Silsden
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Silsden | |
  Silsden shown within West Yorkshire |
|
| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan borough | City of Bradford |
| Metropolitan county | West Yorkshire |
| Region | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | KEIGHLEY |
| Postcode district | BD20 |
| Dialling code | 01535 |
| Police | West Yorkshire |
| Fire | West Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| European Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament | Keighley |
| List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire | |
Silsden is an English town situated in West Yorkshire. It lies on the northern slope of the Aire river valley between Keighley and Skipton. It is about 0.6 miles (1km) from the river. Along the lower edge of the town is the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
Contents |
[edit] History
Silsden was mentioned in the Domesday Book as the most important village in Craven.
Generally an agricultural area, industry came with the canal and the Industrial Revolution. The town hosted a number of mills none of which now operate in their original form. There is still industry in the town, some in old mill buildings and some in a new industrial estate between the town and the river. The town retains some manufacturing.
In 1998 a hoard of 27 gold coins dating back to the 1st century AD were found in the town and subsequently valued at £20,000 by experts appointed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.[1]
The Guinness Book of World Records says that the biggest onion ever was grown by Vincent Throup in Silsden, England, at 10 lb 14 oz (4.9 kg)
[edit] Transport
While Silsden does not have its own railway station, there is a station 1.6 km from the village in nearby Steeton. Even so the station is well patronised by Silsden residents as it serves the cities of Leeds and Bradford. With modern electric trains it is well used by commuters. In deference to Steeton's larger neighbour the official name of the station is Steeton and Silsden.
Lying between Keighley and Ilkley Silsden is well served by buses to both of these towns. Silsden's public transport benefits from Silsden being part of West Yorkshire rather than North Yorkshire the border of which runs along one end of the village.
[edit] Administration and democracy
Silsden has been administered by the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council since 1974. It also has its own town council.
[edit] Personalities
Silsden has been the home of a number of personalities over the years. The Lampkin family settled in the town after WW2 and Arthur, Martin and Douglas Lampkin, commonly caled Dougie Lampkin were champions in motorcycle off road sport. Martin Lampkin and his son Douglas were both world trials champions.
Henry Price, the Fifty Shilling Tailors started his first shop in Silsden. With this fortune the now Sir Henry Price bought Wakehurst Place which is now owned by the National Trust.
[edit] Television
On April 27, 1995, a one-off anthology supernatural drama, titled Chiller, aired in which episode 6, titled "number 6" featured Silsden. Silsden was featured almost for the entire one-hour episode, from locations all across the town. Details of the series can be found here and here.
Bonapartes Restaurant, located on Kirkgate, was the subject of the first-ever episode of Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares in 2004. After the show aired, Bonapartes' owner Sue Ray threatened to take legal action against Ramsay, Channel 4 and the programme makers, Optomen, after claiming that the show put her £400,000 in debt. Christine Hall, producer of Kitchen Nightmares, refused to accept the blame, stating Ray only had herself to blame.[2] The programme revisited the restaurant in the second series, but Ray would only talk to Ramsay off-camera.
In June 2006, Ramsay won a High Court case against the London Evening Standard, which had alleged, after reports from Ray, that scenes and the general condition of Bonapartes had been faked. Ramsay was awarded £75,000 plus costs. Ramsay said at the time: "I won't let people write anything they want to about me. We have never done anything in a cynical, fake way."[3]
[edit] References
- ^ The Silsden Hoard
- ^ "Ramsay's nightmare put me out of business" - TimesOnline
- ^ "Chef Ramsay wins £75,000 damages". BBC News (2006-06-20).
[edit] External links
- Silsden.net - Local resource
