Longwood, West Yorkshire

Longwood is a suburb of Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England.

Longwood is in the parish of Huddersfield, 2½ miles W. of Huddersfield, 8 from Halifax. The Church is a perpetual curacy, dedicated to St. Mark. The village is the home of the Longwood Sing, an annual event, where choirs from around the area gather to sing hymns and songs. Near the amphitheatre, where the sing takes place, the rather unimpressive folly Longwood Tower can be found. It is thought that the tower was built by local woollen mill workers during a period of little, or no work. There are also three reservoirs that supply Huddersfield. They were built around 1840 although strengthening work in the 1930s makes them appear newer. One now covered and the lower reservoir looking more like a natural lake that is called a compensation reservoir - 'Compensation' as it was set-up to compensate the mill owner for water lost from natural sources that now went to the main reservoirs to be distributed by the water corporation under 'rates' systems - ironically the mill owner was most likely the owner of the main reservoir too.

During the 1840s, Longwood was the home to the Hanson family of Ballroyd. Mary Hanson set up a carrying business to supplement her husband's income from farming and soon the Hanson wagons were seen taking the Great North Road to London. James Hanson, styled Baron Hanson of Edgerton and once Chairman of Hanson Plc is a direct descendant of the Ballroyd family.

Longwood was built up around the woollen industry and its mills, most of which have now been demolished and replaced by housing. As a result of this the village has recently seen an influx of new inhabitants.

A campaign is underway to save the Longwood allotment plots (situated behind the Mechanics Institute) from being developed into housing.

Longwood has a Parish Church (St. Marks C of E).

Longwood is also home to the 27th Longwood Scout Group.

Name Longwood derives from Old English Olca or Loc meaing enclosure.

References

[http://ichuddersfield.icnetwork.co.uk The Huddersfield Daily Examiner] - [http://ichuddersfield.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=15740782&method=full&siteid=50060&headline=plot-holders--protest-picnic-name_page.html Plot holders' protest picnic] - 15 July 2005