User:JustAcscStudent/Sandbox1
{{Multiple issues|unreferenced = December 2013|original research = December 2013| copyedit = December 2013}}
| Birdsedge | |
|---|---|
  Birdsedge Location within West Yorkshire | |
| Population | 300 |
| • London | 155 mi (249 km) SE |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HUDDERSFIELD |
| Postcode district | HD8 |
| Dialling code | 01484 |
| Police | West Yorkshire |
| Fire | West Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| UK Parliament | |
Birdsedge (or Birds Edge) is a small village in the borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, England, on the edge of Yorkshire's Pennine Hills, standing about 1,000 feet (305 m) above sea level. It is located on the A629 approximately 6 miles (10 km) south-east from Huddersfield and about 4 miles (6 km) north-west from Penistone. It is situated between the villages of Shepley and Upper Cumberworth and is linked with the neighbouring hamlet of High Flatts, a former Quaker settlement (and still home to a Friends Meeting House).
Though originally an area of upland farms, woolen weaving and stone quarries, it is now a dormitory village for the nearby towns and cities of Huddersfield, Barnsley, Sheffield, Wakefield and Leeds.
Although the village has no commercial industry there is a thriving school, (Birdsedge First School), a Wesleyan Reform Union church, (Birdsedge Wesleyan Reform Church), and a small community hall, Birdsedge Village Hall. There is a working mill in the village though it is a part of the Z Hinchliffe mill complex located in the nearby village of Denby Dale.
History
[edit]There is some controversy about the name of the village. Long-term residents spell it Birdsedge while Kirklees (local authorities) refer to it as 'Birds Edge'. Until the 1980s the road sign at the north end of the village read Birds Edge. Although there was no village sign, the road sign on the A629 readBirdsedge. In the Post Office's guide: 'Postal Addresses and Index to Postcode Directories' of May 1983, it is listed as Birdsedge. However, either way will ensure that the mail is sent through.
The village was essentially a collection of isolated farms until the 17th century when a group of local Quakers founded a Meeting in High Flatts. They renovated a pre-existing barn for their Meeting House and built several houses in the immediate vicinity.
As of 2006, the village had about 150 houses and a population of 300.[1]
Birdsedge First School
[edit]Birdsedge First School is the only school in the village and it serves students from ages 4 to 10. It is a coeducational community school with a roughly equal male-to-female student ratio.[2] Ofsted gave the school "outstanding" grades on overall effectiveness, achievements and standards, personal development and well-being, as well as quality of provision.[3]
Birdsedge Village Hall
[edit]Birdsedge Village Hall was built in 1851. The hall was purchased for community use in 1922 and during World War II it was used as a club for soldiers stationed locally. In the 1950s, it fell into dilapidation, only returning to public use in August 1969. It is currently registered as a charity and provides a location for many of the village's events. [4]
Wind Turbine Controversy
[edit]British-owned company, Pure Energy Renewable applied to set up four 328 metre tall wind turbines near Birdsedge.[5] Many residents were upset over the possibility of more turbines in their area, citing issues such as noise, location, and the lack of jobs that would be created, as the turbines were to be built overseas. In August 2013, Kirklees town councilors unanimously voted "no" at a town hall meeting regarding the issue. Councilors concluded that the turbines would be too close to the school grounds and, additionally,that they would be too overbearing for a small village.[6]
Culture
[edit]Birdsedge hosts an annual festival called the Birdsedge Festival. This tradition dates back to 1940s. Today, as many as 1000 people visit the festival. These guests come from places all around the world to visit the festival.[1] The festival occurs every year on the second Saturday of July. [7] The village is home to a war memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives fighting in World War I and World War II. The memorial is in a garden located in front of Birdsedge First School and adjacent to the Village Hall. [8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Aslet, Clive. "Village voice: there's nowt more pleasant than folk in Birdsedge, West Yorkshire" 29 July 2006
- ^ http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/school.pl?urn=107649
- ^ Dawson, Anna. "Birdsedge First School: Inspection Report" 27-28 September 2006.
- ^ Birdsedge Village Hall."Histoy"
- ^ BBC. "Kirklees council rejects Birdsedge wind turbines" 22 August 2013.
- ^ Douglas, Joanne. "The ‘siege’ is over for Birdsedge residents as Kirklees councillors reject four 101m wind turbines" 23 August 2013.
- ^ Kirklees Council "Birdsedge Village Festival" 13 November 2013.
- ^ Kirklees Council. "Birdsedge War Memorial".
External links
[edit]Category:Geography of Kirklees Category:Villages in West Yorkshire