Elland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elland |
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 A view of Elland |
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 Elland
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| Population | 11,676 (Ward at 2011 census) |
| OS grid reference | SE106208 |
| Metropolitan borough |
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| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ELLAND |
| Postcode district | HX5 |
| Dialling code | 01422 |
| Police | West Yorkshire |
| Fire | West Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament |
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Elland is a historic market town in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, England. It is located south of Halifax, right by the River Calder. The town was first written about as Elant in the Domesday Book of 1086. In 2011, about 11,676 people lived in the Elland ward.
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What Elland's Name Means
The name Elland was first recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as Elant. It comes from two very old English words: ēa, which means 'river', and land. This name makes sense because Elland is located right on the south bank of the River Calder.
Elland's Past: A Look Back
Elland has a long history, even before the Normans arrived in England. The Elland family were important local leaders who kept their land for many years.
The area around Elland was once part of a larger estate called the Honour of Pontefract. In 1350, a local leader named Sir John de Eland was murdered. His son and grandson were also killed the next year. This meant the Elland family line ended, and the land passed to the Savile family.
The old Elland manor house was later taken apart and studied in 1975. It was found to have a special room called a 'solar wing' from the 13th century. This makes it one of the oldest non-religious buildings in the county. The manor house was removed when a new road, the Calderdale Way bypass, was built. However, some of the old farm buildings still remain.
Long ago, King Edward II gave permission for Elland to hold a free market every Tuesday. This was a big deal because it helped the town's economy grow.
Elland became a major center for making wool products. Over time, the woollen industry declined. Many mills were either torn down or turned into homes.
The area around Elland was also known for its strong flagstones, called Elland flags. Once the canal was built, these stones could be easily moved and sold across the county. Elland was also home to the main factory for Gannex products and still has the Dobsons sweet factory, which makes traditional boiled sweets. Since 2001, Suma Wholefoods, a large company owned by its workers, has been based in Elland.
How Elland is Governed
Elland was historically a township, which is a small local area. It was part of a larger parish with Greetland. In 1866, Elland became a separate civil parish. Then, in 1894, it became its own Urban District, separate from Greetland. In 1937, Greetland and Stainland joined the Elland Urban District. Finally, in 1974, Elland became part of the larger Calderdale Metropolitan Borough, which is how it is governed today.
Important Places in Elland
There are many interesting buildings and landmarks in Elland. These include the parish church of St Mary the Virgin, the old Rose and Crown Inn, and the Elland Town Hall. Other notable places are the Southgate Methodist Church, the Rex Cinema, and Waxman ceramics. You can also find the remains of medieval stocks at the corner of Southgate and Elizabeth Street. These stocks, which are a protected historic site, date back to the late 1600s or early 1700s.
Elland Power Station
Elland used to have a coal-fired power station right by the River Calder. This power station was shut down in 1991 and then torn down in 1996. This was part of a bigger trend to build fewer, but larger, power stations away from towns.
Getting Around Elland: Transport
The Calder and Hebble Navigation is a canal that opened in the late 1700s. It was built to help transport goods during the Industrial Revolution in the Calder Valley.
The Elland railway station closed in 1962. However, the railway line is still used for passenger trains on the Caldervale Line. There are plans to reopen the Elland station, which would provide direct train services to Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, and Huddersfield. As of March 2023, the plans for the new station have been approved. Building work is expected to start in 2024 and finish by 2025.
The A643 road used to end in Elland. This road passes by Leeds United's football ground, Elland Road. Now, the A643 ends at junction 23 of the M62 motorway. The Elland bypass road was built between 1976 and 1978. It cost about £8.5 million and was opened on December 13, 1978.
News and Media in Elland
Local news and TV shows for Elland are provided by BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire. These signals come from the Emley Moor transmitting station and other local TV transmitters.
For radio, people in Elland can listen to stations like BBC Radio Leeds, Heart Yorkshire, Capital Yorkshire, Hits Radio West Yorkshire, Greatest Hits Radio West Yorkshire, and Phoenix Radio, which is a community radio station.
The local newspapers that cover Elland include the Halifax Courier, the Telegraph & Argus, and the Huddersfield Daily Examiner.
Famous People from Elland
- Thomas Thornton (1922–1987), a professional cricketer.
See also
In Spanish: Elland para niños
