Upperthong

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Upperthong
Upperthong (West Yorkshire)
Upperthong

Upperthong shown within West Yorkshire
Population 1166[1]
OS grid reference SE135085
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
Dialling code 01484
Police West Yorkshire
Fire West Yorkshire
Ambulance Yorkshire
European Parliament Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament Colne Valley
List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire

Coordinates: 53°34′23″N 1°47′51″W / 53.57293, -1.79761

Upperthong is a village approximately 290 metres above sea level near the town of Holmfirth in the Holme Valley, approximately seven miles west of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England.

Contents

[edit] History

The name Upperthong may be derived from the Danish 'Thing' (a place of military gathering) - there is also a Netherthong - which suggests a link to the viking invaders who took control of large areas of the north east of England. The name could also be derived from the Viking word 'thong', meaning a strip of land. Upperthong is set on higher ground to Netherthong, suggesting the names could refer to Upperthong - an upper strip of land, and Netherthong - a lower strip of land.

Part of Upperthong, viewed from Dunsley Bank Road

Aerial image of Upperthong

National cycle route marker at corner of Upperthong Lane and Broad Lane

St John's Parish Church, viewed from Dunsley Bank Road

[edit] Politics

Upperthong has been represented by Labour MP Kali Mountford since her win over Graham Riddick in 1997.

[edit] Education

Upperthong Junior and Infant School takes children aged 4 to 11 in 7 single aged classes.[2] The school provides a high level of education[3] to it 189 pupils with an above average overall score in the key stage 1 and 2 league tables.[4]

[edit] Sport

Although small, Upperthong manages to support a cricket team in the Huddersfield Central League and a football team, who play in Division 4 of the Huddersfield and District Association League.

Several roads in Upperthong form part of the southern section of National Route 68 of the National Cycle Network[5] - the Pennine Cycleway, the route follows Upperthong Lane from its start in Holmfirth, and continues along Wickins Lane and Wolfstones Road.

[edit] Trivia

  • Bill Owen, who played Compo in the BBC comedy Last of the Summer Wine, is buried at the parish church, St. John.
  • Cashing in on Holmfirth's Last of the Summer Wine fame, Compo's Cafe is a popular fish & chip restaurant and takeaway.
  • Upperthong is the Headquarters of The World Welly Wanging Championship which is held on the Sunday of the Gala Weekend, in turn held over the last weekend of June each year.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kirklees Government Area Profile 2005
  2. ^ Upperthong J&I School
  3. ^ Upperthong J&I OFSTED Report
  4. ^ BBC Schools' league tables 2006
  5. ^ National Cycle Network

[edit] External links