ADVERTISING FEATURE
Stay local for your 2011 Christmas shopping
W
HETHER you are stocking up for Christmas, seeking out unusual gifts and stocking fillers or shopping for everyday essentials, you can save yourself precious time and efffort by keeping it local.
Small independent shops - many of them family owned - are the lifeblood of our village communities - and at this time of year, we tend to rely on them more than usual. With so much to do in the run-up to Christmas, it is heartening to know that there are friendly local retailers at your service without having to venture too far afield. A good mix of shops and essential services within easy walking distance would be near the top of the list for most of us, if we were asked the question 'what are the qualities which make for a thriving village?' Our village centres offer a convenient first port of call with small independent stores and service industries standing firm in the face of fierce competition from the bigger firms and famous name superstores. Fresh produce, clothes and shoes, crafts and toys, cards and gifts, you’ll find all of these and much more besides. Local traders offer customers the benefit of their specialist knowledge and expertise, which in many cases has been built up over many years., even decades. Andrew's Greengrocers, Holmfirth, has offered a vegetable box delivery service since 1945. In the 1930s the shop was a florist and during WWII managed to get hold of apple and banana vouchers from Manchester. The shop used to be owned by Mr Barnes who was a close family friend, who then decided to change to a greengrocers because of demand for fresh fruit and veg. In 1975 Andrew Bray and his mother took over and have grown the business ever since. The shop has always been at the heart of the
community and always active in community affairs. Generations of customers continue to enjoy the benefits of fresh veg supplied direct to their door. With the boom in online shopping, larger retailers have introduced a similar service - but Andrew's is still the first port of call for many shoppers with a fine choice of organic or non-organic produce. If you are tired of the endless queues at the big store checkouts, our village centres are definitely worth a closer look. As well as offering a more convenient alternative to the larger supermarkets and out of town stores, browsing traditional shops in pleasant surroundings at a nice steady pace is much more relaxing. Regular customers can vouch for the consistently high quality of goods and services. If you tend to shop elsewhere, you don't know what you are missing - and more importantly, you never know when you might need them, especially during the winter. Village shops tend to come into their own when roads are closed and communities are cut off by snow and ice. When it comes to quality, service and sheer convenience, local shopping wins hands down - not just in the winter, but all through the year. Take a look around the villages in the Huddersfield area and you will find an amazing variety of traditional shops and galleries, specialist traders, essential services and great places to wine and dine, not forgetting, plenty of options to make the most of your leisure time, from sports centres, gyms and swimming pools to village halls, libraries and community centres. The Zone, on the outskirts of Huddersfield town centre, is a great place for kids to play and parents to meet up, including a 'drop and shop' on Thursdays, where parents can drop the kids off and go and do their evening Christmas shopping. Santa's grotto will be open on selected dates. More information at www.thezone.uk.com
Christmas At
SANTA
IS COMING TO THE ZONE!!
Sat 17th + Sun 18th Dec 1-3pm Mon 19th -Fri 23rd Dec 1-3pm
PRICES INCLUDING PLAY START FROM £4.50 WHY NOT ADD TEA PRICES START FROM £6.50 NEED TO DO SOME LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING?
DROP & SHOP
Drop your children off while you shop!! Pre-book to secure your place Starting
Thursday 1st December Thursdays 6-8 pm Saturday 9-11 am Sunday 11-1 pm
Book the kids on to our Christmas fun day on
Maximum 16 children per session Juice & biscuits provided
All day Christmas fun for only £15
£7.50 Per child
MONDAY 19TH DECEMBER
For more information please call: 01484 484 134 Reception.zone@btconnect.com
■ VILLAGE: A typical scene in the Holme Valley at Christmas time. This is the Meltham village Christmas tree beside the snow covered churchyard
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64 Huddersfield fi Road, Holmfirth fi Tel 01484 682787
Merry Christmas Everyone
LOCAL Produce Supporting the Local economy Delivered locally by local people
FREE DELIVERY ON ORDERS OVER £10 Let us take the stress out of Christmas for you! No ties or long-standing contracts – Week-by-week deliveries
ADVERTISING FEATURE
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ROM Christmas lights to carol concerts, fun and festive shopping to Santa steam train specials - just a few of the seasonal village events and attractions which you can enjoy during December: MELTHAM: Friday December 2 - Christmas Lights switch-on: Santa's grotto at Wagstaff Shoes, from 5.30pm, shops generally will be staying open until 7pm. Around the village there will be a range of stalls selling soup and hot food, mulled wine and mince pies, plus a hamper raffle and tombola. The switching on takes place at 6.30pm around the Christmas tree at St Bartholomew's Parish Church. Special guest Sakary the polar bear will be joined by young helpers Ellen McFarlane, aged eight, from Meltham CE School and Matilda Turner, four, from Helme School, winners of a poster competition to advertise the event. Sunday December 11 - Carol singing with Meltham and Meltham Mills Band in Robert Ashton Memorial Park. Wednesday December 14 - St Bartholomew's Church, 7.30pm, Christmas concert by Meltham and Meltham Mills Band. Tickets £6 from Scotty's barbers. HONLEY: Friday December 2 - Christmas Lights switch-on, festivities from 5pm: bands, choirs, stalls, food and drink, fun and music. The lights go on at 7pm. Saturday December 3 - Christmas street market at St Mary's Parish Church, 10am-3.30pm. Free entertainment in church with Swing of Things, Jill Kemp and Grange Moor Band; also: Christmas Tree festival at Trinity Church. Sunday December 4 - Charity open day at Taylor's Food Store, with Honley Ladies Choir, helping to raise funds for Age UK. Wednesday December 14 and Thursday 15 Honley Does Christmas: two concerts featuring the village's musical talents, at Honley High School. Ticket information from 01484 605937. HOLMFIRTH: Sundays November 27, December 4 and 11 Christmas shopping at Holmfirth Market, with a
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There’s lots happening around the villages this Christmas fabulous range of gift ideas from local businesses, 10am-5pm. Information from 01484 223730. Until January - Christmas lights will be aglow from late afternoon until late evening around the centre of Holmfirth. Wednesday December 14 to Monday January 2, Holmfirth Picturedrome presents Cinderella, a magical pantomime for all the family. Live music concerts include Saturday 17 - special 'TRexmas' show with T Rextasy and DJ Xmas; Wednesday 21 - Roy Wood's Rock n' Roll Christmas Show featuring the legendary Wizzard frontman (hits including I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day); Saturday 24, Christmas Eve - The Cheatles (Beatles tribute). Tickets: Box Office bar any weekday 7-10pm, or at www.picturedrome.net SKELMANTHORPE: Thursdays December 1 to 22 - St Aidan's Church is staging its Christmas Tree Festival with Nativity scenes, open for viewing 2pm-4pm, with tea and coffee available. Admission free. SHELLEY: Saturday December 10 - Shelley Village Hall, 7.30pm, Christmas Brass with Skelmanthorpe B Band. Tickets £7 from Janet 01484 608126. Thursday December 22 - Shelley Village Hall, 7pm for 7.30pm, Christmas Dinner & Disco, traditional four-course carvery, fully licensed bar, dancing till midnight, £22.50 per person. Tickets from Shelley Stores and Lydgate Styles, or from 01484 603250 or 01484 609032. KIRKBURTON: Sunday December 18 - All Hallows Parish Church, 6.30pm, Community carol service. Sunday January 1 - New Year's Day tour of the village by the Kirkburton Rapier Dancers, who specialise in traditional North Yorkshire longsword dancing, 12noon-4pm. CLAYTON WEST: Weekends, December 3 and 4, 10 and 11, 16 to ■ SANTA: Members of Denby Dale and District Lions with Santa on their charity house to 18, daily from 21 to 24 - Climb aboard the Santa house collection from the Christmas tree in Skelmanthorpe centre Express at Kirklees Light Railway, travel in steam-heated carriages to Shelley station, where Santa will be waiting with sacks full of presents for all the children. Adults can enjoy mince pies and sherry (or a soft drink) in a heated marquee. and there will be plenty for youngsters. Advance booking strongly recommended: 01484 865727. The village we know today as Clayton West ISITORS and newcomers to the area are often intrigued by some home of that popular visitor attraction Kirklees Light Railway - has existed for more than a of the more unusual place FROM millennium. In 1086 it was mentioned in the names. Domesday Book, when its name was ‘Claiton For instance, Meltham may have been named Elsi.’ by Mercian Angles who settled in the area in FROM 8.30am Scissett has nothing to do with scissors. The about 650 AD: an amalgam of `meltan' - to name is derived from the old English ‘Scissa’ a CLASSES IV AND VII, CARS, LIGHT smelt - and `ham,' a homestead. variation of Celia. The ‘set’ tagged on at the COMMERCIALS AND DIESELS Another school of thought claims the name is end meant farm. Scissa’s set or farmstead is Servicing, Repairs and Spares derived from `melitton' - where beehives stand - believed to have been near a group of old on all makes and models. or meltun, the `honey hamlet.' • Timing Belts • Tyres • Gear Box & Clutches cottages at Carter’s Fold on the edge of the Holmfirth means simply ‘forest of Holme.' ancient manor of Skelmanthorpe. Ring or call for appointment Much more eye-catching and a source of great Wooldale, to many people's surprise, has no amusement for those visiting the area for the specific connection to the renowned Holme LOG WOOD first time, are the road signs pointing to the Valley woollen trade in times past. In fact, its GARAGE LTD nearby villages of Upperthong, Netherthong origins go back much further, evolving over NEW MILL and Thongsbridge. The official explanation is several centuries from when it was known as Tel: 01484 684974 or that a 'thong' centuries ago was the name for a Vldvdel or Wivedal, meaning ' the valley of the Mobile 07970 196167 wolves’. piece of land.
History of village names
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We wish all our clients a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Huddersfield 01484 435543 (Fax 01484 456190) 6 New North Parade, Huddersfield Holmfirth 01484 686000 (Fax 01484 688193) 38 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth www.baileysmailes.co.uk email: mail@baileysmailes.co.uk
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C A R AVA N S
Wishing all customers old and new a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
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01484 662774 Magdale, Honley
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Est 1989, 1st Class Service and Quality Guaranteed
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ADVERTISING FEATURE
Good choice of dining out venues
W
HATEVER your favourite cuisine - from English to Italian, Indian to Chinese, there is always plenty to tempt your tastebuds, within easy reach of home.
Many of our village areas will leave you seriously spoiled for choice with a breathtaking array of cafes, restaurants, tearooms, bistros, café bars and pubs, where you can enjoy a quick snack and a cuppa, a light lunch and a pint, or a three course meal with all the trimmings. Often they are local landmarks, on main roads and in village centres, but if you look slightly further field, sometimes you will come across a hidden gem, a contender for the area's best kept secret, tucked away in a quiet backwater, off the beaten track. When it comes to liquid refreshment, the list of options has grown beyond recognition - with lots of different coffees and teas, continental bottled beers, the resurgence of ciders and perries, fruit juices and fizzy soft drinks of every conceivable flavour and fine wines to suit all tastes. Traditional cask-conditioned real ale, which had a largely male following not so long ago, has widened its appeal in recent years and is now more popular than ever with young adults, especially women. A typical bar will now have three or four different bitters on hand pump, often from
local and regional micro-breweries,. It is an ever-changing selection as indicated by the different logos on the pump clips, or the new names appearing on the menu-style lists which many pubs now display - a sign of the times. More and more people are now choosing to eat out on Christmas Day itself. You can save wear and tear on your nerves and furniture, enjoy spending time with the kids and - perhaps most importantly - let someone else do the washing up afterwards. With pubs, bistros and restaurants also planning mouthwatering menus for Boxing Day and New Year's Eve, the pleasure of dining out without all the hassle of organising is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative. Pick up the phone and make that booking without delay, if you haven't already done so. Many places have been taking reservations for months, but if you act now there should still be time to get your table reserved. If you prefer to dine in less formal surroundings, a well organised pub meal offers a great alternative, with comfortable, pleasant surroundings, convenience and good value for money. There’s so much choice in the local area but, if you’re booking for Christmas, remember to make your reservation as soon as possible. It’s sure to be busy!
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Harrow’s
Christmas Lunch Wednesday 21st Open daily from 10.30-5pm Fresh homemade food. Quality local ingredients Stock up for christmas with cakes like grandma used to make & special christmas flavoured ice creams. Dearne Lea Tea Room Huddersfield Road, Shelley, Huddersfield, HD8 8LJ Tel: 01484 602555
■ FAMILY: Enjoy a family Christmas meal at one of the local area’s great restaurants
Restaurant & Wine Bar 11 Victoria Street Holmfirth www.harrowsrestaurant.co.uk
Christmas Party Time
It’s nearly time for the office or family Christmas parties.
Christmas Office Party Menu Available 3 Courses £22.50 per person
New Years Eve
Come See the New Year In With Us Full Menu Available With Canapés Complimentary Glass of Bubbles at Midnight Book your Table Now
For Further Information Please call 01484 688764 Open Lunch & Dinner Wednesday to Saturday & Sunday Evening Closed Monday & Tuesday
01484 606666 FOR ADVICE ON ALL ASPECTS OF PERSONAL AND CORPORATE INSOLVENCY
~~ consult ~~ W CLIVE SWINDELL, BA, ACMA Licensed Insolvency Practitioner YORKSHIRE HOUSE 7 SOUTH LANE HOLMFIRTH HUDDERSFIELD W YORKS HD7 1HN Email: clive@swindell.tv Tel: (01484) 688344 Fax: (01484) 685034 Home Tel: (01484) 684458 Web Site: www.swindell.tv
Mercury Blinds
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SHOWROOM OPEN Mon-Thurs: 9-12noon and 1-5pm Fri and Sat by appointment only
ATKINSON’S
High Class Butchers Sheffield Road, New Mill
Orders for seasonal fayre now being taken. Refrigerated deliveries to all areas daily. Fresh locally-reared Turkeys, Geese, Ducks and Capons Seasonal Game and Venison Dry cured Bacon and Hams Stand pies and cooked meats ENGLISH & CONTINENTAL CHEESE A SPECIALITY TRY OUR RANGE OF HOMEMADE SAUSAGES Tel: John or Paul on 01484 683288
ADVERTISING FEATURE
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Historical roots of our local village shops
N many ways, shopping has changed dramatically in recent decades but the basic principles of successful local trading have remained constant for hundreds of years.
Way back in medieval times, Kirkburton as we know it today was in the shadow of Highburton, the upstart neighbour which had its own market. You can still see the ancient market cross, dating back to the 14th century, a permanent reminder of what was once a hive of retailing activity. Fast forward to the present day and markets are still a magnet for shoppers in Holmfirth, including the Wednesday vintage market, specialising in antiques, collectibles and retro goods. There is also a Thursday general market and Saturday craft and food market, not forgetting the farmers market on the third Sunday of the month. A proud tradition of trade and commerce is still very much to the fore in Honley. In times past, Church Street was the home of the local wool exchange where the precious commodity was bought and sold. Terraces of weavers’ cottages in the heart of the village are a reminder of the industrial heritage shared with much of the surrounding area. Meltham was the home of the first People's Co-op - pre-dating the famous Rochdale Pioneers by about 18 years. The store, opened in 1826, was the first to pay its members a dividend - "divi" for short. Pubs are at the heart of many of our villages. Brockholes local The Rock takes its name from one of the valley's most distinctive natural landmarks. Scholes is home to The Boot and Shoe, a 19th Century coaching inn. Wooldale, home of The Wooldale Arms, can also boast its own Co-operative Society which also runs village stores in New Mill and Thongsbridge. Cornerstones of community life tend to leap
Wishing all our customers a very from all the staff at
KIRKBURTON POST OFFICE
We have a Wide Selection of Christmas Gifts and Cards Available.
01484 602042
68 North Road, Kirkburton
out at you in New Mill. Four main roads converge in the heart of the village and from each, you will see cherished landmarks which are not merely reminders of a proud past, but continue to be full of life in 2011, including pubs (and a club), churches and shops. Follow the A635 road through Holmfirth and Wooldale and the tower of New Mill Parish Church (Christ Church) rises high above the village before you. Even the hale and hearty can find themselves temporarily out of breath after climbing the steep Sude Hill to the church gates. Kirkburton's most prominent landmark is the church of All Hallows, whose history can be traced back over 1,000 years. The building as we know it today has undergone many changes, but is considered to be West Yorkshire's most complete example of a 13th Century church, with many interesting features. The landmark Nortonthorpe Mills is a reminder of Scissett's industrial heritage dating back to the 1800s. To generations of workers it was the home of woollen manufacturer G H Norton, now it is a hive of mill shops and small businesses. Another well known spot close by is Bagden Hall, a beautiful old house set in 40 acres of secluded parkland, now well established as a hotel and wedding venue and renowned for its lovingly tended nine-hole golf course. Scissett Baths is an amenity much loved and treasured by generations of swimmers and learners. Extensively refurbished in recent years, the baths now has a wider role as a health and fitness centre. For more information, phone 01484 222907 or go online: www.scissettbaths.co.uk Springfield Mill, in the heart of Denby Dale offers locals and visitors a pleasant alternative to the often impersonal larger stores and shopping malls. Here you will find everything from ladies fashions to health foods, furniture to fine wines. Travelling by train is a popular choice for people visiting Denby Dale and the surrounding area - keeping alive a tradition which dates back to the Victorian era. The village's most famous landmark is its magnificent railway viaduct. The vast stone structure was completed in 1880, replacing the original wooden viaduct which unsurprisingly, wobbled whenever a train passed over it. Memories of the age of steam are rekindled through the year at one of the area's most popular visitor attractions. The 15in narrow gauge Kirklees Light Railway runs for almost four miles from Clayton West, through Skelmanthorpe to Shelley. The main station at Clayton West, has a full range of amenities to entertain you and your family while you wait for the train or after you return. If you want to stretch your legs and explore the countryside, grab a map (OS Landranger 110 or Explorer 288) and set off from Cuckoo’s Nest or Skelmanthorpe stations. Return tickets are valid from any station on the line.
■ SHOP: Try shopping in the villages this Christmas and support your local village traders
Free and easy parking F
REE parking is widely available in the village areas around Huddersfield, so you don't have to worry about having to drive round in circles desperately seeking that elusive parking space and then having to pay for the privilege.
In the run-up to Christmas, you can park free of charge in Holmfirth after 12noon on the following dates: Friday December 9, Friday 16, Saturday 17, Friday 23, and Saturday 24 (Christmas Eve). Daily free parking is available all year round at the council-run car parks in Denby Dale railway station, library and on-street near the war memorial; Honley - New Street, Westgate and railway station; Kirkburton - clinic, Huddersfield Road, Riley Lane; Meltham -
Carlisle Street, Clarke Lane, Westgate; New Mill - Holmfirth Road; Scissett - Wakefield Road; Shepley - Marsh Lane (library), Skelmanthorpe - council offices, New Street, Huddersfield Road (2 car parks). Village areas are also served by various bus routes to and from Huddersfield as well as the more localised services with nippy minibuses getting into many of the areas that the mainline services cannot reach. Rail links are a real boon for villages along the Huddersfield to Sheffield line, with regular trains throughout the day calling at Honley, Brockholes, Stocksmoor, Shepley and Denby Dale. For latest information on local buses and trains, go online at www.wymetro.com or phone MetroLine: 0113 245 7676 (open 7am-10pm, seven days a week, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day).
Orders Now Being Taken For Christmas Beef, Lamb, Pork, Gammon & Goat • Fresh Local Turkeys, Chickens & Capons Also Geese, Duck, Guinea Fowl, Pheasants, Rabbit & Venison Our Homemade Sausage, Plain & Many Flavours • Our Own Dry Cured Bacon
www.shepleyspring.co.uk
We make & bake daily our own special Pork Pies in many flavours, also Steak Pies, Sausage Rolls, Pasties, Lasagne, Cooked Meats and much more. Hot food served daily 8.30am – 2pm. We source & rear all our beef on a local farm where our lambs are also reared. It is then produced from our own local abattoir. Gift Vouchers Also Available
343 Wakefield Road, Denby Dale Tel: 01484 863634