HUDDERSFIELD, THE GUIDE

Huddersfield - A Brief Guide	Early Huddersfield History
Huddersfield Since 1940	Recollections
Huddersfield Narrow Canal	Places of Interest
Huddersfield Trivia 1	Huddersfield Trivia 2
Huddersfield Trivia 3	Huddersfield Trivia 4
The Holmfirth Flood of 1852	A Huddersfield Man At War
Steve Gaunt Pontificates	Yorkshire Philosophy
Local Dialect	The Woollen Industry
Huddersfield Recognized	Famous Old Boys/Girls
Huddersfield In Print	Huddersfield Publications
Old Huddersfield In Prints, Postcards And Photographs
*NEW* Tolson Memorial Museum Booklets *NEW*
Huddersfield-Related Links Page

WELCOME TO HUDDERSFIELD

Huddersfield is a true Yorkshire town, full of surprising qualities, strong traditions, impressive architecture, quality shopping, top class sport, exciting festivals and artistic reputation.  All this is set on the edge of the wonderful scenery of the Peak District National Park and South Pennines. Whatever your reason for visiting Huddersfield, be it work or leisure, we hope you enjoy your stay and spend time discovering some of the local places of interest or special events taking place throughout the year.

The town’s earliest roots can be traced to Castle Hill where there is evidence of an Iron-Age fort and a Norman Castle.  However, Huddersfield as it is today took shape during the 18^th and 19^th centuries, leading to the confirmation of County Borough status in 1868.  the town’s rapid development was largely thanks to Lords of the Manor, the Ramsden Family.
Huddersfield’s reputation and prosperity was built around the textile industry and its fine woollen worsteds are still sent to customers all over the world.  The boom created by the textile industry provided a rich legacy of fine Victorian buildings such as the railway station and its town Hall.
In 1920 Huddersfield Corporation purchased the Ramsden Estate including almost all of its town centre.  As a result of this, Huddersfield has affectionately been styled as ‘the town that bought itself’.
The creativity that helped the town to prosper is still to the fore today – the town is becoming known for its award-winning festivals and a growing artistic reputation, earning it the European designation of a ‘Creative Town’.

Dominating the Huddersfield skyline, Castle Hill has been occupied since the Stone Age.  The Victoria Tower was built in 1898/9 to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s coronation.  Visitors can take in panoramic views across Huddersfield and the surrounding countryside.

Contact the Tolson Museum for tower opening times.

Experience the atmosphere of these former hand weavers cottages and the working life of the mid 1800’s at the Colne Valley museum.  Visit the loom chamber, spinning room and gas-lit cobbler’s shop.  There are frequent demonstrations of traditional activities and crafts by museum members.

Open: Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays, 2pm to 5pm.  Admission charge.

The gallery houses changing displays from Kirklees’ excellent permanent collection of British Art of the last 100 years.  Artists represented include Frances Bacon, LS Lowry, Henry Moore, Graham Sutherland and members of the Camden Town Group.  An exciting changing programme features artists working in all media from Britain and abroad.

Open: Mon – Sat 10am – 5pm.  Admission Free.

Each intriguing layer of Huddersfield’s past is revealed at the Tolson Museum.  From the tools of the earliest settlers – made for hunting in the primitive forest – to the modern-day collections from local people.  Learn how the boom in the textile industry changed people’s lives and brought prosperity to the town. Tolson leads you step-by-step through the centuries of Huddersfield’s history.

Open: Mon-Fri 11am-5pm.  Sat and Sun 12pm – 5pm.  Admission Free.

From old to new, Huddersfield has a wealth of attractive and award winning buildings.
In the town centre some of the finest buildings can be found in St. George’s Square.  The railway station façade is considered by many people to be the finest in England and has been described as a ‘stately home with trains in’.  Many of the warehouses and offices in the adjoining square were built in the Italianate style, magnificently concealing their former industrial use.
The McAlpine Stadium’s pioneering modern design was awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects’ ‘Building of the Year’ in 1995.
A town trail leaflet that explores many of the interesting and attractive buildings will be published in Autumn 1999.
The Kirklees visitor guide available from the Tourist information centre gives details of more things to do in the area beyond Huddersfield.  The guide also lists details of accommodation available in Huddersfield and Kirklees.

The town centre provides a contrast for shoppers, from intimate lanes and arcades with small high quality shops to pedestrian areas providing the best in modern shopping and national chain stores.

BYRAM ARCADE

A Victorian atmosphere pervades this elegant arcade built in 1880 and refurbished in a traditional style.  Small units on three floors offer a complete range of merchandise for those with a taste for the individual.

Canals played a vital role in the development of the town, carrying coal, wool, finished textiles and many other goods.  They are now peaceful places to walk, cruise and discover a fascinating mixture of industrial heritage and nature.

Huddersfield is now firmly on the map when it comes to entertainment.  Recent developments have given the town high quality venues to match its cultural output.  A comprehensive listing of concerts and events ‘What’s On Kirklees’ is available from the Tourist Information Centre or various venues around the town.

Almost all types of music can be heard in Huddersfield and the surrounding district.  Jazz gigs occur at several pubs and clubs and the nearby small town of Marsden hosts a popular jazz festival in October.  Folk music centres on Holmfirth and Cleckheaton, both a few miles away, with festivals in May and June.

Huddersfield offers a diverse cuisine to delight the palate.  Some of the finest restaurants in Yorkshire can be found here, offering traditional British, Asian, French, Italian and Chinese Cuisine.  Traditional fare and innovative menus can be found in many pubs in and around the town, offering good food and great value.  Even the fish and chips can claim to be the best in the land!
If you are looking for a night on the town then Huddersfield is the place to be!  The town’s pubs scored 8 out of 10 in a recent review by FHM magazine.  There’s also a choice of night-clubs where you can dance into the small hours.  If you prefer something a bit quieter, why not visit one of the many country pubs where you can sample proper Yorkshire beer and hospitality.
For more details of pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants in Huddersfield pick up a copy of ‘The Alternative Guide to Huddersfield’ from the Tourist Information Centre or various venues around the town.

As you might expect in the place where Rugby League was born, sport plays a vital role in the life of the town.  There are a multitude of activities to get the adrenaline flowing for both spectators and participants.

Three fine parks provide a variety of attractions for residents and visitors alike.

Whether it’s the dramatic rugged moorland of the Peak District and South Pennines, wooded valleys or rolling green fields, you can be sure that in Huddersfield you’re never far from some wonderful countryside.
The area around Huddersfield is ideal for exploring on foot or cycle.  From short strolls to challenging walks there’s something for everyone within a few minutes of the town centre.  The tourist information centre can provide a good stock of guides and information to help you enjoy the countryside and details of guided walk programmes.
Our countryside lends itself to many other outdoor pursuits with riding, sailing, angling, orienteering, hang gliding, and paragliding all popular.