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Upperthong

Coordinates: 53°34′17″N 1°48′23″W / 53.5713°N 1.80633°W / 53.5713; -1.80633
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Upperthong
St John's Parish Church
Upperthong is located in West Yorkshire
Upperthong
Upperthong
Location within West Yorkshire
Population1,938 (2019)[1]
OS grid referenceSE135085
Civil parish
Metropolitan borough
Metropolitan county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHolmfirth
Postcode districtHD9
Dialling code01484
PoliceWest Yorkshire
FireWest Yorkshire
AmbulanceYorkshire
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire
53°34′17″N 1°48′23″W / 53.5713°N 1.80633°W / 53.5713; -1.80633

Upperthong is a village approximately 807 feet (246 m) above sea level,[2] in the civil parish of Holme Valley, in the Kirklees district, in West Yorkshire, England, near the town of Holmfirth, approximately 7 miles (11 km) south of Huddersfield. In 2005, Kirklees Council stated that the population of Upperthong was 1,116;[3] by 2019, the figure was 1,938.[1]

History

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The name Upperthong may derive from Old English 'uferra' (upper) 'thwang' (narrow strip [of land]); since there is also a Netherthong, which is situated on lower ground than Upperthong, the names could designate lower and higher strips of land.[4]

The village used to be in the wapentake of Agbrigg and Morley.[5] Upperthong was formerly a township in the parish of Almondbury,[6] in 1866 Upperthong became a separate civil parish, on 1 April 1921 the parish was abolished and merged with Holmfirth.[7] In 1911 the parish had a population of 2279.[8]

Community

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Bill Owen's grave in the churchyard of St John's Parish Church

Village amenities include the parish church of St John, a village hall, a cricket field, and a fish & chip restaurant and takeaway.

Upperthong is part of the Colne Valley constituency, which has been represented by Paul Davies of the Labour Party since the 2024 general election.

Upperthong Junior and Infant School, of 198 children aged 4 to 11, in 2006 received an above average overall score in the key stage 1 and 2 league tables. The school received an overall rating of Grade 2 (Good), for all areas and overall effectiveness in its latest full Ofsted report of 2012,[9][10][11] and achieved 'Good' again in 2017.[12]

Several roads in Upperthong form part of the southern section of National Route 68 of the National Cycle Network – the Pennine Cycleway. The route follows Upperthong Lane from its start in Holmfirth, and continues north westwards through the village, and out over the moor to Meltham.[13][14][15]

Upperthong has a cricket team in the Huddersfield Cricket League,[16] and a football team who play in Division 4 of the Huddersfield and District Association League. The village holds the World Welly Wanging Championships each year at the Village Gala on the last weekend in June.[17][18]

Two actors from the BBC comedy Last of the Summer Wine, Peter Sallis who played Clegg, and Bill Owen who played Compo, are buried at the parish church.[19]

According to Streetlist.co.uk, Upperthong is equidistant from the cities of Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester, 19.1 miles (30.8 km) away.[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b "LSOA overview profile Selection: E01011180 Uppethong / Burnlee Geo-type: LSOA". observatory.kirklees.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Upperthong, Kirklees - area information, map, walks and more". getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Kirklees Government Area Profile 2005" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
  4. ^ Mills, A. David. (2011). A Dictionary of British Place Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780199609086.001.0001. p.475
  5. ^ "Genuki: In 1822, the following places were in the Parish of Almondbury:, Yorkshire (West Riding)". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  6. ^ "History of Upperthong, in Kirklees and West Riding". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Relationships and changes Upperthong CP/Tn through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Population statistics Upperthong CP/Tn through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  9. ^ Upperthong Junior and Infant School, Ofsted report. Retrieved 28 January 2012
  10. ^ Upperthong Junior and Infant School, School Report, Oftsted. Retrieved 28 January 2012
  11. ^ "Education – League Tables – Upperthong Junior and Infant School". BBC News.
  12. ^ "Upperthong Junior and Infant School URN: 107680". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  13. ^ "OS Maps: cycling routes 68". osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Bike Route: Make a date for ride on route 68". The Yorkshire Post. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Pennine Cycleway (Peak District)". sustrans.org.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Clubs Upperthong". Huddersfield Cricket League. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Welly Wanging". upperthong.org.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  18. ^ Redfern, Simon (17 September 2011). "Outside Edge". The Independent. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Together to the end, Compo and Clegg buried on hillside they loved". The Yorkshire Post. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Pennine Close, Upperthong, Holmfirth, HD9 3EY Streetlist.co.uk"
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