Clayton, West Yorkshire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clayton is an area of Bradford, West Yorkshire, in England, situated to the west of the city centre. It is listed in the Domesday Book, meaning it dates back to at least the 11th century. It was noted for its clay. More recently, Clayton was a key location in the British and international wool trade, being the home of the British Wool Marketing Board headquarters. The old building was demolished and converted into housing in the late 1990s.
Though no longer a village, as it has now been absorbed into the West Yorkshire conurbation of Bradford, the area maintains a village feel, and is often referred to as such. The village re-acquired civil parish status with a parish council in 2004.
The main street of the village – Clayton Lane – which runs alongside the park, includes several traditional pubs, a popular crawl route for many residents. Starting at the top of the lane is The Fleece, moving down to The Albion and The Black Bull – the oldest pub in the area. Other pubs include The Fiddlers Three and The Quarry Arms. There are also several shops, churches, and a nearby golf club and reservoir at Clayton Heights with views of the city of Bradford and the village of Thornton across the valley.
Although not directly associated with the Brontës, the long distance Bronte Way footpath passes close by, and – with the nearby village of Thornton (where the Brontë sisters were born) being within walking distance – Clayton must have been well known to the Brontës' rebellious brother Patrick when he lived in the area.
The local football team is Royal Clayton FC.
Perhaps Clayton's greatest claim to fame is as the birthplace and home of Albert Pierrepoint, often considered to be the United Kingdom's last state executioner.
Other famous Claytonians include Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, who was married in Clayton Baptist Church to Linda Barker, the television presenter of Changing Rooms. A more tedious claim to fame is that Peter Sellers' aunt lived there. As his only living relative (other than his wife and children) he could often be seen visiting during his lifetime.
