Mirfield
Encyclopedia
Mirfield is a small town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees
, in West Yorkshire
, England. It is located on the A644 road between Brighouse
and Dewsbury
. In the 2001 census it was recorded as having a total resident population of 18,621.
The town is served by Mirfield railway station
.
in the West Riding of Yorkshire
until it was merged into the Metropolitan Borough
of Kirklees
. In 1988 a Parish council was formed and became one of five in Kirklees, the others being:- Denby Dale
, Meltham
, Kirkburton
and Holme Valley
. As a Parish council an additional tax precept to the Kirklees MBC tax is levied on the towns residents for projects within the town. Mirfield has a town council, made up of 16 volunteer councillors who serve for a fixed four year term, and represent ward members within the parish. The members elect their own Town Council Mayor, who serves for a fixed one year term.
Mavis Boothroyd
Colin Fretwell
Malcolm Brown
Mick Harrison
Hugh Bowden
Harry Fearnley
Michael Hutchinson
Martyn Bolt
James Taylor
Kath Taylor
Keith Sibbald
and Castle Hall School
. Amongst the primary schools there are Battyeford, Crossley Fields, Old Bank and Hopton Primary school and Crowlees Junior and Infant School
, which was assessed by Ofsted
as 'Grade 1 - Outstanding' in the March 2007 inspection.
, was built a few yards to the northwest, on the site of the old Castle Hall, a mansion which was home to the families successively of Mirfields (sometimes spelled Mirfin), Hetons and Beaumonts. At Scott's suggestion, the tower of the earlier church, which retains some medieval work, was retained.
The College of the Resurrection
was where Rowan Williams
, the Archbishop of Canterbury
, lectured from 1975 for two years. Archbishop Trevor Huddleston
spent his last days in Mirfield here.
with other rivers in the area. The canal is part of the Calder and Hebble Navigation
. Its construction resulted in many industries in Mirfield, such as the textiles and boat yards
. The canal is still in use for recreational users.
Kirklees
The Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees is a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 401,000 and includes the settlements of Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Denby Dale, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Kirkburton, Marsden, Meltham, Mirfield and Slaithwaite...
, in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England. It is located on the A644 road between Brighouse
Brighouse
Brighouse is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the River Calder, east of Halifax in the Pennines. It is served by Junction 25 of the M62 motorway and Brighouse railway station on the Caldervale Line and Huddersfield Line. In the...
and Dewsbury
Dewsbury
Dewsbury is a minster town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It is to the west of Wakefield, east of Huddersfield and south of Leeds...
. In the 2001 census it was recorded as having a total resident population of 18,621.
The town is served by Mirfield railway station
Mirfield railway station
Mirfield railway station serves the town of Mirfield in West Yorkshire, England. It lies on the Huddersfield Line operated by Northern Rail and is north east from ....
.
Governance
From 1894 to 1974, Mirfield formed an urban districtUrban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
in the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
until it was merged into the Metropolitan Borough
Metropolitan borough
A metropolitan borough is a type of local government district in England, and is a subdivision of a metropolitan county. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, metropolitan boroughs are defined in English law as metropolitan districts, however all of them have been granted or regranted...
of Kirklees
Kirklees
The Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees is a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 401,000 and includes the settlements of Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Denby Dale, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Kirkburton, Marsden, Meltham, Mirfield and Slaithwaite...
. In 1988 a Parish council was formed and became one of five in Kirklees, the others being:- Denby Dale
Denby Dale
Denby Dale is a village and civil parish in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, England, to the South East of Huddersfield. As a civil parish it covers the villages of Denby Dale, Lower Denby, Upper Denby, Upper Cumberworth, Lower Cumberworth, Skelmanthorpe, Emley, Emley...
, Meltham
Meltham
Meltham is a small town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Holme Valley, below Wessenden Moor, four and a half miles south-west of Huddersfield on the edge of the Peak District National Park...
, Kirkburton
Kirkburton
Kirkburton is a village, civil parish and local government ward in the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire, England, south east of Huddersfield, in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees...
and Holme Valley
Holme Valley
Holme Valley is a large civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 25,049 . Its administrative centre is in Holmfirth. Other sizeable settlements in the parish include, Brockholes, Honley and New Mill...
. As a Parish council an additional tax precept to the Kirklees MBC tax is levied on the towns residents for projects within the town. Mirfield has a town council, made up of 16 volunteer councillors who serve for a fixed four year term, and represent ward members within the parish. The members elect their own Town Council Mayor, who serves for a fixed one year term.
List of Town Council Mayors
Brian Nicholson, 1988Mavis Boothroyd
Colin Fretwell
Malcolm Brown
Mick Harrison
Hugh Bowden
Harry Fearnley
Michael Hutchinson
Martyn Bolt
James Taylor
Kath Taylor
Keith Sibbald
- Bob Bennett: 2007-2008
- David Pinder: 2009-2010
- Janet Hirst: 2010-2011
- Patricia Sutcliffe: 2011–Present
Local Elections
In addition to the town council Mirfield is also represented by three councillors who sit on Kirklees Metropolitan Council, and the local Mirfield Area Committee| Party | Date | Candidate | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
2000 | Beverley Warby | 2,300 | 55.7 |
| |
2002 | Martyn Bolt | 2,147 | 52.9 |
| |
2003 | Kathleen Taylor | 1,802 | 39.8 |
| |
2004 | Beverley Warby | 2,947 | - |
| |
2004 | Martyn Bolt | 3,661 | - |
| |
2004 | Kathleen Taylor | 3,166 | - |
| |
2008 | Martyn Bolt | 3,400 | - |
| |
2010 | Vivien Lees-Hamilton | 5,908 | - |
| |
2011 | Kathleen Taylor | 3,561 | - |
Culture
Mirfield Show is an annual agricultural event held on the third Sunday in August at Mirfield showground. It is organised and run by the Mirfield Agricultural Society (MAS) as a non-profit making event for the families of Mirfield and district.Education
There are two secondary schools in Mirfield: The Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth FormThe Mirfield Free Grammar
The Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form is a secondary school in the town of Mirfield, West Yorkshire.Sir Patrick Stewart went to the MFG....
and Castle Hall School
Castle Hall School
Castle Hall School is a mixed, comprehensive 11–16 school in Mirfield, West Yorkshire. England. The school has been awarded specialist Language College status...
. Amongst the primary schools there are Battyeford, Crossley Fields, Old Bank and Hopton Primary school and Crowlees Junior and Infant School
Crowlees Junior and Infant School
Crowlees Junior and Infant School is a voluntary controlled primary co-educational day school that educates around 420 children aged 5–11. It is situated at the far side of Springfield Park, off Parker Lane in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, England...
, which was assessed by Ofsted
Office for Standards in Education
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
as 'Grade 1 - Outstanding' in the March 2007 inspection.
Landmarks
The 13th century St Mary's Church was rebuilt in 1826. However, this church itself proved too small for the growing population, and was also regarded as too mean for the growing district. A completely new church, designed by Sir George Gilbert ScottGeorge Gilbert Scott
Sir George Gilbert Scott was an English architect of the Victorian Age, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches, cathedrals and workhouses...
, was built a few yards to the northwest, on the site of the old Castle Hall, a mansion which was home to the families successively of Mirfields (sometimes spelled Mirfin), Hetons and Beaumonts. At Scott's suggestion, the tower of the earlier church, which retains some medieval work, was retained.
The College of the Resurrection
College of the Resurrection
The College of the Resurrection, popularly known as Mirfield, is an Anglo-Catholic theological college of the Church of England at Mirfield, West Yorkshire, England, founded in 1903. The college has close links to the Community of the Resurrection...
was where Rowan Williams
Rowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
, the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, lectured from 1975 for two years. Archbishop Trevor Huddleston
Trevor Huddleston
Ernest Urban Trevor Huddleston CR, KCMG was an English Anglican bishop. He was most well known for his anti-apartheid activism and his 'Prayer for Africa'...
spent his last days in Mirfield here.
Navigation
During the eighteenth century, a canal was constructed through the town linking the River CalderRiver Calder, West Yorkshire
The River Calder is a river in West Yorkshire, in Northern England.The Calder rises on the green eastern slopes of the Pennines flows through alternating green countryside, former woollen-mill villages, and large and small towns before joining the River Aire near Castleford.The river's valley is...
with other rivers in the area. The canal is part of the Calder and Hebble Navigation
Calder and Hebble Navigation
The Calder and Hebble Navigation is a Broad inland waterway in West Yorkshire, England, which has remained navigable since it was opened.-History:...
. Its construction resulted in many industries in Mirfield, such as the textiles and boat yards
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
. The canal is still in use for recreational users.
Notable people
- Gemma Nelson, artistArtistAn artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
- Richard Reed, co-founder of Innocent DrinksInnocent DrinksInnocent Drinks is a UK-based company founded in 1999 whose primary business is producing smoothies and flavoured spring water, sold in supermarkets, coffee shops and various other outlets nationally as well as in Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland...
- Brian Robinson, cyclistCyclingCycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
the first Briton ever to win a stage of the Tour de FranceTour de FranceThe Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The... - Sir Patrick StewartPatrick StewartSir Patrick Hewes Stewart, OBE is an English film, television and stage actor, who has had a distinguished career in theatre and television for around half a century...
, actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, most notable for playing Captain Jean-Luc PicardJean-Luc PicardCaptain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
in Star Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production... - Mary Snell-HornbyMary Snell-HornbyMary Snell-Hornby , British-Austrian translator and scholar.-Career:Mary Snell was awarded a State Scholarship to study at Saint Felix School, Southwold, Suffolk, where she attained G.C.E. Advanced and Scholarship Level in English, French and German in 1958...
, translation scholar.