top of page
Writer's pictureLeah Wimpenny

West Yorkshire

Updated: Aug 15, 2024

West Yorkshire

 

Population: 2.325 million

Founded: West Yorkshire was formed as a metropolitan county in 1974

Time zone: Gmt+0

Currency:£

Location of west Yorkshire in the UK.

 



(5 Metropolitan Boroughs of west Yorkshire)

 

 

 


    vert and tenné

 

West Yorkshire coat of arms

Motto: By effort achieve

west Yorkshire flag. 

 


 

West Yorkshire County Council flag

 

 

Coat of arms for Kirklees

Founded :1 April 1974

Population: 438,727

 

Kirklees.

Kirklees is an area that is made up of 10 towns and is set within the picturesque area of the Pennine hills and other boundaries include one with High peak in Derbyshire and the Peak District national park.

The areas are split into the industrial rural. 

 

The villages of the  Colne valley (areas here include Golcar, Marsden Slaithwaite Linthwaite.) Holme Valley and the Calder valley. (Calderdale villages and include Halifax, Brighouse, Rastrick, Elland, Stainland, Greetland, Todmorden, Sowerby Bridge, Hebden Bridge and Hipperholme.)

North Kirklees include Batley Dewsbury and the Spen Valley.

South Kirklees include: Birstall, Cleckheaton, Denby Dale, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Kirkburton, Melham and  Mirfield.

 

Huddersfield 

Huddersfield is recognized for Victorian architecture, the University of Huddersfield, and its beautiful surrounding countryside.

Huddersfield coat of arms

Population: 141,692

Motto: Juvat Impigros Deus 

Founded: 1868

 

Huddersfield is made of 100 villages, hamlets and small towns,

The town of Huddersfield is one of the biggest in west Yorkshire and has many suburb areas these include

Marsden Slaithwaite, Golcar Linthwaite and Scapegoat Hill. These areas are located in the Colne valley.

Things to do in the Colne valley.

 visiting churches, Colne Valley museum (to learn about the history of the area), Walking through the hills or on the canal.  There are antique shops to view, clothing boutiques and an art gallery to visit.

Eating places here include

Indian restaurants (Havelli Golcar. Destination, Slaithwaite.)

Country pubs (The scape House Inn, The

River head Marsden)

Farm shops,

Fish and Chip shop

Italian (little Italy Outlane, Anello Slaithwaite and Mozzarellas Marsden.)

Sport (Huddersfield is the home of rugby league) The Huddersfield Town football  club and the Huddersfield Giants rugby team.

Entertainment (Cinemas & theater (Odeon Huddersfield), The Laurence Batley  theater)

Famous people from Huddersfield

James Mason actor

Harold Wilson prime minister

Bodies Whitaker (actor, Doctor who)

David brown English industrialist

Laurence Batley was an entrepreneur and philanthropist.

 Gorden Kaye, was an English actor and singer, best known for playing womanizing café owner René Artois in the British comedy series 'Allo 'Allo!

 

 

The Holme valley


Population:34,680

 The villages of the Holme valley include

Brockholes,

Jackson Bridge,

Hepworth,

Holme,

Holmbridge,

Honley,

Meltham,

Netherthong,

New Mill,

Scholes,

Totties,

Thongsbridge,

Upperthong,

Longley,

Hade Edge,

Underbank

Wooldale

Famous people from Holme Valley 

Peter Brook (painter)

Roy Castle (dancer)

Calderdale 

Population: 210,082

Founded:1974

Coat of arms


Map of Calderdale

 Villages in Calderdale:

Brighouse

Founded:1865

Population :33,160


Todmorden 

Population:15,481

Founded: 1801

 

Ÿ  Halifax 

Coat of arms

Map of Halifax

Population: 88,134

 

Founded:1749

Halifax is the fifth largest of West Yorkshire's towns and cities.

There are many food options available such as the burgh market or the Victorian piece Hall.

Entertainment ( Victoria Theater, Halifax Playhouse and the Square Chapel theatre)

Cinema (The Vue cinema broad street plaza)

 

Ÿ  Sowerby bridge

Population:11,703

Founded:1869

Famous people

Sally Wainwright tv writer

Justin Hawkins (1975–), front man of rock band The Darkness.

Ÿ  Glyn Hughes (writer) (1935–2011), English poet, artist and novelist

 

Elland

Founded: 23 February 1976

Population: 11,676

 

Mytholmroyd 

Founded: 31 December 1894

Population: 3,949

Famous People 

Ted Hughes poet laureate

Innes Ireland, racing driver and Grand Prix winner.

Jon Richardson, comedian.

 

Hebden Bridge

Founded: 31 December 1894

Population:5,223

Famous People

Keith Emerson keyboardist.

Lavena Saltonstall (1881–1957), suffragette and writer, born and grew up in Hebden Bridge.

Paula Lane, actor with roles including Kylie Platt of Coronation Street, remains a resident of the town and also runs a drama school there.

 

Riponden 

Population: 6,412

Founded: 1307

Famous People

James Walton, inventor and industrialist, born in Ripponden in 1803.

Sir Norman Howard Bottomley, Air Chief Marshal of the RAF and Commander-in-Chief of RAF Bomber Command in 1945, was born in Ripponden in 1891.

 

Bradford

Coat of arms




Population:536,986

Founded:1903

 

Suburbs of Bradford include

Standby

Thornton

Oakworth

Oxenhope

Baildon

Shipley

Bingley

Keighley

Famous People

Natalie Anderson – (born 24 October 1981) English actress best known for her roles as Alicia Gallagher in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale and Stella Davenport in the medical drama The Royal, was born in Bradford.

Tim Booth – (born 4 February 1960) English singer, dancer and actor best known as the lead singer from the band James. Born in Bradford.


Anne Brontë – (1820–1849) novelist and poet, born in Thornton on the outskirts of Bradford.

Charlotte Brontë – (1816–1855) novelist and poet, born in Thornton.

Emily Brontë – (1818–1848) novelist and poet, born in Thornton.

Patrick Barnwell Brontë – (1817–1848) painter, writer and poet, born in Thornton.

Barbara Castle, Baroness Castle of Blackburn – (1910–2002) British Labour Party politician. Her family lived in Bradford from when she was 12.

Adrian Edmondson – (born 24 January 1957) comedian, writer, director, actor, and musician. Born in Bradford.

Mason Greenwood (born 1 October 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester United and the England under-21 team.

 

Leeds 


Coat of arms

Population:792,525

Founded: 1207

The surrounding areas that are part of Leeds include:

Morley 

Pudsey

Tadcaster, 

Wetherby 

 Wharfedale,

Aireborough,

Garforth, 

Horsforth

Otley and Rothwell.

Famous People

Nicolas Adams Olympic boxer

H. H. Asquith – 1st Earl of Oxford & Asquith, Liberal Prime Minister of the UK from 1908 to 1916

Corinne Bailey Rae – singer

Alan Bennett play Wright

Barbara Taylor Bradford novelist

Melanie Brown – "Mel B" from the Spice Girls

Alistair Brownlee – triathlon world champion and Olympic gold medalist

Jonathan Brownlee – triathlon world champion and Olympic bronze medalist

Beryl Burton – record-breaking cyclist

Thomas Chippendale – furniture maker, from Farnley, Otley.

 

Wakefield 

 

Population :343,932

Founded :1852

The towns and vilages that make up Wakefield include:

Castleford,

 

Population: 45,106

Founded: 1894

 The surrounding areas of Castleford are

Featherstone,

Knottingley,

Normanton

Pontefract

Hemsworth,

Horbury,

Ossett,

South Elmsall and South Kirkby

 

The best time of the year to come to west Yorkshire is spring or summer you can explore local festivals such as Golcar Lilly  day (14th may) or for greater weather for hiking  in the local areas peek District, Yorkshire dales and the Pennines.

Marsden jazz festival (October)

Marsden cuckoo festival (April)

Slaithwaite moon raking festival (October)

Yorkshire regional brass band championships (March)

 

Food

Yorkshire Curd Tart

Parkin

Yorkshire Pudding

Forced Rhubarb

Wensleydale Cheese

Henderson’s Relish

Fat Rascal

Sport

Football

Major football clubs in West Yorkshire include Leeds United, Huddersfield Town, and Bradford City.

Cricket 

The Yorkshire County cricket club play at hedgingly stadium.

Rugby 

The main rugby league teams in the Super League are Bradford Bulls, Castleford Tigers, Halifax Panthers, Huddersfield Giants, Leeds Rhinos, and Wakefield Trinity.

The main rugby union team is Yorkshire Carnegie.

Speedway

having the Halifax Dukes and the Bradford Dukes teams. Odsal Stadium used to host BriSCA stock cars.

Horse racing 

The two main racecourses here are Wetherby and Pontefract.

Things to see

Eureka children's museum

Yorkshire sculpture park

Stanage tunnel Marsden (Britain's longest canal tunnel)

National media museum

Salts Mill saltaire

Keighley and Worth Valley railway

Harewood house

Tropical world Leeds

Royal armories Leeds

Visit welcome to Yorkshire for more things to see and do.

Where to stay

Pennine manor Hotel

The queen's Hotel Leeds

Oulton Hall Hotel golf resort and Spa

Holiday inn express Bradford City centre

Visit welcome to Yorkshire for more places to stay.

 

 

Dialect.

Greetings and Expressions:

1. Ey up - A friendly Yorkshire greeting similar to "Hello" or "Hi there."

2. 'Ow do? - Another way to say "How do you do?" or "How are you?"

3. Ta - A common abbreviation for "thank you."

4. Ta-ra - A casual way of saying "goodbye."

5. 'Ow's it goin'? - A friendly inquiry about how someone is doing.

6. Nee-boddah - Yorkshire's version of "nobody" or "no one."

7. Nowt - A word meaning "nothing."

8. Ginnel - A narrow alleyway or passage between buildings.

9. Scran - Food or a meal.

10. Brew - A cup of tea.

People and Character:

11. Tyke - A term affectionately used to describe a Yorkshire person.

12. Lad/Lass - A boy or a girl, often used to refer to young people.

13. Champion - A compliment, meaning "great" or "excellent."

14. Mardy - To be in a grumpy or sulky mood.

15. Daft as a brush - A playful way of describing someone as silly or foolish.

16. Nobbut a lad/lass - Expressing that someone is still young or inexperienced.

17. Luv - A term of endearment used for both men and women.

18. Reet grand - Means "absolutely splendid" or "excellent."

19. Tosser - A light-hearted insult, implying someone is a bit foolish.

20. Soft lad/lass - Used to describe someone who is a bit naive or easily influenced.

21. Summat - Yorkshire slang for "something."

22. Reet bonnie - A compliment describing something as particularly beautiful or attractive.

23. Fettle - In good health or condition.

24. Mizzle - A fine misty rain or drizzle.

25. Snap - A packed lunch or a meal to take on the go.

26. T'foot o' our stairs - Refers to the bottom of the stairs in a house.

27. T'owd mon - The old man, often referring to one's father or an elderly gentleman.

28. Gaffer - The boss or someone in charge.

29. Wensleydale - A famous cheese from the region.

30. Laikin' - Playing or having fun

31. Eeh by gum - An exclamation of surprise or astonishment.

32. Bloomin' 'eck - Similar to "Oh my goodness" or "Goodness me."

33. Flippin' 'eck - A mild expression of surprise or shock.

34.Well, I'll go to t'foot of our stairs - An expression of utter disbelief.

35. Gadzooks - An archaic exclamation of surprise or astonishment.

36. 'Ecky thump - An exclamation used to express surprise or disbelief.

37. Chuddy - Gum or chewing gum.

38. Barm cake - A soft bread roll, often used for sandwiches.

39. T'ale - A shortened form of "the ale," meaning a pint of beer.

40. Eeh bah gum, it's reet good - A

compliment about delicious food or a tasty meal.

41. T'brew - Yorkshire slang for a cup of tea.

42. Nosh - Food or a meal.

43. Ginnin' o'er a glass o' bitter - Referring to someone who's laughing heartily over a pint of beer.

44. Nettled - To be thirsty.

45. Haver - To talk nonsense or to chatter aimlessly.

Miscellaneous:

46. Boggart - A mischievous ghost or spirit.

47. Midden - A messy or untidy place.

48. Put wood in't 'ole - Close the door (often said to prevent a draft).

49. Mither - To bother or pester someone.

50. Nowt so queer as folk - An expression meaning "people are strange" or "there's no accounting for taste."

 

Famous people

John Reginald Halliday Christie, the murderer from 10 Rillington Place.

Hannah Cockroft, athlete/double Paralympic gold medalist.

Shirley Crabtree, wrestler professionally known as 'Big Daddy

John Ketley

Anne Lister, diarist and former owner of Shibden Hall.

Ÿ  John mackintosh (mackintosh Toffee Rowntree's)

Ÿ  Percy Shaw, inventor of Cat's Eyes, used on public roads

Ed Sheeran, singer-songwriter, born in Halifax

Edward Akroyd woolen manufacturer

 

 

How to get Here

 

Huddersfield by road

Huddersfield The M62 east-west motorway is around 3 miles northwest of Huddersfield town centre, while for traffic heading south, the M1 is 11 miles to the east.

A62 WEST leads towards the Colne Valley and Oldham.

A616 leads south towards Stocksbridge and routes to Sheffield, with the A6024 branching off it around 3 miles from the town centre towards Holmfirth.

A629 EAST runs towards Penistone, Rotherham and routes to Sheffield and connects to the A642around 2 miles outside the town

 

centre towards Wakefield and the A637 towards the M1 and Barnsley.

A62 EAST leads towards Liversidge, Birstall and Leeds, connecting also with the A644 around 3 miles from the town centre for the M62 EAST (J25), Mirfield and Dewsbury.

A641heads north towards Brighouse and Bradford.

A629 WEST leads towards the M62 (J24), Elland, Halifax, Keighley and Skipton.

Routes from the town radiate from the A62 ring road around Huddersfield town centre:

A640 leads towards the M62 WEST (J23-west facing only) and to Denshaw and Rochdale.

 

By Rail 

The station is the second biggest rail hub in West Yorkshire after Leeds with more than 200 trains a day.

Trains travel westbound to Manchester

East bound trains travel to Leeds, York, Hull, Redcar, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Scarborough and Bradford

York 1hour

Bradford 36 minutes

Brighouse 10 minutes

Halifax 22 minutes

Deighton 4 minutes

Mirfield 8 minutes

Wakefield Kirkgate 23 minutes

Normanton 28 minutes

Castleford 34 minutes

Leeds 20 minutes

Malton 1hour 13minutes

Seamer 1hour 31minutes

Scarborough 1hour 37minutes

Dewsbury 10 minutes

Leeds 23 minutes

York 46 minutes

 

Northallerton 1hour 10minutes

Darlington 1hour 23minutes

 Durham 1hour 37minutes

Chester-Le-Street 1hour 44minutes 

Newcastle 1hour 54minutes

 Thirsk 1hour 11minutes

 Yarm 1hour 33minutes

Thornaby-on-Tees 1hour 42 minutes

Middlesbrough 1hour 50minutes

Redcar Central 2hours 2minutes

Saltburn-by-the-Sea 2hours 12minutes

Ravensthorpe 12 minutes

Dewsbury 15 minutes

Batley 18 minutes

Morley 23 minutes

Cottingly 27 minutes

Leeds 34 minutes

 Selby 58 minutes

Howden 1hour 13 minutes

Brough 1hour 18minutes

Hull 1hour 32minutes

 

Lockwood 3 minutes

Berry Brow 6 minutes

 Honley 9 minutes

 Brockholes 12 minutes

 Stocksmoor 16 minutes

Shepley 18 minutes

Denby Dale 23 minutes

Penistone 30 minutes

Silkstone Common 36 minutes

Dodworth 40 minutes

 Barnsley 47 minutes

 Wombwell 53 minutes

 Elsecar 57 minutes

Chapeltown 1hour 3minutes

Meadowhall 1hour 8 minutes

Sheffield 1hour 16 minutes

Slaithwaite 7 minutes

 Marsden 11 minutes

Greenfield 19 minutes

Mossley 23 minutes

Stalybridge 28 minutes

 Manchester Piccadilly 45 minutes

Manchester Victoria 30 minutes Manchester Oxford Road 37minutes  

Manchester Piccadilly 42 minutes Manchester Airport 1hour 4minutes

Newton-le-Willows 1hour 2minutes 

Lea Green 1hour 8minutes 

Liverpool 1-hour 23min

London 2 hours 49 minutes.

 

Bus 

Trips from Huddersfield

Brighouse 21 minutes

Elland 22 minutes

Marsden 28minutes

Holmfirth 29 minutes

Mirfield 30 minutes

Heckmondwike 34 minutes 

Halifax 45minutes

Bradford 48 minutes 

Cleckheaton 49 minutes

Denby Dale 49 minutes

Dewsbury 50 minutes

Wakefield 1hour 10min

Oldham 1hour 22min

Leeds 1hour 25min

 

Places to eat

Bolster Moor farm Shop

Havelli

Rumpus Burger Slaithwaite

The little bridge  Slaithwaite

Northern soul

Peel Street social Marsden

Wild cafe

ERICS

 

 

Facts

Wakefield

WORLD COAL CARRYING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN GAWTHORPE

Sitting on the banks of the River Aire, Queen’s Mill is the world’s largest stone grinding flour mill, with twenty pairs of stones

Bradford

Bradford is officially the Curry Capital of Britain, thanks to its many excellent curry restaurants. South Asian influences can be found all around the city.

 

Useful websites

0 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page