Upperthong
{{Short description|Village in West Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2018}}
{{infobox UK place
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|53.5713|-1.80633|display=inline,title}}
| static_image_name = St John's Church - Upperthong Lane - geograph.org.uk - 2007323.jpg
| static_image_caption = St John's Parish Church
| official_name = Upperthong
| population = 1,938
| os_grid_reference = SE135085
| civil_parish = Holme Valley
| metropolitan_borough = Kirklees
| metropolitan_county = West Yorkshire
| region = Yorkshire and the Humber
| post_town = Holmfirth
| postcode_district = HD9
| postcode_area = HD
| dial_code = 01484
| constituency_westminster = Colne Valley
}}
Upperthong is a village approximately {{convert|246|m|order=flip}} above sea level,{{cite web |title=Upperthong, Kirklees - area information, map, walks and more |url=https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/local/upperthong-kirklees |website=getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk |access-date=28 April 2021}} in the civil parish of Holme Valley, in the Kirklees district, in West Yorkshire, England, near the town of Holmfirth, approximately {{convert|7|mi|km|0}} south of Huddersfield. In 2005, Kirklees Council stated that the population of Upperthong was 1,116;{{cite web|url=http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/community/statistics/census-by-town/settlements/Uppertho.pdf|title=Kirklees Government Area Profile 2005|access-date=30 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927205745/http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/community/statistics/census-by-town/settlements/Uppertho.pdf|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}} by 2019, the figure was 1,938.
History
The name Upperthong may derive from Old English 'uferra' (upper) + 'thwang' (narrow strip [of land]); since there is also a Netherthong, which is situated on lower ground than Upperthong, the names could designate lower and higher strips of land.{{cite book |author=Mills, A. David. |title=A Dictionary of British Place Names |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |date=2011 |doi=10.1093/acref/9780199609086.001.0001}} p.475
The village used to be in the wapentake of Agbrigg and Morley.{{cite web |title=Genuki: In 1822, the following places were in the Parish of Almondbury:, Yorkshire (West Riding) |url=https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/WRY/Almondbury/more |website=www.genuki.org.uk |access-date=28 April 2021}} Upperthong was formerly a township in the parish of Almondbury.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/place/14406|title=History of Upperthong, in Kirklees and West Riding|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=16 October 2024}} In 1866, Upperthong became a separate civil parish. On 1 April 1921, the parish was abolished and merged with Holmfirth.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10472763|title=Relationships and changes Upperthong CP/Tn through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=16 October 2024}} In 1911, the parish had a population of 2279.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10472763/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics Upperthong CP/Tn through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=16 October 2024}}
Community
Village amenities include the parish church of St John, a village hall, a cricket field, and a fish & chip restaurant and takeaway.
Upperthong is part of the Colne Valley constituency, which has been represented by Paul Davies of the Labour Party since the 2024 general election.
Upperthong Junior and Infant School, of 198 children aged 4 to 11, in 2006 received an above average overall score in the key stage 1 and 2 league tables. The school received an overall rating of Grade 2 (Good), for all areas and overall effectiveness in its latest full Ofsted report of 2012,[https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/107680 Upperthong Junior and Infant School], Ofsted report. Retrieved 28 January 2012[https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/2159615 Upperthong Junior and Infant School], School Report, Oftsted. Retrieved 28 January 2012{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/06/school_tables/primary_schools/html/382_2125.stm|title=Education – League Tables – Upperthong Junior and Infant School|work=BBC News}} and achieved 'Good' again in 2017.{{cite web |title=Upperthong Junior and Infant School URN: 107680 |url=https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/107680 |website=reports.ofsted.gov.uk |access-date=28 April 2021 |date=18 November 2020}}
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 north westwards through the village, and out over the moor to Meltham.{{cite web |title=OS Maps: cycling routes 68 |url=https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/53.59957,-1.71503,12/pin |website=osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk |access-date=28 April 2021}}{{cite news |title=Bike Route: Make a date for ride on route 68 |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/bike-route-make-date-ride-route-68-1771597 |access-date=28 April 2021 |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=12 August 2017}}{{cite web |title=Pennine Cycleway (Peak District) |url=https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-other-routes/pennine-cycleway-peak-district |website=sustrans.org.uk |access-date=28 April 2021}}
Upperthong has a cricket team in the Huddersfield Cricket League,{{cite web |title=Clubs Upperthong |url=https://www.huddersfieldcricketleague.co.uk/pages/clubs-upperthong |website=Huddersfield Cricket League |access-date=28 April 2021}} and a football team who play in Division 4 of the Huddersfield and District Association League. The village holds the World Welly Wanging Championships each year at the Village Gala on the last weekend in June.{{cite web |title=Welly Wanging |url=https://upperthong.org.uk/welly-wanging |website=upperthong.org.uk |access-date=28 April 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Redfern |first1=Simon |title=Outside Edge |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/outside-edge-5539018.html |access-date=28 April 2021 |work=The Independent |date=17 September 2011|url-access=subscription}}
Two actors from the BBC comedy Last of the Summer Wine, Peter Sallis who played Clegg, and Bill Owen who played Compo, are buried at the parish church.{{cite news |title=Together to the end, Compo and Clegg buried on hillside they loved |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/together-end-compo-and-clegg-buried-hillside-they-loved-1765437 |access-date=28 April 2021 |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=2 January 2018}}
According to Streetlist.co.uk, Upperthong is equidistant from the cities of Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester, 19.1 miles (30.8 km) away.[https://www.streetlist.co.uk/hd/hd9/hd9-3/pennine-close "Pennine Close, Upperthong, Holmfirth, HD9 3EY Streetlist.co.uk"]
References
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Upperthong}}
- [http://www.holmevalleyparishcouncil.gov.uk/ Official parish council site]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20051201023136/http://www.ckcricketheritage.org.uk/southkirklees/upperthong/clubhome.htm Upperthong Cricket Club]
- [http://www.upperthong.org.uk/ Upperthong website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20061220132629/http://www.holme-valley-anglican-church.org/serviceDisplay.asp?id=33 St John's Parish Church]
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Category:Villages in West Yorkshire
Category:Towns and villages of the Peak District
Category:Former civil parishes in West Yorkshire