Golcar

Golcar
Golcar
	Golcar Village
	Golcar Location within West Yorkshire
Population	6,900
OS grid reference	SE1020015735
Metropolitan borough	Kirklees;
Metropolitan county	West Yorkshire;
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber;
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HUDDERSFIELD
Postcode district	HD7
Dialling code	01484
Police	West Yorkshire
Fire	West Yorkshire
Ambulance	Yorkshire
UK Parliament	Colne Valley;
	List of places UK England Yorkshire 53°38′16″N 1°50′45″W / 53.6378°N 1.8457°W

Golcar (pronounced 'Go Car' or 'Golker') is a village on a hillside crest above the Colne Valley in West Yorkshire, England, 2.5 miles (4 km) west of Huddersfield, and just north of the River Colne and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

The 2021 population census lists the village as having 18,725 pemanent residents. .^[1] The main transport access is from the A62 (Manchester Road), through Milnsbridge in the valley bottom or via Scapegoat Hill from the A640 (New Hey Road) at the top of the hill.

The township of Golcar consists of Bolster Moor, Golcar, Wellhouse, Pole Moor and Scapegoat Hill.

History

Named after 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 dialect research. It was first a site in the English Survey of English Dialects,^[2] and later a site in the Atlas Linguarum Europae.^[3]

Colne Valley Museum

Three 1840s weavers' cottages 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.^[4]

Community facilities

Golcar supports two scout groups: the 4th Golcar Scout Group, which was founded in 1951^[5] and the 39th Parkwood Scout Group, founded in 1908.

The village has several sporting teams including football and cricket teams (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 ^[6] and is a good example of a Waterloo church, Golcar Baptist Church ([1]), founded in 1835 and Golcar Providence Methodist Church founded in 1876.

Each year in early May the village hosts the Golcar Lily Day.

Golcar Brass Band ([2]) 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

References

^ ^a ^b "Golcar Profile". oberservatory.kirklees.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
^ "Syrvey of English Dialects: Golcar, Yorkshire". British Library. 1974. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
^ Eder, Birgit (2003). Ausgewählte Verwandtschaftsbezeichnungen in den Sprachen Europas. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang. p. 300. ISBN 3631528736.
^ Colne Valley Museum entry on Culture24. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
^ 4th Golcar Scout Group
^ The History of the Colne Valley, D.F.E. Sykes,1906. p187

Image gallery

View of Golcar from Pike Law Road
View of Bolster Moor from Pike Law Road

[Golcar-1] "Golcar Profile". oberservatory.kirklees.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2021.

[2] "Syrvey of English Dialects: Golcar, Yorkshire". British Library. 1974. Retrieved 26 November 2020.

[3] Eder, Birgit (2003). Ausgewählte Verwandtschaftsbezeichnungen in den Sprachen Europas. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang. p. 300. ISBN 3631528736.

[4] Colne Valley Museum entry on Culture24. Retrieved 7 December 2009.

[5] 4th Golcar Scout Group

[6] The History of the Colne Valley, D.F.E. Sykes,1906. p187

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