| Mirfield | |
|---|---|
 Mirfield town centre | |
  Mirfield Location withinWest Yorkshire | |
| Population | 19,563 (Ward. 2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SE205205 |
| Civil parish |
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| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MIRFIELD |
| Postcode district | WF14 |
| Dialling code | 01924 |
| Police | West Yorkshire |
| Fire | West Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| UK Parliament | |
| 53°40′51″N1°41′20″W / 53.6807°N 1.6888°W /53.6807; -1.6888 | |
Mirfield (/ˈmɜːrfiːld/) is a town andcivil parish in theMetropolitan Borough of Kirklees,West Yorkshire, England.Historically part of theWest Riding of Yorkshire, it is on theA644 road betweenBrighouse andDewsbury. At the 2011 census it had a population of 19,563.[1] Mirfield forms part of theHeavy Woollen District.
From 1894 to 1974, Mirfield was anurban district in theWest Riding of Yorkshire until it was merged into theMetropolitan Borough ofKirklees. In 1988 aparish council was formed, one of five in Kirklees, the others being:-Denby Dale,Meltham,Kirkburton andHolme Valley. As a parish council an additional tax precept to the Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council tax is levied on the town's residents. It is made up of 16 councillors who serve for a fixed four-year term, and represent wards within the parish.[2] The members elect a town mayor, who serves for a fixed one-year term.Mirfield Town Hall now serves as a worship hall forthe Salvation Army.[3]
In addition to the town council Mirfield is represented by three councillors onKirklees Metropolitan Council, and the local Mirfield Area Committee.
| Party | Date | Candidate | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CON | 2000 | Beverley Warby | 2,300 | 55.7 |
CON | 2002 | Martyn Bolt | 2,147 | 52.9 |
CON | 2003 | Kathleen Taylor | 1,802 | 39.8 |
CON | 2004 | Beverley Warby | 2,947 | – |
CON | 2004 | Martyn Bolt | 3,661 | – |
CON | 2004 | Kathleen Taylor | 3,166 | – |
CON | 2008 | Martyn Bolt | 3,400 | – |
CON | 2010 | Vivien Lees-Hamilton | 5,908 | – |
CON | 2011 | Kathleen Taylor | 3,561 | – |
CON | 2011 | Martyn Bolt | 2,775 | – |
In May 2005, Mirfield became the first Fairtrade Town in Kirklees and only the fourth in West Yorkshire.[citation needed]
TheMirfield 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.[5]
Local residents introduced the Mirfield Food & Craft Fayre in April 2012,[6] scheduled to be run the last Saturday of each month and "help raise the profile of Mirfield, be a benefit to local traders, businesses, organisations and charities, and add more destination events to the Yorkshire calendar".[7]
There are two secondary schools in Mirfield:Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form andCastle Hall Academy.
Primary schools include Battyeford CE Primary School, Crossley Fields, Old Bank, Hopton Primary School and Crowlees Junior and Infant School, all of which were assessed byOfsted as 'Grade 1 – Outstanding' in the March 2007 inspection.[8]
TheCollege of the Resurrection in Mirfield is aChurch of England theological college, associated with theCommunity of the Resurrection religious community. ThereRowan Williams, laterArchbishop of Canterbury, lectured from 1975 for two years and ArchbishopTrevor Huddleston spent his last days.
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The 13th-centurySt Mary's Church was rebuilt in 1826 but proved too small for the growing population and was regarded as too minor for the growing district. A new church, designed by SirGeorge Gilbert Scott, was built a few yards to the northwest, on the site of Castle Hall, a mansion then home to the families of Mirfields (sometimes spelled Mirfin), Hetons and Beaumonts.[9] At Scott's suggestion, the tower of the earlier church, which includes some medieval work, was retained.
St Mary's was the boyhood church ofSir Patrick Stewart, ofStar Trek fame.[10]
During the 18th century, a canal was constructed through the town linking theRiver Calder with other rivers in the area. The canal is part of theCalder and Hebble Navigation. Its construction resulted in many industries in Mirfield, such as the textiles andboat yards. The canal is still in use for recreational users with duck-feeding being especially popular.
Mirfield is the base of theSafe Anchor Trust, a charity founded in 1995 to provide canal boat trips for vulnerable and special needs people.[11] In 2012,Princess Anne commissioned a new boat for the Trust.[12]
Roe Head school, Mirfield, was a boarding school on the road from Leeds to Huddersfield whereCharlotte Brontë went as a pupil on 17 January 1831, followed by her sistersEmily andAnne. Charlotte was happy there and later returned to teach.[13]
In April 1839 Anne returned to the town as governess to four children of the Ingham family of Blake Hall. Her unhappy experiences there were used in her first novelAgnes Grey.[14]
There are many national businesses based in Mirfield including John Cotton Group Ltd,Furniture And Choice and We Buy Any Stairlift.[17][18]
The town has a variety of local independent shops as well as national chains such asLidl,Tesco andCo-op Food.
Mirfield is represented inRugby League by Mirfield ARLFC, who play home matches at Frank Middleton Park and compete in the Pennine League Premier Division.
The town also has three teams in theHuddersfield Cricket League. Mirfield Cricket Club and Moorlands Cricket Club both based at the Memorial Park off Huddersfield Road. Mirfield Parish Cavaliers based on Wellhouse Lane, Northorpe.
The MirfieldPetanque Club who currently play in the West Yorkshire Petanque League and are also based at the Memorial Park.
Places adjacent to Mirfield | |
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Mirfield istwinned with:
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