliff, Deanhouse, Gully, Flushhouse, Hade Edge, Thongsbridge and Upperthong
Other villages and hamlets within the postcode district include:- Brockholes, Fulstone, Jackson Bridge, Hepworth, Holme, Holmbridge, Honley, Meltham, Netherthong, New Mill, Scholes, Totties, Underbank and Wooldale.
[edit] External links
- An aerial photo of the town centre
- Map sources for Holmfirth
- Tourism in Holmfirth
- Holmfirth Choral Society Website
[edit] References
- ^ Ward Profiles: Holme Valley South. Kirklees Metropolitan Council (February 2007).
