Stainland

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name = Stainland
latitude = 53.672840
longitude = -1.880533
map_type = West Yorkshire
population = 10,667 (Including Greetland)
(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 = SE079196

Stainland is a village in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, England, some Convert|4|mi|km|lk=on south of Halifax, Convert|4.5|mi|km|lk=off north-west of Huddersfield and Convert|2|mi|km|lk=off west of Elland.

Location

Stainland is situated between Holywell Green and Sowood and occupies a hilltop position at about 800 feet on a spur which projects from the higher land of Pole Moor and Outlane to the south. The main road through the village is Stainland Road, the B6112.

History and development

Early routes and tracks followed high ground to avoid the marshy and wooded valley bottoms and it was on one such high level packhorse route that Stainland developed. The Stainland Cross remains as evidence of man's activity there in the medieval times. An economy based principally on wool and textile production led Stainland to develop as a hilltop village in much the same way as Sowerby and Heptonstall. With the industrial revolution, mills developed in the neighbouring valleys to take advantage of water power; however Stainland continued to act as a focus for the area. The village continued to thrive and a number of notable buildings were added to the street scene. With the decline in its agricultural and industrial function, Stainland is now less self-contained than it was and the proximity of the M62 has led to the development of a new residential role, housing people who work in the neighbouring towns. This, in turn, is leading to new pressures for change in the fabric of the village.

The name Stainland is made from Old norse and means "Stony land", so it's unsurprising to learn that the land around Stainland isn't very fertile.

The village appears in the Domesday book as "Stanland".

Character

Stainland is essentially linear: all the principal buildings face the main road which forms a central spine. There is not generally a building line to which development can conform and the road narrows at 'pinch points' where the buildings are closer. This leads to an unfolding series of vistas as one travels through the village. Much of the lesser domestic buildings has developed on minor lanes at right angles to the road and these dense clusters of houses provide areas of enclosure with occasional dramatic glimpses across open countryside. The architecture of Stainland, using local materials, represents all phases of the village's history.

The Stainland Conservation Area was designated on 30 November 1982.

Landmarks

tainland Cross

On the road side across from St. Andrew's lies the Stainland Cross. It represents a saltire carved on a block of stone. The block is scooped out in the form of a cup but the cover that was formerly attached to it has been removed. The column is circular and plain without any of that rich, strange sculpture or scroll ornament which antiquarians generally attribute to Saxon or Danish sculptures. Its height from the base to the top of the sculpture is about 10 feet, the column doesn't exceed 5 feet. Neither history nor tradition have preserved the date or purpose of its construction.

Mechanic's Institute

The present building was built by the Shaw family in 1883 by public description "to improve the moral, social and intellectual habits of the inhabitants". The building was opened by the Mayor of Leeds on the 7th June 1884.

Over the years the Hall suffered as income declined. By 1952, the Trustees decided to sell the building but then decided to offer it to Elland UDC. In 1954, a Community Centre was formed and was allowed to use the building by the Trustees. Eventually, the Community side took over. In 1967, the building was taken over by Elland UDC. Small amounts of maintenance were done, but by 1974, when Calderdale MBC became the owners, quite a lot needed to be spent.

In 1977, the Council ordered that the twin towers surmounting the entrance be taken down for safety's sake.

Several surveys have been carried out but no work was done on the building with the result we have today (2008). The building now needs £500,000 spending on it to bring it up to standard. The new committee are trying to raise this money and save the building.Cite web|url=http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/stainland/Come-on-down-Stainland-newcomers.3681081.jp|title=Stainland Mechanics|accessdate=2008-08-13]

t. Helen's Well

St Helen’s Well is situated at the eastern end of the village. The earliest account of the holy well is in Watson’s monumental "The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Halifax", (1775). Unfortunately he gives no description of the well but he does say there used to be a Roman Catholic chapel, also dedicated to St Helen, nearby. By Watson’s time it had been converted into a cottage, but in its walls was a large stone known locally as 'the Cross'. Strangers, presemed to be Catholics, were still making pilgrimages to the well then. Watson also says he possessed a deed which mentions a grant made to one "Henry de Sacro Fonte de Staynland". the approximate date of which was between 1279 and 1324.

The well was restored in 1843, probably in response to an upsurge of interest in the drinking of 'spa' waters. The 'Halifax Guardian' for September 1842 carries a description of the scene around the Well Head spa in Halifax where crowds carrying drinking utensils jostled each other in their eagerness to take the waters before hurrying home for breakfast. Well Head was the most popular of the Halifax spas but several other springs in the area were frequented. Similar scenes may have occurred around Stainland’s more venerable well.

In the late 19th century the well was slipping into graceful decline. The stone trough had cracked and was leaking but wild flowers grew in profusion around the well, and beyond magnificent views were to be had of the rolling Pennines.

Today local placenames reflect the past importance of the well. The eastern end of the village is known as Holywell Green, there is a pub called 'The Holywell Inn' and a 'St Helen’s Court'. The well was further restored in 1977 but a visit today is disappointing. The glorious views of distant hills are blocked by a recent estate of bungalows. Worst still, although the crumbling trough of the woodcut has been replaced by a solid modern one, no water flows into it.

Public Houses and Restaurants

Stainland has many public houses/restaurants. The reason is because when the village was developing in the 1800s, the main roads out of the village were to Rochdale, Halifax, Huddersfield and Elland and was a traditional stop for many people travelling through, and so needed to live up to this by having lots of pubs. Most notable of Stainland's public houses/restaurants is the 1885 restaurant which was awarded Yorkshire Life Neighbourhood Restaurant of the Year 2005–06, awarded Highlife Magazine Fine Dining Restaurant of West Yorkshire 2003–04 and nominated for Yorkshire Life New-comer Restaurant of the Year 2003–04.

The other public houses in Stainland are below:
* The Duke of York
* The Red Lion
* The Bull and Dog
* The Rose and Crown

The Black Horse Inn was once a public house in Stainland but was demolished and replaced by the Black Horse Garage. The garage closed a few years ago and the site is being made into a residential area.

Religion

t. Andrew's C of E Church

St. Andrew's C of E Church lies in the centre of the village. It was built c.1755 as a chapel for Stainland, Holywell Green and Sowood. The church tower is visible from as far as Norland and Blackley.Cite web|url=http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/stainland/Centenary-is-time-to-turn.4229061.jp|title=St. Andrew's Church|accessdate=2008-08-13]

Former Chapels

Stainland used to house Stainland Providence Chapel, Stainland Wesleyan Chapel and a mortuary chapel. The mortuary chapel was built next to a graveyard that served the Providence Chapel after the graveyard at the chapel became full. All three chapels' graveyards remain however only the Providence Chapel itself remains and is now 4 houses. The mortuary chapel was demolished after the Providence Chapel became houses. The Wesleyan chapel was demolished to make way for roadside houses.

Community

port

Stainland has five sports clubs; Stainland United FC, Stainland Stags ARLFC, Stainland CC, Stainland Lions Running Club and Stainland Bowling Club. All are based at Stainland Recreational Ground except for Stainland Lions who are based at Heath RUFC, Greetland.

Stainland Recreational Ground lies just west of the centre of Stainland and includes two football pitches, one rugby pitch, a cricket ground, one bowling green, one tennis court, one five-a-side pitch, a car park and a kids' play area.

Stainland United FC play in the Halifax and District League Premier Division. The club was formed in 1947 as Stainland Athletic. The club changed its name to Stainland United in 1980. In 1992 the club folded due to a shortage of players. The club reformed in 1997 and are still running today.

Stainland Stags ARLFC play in the Pennine League Fourth Division.

Stainland Cricket Club and Stainland Bowling Club share the same pavilion at Stainland Recreational Ground. The pavilion is relatively new - being built in 2001 after the previous pavilion burnt down a few years earlier. Stainland CC's ground is called the Memorial Ground after the ground was given to them as a post-war gift in 1922. The ground is one of the biggest in the Halifax League and very flat. For the best part of 40 years, they played at Drury Lane - a venue famous for its bandstand. Stainland CC currently play in the Towergate Halifax Cricket League Second Division along with local rivals Greetland CC and Outlane CC. Stainland have never won the Towergate Halifax Cricket League Premier Division, but they did claim the Second Division title in 1979 and, more recently, in 2002.

Education

Stainland is home to two schools. 'Bowling Green Primary School' is a primary school for children between 4 - 11 located on Bowling Green Road and the second school, 'Holywell Green Primary School', is the same but located between Stainland Road and Bradley View.

Carr Hall Castle

Stainland lays claim to owning Britain's best home. Carr Hall Castle,Cite web|url=http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/We-live-in-Britain39s-best.4091270.jp|title=We live in Britain's best home|accessdate=2008-08-13] located on the edge of Thunnerley Wood, Stainland, in the Holywell Brook valley, won Five's TV show I Own Britain's Best Home 2008.

Location Grid

Distance of nearby settlements

The following is a list of significant towns and places and their distance from Stainland, all are taken from Stainland Community Centre, the shortest road distance is used and shown in miles.

*Elland - 2.3 miles
*Sowerby Bridge - 4.5 miles
*Halifax - 4.7 miles
*Huddersfield - 5.5 miles
*Brighouse - 5.5 miles
*Hebden Bridge - 10.3 miles
*Bradford - 14.5 miles
*Todmorden - 15.9 miles
*Keighley - 16.7 miles
*Rochdale - 18.8 miles
*Leeds - 19.7 miles
*Oldham - 19.9 miles
*Wakefield - 24.2 miles
*Manchester - 25.6 miles

Further afield

*Liverpool - 56.0 miles
*Kingston upon Hull - 73.2 miles
*Scarborough - 89.4 miles
*London - 208 miles
*Newcastle upon Tyne - 121 miles
*Cardiff - 225 miles
*Edinburgh - 234 miles
*Land's End - 390 miles
*John O'Groats - 507 miles

References

External links

* [http://www.1885therestaurant.co.uk/ 1885 Restaurant]
* [http://www.stainlandlions.com/ Stainland Lions Running Club]
* [http://www.stainlandunited.co.uk/ Stainland United FC]
* [http://www.stainlandstags.co.uk/ Stainland Stags ARLFC]
* [http://www.ckcricketheritage.org.uk/calderdale/stainland/clubhome.htm Stainland Cricket Club]
* [http://www.bowlinggreenschool.com/ 'Bowling Green Primary School']
* [http://www.holywellgreenschool.co.uk/ 'Holywell Green Primary School']