Huddersfield
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Huddersfield1000px.jpg
An aerial view of the town centre, viewed from South to North, can be seen on:- |http://www.huddersfieldtv.co.uk/aerial/aerial-huddersfield-2005-we.jpg (http://www.huddersfieldtv.co.uk/aerial/aerial-huddersfield-2005-we.jpg)
Huddersfield is a university town in the county of West Yorkshire in England, near the confluence of the River Colne and the River Holme. The Huddersfield Broad Canal and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal are navigable canals, using narrowboats, passing through the town. Huddersfield is in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees.
The picture on the New Zealand wine "Castle Hill" is of Victoria Tower atop Castle Hill overlooking Huddersfield (see image below)
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History
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A village during Anglo-Saxon times, Huddersfield appeared in the Domesday Book as Oderesfelt. There had however been a settlement in the vicinity since Roman times, as evidenced by discovery of the remains of a Roman fort at Slack, just west of the town. Castle Hill, a major landmark of the town, was originally an Iron-Age hillfort.
In 1856 at the age of 18, William Perkin, Later:- Sir William Perkin, accidentally discovered the first aniline dye mauvine in a laboratory at his home, whilst taking his Easter holiday.
In 1952, in recognition of historic ties and links with The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) Huddersfield conferred on the regiment the Freedom of the Town. This gives the regiment the right to march through the town with 'Flags Flying, Bands playing and Bayonets fixed'. Many of the town and district's male residents have served in the regiment during its 300+ year history.
Institutions
Schools and colleges
Huddersfield is the home to two sixth form colleges (Huddersfield New College located at Salendine Nook and Greenhead College), Huddersfield Technical College and the University of Huddersfield.
Historical landmarks
The colonnaded Huddersfield railway station in St George's Square was once described as 'a stately home with trains in it', and by Sir Nikolaus Pevsner as 'one of the best early railway stations in England' (see webcam at http://www.virtualhuddersfield.com/trial.htm).
A clock tower in the village of Lindley (a suburb to the west of the town) was constructed in 1902 by a local mill-owner, so that his workers would not have any excuse to be impunctual for work! St Peters' Church, or 'Huddersfield Parish Church' was constructed in 1838 and is located in the town centre.
Sport
Rugby
On August 29, 1895, 22 rugby clubs from across the north of England held a meeting in the George Hotel, next to the railway station. They voted to secede from the Rugby Football Union and set up their own Northern Rugby Football Union. In 1922 this became the Rugby Football League. Huddersfield is still a focus for rugby league, being represented by the Huddersfield Giants in the Superleague, and the Huddersfield Underbank Rangers in National League 3, as well as many amateur teams. The Huddersfield Giants play in claret and gold coloured, hooped shirts with white shorts.
Football
Huddersfield Town A.F.C. are the town's senior Association Football team, and were founded in 1908. In the 1920s they became the first club to win the English League Championship three times in a row, an achievement matched only by Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United. They left their ground on Leeds Road in 1994 and currently share the Galpharm Stadium with the Giants rugby league team and play in shirts with blue-and-white vertical stripes. Their most famous ex-players are Scottish international Denis Law (later of Manchester United) and Ray Wilson, a World Cup winner with England in 1966. They have been managed by Bill Shankly and Herbert Chapman.
Arts
Huddersfield is home to the Lawrence Batley Theatre, the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra and the Huddersfield Singers.
Notable people from Huddersfield
- Harold Wilson, British Prime Minister
- Cameron Jerome, football player
- James Mason, actor
- Roy Castle, presenter, dancer and entertainer
- Simon Armitage, poet and author
- Harold Percival Himsworth, scientist
- Harold Wagstaff, rugby league player
- Wilf Rhodes and George Hirst, English Test cricketers
- Lena Headey, actress
- Lord James Hanson, British and international businessman
- Anita Lonsborough, Olympic swimmer and commentator
- Gorden Kaye, actor
- Wilf Lunn, inventor
Suburbs of the town
Almondbury, Aspley, Berry Brow, Birkby, Bradley, Brockholes, Crosland Moor, Dalton, Deighton, Emley, Fartown, Flockton, Golcar, Grange Moor, Hepworth, Holmfirth, Honley, Kirkburton, Kirkheaton, Lepton, Lindley, Lockwood, Longwood, Marsden, Meltham, Moldgreen, Nettleton Hill, Newmill, Newsome, Outlane, Salendine Nook, Scammonden, Scholes, Shelley, Shepley, Skelmanthorpe, Slaithwaite, South Crosland, Upper Heaton and more.
See Also
See also Huddersfield, Jamaica
External links
- Wikitravel article on Huddersfield
- ic Huddersfield (http://ichuddersfield.icnetwork.co.uk/)
- Virtual Huddersfield (http://www.virtualhuddersfield.com/)