Upperthong
Encyclopedia
Upperthong is a village approximately 290 metre above sea level near the town of Holmfirth
in the Holme Valley
, approximately seven miles south of Huddersfield
, West Yorkshire
, England
.
'Thing' (a place of military gathering) - there is also a Netherthong
- which suggests a link to the viking
invaders who took control of large areas of the north east of England
. The name could also be derived from the Viking word 'thong', meaning a strip of land. Upperthong is set on higher ground than Netherthong, suggesting the names could refer respectively to an upper strip of land and a lower strip of land.
.
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 along Wickins Lane and Wolfstones Road.
Holmfirth
Holmfirth is a small town located on the A6024 Woodhead Road in the Holme Valley, within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Centred upon the confluence of the Holme and Ribble rivers, Holmfirth is south of Huddersfield and from Glossop. It mostly consists of...
in the Holme Valley
Holme Valley
Holme Valley is a large civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 25,049 . Its administrative centre is in Holmfirth. Other sizeable settlements in the parish include, Brockholes, Honley and New Mill...
, approximately seven miles south of Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
The name Upperthong may be derived from the DanishDanish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
'Thing' (a place of military gathering) - there is also a Netherthong
Netherthong
Netherthong is a small village near the town of Holmfirth. It lies in the Holme Valley in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, England. The village is on the B6107 road to Meltham from the main A6024 Woodhead Road through the Holme Valley from Honley to Holmfirth...
- which suggests a link to the viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
invaders who took control of large areas of the north east of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The name could also be derived from the Viking word 'thong', meaning a strip of land. Upperthong is set on higher ground than Netherthong, suggesting the names could refer respectively to an upper strip of land and a lower strip of land.
Politics
Upperthong has been represented by Jason McCartney (Conservative) since his victory in May 2010.Education
Upperthong Junior and Infant School takes children aged 4 to 11 in 7 single aged classes. The school provides a high level of education to its 192 pupils with an above average overall score in the key stage 1 and 2 league tables.Sport
Although small, Upperthong manages to support a cricket team in the Huddersfield Central League and a football team, who play in Division 4 of the Huddersfield and District Association LeagueHuddersfield and District Association Football League
The Huddersfield and District Association League is a football competition based in the area Huddersfield, England. It was founded in 1898. The league has a total of four senior divisions and four reserve divisions. The highest senior division, Division One, sits at level 14 of the English football...
.
Several roads in Upperthong form part of the southern section of National Route 68 of the National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes in the United Kingdom.The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans , and aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. In 2005 it was used for over 230 million trips.Many routes hope to minimise contact with motor...
- the Pennine Cycleway
Pennine Cycleway
The Pennine Cycleway is a Sustrans-sponsored route from the English city of Derby to Berwick-upon-Tweed on the Scottish border. It goes through the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales by way of Buxton, Hebden Bridge, Sedbergh, Appleby, Bellingham and Branton....
, the route follows Upperthong Lane from its start in Holmfirth, and continues along Wickins Lane and Wolfstones Road.
Trivia
- Bill Owen, who played Compo in the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
comedy Last of the Summer WineLast of the Summer WineLast of the Summer Wine is a British sitcom written by Roy Clarke that was broadcast on BBC One. Last of the Summer Wine premiered as an episode of Comedy Playhouse on 4 January 1973 and the first series of episodes followed on 12 November 1973. From 1983 to 2010, Alan J. W. Bell produced and...
, is buried at the parish church, St. John. - Cashing in on Holmfirth's Last of the Summer WineLast of the Summer WineLast of the Summer Wine is a British sitcom written by Roy Clarke that was broadcast on BBC One. Last of the Summer Wine premiered as an episode of Comedy Playhouse on 4 January 1973 and the first series of episodes followed on 12 November 1973. From 1983 to 2010, Alan J. W. Bell produced and...
fame, Compo's Cafe is a popular fish & chipFish and chipsFish and chips is a popular take-away food in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada...
restaurant and takeaway. - Upperthong also boasts a village hall situated close to the cricket field, used by various clubs and groups in the village.
- The annual Upperthong Gala is held over the last weekend in June, and includes events for all ages, including live music, kids evening and a Sunday fete.
- Upperthong hosts the World Welly Wanging Championships each year at the Village Gala on the last weekend in June.
- Wickens Lane changes its spelling to Wickins Lane half way along its length.