Slaithwaite

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Coordinates: 53°37′N 1°53′W / 53.62°N 1.88°W / 53.62; -1.88

Slaithwaite
Huddersfield Narrow Canal at Slaithwaite
Slaithwaite shown within West Yorkshire
OS grid reference	SE079141
Metropolitan borough	Kirklees
Metropolitan county	West Yorkshire
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HUDDERSFIELD
Postcode district	HD7
Dialling code	01484
Police	West Yorkshire
Fire	West Yorkshire
Ambulance	Yorkshire
European Parliament	Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament	Colne Valley
List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire

Slaithwaite (pronounced Slathwait or Slawit but never Slaythwait; pronunciation varies) is a village within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Colne Valley laying across the River Colne and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, approximately 5 miles southwest of Huddersfield,

[edit] History

The village was part of the Earl of Dartmouth estates, a chapelry, in the parishes of Huddersfield and Almondbury, union of Huddersfield, Upper division of the wapentake of Agbrigg and included the township of 'Lingarths' {Lingards)^[1] and the Township of Slaithwaite.

In the early 1800s a local spring was discovered to contain Sulphurous properties and minerals, Similar to those found in Harrogate. Sometime after 1820 a bathing facility was built, along with a gardens and pleasure ground, with some visitor cottages. A free school was founded in 1721 and rebuilt twice, first in 1744, and again in 1842.

In the 1848 edition of 'A Topographical Dictionary of England' Samuel Lewis (the Editor) wrote:- "the lands are in meadow and pasture, with a small portion of arable; the scenery is bold and romantic. In the quarries of the district are found vegetable fossils, especially firs and other mountain trees. The village is beautifully seated in the valley of the river Colne; the inhabitants are chiefly employed in the woollen manufacture, in the spinning of cotton and silk, and in silk-weaving" ^[2]

Slaithwaite Hall, thought to date from the mid 15th century, is located on a nearby hillside. It is one of a number of cruck framed buildings clustered in this area of West Yorkshire^[3]. After many years divided into Cottages the building has been extensively restored and is now a single dwelling^[4].

Viaduct over Slaithwaite village

Legend has it that local smugglers caught by the excise men tried to explain their nocturnal activities as 'raking the moon from the canal' and definitely not as 'fishing out smuggled brandy'. A "Moonraker" is now the official nickname for a native of the village. Similar stories and nicknames exist for the neighbouring villages of Golcar ("Lillies"), Marsden ("Cuckoos") and Linthwaite ("Sows" or "Sairs"). The legend is also apparently known in Wiltshire and Nottingham where the locals are also known as 'Moonrakers' ^[5]

An apocryphal story associated with Slaithwaite is that in the 1800s, when tenants came to the village to pay their annual rent, The 5th Earl of Dartmouth would provide 'rent dinners' and that the shoulder of mutton was the most favoured with the tables of hot roast beef, mutton and tongue (cooked together in the set pot) being available there at that time.

[edit] Economy

Recent projects have seen a major restoration of the canal. That required a full re-excavation and new lock gates. Following the emergence of the railway network they were little used and closed down then filled in during 1956. The refurbishment has revitalised the high street area and Slaithwaite is currently the only village in England with a canal running alongside its main street.

[edit] Shopping and entertainment

There are several public houses in Slaithwaite. The 'Silent Woman' pub came to the attention of the world media on 23 September 2007, when a man walked into the pub and ordered a pint of beer a few minutes after he had murdered his son and attacked his daughter with a knife.^[6]

Slaithwaite has a mixture of shops, restaurants and cafes. A local butcher, called E.Grange & Son (Master Pie Makers),^[7] sell their own brand pork pies, which have won some awards.^[8]

Various shops cater to tourists attracted by the pleasant scenery, and to the increasing gentrification of the village which stems from a variety of causes.

[edit] Transport

More modern transport is provided by the Slaithwaite railway station, which has direct trains to Leeds and Manchester. The Colne Valley defines local geography by channeling the railway line, the canal and the A62: each of which has at one time been the primary means of transport across the Pennines. The small humpbacked bridge over the canal is called 'Tim Brig' this is said to be named after a local inn keeper who used the bridge during smuggling operations with the narrowboats passing through.

Moonraker Floating Cafe

Canal lock in Slaithwaite

[edit] Culture

In February (although not every year) Slaithwaite celebrates the Moonrakers legend with a Moonraking Festival, a week long celebration that includes lantern making by local children and ends with a parade of lanterns around the village and along the canal side. The festival was not held in 2007, following crowd difficulties during the 2006 event. The 2008 event included a different route and a spectacular firework finale. The 2009 festival (14-21 February 2009) again chose a different route for the final parade, and the next festival is planned for 2011.^[9]

Parts of both Slaithwaite and Marsden, which is approximately two miles further south down the valley, were used to create the village called 'Skelthwaite' in the British TV show 'Where the Heart Is'.

[edit] References