Pudsey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pudsey |
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![]() Pudsey Parish Church |
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Population | 25,393 (2021 census) |
OS grid reference | SE 223 334 |
• London | 170 mi (270 km) SE |
Metropolitan borough | |
Metropolitan county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | PUDSEY |
Postcode district | LS28 |
Dialling code | 0113 |
Police | West Yorkshire |
Fire | West Yorkshire |
Ambulance | Yorkshire |
EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
UK Parliament |
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Pudsey is a busy market town in West Yorkshire, England. It's part of the City of Leeds area. You can find it right between the big cities of Bradford and Leeds. In the past, it was part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Today, about 25,000 people live there.
Contents
Pudsey's Past: A Look at History
The name Pudsey was first written down in 1086. This was in the Domesday Book, a huge survey of England. The name probably comes from an old personal name, *Pudoc, and a word meaning 'island'. So, it might mean 'Pudoc's island', perhaps a good piece of land in a moor.
Around 1775, a cool discovery was made. About 100 silver Roman coins were found on Pudsey Common. Many of these coins were even older than the time of Julius Caesar!
Pudsey's Famous Industries and Sports
In the 1700s and 1800s, Pudsey was well-known for making wool. Later, it became famous for cricket. Many amazing cricketers learned to play here. These include Sir Len Hutton, Herbert Sutcliffe, Ray Illingworth, and Matthew Hoggard. They all played for Yorkshire and England!
During the Industrial Revolution, Pudsey was quite polluted. It sat in a small valley between Leeds and Bradford. This meant that soot and smoke often got trapped in the air. People even joked that pigeons in Pudsey Park flew backwards to keep the soot out of their eyes!
How Pudsey is Governed
Pudsey used to be its own local area. In 1894, it became a special district called Pudsey Urban District. It even became a municipal borough around 1901. This meant it had its own local government.
In 1974, Pudsey joined the larger City of Leeds. Now, it's part of the Leeds City Council and has its own local ward. This means people in Pudsey vote for their local councillors.
Pudsey is also part of a larger area for national elections. This area is called Leeds West and Pudsey. The person who represents this area in the UK Parliament is called an MP. As of 2024, the MP for Leeds West and Pudsey is Rachel Reeves.
Pudsey Today: What's Happening?
Pudsey has some great places for fun and relaxation. The biggest park is Pudsey Park. Another park, Queens Park, hosts the annual Pudsey carnival.
The town has a busy market that opens on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. It has recently been updated. There's also a monthly farmers' market. Here you can buy fresh local food like meat, fish, and vegetables.
Shopping and Schools in Pudsey
Pudsey town centre has many shops. You'll find both big chain stores and smaller local shops. There are also banks and estate agents. A Sainsbury's supermarket is in town. The old Woolworths store is now a B&M Home Bargains.
Pudsey has three secondary schools: Crawshaw Academy, Co-op Academy Priesthorpe, and Pudsey Grammar School. The Grammar School has been rebuilt. Its old building, which opened in 1911, is now flats. It's a listed building, so it won't be knocked down.
Community and Local Initiatives
Pudsey Town Hall looks great at night. It has new, energy-saving lights that can change to 255 different colours!
In 2009, the Pudsey Business Forum started the "Pudsey Shop Local" campaign. This encourages people to buy things from shops in Pudsey. They even made a list of all the local shops.
"Pudsey in Bloom" started in 2002. This group helps make the town look beautiful with flowers and plants.
Pudsey also has a special Lottery Scheme for shoppers. When you buy tickets from local shops, you can win "Pudsey Pounds." These can then be spent in participating shops.
There's a Masonic community in Pudsey. Their lodges meet at Pudsey Masonic Hall. They help support local activities. Next to the Masonic Hall is Churchfield House, which used to be a Unitarian Church.
Getting Around: Public Transport
Pudsey has its own train station called New Pudsey railway station. It's on the Caldervale Line, which connects Leeds and Bradford Interchange. The station is a bit outside the town centre. It has a large car park, making it easy for people to drive there. A bus service, the no. 16, also goes near the station.
The main place for buses is Pudsey bus station. It's located at Market Place and has six stands. Different bus companies operate services from here. You can catch buses to many places in Leeds, like Armley, Bramley, and Farsley. You can also go to Dewsbury and Bradford. The bus station was rebuilt and opened in 2010.
Sports in Pudsey
Pudsey has a strong connection to cricket. Sir Len Hutton, a famous England cricket captain, was born nearby. He was often called "the man from Pudsey." Other England cricket captains, Raymond Illingworth and Matthew Hoggard, were also born here. For over 100 years, the Yorkshire County Cricket Club had at least one player from Pudsey. Herbert Sutcliffe, another England batsman, learned cricket with local Pudsey clubs.
Pudsey's Cricket Clubs
Pudsey has two main cricket clubs.
Pudsey Congs Cricket Club
Pudsey Congs Cricket Club has been around since 1892. They play at the former Pudsey Britannia Cricket Club ground. The club has three senior teams. Their top teams play in the Bradford Premier League. They also have a junior section where young players learn and compete.
Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club
Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club was started in 1845. It's located on Tofts Road. This club has been very successful, winning the Bradford Premier League championship 10 times! They have two senior teams in the Bradford Premier League. They also have a junior training section for boys and girls.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Pudsey para niños