Besides great sights, an interesting history and many exciting destinations, Meltham has a lot more to offer. Here you will find many helpful tips to enjoy your vacation in Meltham.
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Sights in Meltham
Meltham is a town and civil parish in the Holme Valley, within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it lies 9 miles southeast of Huddersfield and 7 miles west of Holmfirth on the A6024 Meltham to Holmfirth road. Meltham is famous for its mills, of which there were 24 in the 19th century, and for its clock Meltham Mills. At the 2011 census the population was 10,821.
The parish church is All Saints’ which is a Grade II* listed building. The present church building dates from 1849 and was designed by William Railton. It replaced an earlier Gothic building which was badly damaged by fire in 1848. The interior of the church has been much altered over the years but still contains some interesting features such as the “west window” which is a noted example of Victorian stained glass.
The clock on the corner of the church, known as the Meltham Mills clock, was presented to the people of the town in 1866 by Miss Emily Marsden of Meltham Hall in memory of her father, Joshua Marsden, who had been a partner in the local firm of woollen manufacturers, Marsden, Abram & Co. The clock faces are 5 feet in diameter and are illuminated at night. The clock mechanism is said to be the largest of its kind in Europe.
The most notable industry in Meltham’s history was the woollen industry. The last woollen mill in the town, Marsden’s Mill, closed in 1987. The town is now largely a dormitory town for workers in Huddersfield and Manchester.
There are two notable buildings in Meltham associated with the Marsden family who were prominent local wool merchants and bankers. They were also responsible for the building of the Meltham Mills clock.
The first is Meltham Hall, a stately home overlooking the town, which was built in 1826 for Joshua Marsden. It was designed by architect Sir Charles Barry who also designed the Houses of Parliament. The hall is now a hotel and conference centre.
The second is Bank House on Manchester Road, which was Joshua Marsden’s banking house and is now a grade II listed building.
Other notable buildings in the town include the Cooperative Society’s store on Market Street, which was built in 1894, and Meltham Institute on Huddersfield Road, which was built in 1887 as a social club for the mill workers. The institute still exists today and is used as a community centre.
If you are interested in exploring the industrial heritage of Meltham there is a heritage trail which takes in some of the key sites. This includes the ruins of Marshal’s Mill, which was one of the first waterpowered mills in the area, and Meltham Mills, which is the only working woollen mill in the UK that is open to the public.
The holme valley contains some of the most picturesque scenery in the country. To the northwest of the town is Meltham Moor, an area of wild moorland which is popular with walkers and cyclists.
To the south of the town is the Holme Valley, which is home to the River Holme, a tributary of the River Calder. The valley is a haven for wildlife and is popular with anglers.
There are many things to see and do in Meltham and the surrounding area. Whether you are interested in exploring the town’s industrial heritage, taking in the scenic beauty of the Holme Valley or just want to enjoy a stroll around one of the many picturesque parks, Meltham has something to offer everyone.
History of Meltham
Meltham is a small town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It lies 9 miles (14 km) southeast of Huddersfield and 3 miles (5 km) west of Holmfirth on the edge of the Peak District. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it had a population of 7,903 at the time of the 2011 census.
The name Meltham is derived from the Old English words for ‘a confluence or meeting of water courses’. The name was first recorded as Meltam in 1254.
The parish church of St James was built in 181112 and is a Grade II* listed building.
In 1838, Meltham Mills were established by Messrs Chadwick and Arkwright. The company employed over 1,000 people at its peak in the early 20th century. The mills closed in the late 20th century, and the site is now occupied by a business park.
In 1867, Meltham Cricket Club was founded, making it one of the oldest cricket clubs in Yorkshire.
Meltham football club was formed in 1876, and played in the FA Cup in 188182.
The town was served by Meltham railway station from 1849 until 1959.
During the First World War, over 3,000 soldiers were billeted in Meltham, and a number of them are buried in the war graves at All Saints’ Churchyard.
A war memorial designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens was erected in 1921, and stands at the junction of Manchester Road and Towngate.
In 1937, Meltham Urban District Council was formed.
Meltham was twinned with Goslar in Germany in 1986.
In April 2001, Meltham town centre was badly affected by floods.
In 2003, Meltham was granted Fairtrade Town status.
On 11 November 2005, a fire at Meltham C of E Junior School destroyed much of the main building. The school was rebuilt and reopened in 2007.
In 2008, Meltham was named as one of the most desirable places to live in the north of England in a survey by the Sunday Times.
In 2010, work began on a £3 million redevelopment of the Meltham Mills site, which includes the creation of a new library, health centre and housing.
Vacation in Meltham
Meltham is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it lies 9mi south of Huddersfield and 7mi east of Holmfirth on the Holme River, in the foothills of the Pennines. The town’s name is derived from Old English, meaning either “sandstone” or “millstone town”.
Meltham is close to the Peak District National Park and the Holme Moss radio transmitter. It is also home to Meltham Mills, the last waterpowered textile mill in the country and the Meltham Golf Club, the oldest in Yorkshire.
There are many vacation possibilities in and around Meltham, including walks and hikes in the beautiful Pennine countryside, visits to the historic Meltham Mills, and golf at the Meltham Golf Club. There are also a number of pubs and restaurants in the town, as well as a few shops.
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