Slaithwaite facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slaithwaite |
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 Huddersfield Narrow Canal Towpath at Slaithwaite |
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 Slaithwaite
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| OS grid reference | SE079141 |
| • London | 164 mi (264 km) SE |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HUDDERSFIELD |
| Postcode district | HD7 |
| Dialling code | 01484 |
| Police | West Yorkshire |
| Fire | West Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament |
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Slaithwaite (pronounced slath-wait) is a lovely village in West Yorkshire, England. Its name comes from Old Norse words meaning "timber-fell clearing," which suggests it was once a place where trees were cut down. The village is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees. It sits in the beautiful Colne Valley, with the River Colne and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal flowing right through it. Slaithwaite is about 5 miles (8 km) south-west of Huddersfield.
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A Look Back: Slaithwaite's History
Slaithwaite has a long and interesting past. It used to be part of the lands owned by the Earl of Dartmouth. In the early 1800s, people found a special spring in the village. Its water had minerals similar to those found in Harrogate, a famous spa town. Because of this, a bathing facility, gardens, and even visitor cottages were built around 1820.
A free school was first started in Slaithwaite in 1721. It was rebuilt two times to make it bigger and better, once in 1744 and again in 1842.
What Was Slaithwaite Like in the Past?
In 1848, a book called 'A Topographical Dictionary of England' described Slaithwaite. It said the area had lots of meadows and pastures, with some farming land. The scenery was described as "bold and romantic." People found old plant fossils, like fir trees, in the local quarries. The village itself was "beautifully seated" in the valley. Most people worked in making wool products, spinning cotton and silk, or weaving silk.
Slaithwaite Hall: A Historic Building
Slaithwaite Hall is an old building thought to be from the mid-1400s. It's located on a hillside nearby. This hall is special because it's one of several buildings in this part of West Yorkshire built with a "cruck" frame. This is an old way of building using curved timbers. For many years, the hall was divided into smaller cottages, but it has now been fully restored and is a single home again.
The "Moonraker" Legend
There's a fun local legend about Slaithwaite. The story goes that in the past, smugglers were caught by tax officers near the canal at night. To explain why they were out, they pretended to be "raking the moon from the canal." They said they definitely weren't "fishing out smuggled brandy!" Because of this story, people from Slaithwaite are now officially nicknamed "Moonrakers."
Other nearby villages have their own nicknames too: Golcar people are "Lillies," Marsden people are "Cuckoos," and Linthwaite people are "Leadboilers." The "Moonraker" legend is also known in Wiltshire, another part of England.
Slaithwaite's Economy and Businesses
Recently, the Huddersfield Narrow Canal in Slaithwaite has been completely restored. This involved digging it out again and adding new lock gates. The canal was closed and filled in back in 1956 because trains became the main way to transport goods. This restoration has brought new life to the village's main street. Slaithwaite is now the only village in England with a canal running right next to its main street!
The village has several important local businesses. These include Thornton & Ross, which makes medicines, Shaw Pallets, and Spectrum Yarns. Spectrum Yarns is one of the few textile businesses left in the Colne Valley, which used to be a big center for wool and yarn.
Shopping and Fun in Slaithwaite
Slaithwaite has many traditional public houses, like the Commercial, the Shoulder of Mutton, and the Swan. There are also other places to eat and drink, such as the Little Bridge, Vanilla Bean, Om Is Where The Heart Is, Ashbys, and Jax Bar tapas. A new pub and restaurant called Nobles has also opened on Manchester Road.
Slaithwaite has a lively center with many unique shops. You can find a post office, restaurants, and cafes. A special mention goes to the local butcher, E. Grange & Son, who are known for their award-winning pork pies. Other interesting shops include the 'Green Valley Grocer,' which is owned by the community, and the 'Handmade Bakery,' which is run by its workers. You can also visit the 'Chocolate Corner' gift shop and cafe, and Mystical Moments, a magic wand shop that even made national news!
Getting Around: Transport in Slaithwaite
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Slaithwaite has its own Slaithwaite railway station, which offers direct trains to Huddersfield and Manchester. The Colne Valley's shape naturally guides the railway line, the canal, and the A62 road. All three of these have been important ways to travel across the Pennines mountains at different times in history. There's a small humpbacked bridge over the canal called 'Tim Brig.' It's said to be named after a local innkeeper who used the bridge during smuggling operations with the narrowboats.
Slaithwaite also has several bus routes connecting it to other places in the Huddersfield area. Buses run by First West Yorkshire go from Slaithwaite to Marsden, Oldham, and Manchester, as well as to Huddersfield. Other bus services connect to Holmfirth, Blackmoorfoot, and nearby villages.
Culture and Community
Every two years in February, Slaithwaite celebrates its "Moonraker" legend with the Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival. This week-long event takes place during the school half-term break. It includes workshops where people make lanterns and a program of storytelling. The festival ends with a parade of lanterns through the village and a big finale by the canal in the village center. A project called 'Wild about Wool' is linked to the festival. It collects memories about the history of the wool industry in the Colne Valley.
The Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra was started in the village in 1891. This orchestra has 80 amateur musicians and performs concerts every year in Huddersfield.
Slaithwaite Brass Band has been making music since 1892. They play at many concerts and events throughout the year. They have won many awards, including being the first band to win the Grand Shield competition twice!
Parts of Slaithwaite and Marsden were used as the setting for the fictional village of 'Skelthwaite' in the British TV show Where the Heart Is.
Images for kids
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Canal lock in Slaithwaite
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Slaithwaite, viewed from Laund Road
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The parish church of St James and the Shoulder of Mutton inn
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The Old Town Hall in Lewisham Road
