Netherthong is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Holme Valley, and the metropolitan borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, England. The village is near the town of Holmfirth, and on the B6107 road to Meltham from the main A6024 Woodhead Road through the Holme Valley from Honley to Holmfirth. It has an estimated population of 1,738 (2018).[1]

Netherthong
All Saints church
Netherthong is located in West Yorkshire
Netherthong
Netherthong
Location within West Yorkshire
Population1,738 (2018)
OS grid referenceSE139096
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′59″N 1°47′35″W / 53.583°N 1.793°W / 53.583; -1.793

History

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The name Netherthong may derive from Old English 'neotherra' (lower) + 'thwang' (narrow strip [of land]); since there is also an Upperthong which is situated on higher ground than Netherthong, the names could designate higher and lower strips of land.[2]

The former Wesleyan chapel in the village was the first in the Huddersfield area. The chapel (now a private dwelling on St Mary's Estate) was opened in 1771. In 1772 John Wesley preached there; in 1757 he wrote "I rode over the mountains to Huddersfield. A wilder people I never saw in England. The men, women and children filled the streets and seemed just ready to devour us."[3]

Civil parish

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Netherthong was formerly a township and chapelry in the parish of Almondbury,[4] from 1866 Netherthong was a civil parish in its own right, on 1 April 1921 the parish was abolished and merged with Holmfirth.[5] In 1911 the parish had a population of 867.[6]

Community

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Netherthong Primary School

The village school, of 214 mixed pupils, is Netherthong Primary. Ofsted's last full inspection of December 2012 rated the school Grade 1 (Outstanding) in all areas and overall effectiveness.[7]

Netherthong parish church is All Saints', built between 1829–30 by Leeds architect Robert Dennis Chantrell and remodelled in 1877 by William Swinden Barber.[8][9] The church is part of the Upper Holme Valley Team Ministry (benefice), and within the Diocese of Leeds.[10]

There are two public houses: The Clothiers, and The Cricketers in nearby Deanhouse. There is a village shop and newsagent which is part of the Londis chain, and a post box on Giles Street.

References

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  1. ^ [1], [Kirklees Observatory Area Profiles. Retrieved 10 July 2020].
  2. ^ Mills, A. David. (2011). A Dictionary of British Place Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780199609086.001.0001.
  3. ^ James, E. (1870). Wesley, his own historian: Illustrations of His Character, Labors and Achievements. From his own diaries. London: Carlton & Lanahan.
  4. ^ "History of Netherthong, in Kirklees and West Riding". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Relationships and changes Netherthong Ch/CP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Population statistics Netherthong Ch/CP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Netherthong Primary", Ofsted inspection 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2020
  8. ^ Historic England. "Church of All Saints (1228920)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  9. ^ Huddersfield Chronicle 4 December 1877: "Re-opening of All Saints Church, Nethergong"
  10. ^ "Upper Thong", The Church of England. Retrieved 29 January 2020
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