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• Holmfirth - The Place to Live

What’s so wonderful about Holmfirth?

Sitting in the heart of the breathtaking Holme Valley, this picture-postcard town is popular with walkers, wildlife lovers, tourists and of course local residents.

This engaging little town plays host to an on-going stream of creative and exciting festivals including Arts and Music, Film, Food and Drink, and the not-to-be-missed Duck Race! So there’s always something to see and do.

Celebrated Yorkshire artist Ashley Jackson also has his gallery in Holmfirth where you can view some of his dynamic and brooding landscapes that capture the atmospheric skies of the Yorkshire moorland.

Food plays a big part in Holmfirth life. In addition to the Food & Drink Festival, locally-made treats await your taste buds at every corner. A pot of Holmfirth tea, Longley's ice cream, a glass (or maybe bottle) of wine at Holmfirth Vineyard, and a sumptuous evening meal at The Spiced Pear in Hepworth (run by TV chef Timothy Bilton). For that final taste explosion try The Nook's Fiery Red Ale.

Holmfirth has a selection of other restaurants and pubs including Aldea Mediterranean, Carniceria Mediterranean, Poppa Piccolinos Italian and Soul Kitchen serving American BBQ and soul food.

Holmfirth is also home to intimate music venue - The Picturedrome. Described as “one of the most exciting music venues in Northern England” by Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel; and voted Runner-Up in the NME Britain’s Best Small Venue 2014 Awards. 

Leeds and Sheffield, both within easy travelling distance, also both have a wide variety of galleries, theatres and live music venues, whilst Huddersfield has an Odeon cinema and the Lawrence Batley Theatre.

There’s plenty for sports enthusiasts, including Thongsbridge Tennis Club, Holmfirth Pool & Fitness Centre, Huddersfield Sailing Club, Holmfirth Cricket Club, Holmfirth Town FC - as well as professional sports teams Huddersfield Town and Huddersfield Giants.

Image copyright to Alan Heeley.

Holmfirth History Timeline

1000 – 1200: First recorded settlers, although it is likely that the area had been inhabited prior to this.Late 1300s: There were 175 taxable inhabitants in Holmfirth (a married couple counted as one).
1476: The first stone church was built. It is probable that there had been a wooden one on the same site prior to this.
1500: A chapel-of-ease is built in Holmfirth. Worshippers no longer had to travel the four or five miles to Almondbury Parish Church.
1597: Th’owd Towzer is believed to have been built in this year. Th’owd Towzer is a building near the Holy Trinity Church. It was originally the church lockup. It has had various roles over the years: a mortuary, an ambulance station, a jail and a fire station.
1642: The English Civil War begins. Holmfirth sends 100 musketeers to join Oliver Cromwell’s armies (the Roundheads).
1650: Holmfirth people petition for the chapelry of Holmfirth to be a separate parish.
1651: Holmfirth becomes a separate parish.
1660: After the Restoration Holmfirth loses its status as a separate parish and reverts to a chapel-of-ease. Perhaps a punishment for Holmfirth’s role in the Civil War!
1776: The first Spinning Jenny is introduced in the area.
1788: The present day Holy Trinity Church is built.
1801: Th’owd Genn is erected to mark the end of the war with France.
1812: Luddite activity begins in Holmfirth and the surrounding villages.
1838: The Town Hall is built by public subscription.
1850: Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company open the branch line to Holmfirth. The Druids’ Hall is built for the Ancient Order of Druids Friendly Society at a cost of £1,800. It has since been used for various purposes: entertainment, a hotel and a drill hall but is now the home of the Freemasons.
1858: The population in Holmfirth had increased so much that it once again became an independent parish.
1860: Victoria Bridge is built. Prior to this Upper Bridge and Toll House was the main entrance to Holmfirth.
1865: A wooden railway viaduct at Mytholmbridge collapsed causing the Holmfirth railway line to be shut for one and a half years.
1867: The train service resumes when a new stone viaduct is completed to replace the wooden one.
1870: The firm Bamforth & Co is established by James Bamforth.
1911: Death of James Bamforth. He was described in one local newspaper as `one of Holmfirth’s most honoured townsmen’.
1912: The Valley Theatre opens its doors.
1914: Steam wagons from B Mellor and Sons help with the transportation of troops.
1959: October 31 – Holmfirth passenger line closes. The goods service continues for another six years.
1999: July 12 – Bill Owen, who played Compo in Last of the Summer Wine, died. His character died as well – the rest of the cast attending both his real life funeral and the funeral of his character Compo a few months later. He is buried at St John’s Church, Upperthong overlooking Summer Wine Country.
2006: The ‘Holmfirth Connection’ bus service is established by First Huddersfield to re-connect Holmfirth to the railway network.
2010: The Last of the Summer Wine ends after 31 series.
2011: Holmfirth becomes one of the first towns in the country to be upgraded to new Fibre optic broadband technology known as FTTC (fibre to the cabinet) after a £17 million improvement plan.
2014: ‘Le Tour De France’ passes through Holmfirth, including the famous Holme Moss climb.

Sources: 
http://holmfirthevents.co.uk/holmfirth_history/ 
http://www.holmfirth.org/holmfirth-history/
Image copyright to Helen Bray Studio - http://hjbs.co.uk 

Education

The closest secondary school to Holmfirth is Holmfirth High School with over 1,200 pupils, split over 5 year groups from Years 7 to 11 and has an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted report.

The nearest primary school is Holmfirth Junior & Infants which has a ‘Good’ Ofsted report. Nearby Brockholes Junior & Infants achieved ‘Outstanding’ in its latest Ofsted report.

There are a number of nurseries in the local area, including Hey Days Nursery, Looby Loos Day Nursery and Barnaby’s Day Nursery.

Transport

Holmfirth itself doesn’t have a train station, however Brockholes station is approx. 2.5 miles away, whilst Honley is slightly further at 3 miles. Train journey times to Huddersfield are just 13 mins, with Barnsley 35 mins away and Sheffield 55 mins. Trains to Leeds require a change at Huddersfield with a total journey time of approximately 39 mins. 

While Holmfirth is a small but bustling town, larger urban centres are not too far away, with driving times of Huddersfield - 19 mins; Leeds - 52 mins, Sheffield - 56 mins and Manchester - just over 1 hour.

The closest airport is Leeds Bradford International (28 miles), while Manchester Airport (31 miles) and Robin Hood Airport (46 miles) are also easily reached from Holmfirth. 

Healthcare

The Elmwood Health Centre has 12 doctors in addition to a nursing and healthcare team including community midwives and health visitors. There are a number of dental practices including Holmfirth Dental Surgery and Stable Court in Holmfirth, and the Honley Dental Practice in nearby Honley. The nearest accident and emergency department is located approximately five miles away at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. 

Where to Live

We know the perfect place! Located on the site of the former Thongsbridge railway station, just a short distance from Holmfirth centre, The Bridges is a unique new build development featuring 16 two, three and four bedroom properties.

The homes are being built by local property developer Eastwood Homes which has a reputation for building high quality homes to exceptional standards throughout Yorkshire.

To complement the surrounding environment these new homes are being built in natural stone, and the area will be fully landscaped.

The homes will be situated close to Holmfirth High School; a secondary school which received 'Outstanding' in its last Ofsted report (July 2012).

For more details on these properties click here.