Cleckheaton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cleckheaton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated south of Bradford, east of Brighouse, west of Batley and south-west of Leeds. It is at the centre of the Spen Valley and was the major town in the former borough of Spenborough.
Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Cleckheaton has a history as a mill town, like much of West Yorkshire, although this industry has now all but vanished.
History
Early history
Like much of England, the Spen Valley was once heavily wooded. Human habitation began thousands of years ago and Mesolithic and Neolithic remains have been found in various places. Roman remains have been found in the valley and it is thought that the roads from York to Chester, and from settlements in Halifax and Wakefield, ran through Cleckheaton and the junction gave rise to a staging post.
Cleckheaton was included in the ancient parish of Birstall. A chapel-of-ease, known as the White Chapel (later Whitechapel) was established in the area.
