Visit Clayton West Places

Welcome to Visit Clayton West Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Clayton West

  

Clayton West Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Clayton West

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Clayton West history

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The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes in the period from about 1760 to sometime between 1820 and 1840. The Industrial Revolution had brought a migration of the population to the Dearne Valley where abundant water was available for manufacturers, so people lived away from the church. Both Clayton West and Scissett had grown so rapidly that there were people still alive in 1873 that could remember the expansion. Although the parish of Scissett had been created in 1839, yet Clayton West remained as a part of High Hoyland. By 1865 eleven coal mines existed in the Dearne Valley. The Clayton West village coal mine (pit), “Park Mill”, closed in 1989, having been somewhat bypassed by the events of the UK miners strike (1984–85). Park Mill Colliery operated for over 100 years. There is evidence of 700 years of mining in the adjacent village of Emley. Records from the 13th century indicate that monks from Byland Abbey mined and smelted iron ore. They mined using bell pits. A pit was sunk to a depth of 7 meters and worked outward from the bottom of the shaft. Pits dating back to the 16th century can be seen off Woodhouse Lane. Evidence of bell pits is also clearly visible in the woodlands around Duke Wood, down the hill from Cliffe Woods, in Clayton West. Joseph Norton was the owner of a number of mines around the 1870s which he used to mine to produce coal to power his textile mills located at Cuttlehurst and in Scissett. One of these was a mine in Duke Wood. This shaft still acts as an emergency exit and air vent for the privately owned “Flacks” mine, the only mine still operating in the village. The village once had a railway station on a branch line, opening 1 September 1879, branching off the Penistone Line. However the station along with Skelmanthorpe was closed in January 1983. The Kirklees Light Railway now runs and operates trains from the former station. Clayton West was occasionally used as a location for Britain’s longest running comedy series Last of the Summer Wine, in which one of the village’s former pubs, “The Shoulder of Mutton” in Church Lane, features prominently. The village lost its post office in 2010. All Saints Church, on Church Lane, dates back to 1875 and is still in use today. It belongs to the Diocese of Wakefield. All Saints cost £2,300 to construct between 1872 and 1875. Half of the cost was met by the parish, the other half by WB Beaumont of Bretton Hall (later to be Baron Allendale), the church’s patron and benefactor. All Saints can be seen from many places around the village, the only building with a spire, which houses one bell. The roof slates of the church were last replaced in the early 1980s, following a slate appeal when raffle tickets were sold to raise funds for the roof replacement, the spire was also repainted and reclad at this time. In 2019 the roof is again in need of major restoration. Historical Listings Clayton West is listed as Clayton [West] in the Domesday book and has been translated as meaning settlement on clayey soil. The settlement had a land value attributed to the Lord of £1 in 1066. Plough land is also listed as being two, with other resources listed as woodland, one half times one half leagues. The Lord in 1066 is stated to be Alsi, son of Karski. The Lord in 1086, following the conquest, was listed as Ilbert de Lacy (1045–1093) and is attributed as the builder of Pontefract Castle, who is also noted as the Tenant-in-Chief in 1086. The de Lacy family took part in the Norman Conquest of Briton and there is evidence that Ilbert fought at William’s side at Hastings. Listed as Clayton, West, the village featured in “A Topographical Dictionary of England” which was published by Samuel Lewis, London, 1848. In 1848 the village had 1440 residents and was described as being 1080 acres belonging to various owners. Mining was listed as the predominant industry, along with the production of silk and worsted goods for clothing. The account states that many large mills had been constructed in the village for this purpose. In 1848 the four places of worship were listed. Listed as CLAYTON (West), in John Marius Wilson’s Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870–72). Clayton West is described as a township of the High Hoyland parish with hamlets of Cuttlehurst, Parkmill, Topitt and Spring-Grove. The village has a post office and comprises 1,098 acres, with real-estate worth £4, 371, £122 of which are in mines. The population is now listed as 1,532, with 325 houses. Woollen manufacture is again listed as a pre-dominant industry. Chapels are listed for independents (constructed in 1866) and Baptists. Further information of the progressing village is delineated in Kelly’s 1881 Directory of the West Riding of Yorkshire. It describes “Clayton West” as a township and large village. The manufacture of fancy woollens, as well as twine and flax spinning seems to be the prevalent industry of the village. The church of All Saints, constructed in 1875, is now listed along with Congregational, Baptist, New Connexion Methodist, Primitive Methodist and Wesleyan chapels. Kelly lists the charities for distribution as being £13 annually. Also mentioned is the un-denominational school (Kaye’s First School) built by William and John Kaye esqs., which was erected in 1862, and in 1881 William Priestly was school master. Capt. Henry Savile is lord of the manor. The main landowners are listed as W. B. Beaumont esq., M.P. W. T. Spencer-Stanhope esq., J.P. John Kaye esq., J.P. and Thomas Norton esq. J.P. The area occupied by the village is now 1,140 acres with rateable value, £4,548. The population in 1871 was 1,531. Textile Mills One such mill, the Spring Grove Mill, still has buildings visible, just off the A636, opposite the Scissett swimming baths building. Locally is it still known as Beanlands Mill, named after the Beanland family who purchased the business in 1869 from Charles Walker for £8,500. The mill stopped operating as such in 1975, and the mill chimney has since been removed along with other buildings. Pictures of the Mill are available. War Memorial The village has an obelisk style war memorial, now situated at the junction of Church Lane with Holmfield Road. The memorial commemorates 37 people, 30 from the First World War, six from the Second World War and one from the Falklands War. The war memorial used to be located on the grass triangle at Hill Top.

Clayton West geography / climate

Clayton West is located between High Hoyland, Scissett and Skelmanthorpe. The river that runs through the village is called the River Dearne and was part of the 2007 United Kingdom floods.

You can visit Clayton West places with Walkfo Clayton West to hear history at Clayton West’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Clayton West has 15 places to visit in our interactive Clayton West map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Clayton West, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Clayton West places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Clayton West & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 15 audio facts unique to Clayton West places in an interactive Clayton West map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Clayton West Places Map
15 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Clayton West historic spots	Clayton West tourist destinations	Clayton West plaques	Clayton West geographic features
Walkfo Clayton West tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Clayton West

  

Best Clayton West places to visit

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Clayton West has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Clayton West’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Clayton West’s information audio spots:

St Bartholomew’s Chapel, West Bretton St Bartholomew’s Chapel is a former estate church in the grounds of Bretton Hall, in West Bretton near Wakefield in West Yorkshire. The redundant Grade II* listed chapel has been restored as gallery space for the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Visit Clayton West plaques