Queensbury, West Yorkshire
Encyclopedia
Queensbury is a village in the metropolitan borough of Bradford
, West Yorkshire
, England
. Perched on a high vantage point above Clayton and Thornton and overlooking Bradford
itself, Queensbury is one of the highest parishes in England, with fine views beyond the West Yorkshire conurbation to the hills of Brontë Country and the Yorkshire Dales to the north and north west. It has a population of 8,718.
Queensbury was originally known as Queenshead. That name was derived from a local pub (still existing) which was popular with travellers on the pack horse route from Halifax to Bradford.
Queensbury itself is most famous as being the home of Black Dyke Mills, and the Black Dyke Band
.
Queensbury Ward is a Ward in Bradford Metropolitan District in the county
of West Yorkshire, England, named after the village of Queensbury around which it is drawn. It includes the villages of Clayton Heights and Horton Bank Top as well as several hamlets: Ambler Thorn, Calder Banks, Catherine Slack, Hazel Hirst, Hunger Hill, Little Moor, Mountain, Old Dolphin, Scarlet Heights, Shibden Head and West Scholes.
, one from Keighley
and one from Bradford
, known as The Queensbury Lines
, all belonging to the Great Northern Railway
(later the LNER). Where they met was located Queensbury station
, which famously consisted of continuous platforms on all three sides of a triangular junction, an uncommon layout in Britain (the only other example was Ambergate
, on the Midland Railway
in Derbyshire
).
A short distance from the station on the Halifax line was Queensbury Tunnel, 1 mile 741 yards in length (the second longest on the Great Northern system after Ponsbourne Tunnel in Hertfordshire
), while close by on the Bradford line was Clayton Tunnel at 1,057 yards. All these lines were closed to passengers in May 1955.
The main Bradford to Halifax road A647 road runs through the village as well as the A644 road. These roads intersect at the Cenotaph in the middle of the village. A regular bus service First
576 runs from the village to both Bradford and Halifax along the A647.
City of Bradford
The City of Bradford is a local government district of West Yorkshire, England with the status of a city and metropolitan borough. It is named after its largest settlement, Bradford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Keighley, Shipley, Bingley, Ilkley, Haworth, Silsden and...
, 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
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Perched on a high vantage point above Clayton and Thornton and overlooking Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
itself, Queensbury is one of the highest parishes in England, with fine views beyond the West Yorkshire conurbation to the hills of Brontë Country and the Yorkshire Dales to the north and north west. It has a population of 8,718.
Queensbury was originally known as Queenshead. That name was derived from a local pub (still existing) which was popular with travellers on the pack horse route from Halifax to Bradford.
Queensbury itself is most famous as being the home of Black Dyke Mills, and the Black Dyke Band
Black Dyke Band
The Black Dyke Band, formerly the Black Dyke Mills Band, is one of the oldest and best-known brass bands in the world. The band has won many prizes and competitions over the years...
.
Ward
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
of West Yorkshire, England, named after the village of Queensbury around which it is drawn. It includes the villages of Clayton Heights and Horton Bank Top as well as several hamlets: Ambler Thorn, Calder Banks, Catherine Slack, Hazel Hirst, Hunger Hill, Little Moor, Mountain, Old Dolphin, Scarlet Heights, Shibden Head and West Scholes.
Industry
The Black Dyke Mills company was responsible for the construction of many of the buildings in and around Queensbury, each being for the benefit of the employees, be it housing/accommodation shops and leisure facilities. In 1891 the company erected the Victoria Hall in Queensbury for the benefit of its workers and the local community - it had a concert hall, with gallery to seat 650 people, library, billiard room and many other facilities.Transport
Three rail lines once converged on Queensbury, one from HalifaxHalifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
, one from Keighley
Keighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
and one from Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, known as The Queensbury Lines
The Queensbury Lines
The Queensbury Lines were part of the Great Northern Railway in West Yorkshire, England. They opened in 1882 and closed in 1955, however goods trains continued to run until 1974 between Bradford Exchange and Horton Park Station....
, all belonging to the Great Northern Railway
Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)
The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
(later the LNER). Where they met was located Queensbury station
Queensbury railway station
Queensbury railway station was a station on The Queensbury Lines serving the village of Queensbury, West Yorkshire, England. The station was unusual due to its triangular shape, and at its opening the only other example of this arrangement was Ambergate station in Derbyshire; since then Shipley...
, which famously consisted of continuous platforms on all three sides of a triangular junction, an uncommon layout in Britain (the only other example was Ambergate
Ambergate railway station
Ambergate railway station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains Train operating company . It serves the village of Ambergate in Derbyshire...
, on the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
).
A short distance from the station on the Halifax line was Queensbury Tunnel, 1 mile 741 yards in length (the second longest on the Great Northern system after Ponsbourne Tunnel in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
), while close by on the Bradford line was Clayton Tunnel at 1,057 yards. All these lines were closed to passengers in May 1955.
The main Bradford to Halifax road A647 road runs through the village as well as the A644 road. These roads intersect at the Cenotaph in the middle of the village. A regular bus service First
First Calderdale & Huddersfield
First Calderdale & Huddersfield is one of the bus companies serving the area of West Yorkshire, England. It forms part of FirstGroup, a company operating transport services across the British Isles and in North America...
576 runs from the village to both Bradford and Halifax along the A647.