Editing Meltham (section)

== Industrial history ==

===Brook(e) family===
[[File:Meltham Town Hall - Huddersfield Road - geograph.org.uk - 2136631.jpg|thumb|[[Meltham Town Hall]]]]
Meltham Mills was the former site of Jonas Brook and Brothers, a [[silk]] mill complex that employed over 1,000 workers during the late 19th century. The Brook family originally came from New House Hall in [[Sheepridge, Huddersfield|Sheepridge]], moving to Thickhollins towards the end of the 18th century. William Brook married Martha Smith at Bradford Parish Church – the daughter of a prominent [[Mirfield]] banker. Their sons Jonas, James and Joseph established their business in Meltham Mills, using a goat's head – the [[Crest (heraldry)|crest]] from the Brook's [[coat of arms]] – as their brand. The goat's head can still be seen on the old office building to the mill complex and their arms are emblazoned in St. James' Church, in Meltham Mills (which the family built) – a hawkes lure: motto ''"en dieu ma foy"'' (in God my trust). Meltham Mills Band also carry the Brook family coat of arms as their official logo. Edward Brook died in 1904 at [[Hoddom Castle]], the house near [[Ecclefechan]], south-west Scotland, which he had purchased in 1878.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish-places.info/parishes/parhistory1031.html |title=Hoddam |work=Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical |editor=Groome, Francis H. |publisher=Thomas C. Jack |year=1885}}</ref> The Brook family were [[philanthropist]]s and built housing in Meltham Mills for their employees, including the convalescent home.  They also built Meltham Hall, [[Meltham Town Hall]] and Helme Church and owned an estate at [[Enderby, Leicestershire|Enderby]] in [[Leicestershire]]. William Brook is buried with his wife Martha in Meltham Church, but his descendants are buried in the crypt underneath St. James Church, Meltham Mills.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/charles-augustus-hulbert/annals-of-the-church-and-parish-of-almondbury-yorkshire-blu/page-29-annals-of-the-church-and-parish-of-almondbury-yorkshire-blu.shtml|title=Annals of the church and parish of Almondbury, Yorkshire |first=Charles Augustus |last=Hulbert |page= (page 29 of 57)|website=www.ebooksread.com|accessdate=4 March 2021}}</ref>

Jonas Brook and Brothers became United Threads in 1890 and Sir [[Hildred Carlile]] of Ponsonby Hall, Hertfordshire was a Director of the business. United Threads was closed in 1939 – the business was transferred to [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]] as part of J & P Coats – now [[Coats Group]]. The factory site was taken over by David Brown Tractors.

[[John Charles Brooke]], who originated from the Silkstone branch of the Newhouse Hall family was [[Somerset]] [[Herald]] during the 18th century. He was crushed to death at the [[Haymarket Theatre]] in [[London]] following the crowd's clamour to see [[King George III]] in 1794. He is buried in [[St Benet Paul's Wharf]] in London.

===Tractor factory===
Meltham Mills was also the former base of the [[David Brown Ltd.|David Brown Tractors]] factory opening in 1939 and closing operations on the site in 1988. The various building have now been converted into a diverse number of industrial units, one housing a [[Tractor]] museum and other large sections containing an indoor [[Kart racing]] track (now closed down). <ref>{{Cite web |last=YorkshireLive |date=2007-01-10 |title='Last lap' fears for go-karting company |url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/business/last-lap-fears-go-karting-company-5053084 |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Yorkshire Live |language=en}}</ref>

Durker Roods, the former home of [[David Brown (entrepreneur)|Sir David Brown]] was converted into a hotel and the grounds were sold for private housing. The hotel closed in 2021, and is currently falling into disrepair.

The town has its own joint Scouting and Guides Association buildings.