Birkenshaw, West Yorkshire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Birkenshaw
St Paul's Church
Birkenshaw
OS grid reference	SE203279
Metropolitan borough	Kirklees
Metropolitan county	West Yorkshire
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BRADFORD
Postcode district	BD11
Dialling code	01274, 0113
Police	West Yorkshire
Fire	West Yorkshire
Ambulance	Yorkshire
EU Parliament	Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament	Batley and Spen
List of places UK England Yorkshire 53°44′51″N 1°41′36″W / 53.7475°N 1.6934°W / 53.7475; -1.6934

Birkenshaw is a friendly village in West Yorkshire, England. It is part of the Kirklees area. You can find Birkenshaw where two main roads meet: the A58, which goes from Leeds to Halifax, and the A651, which connects Bradford to Heckmondwike.

In 2011, the area around Birkenshaw had about 16,298 people living there. The village is also home to the main office for the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

What's the Story of Birkenshaw?

The name "Birkenshaw" comes from old English words. It means "Birch Wood." This suggests that long ago, the area was covered in birch trees.

Birkenshaw used to be a small part of a bigger church area called Birstall. Later, in 1894, it became its own "urban district." This meant it had its own local government. In 1937, Birkenshaw joined with other nearby places to form a larger area called Spenborough.

How Do People Get Around Birkenshaw?

Long ago, Birkenshaw had its own train station. It was called Birkenshaw and Tong station. Trains stopped carrying passengers there in 1953. The station closed completely in 1964.

Birkenshaw and Tong station, which closed in 1953.

What Can You Find in Birkenshaw?

Birkenshaw has several useful places for its residents. There are two schools: Birkenshaw Primary School and BBG Academy. The village also has a church and two playgrounds for kids to enjoy.

For food and drinks, there are two restaurants: The Grand Cru and Heath-field Farm. The village also has three pubs and a social club.

Birkenshaw is home to some sports teams too! The Birkenshaw Bluedogs play rugby league. The Birkenshaw Bells are a netball team.

Where is Birkenshaw Located?

		Bradford
	Cleckheaton		Drighlington
		Birkenshaw, West Yorkshire
		Gomersal

Who Are Some Famous People from Birkenshaw?

Several notable people have come from Birkenshaw:

• Benjamin Lister (1850–1919) was a cricketer.
• Michael McGowan (born 1940) is a politician.
• Emanuel Scott (1834–1898) was also a cricketer.
• Harry Turner (1879–1939) was another cricketer.