Editing Marsden, West Yorkshire

{{Short description|Village in West Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| coordinates              = {{coord|53.6011|-1.9267|display=inline,title}}
| official_name            = Marsden
| static_image_name        = Marsden Mill.jpg
| static_image_caption     = Marsden Mill
| population               = 3,768
| population_ref           = (2020 estimate)
| 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        = SE048116
| london_distance_mi       = 160
| london_direction         = SE
}}
'''Marsden''' is a large village in the [[Colne Valley]], in the metropolitan borough of [[Kirklees]], [[West Yorkshire]], England. It is in the [[South Pennines]] close to the [[Peak District]] which lies to the south. The village is {{convert|7|mi|km|0}} west of [[Huddersfield]]  at the confluence of the [[River Colne, West Yorkshire|River Colne]] and [[Wessenden Valley|Wessenden Brook]]. It was an important centre for the production of woollen cloth. In 2020, the village had an estimated population of 3,768.<ref name="CitPop">{{cite web |title=Marsden  in West Yorkshire (Yorkshire and the Humber) |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/yorkshireandthehumber/west_yorkshire/E34002449__marsden/ |publisher=City Population |access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:St Bartholomew, Marsden 1 (3272797404).jpg|thumb|St Bartholomew's Church]]
Marsden grew wealthy in the 19th century from the production of woollen cloth. It is still home to [[Bank Bottom Mill]], later known as Marsden Mill, and to [[John Edward Crowther|John Edward Crowther Ltd]], formerly one of the largest mills in Yorkshire. The Crowthers moved to Marsden in 1876, beginning a long and profitable association with cloth manufacturing in the town.<ref>[http://www.marsdenhistory.co.uk/misc/crowther.html www.marsdenhistory.co.uk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712003136/http://www.marsdenhistory.co.uk/misc/crowther.html |date=12 July 2012 }} Retrieved December 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.examiner.co.uk/lifestyle/picture-week-john-crowther-mill-4952959 Huddersfield Daily Examiner] Retrieved December 2013</ref>

During the 1930s, Bank Bottom Mill covered an area of {{convert|14|acre}}, employed 680 looms and provided employment for 1,900 workers.<ref name="View">[http://www.theviewfromthenorth.org/bank-bottom-mill-1 theviewfromthenorth.org] Retrieved December 2013</ref>

The Church of [[Bartholomew the Apostle|St Bartholomew]] was completed in 1899, although the [[nave]] and [[Aisle#Architecture|aisle]] had been in use from 1895, when the previous chapel was demolished. The tower was built in 1911 and the Parochial Hall in 1924 (with an extension in 1978). The church has a [[Ring of bells|peal]] of 10 bells.<ref name=mlhgcc>{{cite web
 |title       = Church and Chapel in Marsden
 |url         = http://www.marsdenhistory.co.uk/church%20and%20chapel.html
 |publisher   = Marsden Local History Group
 |access-date  = 11 January 2007
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070219055422/http://www.marsdenhistory.co.uk/church%20and%20chapel.html
 |archive-date = 19 February 2007
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>

Production of woollen cloth at Bank Bottom Mill ceased in 2003, with the loss of 244 jobs.<ref name="View"/>

=== Governance ===
Marsden was formerly a [[Township (England)|township]] and [[chapelry]] in the parishes of [[Almondbury]] and Huddersfield.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/place/193|title=History of Marsden, in Kirklees and West Riding|website=A Vision of Britain through Time|publisher=[[Great Britain Historical GIS]]|accessdate=11 August 2023}}</ref> On 26 March 1898 Marsden became a [[civil parish]] formed from "Marsden in Almondbury" and "Marsden in Huddersfield", on 1 April 1937 the parish was abolished to form [[Colne Valley Urban District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/huddersfield.html|title=Huddersfield Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|accessdate=11 August 2023}}</ref> In 1931 the parish had a population of 5,723.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10446776/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics Marsden Ch/CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=11 August 2023}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Peel Street, Marsden, West Yorkshire.jpg|thumb|right|Peel Street, including the Mechanics Institute]]
Marsden is the last significant settlement on the West Yorkshire side of the [[Standedge]] [[Pennines|Pennine]] crossing into [[Greater Manchester]]. The village is in the southern edge of the [[South Pennines]], with the boundary of the [[Peak District]] National Park to the south. It is surrounded on three sides by the [[moorland]] of Marsden and Meltham Moors with [[Saddleworth Moor]] nearby. Marsden has low level access only from the east along the [[Colne Valley]].

The [[Marsden Moor Estate]], which surrounds Marsden to the west and south, includes several reservoirs; it is in the care of the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]], which is developing techniques to rehabilitate the moor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/marsden-moor-estate/features/restoring-marsden-moor|title=Conservation at Marsden Moor|publisher=National Trust|access-date=15 August 2019}}</ref> [[Butterley Reservoir, West Yorkshire|Butterley Reservoir]] with its distinctive [[spillway]] is near Marsden inside the Peak District National Park.<ref>{{cite web|title=Butterley Spillway, Marsden|url=http://www.victoriansociety.org.uk/news/butterley-spillway-marsden-west-yorkshire/|publisher=Victorian Society}}</ref> The [[Peak District Boundary Walk]] runs across the moors and into Marsden.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=McCloy|first=Andrew|title=Peak District Boundary Walk: 190 Miles Around the Edge of the National Park|publisher=Friends of the Peak District|year=2017|isbn=978-1909461536}}</ref>

In [[chronostratigraphy]], the British [[Stage (stratigraphy)|sub-stage]] of the [[Carboniferous]] period, the [[List of geochronologic names|Marsdenian]] derives its name from Marsden.

==Transport==
===Road===
[[File:Packhorse bridge in Marsden, West Yorkshire.jpg|upright|thumb|right|Mellor Bridge, one of Marsden's two packhorse bridges, with St Bartholomew's Church in the background]]
Several generations of tracks and roads have crossed the moors near Marsden. Mellor Bridge and Close Gate Bridge are both [[packhorse bridges]]. 

The [[A62 road]] between Huddersfield and Oldham passes through the village and the Standedge cutting some 2.5 miles (4&nbsp;km) to the west. The road between Oldham and Huddersfield, especially the stretch between Marsden and [[Diggle, Greater Manchester|Diggle]], was named the fourth most dangerous road in Britain in 2003-2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6236636.stm |title=Britain's most dangerous roads |date=25 June 2007 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

===Railway===
[[Marsden railway station]] is sited on the [[Huddersfield line]]. Services are operated by [[TransPennine Express]] to locations including [[Huddersfield railway station|Huddersfield]], [[Manchester Piccadilly]], [[Leeds railway station|Leeds]] and [[Hull railway station|Hull]].<ref> {{Cite web |work=TransPennine Express |title=Timetables |date=21 May 2023 |access-date=1 July 2023 |url= https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/timetables |quote=}}</ref>

===Buses===
Local bus services are operated primarily by [[First West Yorkshire]]. Routes run to Huddersfield, [[Honley]], [[Slaithwaite]], [[Saddleworth]] and [[Oldham]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stops in Marsden |work=Bus Times |date=2023 |access-date=1 July 2023 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/marsden-huddersfield |quote=}}</ref>

There was a [[Huddersfield Corporation Tramways|tram service]] from Huddersfield to Marsden between 1914 and 1938<ref>{{cite book |last= Brook|first= Roy|date= 1983|title= Huddersfield Corporation Tramways|location= Huddersfield|publisher= Roy Brook}}</ref> and a [[Trolleybuses in Huddersfield|trolley bus service]] from 1938 to 1963.<ref>{{cite book |last= Brook|first= Roy|date= 1976|title= The Trolleybuses of Huddersfield|location= Manchester|publisher= Manchester Transport Museum Society}}</ref>  After the Second World War, extremely cheap fares (1d. return) allowed school children from Huddersfield access to the moors around Marsden during summer holidays.

===Canal===
[[File:Standedge Tunnel End, Marsden, West Yorkshire.jpg|thumb|Tunnel End, the eastern entrance to Standedge Canal Tunnel]]
The [[Huddersfield Narrow Canal]] and the Huddersfield-Manchester railway enter the parallel rail and canal [[Standedge Tunnels]] about half a mile (0.8&nbsp;km) to the west of the village centre.

==Mountain rescue==
The [[Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team]] has its headquarters at Marsden Fire Station from where the volunteer team provides rescue cover for surrounding moorland areas and assists West Yorkshire Police with searches for missing people. The team was founded in 1965 and was based in [[Meltham]] before relocating in 2005.

==Sport==
Marsden football club, [[Marsden F.C.]], play their home matches at the Fall Lane ground. In its centenary year the 1st team were promoted from the West Riding County Amateur League Division 1, and played in the West Riding County Amateur Premier Division for the 2008–09 season. They are currently members of the [[Yorkshire Amateur Football League]]

Above the village at Hemplow, on Mount Road is a sports ground that hosts Marsden's cricket,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://marsden.play-cricket.com|title=Marsden CC, Yorkshire|website=marsden.play-cricket.com}}</ref> golf and tennis clubs, as well as Hemplow Bowling Club. Marsden golf course was created in 1920 and was designed by the legendary Alister MacKenzie who also designed the famous Augusta National, home of the Masters, and possibly the most famous golf course in the world. The cricket club, formed in 1865, runs two teams in the Drake's [[Huddersfield Cricket League]]<ref>[http://www.drakes-huddersfieldcricketleague.co.uk/ Drakes Huddersfield Cricket League Website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807052223/http://www.drakes-huddersfieldcricketleague.co.uk/ |date=7 August 2008 }}</ref> and teams in five age groups in the Huddersfield Junior Cricket League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hjcl.org.uk|title=HJCL - Sellers Huddersfield Junior Cricket League|website=hjcl.org.uk|access-date=13 March 2017}}</ref>

In 2010 Marsden gained Walkers are Welcome status in recognition of its well-maintained footpaths, facilities and information for walkers and ramblers.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.walkersarewelcome.org.uk/marsden/ | title = Marsden | publisher = Walkers are Welcome | access-date = 24 October 2013}}</ref>

==Culture==
Marsden Silver Prize Band is the local [[Brass band (British style)#Silver band|silver band]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marsden-band.co.uk/|title=Marsden Band - General news for Entertainers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916014825/http://www.marsden-band.co.uk/|archive-date=16 September 2009|access-date=3 November 2020|url-status=dead|publisher=Marsden Silver Prize Band}}</ref> The village hosts festivals and cultural events throughout the year. Marsden Cuckoo Day, a day-long festival held annually in Spring (April), holds [[clog dancing]], a [[Rubber duck#United Kingdom|duck race]], music, a procession and a "cuckoo walk". The Marsden Jazz Festival<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marsdenjazzfestival.com/|title=Marsden Jazz Festival}}</ref> is held every October, and the winter [[Imbolc]] Festival, in which the 'triumph of the [[Green Man]]' (who represents the coming spring), over Jack Frost (the winter) is celebrated with fire juggling and giant puppets.<ref>{{cite news
 |url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2009/02/09/night-of-fire-and-fun-as-imbolc-festival-returns-to-marsden-86081-22884083/
 |title=Night of fire and fun as Imbolc festival returns to Marsden
 |date=9 February 2009
 |work=Huddersfield Daily Examiner
 |access-date=9 February 2009}}</ref> Marsden is the home of [[Mikron Theatre Company]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mikron.org.uk/index.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822143449/http://www.mikron.org.uk/index.php|url-status=dead|title=Mikron Theatre Company|archive-date=22 August 2010|access-date=15 August 2019}}</ref> the world's only professional theatre company to tour by [[narrowboat]].

Marsden's 'Cuckoo Day festival' is named after a local legend of the Marsden Cuckoo:

:"Many years ago the people of Marsden were aware that when the cuckoo arrived, so did the Spring and sunshine. They tried to keep Spring forever, by building a tower around the Cuckoo. Unfortunately, as the last stones were about to be laid, away flew the cuckoo. If only they'd built the tower one layer higher. As the legend says, it 'were nobbut just wun course too low'."<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/marsden-cuckoo-festival-preview-5000975 | title = Marsden Cuckoo Festival preview | work = The Huddersfield Daily Examiner | date = 22 April 2010 | publisher = Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Limited | access-date = 24 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/opencountry_20030503.shtml | title = BBC Radio 4 - Open Country | publisher = [[BBC]] | access-date = 24 October 2013}}</ref>

=== Filming location ===
Marsden is popular as a location for [[television]] and [[film]] productions. These productions have used the village:
*''[[Where the Heart Is (UK TV series)|Where the Heart Is]]'' ([[ITV (TV network)|ITV]])<ref name="KLG">{{cite web |title=Film and television in the Colne Valley |url=https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/visitors/towns-and-villages/colne/film.aspx |website=www.kirklees.gov.uk |access-date=16 July 2021 |date=September 2016}}</ref>
*''[[Last of the Summer Wine]]'' ([[BBC]])<ref name="KLG"/>
*''[[Eleventh Hour (UK TV series)|Eleventh Hour]]'' (ITV)
*''[[Housewife, 49]]'' (ITV)
*''[[Wokenwell]]'' (ITV)<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC - Bradford and West Yorkshire - Films - Local films for local people |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/films/film_locations_kirklees.shtml |website=www.bbc.co.uk |access-date=16 July 2021}}</ref>
*''[[The League of Gentlemen]]'' (BBC)<ref name="KLG"/>
*''[[Between Two Women (2000 film)|Between Two Women]]'' (film)
*''[[In the Flesh (TV series)|In the Flesh]]'' (BBC)
*''[[Remember Me (TV series)|Remember Me]]'' (BBC)
*''[[A Monster Calls (film)|A Monster Calls]]''<ref name="KLG"/>
*''[[Walk Like a Panther (film)|Walk Like a Panther]]''<ref>{{cite news |last1=Douglas |first1=Joanne |title=Film crews arrive in Marsden |url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/walk-like-panther-film-crews-13038460 |access-date=16 July 2021 |work=Yorkshire Live |date=15 May 2017}}</ref>
*''[[Brassic (TV series)|Brassic]]''<ref>{{cite web |last=Teale |first=Connor |date=10 March 2021 |title=Brassic rolls into Marsden with village pub transformed into film set |url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/brassic-rolls-marsden-village-pub-20048756 |access-date=8 March 2022 |website=YorkshireLive}}</ref>

==Notable people==
Marsden was the birthplace of Henrietta Thompson, the mother of General [[James Wolfe]] who consolidated [[British North America|British power in North America]] by [[Battle of the Plains of Abraham|taking Quebec from the French in 1759]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Bradley |first=Arthur Granville |author-link=Arthur Granville Bradley |title=Wolfe |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.470101 |year=1895 |publisher=Macmillan and Company |location=London|page=4}}</ref>

Marsden is also where Enoch Taylor was buried. Enoch Taylor was the blacksmith who built the first automatic croppers. The name Enoch was used for the hammers that the [[Luddites]] used to smash them. The Luddites used the slogan "Enoch made them, and Enoch shall break them."<ref name=luddites>{{cite web|url=http://www.marsdenhistory.co.uk/people/luddites.html |title=Luddites |publisher=Marsden History Group |access-date=30 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326170835/http://www.marsdenhistory.co.uk/people/luddites.html |archive-date=26 March 2012 }}</ref>

* [[Simon Armitage]], born 1963, [[Poet Laureate]] and playwright, grew up in the village and has published several poems about the village (''[[Magnetic Field: The Marsden Poems|Magnetic Field]]'')
* [[Samuel Laycock]], 1826–1893, dialect poet, was born at  Intake Head, Pule Hill
* [[Dora Marsden]], 1882–1960, English [[suffragette]], was born in the village

==See also==
* [[Listed buildings in Colne Valley (western area)]]

==Further reading==
* Pearson, Irene E., ''Marsden Through the Ages'', (1984), {{ISBN|978-0950953304}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Marsden, West Yorkshire}}
{{Wikivoyage|Marsden}}
* [http://www.marsdenhistory.co.uk/ Marsden Local History Group web site].
* [http://www.mikron.org.uk The website of Mikron Theatre Company]
* [https://www.mses.org.uk/ St Bartholomew's Church Website]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Marsden, West Yorkshire| ]]
[[Category:Villages in West Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Geography of Kirklees]]
[[Category:Towns and villages of the Peak District]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in West Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Colne Valley]]