Greetland

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Greetland
latitude= 53.686942
longitude= -1.871393
map_type= West Yorkshire
population = 10,667 (Including Stainland)(2001 Census)
metropolitan_borough= Calderdale
metropolitan_county = West Yorkshire
region= Yorkshire and the Humber
constituency_westminster= Calder Valley
post_town= HALIFAX
postcode_district= HX4
postcode_area = HX
dial_code= 01422
os_grid_reference= SE085211

Greetland is a village in the county of West Yorkshire. It is located Convert|1|mi|km|lk=on west of nearby Elland and Convert|2.5|mi|km|lk=off south of Halifax.

Local History

The village may have been the site of a Roman settlement named "Cambodunum". A Roman altarstone dated to AD 208 was found in 1597 at Bank Top, Greetland Cite web|url=http://www.roman-britain.org/places/greetland.htm|title=Alterstone Found in Greetland|accessdate=2007-06-11]

Local Geography

Greetland is situated primarily around Saddleworth Road and Rochdale Road. Much of the village is located on the side of the steep hill that separates the two roads.

Local Attractions

Clay House

Greetland is the location of "Clay House", The house was built for John Clay and the Clay family around 1650, although a house owned by Robert Clay on the site is mentioned in 1296 and 1419. In the 18th century it was owned by John Wheelwright, collector of salt duties and local landowner who founded Rishworth School.The house was taken over by Greetland District Council in the 1920s. The grounds of the house were opened as a park in 1924, and in 1929, a war memorial was built in the hall. Clay House is the starting point of the Calderdale Way and is now a social functions and health centre. Cite web|url=http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/wtw/results/recordpreview_it.jsp?doctypeterm=GLS&source=doctype&offset=50&directid=101811|title=Clay House|accessdate=2007-06-11]

Calderdale Way

Greetland is the start of the Calderdale Way, a long distance footpath that is popular with ramblers.Cite web|url=http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/paths/calderdale.html|title=Calderdale Way|accessdate=2007-06-11] .

Public Houses

Greetland is well known in the Calderdale area for its traditional Pubs.

The Druid's Arms (closed 2004)

Perhaps the oldest public house in Greetland, the Druids Arms is affectionately known locally as the "Rat". The sign outside the pub was altered by the currently landlord to reflect this.

The pub has been at the centre of a planning dispute with local residents. Since its closure on October 17, 2004, the landlord has applied for planning permission to turn the pub into flats. However, a local residents committee is attempting to launch objections to the proposed change of function.

The Druids Arms appears in local folklore: Greetland is the home of 'Brandy Hole Wood'. The origin of the wood's name is en grained in local folklore. It is said by local residents that (sometime before the start of the 20th Century) in order to avoid paying excessive tax on his stockpiled alcohol, the landlord of the local pub, The Druids Arms would roll barrels of spirits into the wood in order to hide them. When the taxman came to take an inventory of the pub's cellar he would not account for the hidden barrels, and so the landlord avoided paying tax on the barrels stashed in the woods.

The cottage adjacent to the pub has been sold.The landlord and his family are still currently living in the pub (February 2008).

The Golden Fleece (closed 2008)

This pub came to nationwide media attention in early January 2008. The supposed landlord, Stuart Smith (It would later emerge that the premises traded under his sons alcohol license) had been publicly flouting the smoking ban that was introduced throughout England in July 2007Cite web|url=http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/Licensee-defies-pub-smoking-ban.3658261.jp|title=Licensee defies pub smoking ban|accessdate=2008-01-16] . He Allowed customers to smoke inside his pub, and has either taken down non-smoking signs or written over them with 'Smoking Allowed'. The pub received support from smokers and non-smokers alike from Halifax, Bradford, Huddersfield and Leeds.The landlord claims to have even received phone calls of support from Germany, Croatia and the USA.

Stuart Smith has also recently announced (16th Jan 2008) that he is to open another pub in Huddersfield Cite web|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2008/01/16/i-ll-defy-ban-on-pub-smoking-86081-20355902/|title=I'll defy ban on pub smoking|accessdate=2008-01-16] (The College Arms) where he will also allow his customers to smoke. He said he wishes to create a small smoking area, leaving most of the pub a non-smoking venue.

The Golden Fleece has now shut it's doors to the public following a "case in which the authority, the police and Admiral Taverns worked together to shut the pub" Cite web|url=http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/Greetland-smoking-pub-shut-down.3680386.jp|title=Greetland smoking pub shut down: Man behind stunt had no licence|accessdate=2008-01-23] . It emerged that Stuart Smith was not the approved licensee of the premises and had no legal jurustiction to sell alcohol from the premises.

Others

Greetland is also home to the Rose and Crown Pub (Known locally as "The Crown" or more affectionately "The Frown, it is also well known to by the locals as "The Rose", The Branch Road Inn, The Sportsman Inn, The Spring Rock, The Star, The Travelers Rest, The Queen, The Shears and a number of Working Mens Clubs.

Community

port

Sporting facilities in Greetland include the "Greetland Community centre", which consists of an indoor multi-purpose pitch, as well as several outdoor natural grass pitches. The venue also has a small bar area that has been voted club of the year 2007 by CAMRACite web|url=http://www.timothy-taylor.co.uk/news.htm#greet|title=Greetland Community centre Wins CAMRA award|accessdate=2007-06-11] . The community centre is home to the [http://www.greetland-goldstars.co.uk Greetland Goldstars Football Club] which has various teams in different age groups playing in the local junior football leagues. Their motto is "To win fairly and to lose with honour".The Club achieved FA Charter Standard Development Club Status ^{[http://www.thefa.com/GrassrootsNew/CharterStandard/]} in January 2007.

The "Greetland All Rounders" Rugby ground is also located in Greetland and is home to various local Rugby League teams. The venue boasts an indoor bar and meeting area, as well as a floodlit outdoor pitch. The ground is often used for community events and is used regularly by the district scout groups.

Founded in the 1880's the "Greetland Cricket & Bowling Club" is still active and the club competes in the "Halifax League", playing host to teams from around Calderdale and Kirklees.Cite web|url=http://www.ckcricketheritage.org.uk/calderdale/greetland/clubhome.htm|title=Greetland CCC|accessdate=2007-06-11] Unfortunately the pitch is located on the banks of a small river and is prone to flooding when water levels reach a certain height.

Education

Greetland is home to both the "Greetland Junior and Infant School" and the [http://www.westvale.calderdale.sch.uk|"West Vale Primary School"] . The Greetland Junior and Infant School is located on two locations throughout the village. The first, on Saddleworth Road caters for children aged 4 - 6 (Infants). While the second located on School Street - Rochdale Road caters for children aged 6 - 11.

couting

Greetland has a Beaver, Cub Scout and Scout group operating as the 5th Elland (Greetland) Troop. The groups are based in the nearby St Thomas church hall, although it is not uncommon for them to hold meetings elsewhere. There is a friendly rivalry between the Greetland troop and the nearby Barkisland scout troop.

Notable Residents

* Lord Shutt of Greetland (Former Local Councilor) Cite web|url=http://www.libdems.org.uk/party/people/cllr-lord-cllr-lord-shutt-of-greetland.html|title=Lord Shutt|accessdate=2007-06-11]

References