Horbury
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  Map sources for Horbury at grid reference SE294182
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Horbury is a large village, west of Wakefield and south of Ossett, in Yorkshire. It has a population of around 10,000, and is listed by the census as part of the West Yorkshire Urban Area. Locals often refer to it as a "town", but it is not officially, as it never received a town charter from the Monarch, nor has it declared itself to be a town under the post-1974 rules. Horbury does however have a Town Hall. The foundation stone was laid on Wednesday 30th July 1902 by Joshua Harrop. The Town Hall's architects & builders were Henry Fallas & Sons.
It is known for being a pleasant and picturesque village. Its population is almost entirely white, and has a above-average proportion of pensioners. Stan Barstow, author of Joby and A Kind of Loving was born in Horbury, but lived most of his life in Ossett. In his autobiography, he said that Ossett and Horbury were the "border country" where the north-west of the coalfield merges with the south-east of the wool towns. Horbury was something of an anomaly in this part of Yorkshire in having a steel works.
During World War II, the factory of Charles Roberts made Churchill tanks. This factory was in the area of Horbury known as Horbury Junction after the large railway junction there.
Horbury Bridge is known as the home of "Onward, Christian Soldiers", the hymn by Sabine Baring Gould.
John Carr, the famous architect was born in Horbury. Carr Lodge, in the centre of Horbury Park was once the home of John Carr's uncle. The ridges & furrows of strip cultivation are still visible in the Park.
The Domesday Book (1086) records about 40 people and four ox-drawn ploughs in 'Orberie' and Crigglestone combined.
[edit] External Links
- For more information about Horbury please visit the Horbury Village Web Site "http://www.horburyvillage.com/home.htm"
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