Overton, West Yorkshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Overton |
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 Overton
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| OS grid reference | SE260168 |
| • London | 160 mi (260 km) SSE |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WAKEFIELD |
| Postcode district | WF4 |
| Dialling code | 01924 |
| Police | West Yorkshire |
| Fire | West Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament |
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Overton is a friendly village in West Yorkshire, England. It sits right between the bigger towns of Wakefield and Huddersfield. You can find Overton about 5.5 miles (9 km) southwest of Wakefield. It's also very close to the village of Middlestown.
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Welcome to Overton
Overton is a quiet place with a rich history. It's surrounded by lovely countryside. For example, Coxley Woods are less than 1 mile (1.6 km) to the southeast. The village is connected to Middlestown on its northeast side. This makes it feel like one larger community.
A Look at Overton's Past
Overton has been around for a long time. It was once known as 'Over Shitlington'. This name was part of a bigger area called 'Shitlington'. In 1929, the name was officially changed to Sitlington.
Back in 1881, Overton was a busy place. People worked as farmers and shopkeepers. There was even a manager for a local coal mine. The village also had two popular pubs. These were called The Reindeer and The Black Swan.
The National Coal Mining Museum
One of the most famous spots in Overton is the National Coal Mining Museum. It's located right on the A642 road. This museum is built on an old coal mine. The mine was called Caphouse Colliery.
Miners worked at Caphouse Colliery for many years. They started digging for coal there in 1789. The mine finally closed in 1985 when all the coal was gone. After that, work began to turn it into a museum. Today, it's a fantastic place to learn about Britain's mining history. You can even go underground!
Local Life and Surroundings
Overton has its own local church. St Luke's Parish Church is part of the larger church area of Middlestown with Netherton. This shows how connected the local villages are. The area around Overton is perfect for exploring. There are many paths and green spaces to enjoy.
