Meltham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Meltham
Meltham and lower Holme Valley
Meltham
Population	8,534 (2011 census)
OS grid reference	SE099106
Civil parish	Meltham
Metropolitan borough	Kirklees
Metropolitan county	West Yorkshire
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HOLMFIRTH
Postcode district	HD9
Dialling code	01484
Police	West Yorkshire
Fire	West Yorkshire
Ambulance	Yorkshire
EU Parliament	Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament	Colne Valley
List of places UK England Yorkshire 53°35′31″N 1°51′00″W / 53.592°N 1.850°W / 53.592; -1.850

Meltham is a town in West Yorkshire, England. It is located in the Holme Valley, a beautiful area near Wessenden Moor. Meltham is about 5 miles (8 km) south-west of Huddersfield. It sits right on the edge of the amazing Peak District National Park.

In 2011, about 8,534 people lived in Meltham. The town is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees. Meltham also has 12 elected council members. They meet regularly to help run the town.

Meltham's Past: A Glimpse into History

The area around Meltham has been home to people for a very long time. There are signs of ancient settlements from the Iron Age overlooking the town.

Meltham in the Domesday Book

In 1086, Meltham was mentioned in the Domesday Book. This was a very important survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror. It recorded Meltham as a village in Yorkshire. However, the book also noted that the village had been "laid waste" at that time.

Exploring Meltham's Location and Surroundings

Meltham is located in a great spot, close to several big cities. These include Bradford, Leeds, Manchester, and Sheffield. This makes it easy to visit other places from Meltham.

Nearby Towns and Natural Beauty

The town also includes the small village of Helme. Helme has its own school and church. Other nearby towns and villages in the Kirklees area are Holmfirth, Marsden, and Slaithwaite.

Nature lovers will enjoy that the Pennine Way walking trail passes nearby. The Peak District Boundary Walk also runs close to the west side of Meltham.

Getting Around: Transport in Meltham

Meltham used to have its own train station. This station was part of the Meltham branch line. It opened for passengers in 1869 but closed in 1949. The line continued to carry goods until the 1960s.

Current Bus Services

Today, Meltham has many bus services. The 324 bus goes to Huddersfield. The 335 bus travels between Slaithwaite and Holmfirth. There are also local routes like the 911 and 933. These buses help people travel easily around the area.

Learning in Meltham: Schools and Education

Meltham has three primary schools for younger students. These are Meltham Church of England School, Meltham Moor Primary School, and Helme Junior and Infant School.

Secondary School Options

For older students, secondary schools are in nearby areas. These include Honley High School, Holmfirth High School, and Colne Valley High School. Students from Meltham usually attend one of these schools.

Sports and Activities in Meltham

Meltham is a very active town with teams in many sports. You can find teams for football, cricket, and rugby league.

Football and Cricket Success

The local football team, Meltham Athletic FC, has won several awards. They won the West Riding Challenge Cup in 2005. The cricket team, Meltham CC, has also had great success. They have won the Byrom Shield 7 times and the Sykes Cup 8 times. Famous cricketers like Ryan Sidebottom have played for Meltham CC.

Rugby League Team

The rugby league team is called Meltham All Blacks ARLFC. They play in the Pennine League Division 4.

Media and Entertainment in Meltham

People in Meltham can watch local news and TV shows from BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire. These signals come from the Emley Moor TV transmitter.

Radio Stations

Radio signals come from the Holme Moss transmitter. This allows people to listen to stations like BBC Radio Leeds and other BBC national radio channels. Other popular stations like Heart Yorkshire and Capital Yorkshire also cover the town.

Local Newspaper

The local newspaper for Meltham is the Huddersfield Daily Examiner.

Arts and Culture in Meltham

Music: The Meltham and Meltham Mills Band

Meltham is home to the Meltham and Meltham Mills Band. This brass band started way back in 1846. They made history by being the first band to win the British Open Title three years in a row! Only five other bands have ever done this.

Meltham on Television

Meltham has been used as a filming location for several TV shows. Scenes from the BBC sitcom Last of the Summer Wine were filmed here. The ITV drama Where the Heart Is also used some Meltham houses for characters' homes. Even the local scout hut and streets have appeared on screen.

Meltham's Industrial Past

The Brook Family and Silk Mills

Meltham Town Hall

Meltham Mills was once the site of Jonas Brook and Brothers. This was a large silk mill complex. In the late 1800s, it employed over 1,000 workers. The Brook family were very important to Meltham. They used a goat's head from their family crest as their brand. You can still see this goat's head on the old office building at the mill.

The Brook family were also philanthropists, meaning they helped others. They built homes for their workers in Meltham Mills. They also built Meltham Hall, Meltham Town Hall, and Helme Church. The Meltham Mills Band even uses the Brook family coat of arms as their logo.

In 1890, Jonas Brook and Brothers became United Threads. The factory closed in 1939. The business moved to Paisley as part of J & P Coats, which is now Coats Group.

The David Brown Tractor Factory

After the silk mill closed, the site became home to the David Brown Tractors factory. This factory opened in 1939 and made tractors until 1988.

Today, the old factory buildings have been changed into different businesses. One part even used to have an indoor Kart racing track! Durker Roods, which was once the home of Sir David Brown, was turned into a hotel.

Famous People from Meltham

Meltham has been the birthplace of several interesting people.

James Taylor: A Zulu War Hero

Lance Sergeant James Taylor was born in Meltham. He was a soldier who fought in the Zulu war. He survived the famous battle at Rorke's Drift. Even though he grew up in Manchester, he was born in Meltham.

Albert Craig: The Surrey Poet

Albert Craig, also known as the Surrey Poet, was born and grew up in Meltham. He was known for writing poems, especially about cricket and football.

Godfrey Hirst: Australian Textile Leader

Godfrey Hirst was born in Meltham in 1857. He later moved to Australia and became a very successful textile maker. In 1890, he started the Godfrey Hirst Woollen Mills. This company became the largest textile manufacturer in Australia. His company, Godfrey Hirst Carpets, is still in business today.

Dora Thewlis: A Young Suffragette

Dora Thewlis was born in Meltham Mills in 1890. She became famous for a short time as a young suffragette. A photograph of her arrest appeared on the front page of the Daily Mirror newspaper. Suffragettes were women who fought for the right to vote.

Images for kids

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  View of Meltham from Wessenden Moor, Huddersfield is in the far distance

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  David Brown Tractor Factory Meltham, 1981

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  David Brown 990 Implematic Tractor Made in Meltham around 1964

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  Meltham Cub Scouts, on Blackpool Bridge, near Digley reservoir (late 1970s)

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  Meltham viewed from Royd Edge

Location Grid

	Sowerby Bridge	Huddersfield	Huddersfield
	Oldham		Brockholes
		Meltham
	Stalybridge	Holme	Sheffield

This grid shows the general directions of places near Meltham.

See also

In Spanish: Meltham para niños