Bingley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bingley |
|
|---|---|
 Damart Mills, Bingley |
|
 Bingley
|
|
| Population | 18,040 (Ward, 2021 census) |
| OS grid reference | SE108389 |
| • London | 210 miles (338 km) |
| Civil parish |
|
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BINGLEY |
| Postcode district | BD16 |
| Dialling code | 01274 |
| Police | West Yorkshire |
| Fire | West Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament |
|
| Councillors | |
Bingley is a busy market town in West Yorkshire, England. It sits right by the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. In 2021, about 18,040 people lived there.
Contents
History of Bingley
How Bingley Started
Bingley was probably founded by the Saxons. They built it near a place where people could cross the River Aire. This crossing made it easy to get to other nearby areas like Harden and Cullingworth.
The name "Bingley" comes from old English words. It means "the clearing in the forest belonging to Bynna's people."
The Normans Arrive
After the Normans took over England, Bingley was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. This was a huge survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror. It listed Bingley as "Bingheleia." The book said it was a manor (a large estate) with land for farming and woodlands.
Medieval Times
Later, a bridge called Ireland Bridge was built over the river. Bingley became a market town in 1212, when King John gave it a special charter. This meant it could hold markets, which helped the town grow.
In 1379, Bingley had about 130 households, which means around 500 people lived there. This made Bingley bigger than nearby towns like Bradford and Leeds at that time! We don't know much about how the Black Death affected Bingley, but it was a terrible plague that killed many people across Europe in the 1300s.
Tudor Times
In 1592, a map showed Bingley as one main street with about 20 houses on each side. The church was at one end, facing a large house, possibly where the local lord lived. Since it was a market town, stalls would have lined the main street. One of the oldest buildings still standing is the Old White Horse Inn, a coaching inn by Ireland Bridge.
The Industrial Revolution
Like many towns in the area, Bingley grew a lot during the Industrial Revolution. This was a time when new machines and factories changed how things were made. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal reached Bingley in 1774. This canal helped transport goods and connected Bingley to other towns. The canal has famous parts in Bingley, like the Bingley Five Rise and Bingley Three Rise Locks. These are like giant steps that boats use to go up or down the valley.
Many wool and textile mills were built in Bingley. People moved from the countryside and even from Ireland to work in these factories. A railway was also built, bringing even more trade.
.jpg)
After the Industrial Boom
Bingley Teacher Training College opened in 1911 and trained many teachers before it closed in 1979. Over the years, many of the old textile mills closed down. However, the Damart mill still operates today. Some old buildings, like the tannery, have been turned into flats.
The town also saw changes in housing. Some older, cramped houses were replaced with council housing. Three tall apartment blocks were built, but they were later taken down in 2020. The Bradford & Bingley Building Society had its main office in Bingley, bringing many jobs. This building was also later taken down in 2015.
Road History in Bingley
The main road through Bingley has been changed twice. In 1904, a new section of road was built to bypass the church. This made the old cobbled road in front of the church into "Old Main Street."
For a long time, people planned a new main road through Bingley. In 2004, the Bingley Relief Road finally opened. This road cost a lot of money and goes through Bingley between the railway and the canal. Building it involved moving a part of the canal! Some people protested the road, even living in tree houses for almost two years. After the road opened, house prices in Bingley went up a lot.
How Bingley is Governed
Bingley used to be part of a larger area called Skyrack in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Over time, its local government changed. In 1898, the Bingley Urban District was created to manage the town. By 1926, all council work moved to Myrtle Grove, which became the town hall.
In 1974, Bingley became part of the City of Bradford Metropolitan District. More recently, in 2016, a new local council called Bingley Town Council was set up. This council has 16 councillors who represent eight different areas within Bingley.
Bingley ward is currently represented on Bradford Council by three Labour party councillors: Susan Fricker, Marcus Dearden, and Joe Wheatley.
Transport in Bingley
Bingley has its own Bingley railway station in the town centre. You can catch trains to places like Leeds, Bradford Forster Square, and Skipton. These services are run by Northern Trains.
The A650 is the main road connecting Bingley to Keighley and Skipton to the north, and to Shipley and Bradford to the south. The new relief road helps traffic avoid the town centre.
Several bus routes also serve Bingley, connecting it to Bradford, Keighley, and other local areas. Leeds Bradford International Airport is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) away.
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a big part of Bingley's transport history. It has several sets of locks, including the famous Five Rise Locks and the Three Rise Locks. These locks help boats climb the steep valley.
Climate in Bingley
Bingley has a maritime climate, which means it has cool to mild weather, often cloudy and damp. This is common for the United Kingdom. The nearest weather station is a bit higher up than the town centre, so temperatures in central Bingley are usually a little milder.
The highest temperature recorded since 1980 was 31.6°C (88.9°F) in August 1990. The lowest was -10.8°C (12.6°F) in December 2010.
| Climate data for Bingley No 2 (262 m elevation) 1981–2010 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 5.5 (41.9) |
5.6 (42.1) |
8.1 (46.6) |
10.7 (51.3) |
14.3 (57.7) |
16.9 (62.4) |
19.1 (66.4) |
18.7 (65.7) |
15.9 (60.6) |
12.1 (53.8) |
8.3 (46.9) |
5.8 (42.4) |
11.8 (53.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.5 (32.9) |
0.3 (32.5) |
1.7 (35.1) |
3.2 (37.8) |
5.9 (42.6) |
8.8 (47.8) |
11.1 (52.0) |
10.9 (51.6) |
8.9 (48.0) |
6.1 (43.0) |
3.2 (37.8) |
0.9 (33.6) |
5.1 (41.2) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 109.8 (4.32) |
77.2 (3.04) |
81.5 (3.21) |
72.9 (2.87) |
65.2 (2.57) |
77.1 (3.04) |
63.0 (2.48) |
81.1 (3.19) |
77.1 (3.04) |
99.8 (3.93) |
105.2 (4.14) |
114.3 (4.50) |
1,024.1 (40.32) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 15.4 | 12.3 | 13.4 | 11.2 | 11.2 | 11.1 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 11.2 | 14.4 | 15.3 | 14.8 | 152.3 |
| Source: metoffice.gov.uk | |||||||||||||
Education in Bingley
Bingley has several schools for different age groups. The main secondary schools are Beckfoot School, Bingley Grammar School, and Samuel Lister Academy. Bingley Grammar School is very old, founded in the 16th century, making it one of the oldest schools in the country!
Media in Bingley
For local news and TV, people in Bingley can watch BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire. Local radio stations include BBC Radio Leeds, Heart Yorkshire, and Capital Yorkshire. There's also Rombalds Radio, a community radio station that broadcasts online.
The town is also served by local newspapers like the Keighley News and the Telegraph & Argus.
Culture and Events
Bingley is known for its fun events!
- Bingley Music Live is an annual music festival held in Myrtle Park. It features different types of music like rock, indie, and pop. Many famous artists have performed there since it started in 2007. It's known for offering great music at a good price.
- Bingley Show is another big annual event in Myrtle Park. It's one of the largest one-day shows in Europe, focusing on farming and gardening. It has been held almost every year since 1867!
- Bingley Little Theatre is a place where local groups put on plays and shows throughout the year.
Did you know that the first Airedale Terrier dog breed was developed in Bingley?
Since 2015, Bingley has been part of the Walkers are Welcome network. This means the town is extra friendly to walkers and aims to encourage more people to explore the area on foot.
Famous People from Bingley
Many interesting people have connections to Bingley:
- Frank W. Walbank (1909–2008), a famous expert on ancient history.
- Ian Hutchinson, a motorcycle racer who has won many races, including the Isle of Man TT.
- Fred Hoyle, a well-known astronomer.
- John Braine, an author who worked in Bingley Library.
- Rodney Bewes, an actor famous for his role in The Likely Lads.
- Muriel Aked, an actress.
- William Twiss, a Royal Engineer who designed the Martello Tower.
- Marmozets, a rock band formed in Bingley.
- Timothy Taylor, a famous brewer of Yorkshire ales.
- Jessica Knappett, a comedian, writer, and actor.
Images for kids
-
Damart Mills, Bingley
See also
In Spanish: Bingley para niños
