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A brief history of Huddersfield

Huddersfield is believed to have been a settlement for more than 4,000 years now. In the mid-18th century, the remnants of a Roman fort were discovered. It was specifically found near Outlane, particularly at Slack. Castle Hill was also the site of an Iron Age hill fort.

Huddersfield had different names through the years. In a Yorkshire charter, it appears as Hudresfeld. Meanwhile, in 1297, in subsidy rolls, the name appears to be Huderesfeld.

Huddersfield is a market town is Anglo-Saxon times. The de Lacy or Lacey family owned Huddersfield's manor before the Crown took it back in 1322. After some time, William Ramsden bought the manor in 1599, and it was known to be the Ramsden Estate until 1920.

Another important structure in Huddersfield is Castle Hill. The foreground of the castle contains three mill sheds that are converted neoclassical. In 1766, Sir John Ramsden built the Huddersfield Cloth Hall. After some years, in 1780, Sir John Ramsden’s Canal was then built.

Huddersfield was largely impacted by wars during the Industrial Revolution. The wars specifically affected the cloth trade, local weavers and weaving sheds. The great mills were also destroyed by Luddites together with pieces of machinery and sheds.

One impactful attack was on Cartwright and his Rawfolds Mill. A lot of soldiers and civilians were placed in the town during the war. Because of this, Luddites decided to attack the nearby villages instead which were less protected that time.

In 1812, mill owner William Horsfall was killed. He was known as a Luddites prosecutor. Parliament then increased welfare provision for the people and improved mill conditions.

The Ramsden family has done a lot of things for Huddersfield, and it has also supported development during their time. However, the Corporation bought the Ramsden Estate from the family in 1920. Later on, the place was known as “the town that bought itself.”

Huddersfield possessed a strong Liberal tradition that can be seen and observed in numerous Liberal social clubs. This tradition has been practiced until the 1950s. Barry Sheerman who is a Labour Co-operative MP is the current Huddersfield’s constituency Member of Parliament.