ADVERTISING FEATURE

Stay local for your 2011Christmas shopping

WHETHER you are stocking upfor Christmas, seeking outunusual gifts and stocking

fillers or shopping for everydayessentials, you can save yourselfprecious time and efffort by keeping itlocal.Small independent shops - many of them familyowned - are the lifeblood of our villagecommunities - and at this time of year, we tendto rely on them more than usual. With so muchto do in the run-up to Christmas, it isheartening to know that there are friendly localretailers at your service without having toventure too far afield.A good mix of shops andessential services within easywalking distance would be nearthe top of the list for most of us,if we were asked the question'what are the qualities whichmake for a thriving village?'Our village centres offer aconvenient first port of call withsmall independent stores andservice industries standing firm inthe face of fierce competitionfrom the bigger firms and famousname superstores. Fresh produce,clothes and shoes, crafts andtoys, cards and gifts, you’ll findall of these and much morebesides.Local traders offer customers thebenefit of their specialist knowledge andexpertise, which in many cases has been builtup over many years., even decades. Andrew'sGreengrocers, Holmfirth, has offered avegetable box delivery service since 1945.In the 1930s the shop was a florist and duringWWII managed to get hold of apple andbanana vouchers from Manchester. The shopused to be owned by Mr Barnes who was aclose family friend, who then decided to changeto a greengrocers because of demand for freshfruit and veg.In 1975 Andrew Bray and his mother took overand have grown the business ever since. Theshop has always been at the heart of the

community and always active in communityaffairs.Generations of customers continue to enjoy thebenefits of fresh veg supplied direct to theirdoor. With the boom in online shopping, largerretailers have introduced a similar service - butAndrew's is still the first port of call for manyshoppers with a fine choice of organic ornon-organic produce.If you are tired of the endless queues at the bigstore checkouts, our village centres aredefinitely worth a closer look. As well asoffering a more convenient alternative to thelarger supermarkets and out of town stores,browsing traditional shops in pleasant

surroundings at a nice steadypace is much more relaxing.Regular customers can vouchfor the consistently high qualityof goods and services. If youtend to shop elsewhere, youdon't know what you aremissing - and more importantly,you never know when you mightneed them, especially during thewinter. Village shops tend tocome into their own when roadsare closed and communities arecut off by snow and ice. When itcomes to quality, service andsheer convenience, localshopping wins hands down - notjust in the winter, but allthrough the year.Take a look around the villages

in the Huddersfield area and you will find anamazing variety of traditional shops andgalleries, specialist traders, essential servicesand great places to wine and dine, notforgetting, plenty of options to make the mostof your leisure time, from sports centres, gymsand swimming pools to village halls, librariesand community centres. The Zone, on theoutskirts of Huddersfield town centre, is a greatplace for kids to play and parents to meet up,including a 'drop and shop' on Thursdays,where parents can drop the kids off and go anddo their evening Christmas shopping.Santa's grotto will be open on selected dates.More information at www.thezone.uk.com

■ VILLAGE: A typical scene in the Holme Valley at Christmas time. This is the Melthamvillage Christmas tree beside the snow covered churchyard

64 Huddersfield Road,HolmfirthTel 01484 682787

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Christmas At

ADVERTISING FEATURE

There’s lots happening aroundthe villages this Christmas

FROM Christmas lights to carolconcerts, fun and festiveshopping to Santa steam train

specials - just a few of the seasonalvillage events and attractions whichyou can enjoy during December:

MELTHAM:Friday December 2 - Christmas Lightsswitch-on: Santa's grotto at Wagstaff Shoes,from 5.30pm, shops generally will be stayingopen until 7pm. Around the village there will bea range of stalls selling soup and hot food,mulled wine and mince pies, plus a hamperraffle and tombola. The switching on takesplace at 6.30pm around the Christmas tree at StBartholomew's Parish Church. Special guestSakary the polar bear will be joined by younghelpers Ellen McFarlane, aged eight, fromMeltham CE School and Matilda Turner, four,from Helme School, winners of a postercompetition to advertise the event.Sunday December 11 - Carol singing withMeltham and Meltham Mills Band in RobertAshton Memorial Park.Wednesday December 14 - St Bartholomew'sChurch, 7.30pm, Christmas concert byMeltham and Meltham Mills Band. Tickets £6from Scotty's barbers.

HONLEY:Friday December 2 - Christmas Lights

switch-on, festivities from 5pm: bands, choirs,stalls, food and drink, fun and music. The lightsgo on at 7pm.

Saturday December 3 - Christmas street mar-ket at St Mary's Parish Church, 10am-3.30pm.Free entertainment in church with Swing ofThings, Jill Kemp and Grange Moor Band; also:Christmas Tree festival at Trinity Church.

Sunday December 4 - Charity open day atTaylor's Food Store, with Honley Ladies Choir,helping to raise funds for Age UK.

Wednesday December 14 and Thursday 15 -Honley Does Christmas: two concerts featuringthe village's musical talents, at Honley HighSchool. Ticket information from 01484 605937.

HOLMFIRTH:Sundays November 27, December 4 and 11 -

Christmas shopping at Holmfirth Market, with a

fabulous range of gift ideas from local businesses,10am-5pm. Information from 01484 223730.

Until January - Christmas lights will be aglowfrom late afternoon until late evening around thecentre of Holmfirth.

Wednesday December 14 to Monday January2, Holmfirth Picturedrome presents Cinderella, amagical pantomime for all the family. Live musicconcerts include Saturday 17 - special 'TRexmas'show with T Rextasy and DJ Xmas; Wednesday21 - Roy Wood's Rock n' Roll Christmas Showfeaturing the legendary Wizzard frontman (hitsincluding I Wish It Could Be Christmas EveryDay); Saturday 24, Christmas Eve - The Cheatles(Beatles tribute). Tickets: Box Office bar anyweekday 7-10pm, or at www.picturedrome.net

SKELMANTHORPE:Thursdays December 1 to 22 - St Aidan's

Church is staging its Christmas Tree Festival withNativity scenes, open for viewing 2pm-4pm, withtea and coffee available. Admission free.

SHELLEY:Saturday December 10 - Shelley Village Hall,

7.30pm, Christmas Brass with Skelmanthorpe BBand. Tickets £7 from Janet 01484 608126.

Thursday December 22 - Shelley Village Hall,7pm for 7.30pm, Christmas Dinner & Disco,traditional four-course carvery, fully licensed bar,dancing till midnight, £22.50 per person. Ticketsfrom Shelley Stores and Lydgate Styles, or from01484 603250 or 01484 609032.

KIRKBURTON:Sunday December 18 - All Hallows Parish

Church, 6.30pm, Community carol service.Sunday January 1 - New Year's Day tour of the

village by the Kirkburton Rapier Dancers, whospecialise in traditional North Yorkshire longs-word dancing, 12noon-4pm.

CLAYTON WEST:Weekends, December 3 and 4, 10 and 11, 16 to

18, daily from 21 to 24 - Climb aboard the SantaExpress at Kirklees Light Railway, travel insteam-heated carriages to Shelley station, whereSanta will be waiting with sacks full of presentsfor all the children. Adults can enjoy mince piesand sherry (or a soft drink) in a heated marquee.and there will be plenty for youngsters. Advancebooking strongly recommended: 01484 865727.

History of village namesVISITORS and newcomers to the

area are often intrigued by someof the more unusual place

names.For instance, Meltham may have been namedby Mercian Angles who settled in the area inabout 650 AD: an amalgam of `meltan' - tosmelt - and `ham,' a homestead.Another school of thought claims the name isderived from `melitton' - where beehives stand -or meltun, the `honey hamlet.'Holmfirth means simply ‘forest of Holme.'Much more eye-catching and a source of greatamusement for those visiting the area for thefirst time, are the road signs pointing to thenearby villages of Upperthong, Netherthongand Thongsbridge. The official explanation isthat a 'thong' centuries ago was the name for apiece of land.

The village we know today as Clayton West -home of that popular visitor attraction KirkleesLight Railway - has existed for more than amillennium. In 1086 it was mentioned in theDomesday Book, when its name was ‘ClaitonElsi.’Scissett has nothing to do with scissors. Thename is derived from the old English ‘Scissa’ avariation of Celia. The ‘set’ tagged on at theend meant farm. Scissa’s set or farmstead isbelieved to have been near a group of oldcottages at Carter’s Fold on the edge of theancient manor of Skelmanthorpe.Wooldale, to many people's surprise, has nospecific connection to the renowned HolmeValley woollen trade in times past. In fact, itsorigins go back much further, evolving overseveral centuries from when it was known asVldvdel or Wivedal, meaning ' the valley of thewolves’.

■ SANTA: Members of Denby Dale and District Lions with Santa on their charity house tohouse collection from the Christmas tree in Skelmanthorpe centre

We wish all our clients avery Merry Christmas and a

Happy New YearHuddersfield 01484 435543 (Fax 01484 456190)

6 New North Parade, Huddersfield

Holmfirth 01484 686000 (Fax 01484 688193)38 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth

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Providing a widerange of high qualitylegal services and

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Finalists of Best Card Shop 2011Quite simply, something for everyone

10b Commercial Road, Skelmanthorpe, Huddersfield HD8 9DATel: 01484 865553 www.thinking-of-you.org

WELLS & MOORHOUSELIMITED

Vehicle Dismantlers

Parts available for carsand commercials

Wishing all our customersa Merry Christmas

Bent Ley Road, Meltham Mills,Meltham, Huddersfield

Tel 01484 850155

Wishing all customers old andnew a very Merry Christmas

and Happy New Year

01484 662774Magdale, Honley

www.peterrobertscaravans.co.uk

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Good choice of dining out venuesWHATEVER your favourite

cuisine - from English toItalian, Indian to Chinese, there

is always plenty to tempt yourtastebuds, within easy reach of home.Many of our village areas will leave youseriously spoiled for choice with a breathtakingarray of cafes, restaurants, tearooms, bistros,café bars and pubs, where you can enjoy aquick snack and a cuppa, a light lunch and apint, or a three course meal with all thetrimmings.Often they are local landmarks, on main roadsand in village centres, but if you look slightlyfurther field, sometimes you will come across ahidden gem, a contender for the area's best keptsecret, tucked away in a quiet backwater, off thebeaten track.When it comes to liquid refreshment, the list ofoptions has grown beyond recognition - withlots of different coffees and teas, continentalbottled beers, the resurgence of ciders andperries, fruit juices and fizzy soft drinks ofevery conceivable flavour and fine wines to suitall tastes.Traditional cask-conditioned real ale, whichhad a largely male following not so long ago,has widened its appeal in recent years and isnow more popular than ever with young adults,especially women.A typical bar will now have three or fourdifferent bitters on hand pump, often from

local and regional micro-breweries,.It is an ever-changing selection as indicated bythe different logos on the pump clips, or thenew names appearing on the menu-style listswhich many pubs now display - a sign of thetimes.More and more people are now choosing to eatout on Christmas Day itself.You can save wear and tear on your nerves andfurniture, enjoy spending time with the kidsand - perhaps most importantly - let someoneelse do the washing up afterwards.With pubs, bistros and restaurants alsoplanning mouthwatering menus for Boxing Dayand New Year's Eve, the pleasure of dining outwithout all the hassle of organising is becomingan increasingly attractive alternative.Pick up the phone and make that bookingwithout delay, if you haven't already done so.Many places have been taking reservations formonths, but if you act now there should still betime to get your table reserved.If you prefer to dine in less formalsurroundings, a well organised pub meal offersa great alternative, with comfortable, pleasantsurroundings, convenience and good value formoney.There’s so much choice in the local area but, ifyou’re booking for Christmas, remember tomake your reservation as soon as possible. It’ssure to be busy! ■ FAMILY: Enjoy a family Christmas meal at one of the local area’s great restaurants

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Harrow’sRestaurant & Wine Bar

11 Victoria Street Holmfirthwww.harrowsrestaurant.co.ukChristmas Party Time

It’s nearly time for the office or family Christmas parties.

Christmas Office Party MenuAvailable3 Courses

£22.50 per person

New Years EveCome See the New Year In With Us

Full Menu AvailableWith Canapés

Complimentary Glass of Bubbles at MidnightBook your Table Now

For Further InformationPlease call 01484 688764

Open Lunch & Dinner Wednesday to Saturday & Sunday EveningClosed Monday & Tuesday

Orders for seasonal fayre nowbeing taken. Refrigerateddeliveries to all areas daily.Fresh locally-reared Turkeys,Geese, Ducks and Capons

Seasonal Game and VenisonDry cured Bacon and HamsStand pies and cooked meatsENGLISH & CONTINENTALCHEESE A SPECIALITYTRY OUR RANGE OF

HOMEMADE SAUSAGESTel: John or Paul on 01484 683288

ATKINSON’SHigh Class Butchers

Sheffield Road, NewMill

MercuryBlinds

Tel 01484 862001

SHOWROOM OPENMon-Thurs: 9-12noon and 1-5pmFri and Sat by appointment only

DEARNE WORKSWAKEFIELD ROADSCISSETTHUDDERSFIELD

ROLLERS, VERTICALS,VENETIANS, ROMAN BLINDS, etc,

MADE-TO-MEASURE

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Historical roots of ourlocal village shops

IN many ways, shopping haschanged dramatically in recentdecades but the basic principles of

successful local trading haveremained constant for hundreds ofyears.Way back in medieval times, Kirkburton as weknow it today was in the shadow ofHighburton, the upstart neighbour which hadits own market.You can still see the ancient market cross,dating back to the 14th century, a permanentreminder of what was once a hive of retailingactivity.Fast forward to the present day and marketsare still a magnet for shoppers in Holmfirth,including the Wednesday vintage market,specialising in antiques, collectibles and retrogoods. There is also a Thursday generalmarket and Saturday craft and food market,not forgetting the farmers market on the thirdSunday of the month.A proud tradition of trade and commerce isstill very much to the fore in Honley. In timespast, Church Street was the home of the localwool exchange where the precious commoditywas bought and sold. Terraces of weavers’cottages in the heart of the village are areminder of the industrial heritage shared withmuch of the surrounding area.Meltham was the home of the first People'sCo-op - pre-dating the famous RochdalePioneers by about 18 years. The store, openedin 1826, was the first to pay its members adividend - "divi" for short.Pubs are at the heart of many of our villages.Brockholes local The Rock takes its namefrom one of the valley's most distinctivenatural landmarks. Scholes is home to TheBoot and Shoe, a 19th Century coaching inn.Wooldale, home of The Wooldale Arms, canalso boast its own Co-operative Society whichalso runs village stores in New Mill andThongsbridge.Cornerstones of community life tend to leap

out at you in New Mill. Four main roadsconverge in the heart of the village and fromeach, you will see cherished landmarks whichare not merely reminders of a proud past, butcontinue to be full of life in 2011, includingpubs (and a club), churches and shops.Follow the A635 road through Holmfirth andWooldale and the tower of New Mill ParishChurch (Christ Church) rises high above thevillage before you. Even the hale and hearty canfind themselves temporarily out of breath afterclimbing the steep Sude Hill to the church gates.Kirkburton's most prominent landmark is thechurch of All Hallows, whose history can betraced back over 1,000 years. The building as weknow it today has undergone many changes, butis considered to be West Yorkshire's mostcomplete example of a 13th Century church,with many interesting features.The landmark Nortonthorpe Mills is a reminderof Scissett's industrial heritage dating back tothe 1800s. To generations of workers it was thehome of woollen manufacturer G H Norton,now it is a hive of mill shops and smallbusinesses. Another well known spot close by isBagden Hall, a beautiful old house set in 40acres of secluded parkland, now well establishedas a hotel and wedding venue and renowned forits lovingly tended nine-hole golf course.Scissett Baths is an amenity much loved andtreasured by generations of swimmers andlearners. Extensively refurbished in recent years,the baths now has a wider role as a health andfitness centre. For more information, phone01484 222907 or go online:www.scissettbaths.co.ukSpringfield Mill, in the heart of Denby Daleoffers locals and visitors a pleasant alternativeto the often impersonal larger stores andshopping malls. Here you will find everythingfrom ladies fashions to health foods, furnitureto fine wines.Travelling by train is a popular choice forpeople visiting Denby Dale and the surroundingarea - keeping alive a tradition which dates backto the Victorian era.The village's most famous landmark is itsmagnificent railway viaduct. The vast stonestructure was completed in 1880, replacing theoriginal wooden viaduct which unsurprisingly,wobbled whenever a train passed over it.Memories of the age of steam are rekindledthrough the year at one of the area's mostpopular visitor attractions. The 15in narrowgauge Kirklees Light Railway runs for almostfour miles from Clayton West, throughSkelmanthorpe to Shelley.The main station at Clayton West, has a fullrange of amenities to entertain you and yourfamily while you wait for the train or after youreturn. If you want to stretch your legs andexplore the countryside, grab a map (OSLandranger 110 or Explorer 288) and set offfrom Cuckoo’s Nest or Skelmanthorpe stations.Return tickets are valid from any station on theline.

Free and easy parkingFREE parking is widely available in

the village areas aroundHuddersfield, so you don't have

to worry about having to drive roundin circles desperately seeking thatelusive parking space and then havingto pay for the privilege.In the run-up to Christmas, you can park freeof charge in Holmfirth after 12noon on thefollowing dates: Friday December 9, Friday 16,Saturday 17, Friday 23, and Saturday 24(Christmas Eve).Daily free parking is available all year round atthe council-run car parks in Denby Dale -railway station, library and on-street near thewar memorial; Honley - New Street, Westgateand railway station; Kirkburton - clinic,Huddersfield Road, Riley Lane; Meltham -

Carlisle Street, Clarke Lane, Westgate; NewMill - Holmfirth Road; Scissett - WakefieldRoad; Shepley - Marsh Lane (library),Skelmanthorpe - council offices, New Street,Huddersfield Road (2 car parks).Village areas are also served by various busroutes to and from Huddersfield as well as themore localised services with nippy minibusesgetting into many of the areas that the mainlineservices cannot reach. Rail links are a real boonfor villages along the Huddersfield to Sheffieldline, with regular trains throughout the daycalling at Honley, Brockholes, Stocksmoor,Shepley and Denby Dale.For latest information on local buses and trains,go online at www.wymetro.com or phoneMetroLine: 0113 245 7676 (open 7am-10pm,seven days a week, except Christmas Day,Boxing Day and New Year's Day).

■ SHOP: Try shopping in the villages this Christmas and support your local village traders

Wishing all our customers a very

from all the staff at

KIRKBURTONPOST OFFICE

We have a Wide Selection of ChristmasWe have a Wide Selection of ChristmasGifts and Cards Available.Gifts and Cards Available.

01484 60204268 North Road, Kirkburton68 North Road, Kirkburton

Beef, Lamb, Pork, Gammon & Goat • Fresh Local Turkeys, Chickens & CaponsAlso Geese, Duck, Guinea Fowl, Pheasants, Rabbit & Venison

Our Homemade Sausage, Plain & Many Flavours • Our Own Dry Cured Bacon

We make & bake daily our own special Pork Pies in many flavours, also Steak Pies,Sausage Rolls, Pasties, Lasagne, Cooked Meats and much more.

Hot food served daily 8.30am – 2pm.We source & rear all our beef on a local farm where our lambs are also reared.It is then produced from our own local abattoir. Gift Vouchers Also Available

343 Wakefield Road, Denby Dale Tel: 01484 863634

Orders Now Being Taken For Christmas

www.shepleyspring.co.ukwww.shepleyspring.co.uk