Birkenshaw, West Yorkshire Explained

Country:England
Official Name:Birkenshaw
Coordinates:53.7475°N -1.6934°W
Metropolitan Borough:Kirklees
Metropolitan County:West Yorkshire
Region:Yorkshire and the Humber
Constituency Westminster:Batley and Spen
Post Town:BRADFORD
Postcode District:BD11
Postcode Area:BD
Dial Code:01274, 0113
Os Grid Reference:SE203279
Static Image:Birkenshaw Church.jpg
Static Image Caption:St Paul's Church

Birkenshaw is a village in the borough of Kirklees in the county of West Yorkshire, England. It lies at the crossroads between the A58 Leeds to Halifax road and the A651 Bradford to Heckmondwike road. At the 2011 census, the village was located in the ward of Birstall and Birkenshaw, which had a population 16,298. Birkenshaw forms part of the Heavy Woollen District.

It is the site of the headquarters of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.[1]

History

The name of the village derives from Old English and means "Birch Wood".[2]

Birkenshaw was formerly a chapelry in the parish of Birstall,[3] in 1894 Birkenshaw became an urban district, on 31 December 1894 Birkenshaw became a civil parish,[4] being formed from the part of the parish of Gomersal in Birkenshaw Urban District, on 1 April 1937 the district was abolished to form the Municipal Borough of Spenborough.[5] On 1 April 1937 the parish was also abolished and merged with Gomersal.[6] In 1931 the parish had a population of 2816.[7]

Transportation

The village used to have a railway station on the former Leeds, Bradford and Halifax Junction Railway. It was closed to passengers in 1953 and closed completely in 1964.[8]

Facilities

There are two schools in the village, Birkenshaw Primary School and BBG Academy, a church and two playgrounds.

The village has three pubs - The Golden Fleece, The Halfway House and The George IV – and one social club, Birkenshaw Liberal Club.

There are two restaurants, The Grand Cru.[9] and Heath-field Farm.

This village also has some sporting teams such as the Birkenshaw Bluedogs (rugby league) and the Birkenshaw Bells (netball).

Notable people

People from Birkenshaw:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Headquarters . West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service . 25 November 2019 . 26 June 2019.
  2. Book: Johnston . James B . The place-names of England and Wales . 1915 . J Murray . London . 150. 1050761076.
  3. Web site: History of Birkenshaw, in Kirklees and West Riding. A Vision of Britain through Time. 6 October 2024.
  4. Web site: Relationships and changes Birkenshaw CP through time. A Vision of Britain through Time. 6 October 2024.
  5. Web site: Relationships and changes Birkenshaw UD through time. A Vision of Britain through Time. 6 October 2024.
  6. Web site: Dewsbury Registration District. UKBMD. 6 October 2024.
  7. Web site: Population statistics Birkenshaw CP through time. A Vision of Britain through Time. 6 October 2024.
  8. Book: Bairstow . Martin . Great Northern railway in the West Riding. 1999 . Bairstow . Farsley . 1-871944-19-8 . 94.
  9. News: Winrow . Jo . Luxury restaurant Grand Cru opening soon in Birkenshaw's former Co-op building . 25 November 2019 . Bradford Telegraph and Argus . 27 March 2019.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Birkenshaw, West Yorkshire".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.