Hemsworth is a town and civil parish in the City of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. Historically within the West Riding of Yorkshire and has a population of 13,311,[1] increasing to 15,350 for the ward in the City of Wakefield Council at the 2011 Census.[2]
| Hemsworth | |
|---|---|
 Archbishop Holgate Almshouses | |
  Hemsworth Location within West Yorkshire | |
| Population | 15,350 (Ward.2011) |
| OS grid reference | SE430128 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Land | England |
| Sovereign state | Vereinigtes Königreich |
| Post town | PONTEFRACT |
| Postcode district | WF9 |
| Dialling code | 01977 |
| Police | West Yorkshire |
| Fire | West Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| UK Parliament | |
History
While Hemsworth’s recent history and reputation are dominated by the coal mining industry that developed in the latter part of the nineteenth century, it had long existed as an agricultural village.
Hemsworth, meaning “Hymel’s enclosure” is mentioned in Domesday as Hemeleswrde and in the twelfth century as Hymelswrde. Into the middle ages it was a township in the Wapentake of Staincross and is also thought to have been in the honour, or feudal barony, of Pontefract.
From the middle ages to Tudor times it would have seen little change to the manorial features, open fields, woods, commons, enclosed holdings, manor house, scattered farmsteads and the church, dedicated to St Helen, dates to the eleventh or twelfth century. The present chancel was rebuilt in the fourteenth century[3].
A grammar school and a hospital, or almshouses, founded in the mid-sixteenth century owe their existence to Robert Holgate, thought to have been born in Hemsworth, who became Archbishop of York in 1544.
The school, established in October 1546 by letters patent granted by Henry VIII, did not always thrive. At times there were complaints about the masters failing in their duties, which were to teach Latin, Greek and Hebrew to the sons of husbandmen in Hemsworth, Felkirk, South Kirby, Ackworth, Royston and Wragby. There were periods in the eighteenth century when there were no pupils. A revival was attempted and a new school built and opened in January 1868. But it too failed to attract numbers and was moved to more populous Barnsley in 1888[4]. The school buildings became the Roman Catholic Church, before they themselves were replaced in the 1990s.
The Archbishop Holgate almshouses, or hospital, still exist and still offer housing accommodation in a complex of 24 cottages for selected elderly people. Originally the endowment was for a master and ten poor men and ten poor women from the locality. The brothers and sisters wore gowns, were not permitted to frequent the ale-house, nor allowed out without permission later than half past nine in the summer or half past seven in the winter. A fine of twopence was levied for breaches. Being a common swearer, drunkard or brawler could lead to removal. The endowment, based on revenue from lands which Archbishop Holgate held, appeared in Holgate’s will dated April 1555 and was carried into effect a year after he died in 1556. The total net assets of the modern-day charity which continues the work are £20.7m.
Enclosure was brought about by an act of parliament in 1803, though it was not as revolutionary a change as in some places. It ended the tithe system in kind and divided land which was allotted to local landowners, particularly Sir Francis Lindley Wood and Earl Fitzwilliam.
Economy
Hemsworth was a one-industry town, where coal mining employed the vast majority of residents, and the closure of the pits during the 1980s led to huge levels of unemployment and deprivation in the area. Hemsworth, along with nearby villages such as Ackworth, Fitzwilliam, Havercroft, Ryhill, South Elmsall and South Kirkby was made into a special regeneration area, and fortunes have improved as a result.
Also in Hemsworth is the Hemsworth Water Park, situated on the outskirts of Hemsworth. Hemsworth Water Park has two lakes; the largest lake is available for pedalo rides and has a man-made sandy beach; the smallest lake is in a more secluded area to attract wildlife. Both lakes are stocked for fishing which is available all year round. There are also plenty of grassed areas for picnics and games.
In the water park, there is also Playworld, an outdoor adventure playground, which is suitable for children of all ages with a tower slide, climbing frames, a toddlers' sandpit area and a miniature railway.
A new kiosk and toilet facilities were opened in March 2006. New equipment was introduced in 2008. A new restaurant, which opened in 2011, is situated adjacent to the larger of the two fishing lakes, and serves hot and cold meals, drinks and snacks.
Politics
The Hemsworth constituency is famous for being the place where Labour votes were said to be "weighed rather than counted" during the 1960s and 1970s,[5] but the town is not even so heavily Labour-voting as it once was. The town's Member of Parliament is Jon Trickett, a former leader of Leeds council.
Population
In May 2005, the Office for National Statistics estimated that unemployment in Hemsworth was just 2.8%. This marks progress from periods in the previous two decades when it could reach as high as 50%.
The local newspaper for the area is the Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express, which gives local residents the ability to voice their opinions on local topical concerns, provides local, regional, nationwide and world news.
Hemsworth was used in an episode of the Top Gear series: Series 4 episode 2.
Robert Holgate, a native of Hemsworth (1481?–1555) was consecrated Archbishop of York in January 1545.
There are many different schools including Grove Lea Primary School, West End Academy, Sacred Hearts, St Helens Primary School and Hemsworth Arts and Community Academy.
Transport
Hemsworth bus station serves the town of Hemsworth. The bus station is managed and operated by Metro (West Yorkshire PTE) & (WYCA) - West Yorkshire Combined Authority
The bus station is situated just off Market Street and is part of the town's Tesco supermarket complex. There are five stands in total. The bus station officially opened in September 2008.
Buses run from the bus station go as far afield as Barnsley, Wakefield, Pontefract and Upton, Shafton Green, Monk Bretton. The main operators are Arriva Yorkshire, Stagecoach Yorkshire, Watersons Buses Services 36,BL Travel Service 249 and an early Monday to Friday CT Plus service to Pontefract
References
- ^ "Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Wakefield". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
- ^ "City of Wakefield Ward population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ^ John A. Bulley (1959). Hemsworth in History. privately published.
- ^ John A. Bulley (1959). Hemsworth in History. privately published.
- ^ "Vote 2001:Hemsworth". BBC News. Retrieved 14 February 2007.