the heavy woollen district

The Heavy Woollen District is so called because of the nature of the cloth manufactured in the towns of Dewsbury, Batley, Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton, Mirfield and the surrounding villages during the 18th, 19th and early part of the 20th century.

It was one of the key textile centres in Yorkshire, famed for its production of "shoddy and mungo" (cloth derived from left over cotton and wool). Of course the wool is a thing of the past, but the Heavy Woollen District name has stuck.

The District is in the county of West Yorkshire (formerly called the West Riding of Yorkshire) and comes under Kirklees local authority, which is based in the nearby town of Huddersfield.

The biggest town in the District is Dewsbury with Batley and Heckmondwike only a few miles away.

The nearest cities are Wakefield, Leeds and Bradford which can all easily be reached within a 30-minute drive.

town by town

Essential facts about each of the towns in the District. Click the link to find out more and see more pictures.

Dewsbury

Dewsbury has its earliest roots circa 627AD when Monk Paulinus founded a Christian settlement on the banks of the River Calder which flows through the town. One suggested translation for the name is "God's town".

Batley

Batley, the District's second biggest town, has a population of approximately 40,000. It has a great sense of history with its vast mill complexes, many of which have been refurbished recently for light industrial use or for retail outlets.

Heckmondwike + Spen Valley

The Spen Valley area has a long and rich history which, in parts, can be traced back to the Norman conquest in 1066. However, the Spen Valley, a collection of small towns and villages, first came to prominence during the Industrial Revolution.

claims to fame

Our towns are small but they do have some claims to fame ...

Betty Boothroyd
The former Speaker of the House was born in Dewsbury

Stan Laurel
Legend has it that the famous comedian had family in Dewsbury

Robert Palmer
The pop singer was born in Batley

Shackletons
The famous chair makers are still based in Batley

Illuminations
Heckmondwike made its lights famous long before Blackpool

The Luddites
New technology sparked civil disturbances on the banks of the Spen

Paul Hunter
The professional snooker player had his home in Batley until his untimely death in 2006 from cancer.