Shepley

Shepley
Shepley
OS Grid Reference:	SE192097
Administration
Parish:	Kirkburton
Borough:	Kirklees
Region:	Yorkshire and the Humber
Nation:	England
Other
Ceremonial County:	West Yorkshire
Traditional County:	Yorkshire
Post Office and Telephone
Post town:	Huddersfield
Postcode:	HD8 8
Dialling Code:	01484 (then usually 60xxxx)

Shepley is a village in the civil parish of Kirkburton and in the county of West Yorkshire, England, lying eight miles south-southeast of Huddersfield, in the borough of Kirklees. It is connected by the A629 to Huddersfield through to Barnsley and Sheffield and by the A635/6 to Wakefield through to Holmfirth. Shepley railway station is on the Penistone line from Huddersfield to Sheffield.

In the 2003 census the population of Shepley and Birds Edge was put at 3,044.

The amenities of Shepley are reasonable for a village of its size. Shepley has a library which also doubles as a local authority information point. There are two churches, St. Pauls which is used for both Anglican and Catholic services and a Methodist chapel. Shepley First School has a good reputation and caters for children aged 4 to 10. The Black Bull and The Farmers Boy are the two pubs near the centre of the village. The Sovereign Inn, The Cask and Spindle and The Cross Roads Inn lie on the periphery. Shops include a small independent Co-op and a post office although parking for access to these shops is limited.

There are many sports facilities in the village including tennis, football and most prominently Shepley Cricket Club.

History

In the 19th century, Shepley was recorded as having 30 tailor's shops in a population of around 1,000. These having sprung up as a result of the four mills around the village manufacturing fine woollen worsteds. Shepley is also the home to the manufacturing of a drinking water company, aptly named 'shepley spring' which can now be bought worldwide. It was originally called sheepley as the villiage was full of sheep - due to the renowned mills within it, it was then adapted as the mills and consequently sheep depleted to shepley.