Editing Golcar

{{Short description|Village in West Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| coordinates              = {{coord|53.6378|-1.8457|display=inline,title}}
| official_name            = Golcar
| map_type                 = West Yorkshire
| population               = 6,900
| population_ref           = <ref name = "Golcar">{{cite web|url=http://observatory.kirklees.gov.uk/profiles/profile?profileId=113&geoTypeId=15&geoIds=SET037|title = Golcar Profile|publisher = oberservatory.kirklees.gov.uk|accessdate = 29 March 2021}}</ref>
| metropolitan_borough     = [[Kirklees]]
| metropolitan_county      = [[West Yorkshire]]
| region                   = Yorkshire and the Humber
| constituency_westminster = [[Colne Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Colne Valley]]
| post_town                = HUDDERSFIELD
| postcode_district        = HD7
| postcode_area            = HD
| dial_code                = 01484
| os_grid_reference        = SE1020015735
| static_image_name        = Golcar(RLH).JPG
| static_image_caption     = Golcar Village
| london_distance          = 
}}
'''Golcar''' (pronounced {{IPAc-en|'|g|oʊ|k|ər}}) is a village on a hillside crest above the [[Colne Valley]] in the [[Kirklees]] district, in [[West Yorkshire]], England, {{convert|3|mi|km|0}} west of [[Huddersfield]], and just north of the [[River Colne, West Yorkshire|River Colne]] and the [[Huddersfield Narrow Canal]]. 

The 2021 population census lists the village as having 18,725 permanent residents.<ref name = "Golcar"/> The main transport access is from the [[A62 road|A62]] (Manchester Road), through [[Milnsbridge]] in the valley bottom or via [[Scapegoat Hill]] from the [[A640 road|A640]] (New Hey Road) at the top of the hill.

The [[township (England)|township]] of Golcar consists of Bolster Moor, Golcar, Wellhouse, [[Pole Moor]] and [[Scapegoat Hill]].

==History==
Named after [[Guthlac|St Guthlac]], who preached in the area during the 8th century, its name is recorded in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 as ''Goullakarres''. During the [[Industrial Revolution]] Golcar became an important centre for [[weaving]].  Pharmacologist James Burrows grew up in the area.

The village has been a site of extensive [[dialectology|dialect research]]. It was first a site in the English [[Survey of English Dialects]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sounds.bl.uk/Accents-and-dialects/Survey-of-English-dialects/021M-C0908X0010XX-0100V1|publisher=British Library|title=Syrvey of English Dialects: Golcar, Yorkshire|date=1974|access-date=26 November 2020|archive-date=8 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708203420/https://sounds.bl.uk/Accents-and-dialects/Survey-of-English-dialects/021M-C0908X0010XX-0100V1|url-status=dead}}</ref> and later a site in the ''[[Atlas Linguarum Europae]]''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Eder|first=Birgit|year=2003|title=Ausgewählte Verwandtschaftsbezeichnungen in den Sprachen Europas|publisher=Peter Lang|location=Frankfurt am Main |page=300|isbn=3631528736}}</ref>

Golcar was formerly a [[Township (England)|township]] and [[chapelry]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/place/394|title=History of Golcar, in Kirklees and West Riding|publisher=[[A Vision of Britain through Time]]|accessdate=10 October 2024}}</ref> in 1866 Golcar became a separate [[civil parish]], in 1894 Golcar became an [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban district]], on 1 April 1937 the district was abolished to form [[Colne Valley Urban District]], part also went to the [[County Borough of Huddersfield]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10061842|title=Relationships and changes Golcar UD through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=10 October 2024}}</ref> On 1 April 1937 the parish was abolished to form Colne Valley, part also went to Huddersfield.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10428476|title=Relationships and changes Golcar CP/Ch through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=10 October 2024}}</ref> In 1931 the parish had a population of 9812.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10428476/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics Golcar CP/Ch through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=10 October 2024}}</ref>

==Colne Valley Museum==
{{main|Colne Valley Museum}}
[[File:ColneValleyMuseum(RLH).JPG|thumb|left|upright|Colne Valley Museum]]
Three 1840s [[weavers' cottage]]s were converted into the [[Colne Valley Museum]] in 1970. The museum has several restored period rooms which are used to show temporary exhibitions. The museum was extended in 2008 following the purchase of the adjoining former fish and chip shop.

Exhibits include a handloom and a [[spinning jenny]], invented by [[James Hargreaves]]. In the loom chamber, spinning room, weavers sitting room and 'gas-lit' cloggers shop, the volunteer helpers give demonstrations of the type of crafts that would have existed during the 19th century.

The museum is run by volunteers and opens at weekends and bank holidays. Various craft and working weekends are held through the year.<ref>[http://www.culture24.org.uk/yh000050 Colne Valley Museum] entry on Culture24. Retrieved 7 December 2009.</ref>

==Community facilities==
Golcar supports two [[The Scout Association|scout groups]]: the 4th Golcar Scout Group, which was founded in 1951<ref>[http://www.4thgolcarscoutgroup.org.uk/ 4th Golcar Scout Group]</ref> and the 39th Parkwood Scout Group, founded in 1908. The village also supports [[Girlguiding]] through the 19th Huddersfield (Golcar Church) [[Rainbows (Girl Guides)|Rainbows]] (formed 1987), [[Brownies (Scouting)|Brownies]] (1941) and [[Girl Guides|Guides]] (1925). 

The village has several sporting teams. [[Golcar United F.C.|Golcar United]] F.C who formed in 1904 and currently play in the Northern Counties East Premier Division, their home ground being  located on Longfield Avenue. The team is often referred to by fans as simple "The Village" but officially the club nickname is "The Weavers", referring to the village's textile heritage. There are two cricket teams in the village: Golcar who play in the [[Huddersfield Cricket League]] and Leymoor who play in the [[Halifax Cricket League]].

The village has three churches, the Anglican Parish Church of St John the Evangelist opened in 1829<ref>''The History of the Colne Valley'', D.F.E. Sykes,1906. p187</ref> and is a good example of a [[Waterloo church]],  Golcar Baptist Church ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120317164606/http://www.golcarbc.co.uk/]), founded in 1835 and Golcar Providence Methodist Church founded in 1876.

Each year in early May the village hosts the Golcar Lily Day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Golcar Lily Day - all about you |url=https://www.golcarlilyday.co.uk/ |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=GLD - the award winning golcar lily day |language=en}}</ref>

Golcar Brass Band ([https://web.archive.org/web/20170917124720/http://golcarband.co.uk/]) was reformed in 1977 and practises at the Baptist Church on a Monday night.

==Schools==
* Golcar Junior, Infant & Nursery School, Manor Road, Golcar, Huddersfield HD7 4QE
* St. John's C of E Junior & Infant School, Leymoor Road, Golcar, Huddersfield HD7 4QQ
* Beech Primary, Beech Avenue, Golcar, Huddersfield HD7 4BE
* Wellhouse Junior & Infant School, Lower Wellhouse, Golcar, Huddersfield HD7 4ES
* Clough Head Junior & Infant School, Bolster Moor Road, Golcar, Huddersfield HD7 4JU
* [[Scapegoat Hill]] Junior & Infant School, School Road, Scapegoat Hill, Golcar, Huddersfield HD7 4NU

==See also==
*[[Listed buildings in Golcar]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Image gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Golcar,_Huddersfield(RLH).JPG|View of Golcar from Pike Law Road
Image:Bolster_Moor,_Golcar,Huddersfield(RLH).JPG|View of Bolster Moor from Pike Law Road
</gallery>

[[Category:Areas of Huddersfield]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in West Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Colne Valley]]