Silsden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Silsden |
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.jpg) The town from Leeds & Liverpool Canal |
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 Silsden
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| Population | 8,390 (2021 United Kingdom census) |
| OS grid reference | SE042465 |
| • London | 180 mi (290 km) SE |
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| Metropolitan borough | |
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| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | KEIGHLEY |
| Postcode district | BD20 |
| Dialling code | 01535/01274 |
| Police | West Yorkshire |
| Fire | West Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament |
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Silsden is a town and civil parish in West Yorkshire, England. It is located near the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, between the towns of Keighley and Skipton. In 2021, Silsden had a population of 8,390 people. The small village of Brunthwaite is also part of the Silsden parish.
Contents
Discovering Silsden's Past
Silsden has a long history! It was first mentioned in a very old book called the Domesday Book in 1086. Back then, it was known as "Siglesdene" and was considered the most important village in the area called Craven.
For a long time, Silsden was mostly a farming area. But then, the Industrial Revolution changed everything, especially in West Yorkshire. Silsden became home to several mills, which were factories that made things. None of these mills still work in their original way today.
How Silsden Got Its Nickname
One important industry in Silsden was making nails. This started in the late 1700s. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal was very helpful because it made it easy to get raw materials and send nails to faraway places. By the mid-1800s, over 100 men and boys in Silsden made nails. They made all kinds of nails, including special ones for horseshoes and shoes. These shoe nails gave Silsden its nickname: "Cobbydale."
In 2011, a special art piece called "Bent Nail" was put up in Wesley Place. It remembers Silsden's history of nail making.
Today, Silsden still has some industries. Some businesses use the old mill buildings, and there's a new industrial area too.
The Importance of the Canal
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal was finished in 1816. It became a very important part of Silsden. The canal connected Silsden to big cities like Leeds (a manufacturing city) and Liverpool (a major port). Canal boats made it cheap to move heavy goods, like coal and wool, to and from the area.
Key Moments in Silsden's History
In 1911, there was a small riot in Silsden. People were upset with a local policeman who was seen as too strict. The police station was attacked. The policeman was later moved away from the town, and everything became peaceful again.
During the 1940s, a special building was made to house refugees and prisoners of war from different countries. This area is now a housing estate, and there's a plaque to remember the hostel.
In 1998, a special discovery was made in Silsden: a hoard of 27 gold coins! These coins were very old, from the 1st century AD. Experts said they were worth about £20,000.
The Guinness Book of World Records once reported that the biggest onion ever, weighing 14 pounds (about 6.3 kg), was grown in Silsden in 2010 by Vincent Throup. However, this record has since been broken!
On July 6, 2014, a famous bicycle race called the 2014 Tour de France passed through Silsden.
Brunthwaite: A Nearby Hamlet
The small village of Brunthwaite is about half a mile (800 meters) east of Silsden's center. It's located near Brunthwaite Beck and at the bottom of Rombalds Moor. This area has been a small farming community since Saxon times. The oldest buildings there today are from the 1700s. Brunthwaite was made a special "conservation area" in 1977, which means its historic character is protected.
How Silsden is Governed
Silsden is part of the City of Bradford's local government area. This is part of the larger West Yorkshire region. Silsden also has its own town council, which helps manage local matters. The town council is based at Silsden Town Hall.
Silsden Community Life
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Silsden has several places where people can gather, including eight public houses (pubs) and two members' clubs.
While Silsden doesn't have its own train station, the Steeton and Silsden railway station is only about 1 mile (1.6 km) south, in the village of Steeton. This station makes it easy for people to travel to cities like Leeds and Bradford.
Silsden also has good bus services to nearby towns like Keighley and Ilkley. Being part of West Yorkshire helps Silsden have better public transport links.
Famous People from Silsden
Silsden has been home to some well-known people!
- The Lampkin family lived in Silsden during World War II. Brothers Arthur, Alan, and Martin Lampkin all became national champions in motorcycle trials (a type of motorcycle sport). Martin Lampkin won a world championship in 1975, and his son, Douglas "Dougie" Lampkin, has won twelve world championships!
- The Wainman family is another famous motorsport family from Silsden. They compete in BriSCA Formula 1 Stock Cars. Frankie Wainman was a World Champion in 1979, and his son, Frankie Wainman Junior, is one of the most successful drivers in the sport's history.
- Jack Reed, an English rugby league player who played for the Brisbane Broncos, was born in Silsden.
- Henry Price started his first "Fifty Shilling Tailors" shop in Silsden. He later became Sir Henry Price and bought a large estate called Wakehurst Place, which is now owned by the National Trust.
- Margaret Wintringham, a British politician, was the second woman to become a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons. She lived in Silsden when her father was the head teacher at Bolton Road School.
Silsden in the Media
Silsden gets its local news and TV from BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire. You can also listen to several local radio stations, including BBC Radio Leeds, Capital Yorkshire, Heart Yorkshire, Hits Radio West Yorkshire, Greatest Hits Radio West Yorkshire, and Rombalds Radio (an online community station).
The town is also covered by local newspapers like the Keighley News and Telegraph & Argus.
Silsden on TV
In 1995, an episode of a TV show called Chiller featured Silsden. The episode, titled "Number Six," used many locations around the town.
In 2004, a restaurant in Silsden called Bonapartes was featured on the first-ever episode of Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. Gordon Ramsay tried to help the restaurant improve. Later, Ramsay won a court case against a newspaper that had claimed parts of the show were faked. Ramsay said, "We have never done anything in a cynical, fake way."
In July 2007, some shops on Bradley Road, including a butcher's, a barber's, and a shoe shop, were used in an episode of the ITV show The Royal.
See also
In Spanish: Silsden para niños
