Aireborough

Aireborough was a local government district in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England from 1937 to 1974. It was formed through the abolition of the urban districts of Guiseley, Yeadon and Rawdon and enlarged by the addition of parts of Otley urban district and parts of the civil parishes of Esholt, Hawksworth and Menston in the Wharfedale rural district on 1 April 1937.^[1] Aireborough Urban District was administered from Micklefield House in Rawdon which had been acquired by Rawdon UDC in 1930.^[2] On 1 April 1974 the district was abolished to form the metropolitan district of Leeds.^[3]

Aireborough
Urban district, civil parish
History
• Created	1 April 1937
• Abolished	31 March 1974
• Succeeded by	Leeds City Council
• HQ	Micklefield House, Rawdon
Contained within
• County	West Riding of Yorkshire

Aireborough Urban District boundary as of abolition

Aireborough is the name of a UK census ward, which was named "the most average place in England and Wales", following studies arising from the 2001 census.^[4]

Background

In 1936, the urban district councils of Guiseley, Yeadon and Rawdon, along with smaller settlements belonging to Wharfedale Rural District, decided to form a new autonomous Urban District Council covering a similar to the former ancient Parish of Guiseley. The name Aireborough was adopted to reflect the equality of all townships included in the district and "wipe out old jealousies, and concentrate on the problems ahead, working together as a team".^[5] On 1 April 1937, the urban district came into being. Aireborough Urban District was subsumed by Leeds metropolitan borough under the 1974 local government reorganisation.^[6]

Current usage

The name Aireborough has been used by many official bodies or organisations. Yeadon and Guiseley Secondary School was renamed Aireborough Grammar School in 1937 (when the Urban District was formed) and retained the name until its closure in 1991^[7] – the names of the different townships emblazoned on the school frontage are now set into the stone wall opposite Nunroyd Park. The Royal Mail has an Aireborough delivery office.^[8]

Community organisations using the name include:

• Aireborough Civic Society^[9]
• Aireborough Fundraising Group (Marie Curie)^[10]
• Aireborough Neighbourhood Development Forum and Aireborough Historical Society^[11][12]
• Aireborough Learning Partnership^[13]
• Aireborough Extended Services^[14]
• Aireborough Voluntary Services for the Elderly
• Aireborough Rugby Union Football Club^[15]
• Aireborough Swimming Club^[16]
• Aireborough Rifle & Revolver Club^[17]
• Aireborough Bridge Club
• Aireborough Camera Club^[18]
• Aireborough Gilbert & Sullivan Society
• Rotary Club of Aireborough^[19]
• Soroptimist International Aireborough

References

1. "Aireborough UD Local Government District". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
2. "Chapter 16 Local Government". A History of Rawdon. C W Willcock. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
3. "Local Government Act 1972". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
4. Dilley, Ryan (21 August 2003). "Just an average day in Average Town". BBC News. Retrieved 3 February 2006.
5. "Guiseley District to be called Aireborough". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 2 December 1936. p. 15. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
6. "About us Aireborough Civic Society". aireboroughcivicsociety.org.uk. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
7. Chew, Michelle (12 August 2010). "Fond memories of Aireborough Grammar School". Wharfedale Observer. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
8. "Royal Mail Delivery Office opening times | Royal Mail Group Ltd". services.royalmail.com. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
9. Leigh, Debbie (25 October 2006). "Desperate plea as Aireborough Civic Society membership plummets..." Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
10. Lomax, Claire (23 June 2017). "Aireborough Fundraising Group raise £100,000 for Marie Curie". Wharfedale Observer. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
11. "Fallen Heroes of Aireborough". Ilkley Gazette. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
12. McIntyre, Annette (30 December 2015). "Flooding in Aireborough and Horsforth prompts calls to think again about proposed house building". Wharfedale Observer. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
13. Lomax, Claire (4 July 2016). "Aireborough pupils showcase their artistic talents". Wharfedale Observer. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
14. "Cluster forms to bring child services together". Yorkshire Evening Post. 22 November 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
15. Pickup, Oliver (9 February 2018). "Crowdfunding transformed this rugby club". The Telegraph. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
16. Westby, Nick (26 February 2013). "Gold medal not likely to hold back Brownlee's ambition - have your say". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
17. "Michelle is first female shooting champion". Keighley News. 23 August 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
18. Seton, Jim (1 June 2018). "Aireborough Camera Club competition winners". Ilkley Gazette. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
19. Lomax, Claire (15 September 2017). "Rotary Club of Aireborough – annual brass band concert". Wharfedale Observer. Retrieved 30 August 2018.

Sources

• Graham, Andrew (July 2017). Aireborough Character; a Characterisation Study and Urban Design Analysis of Aireborough (PDF) (Report). The Urban Glow. Retrieved 30 August 2018.

External links

• Vision of Britain Aireborough Boundary Maps
• Aireborough’s Natural and Built Environment Baseline Report

53.870°N 1.681°W / 53.870; -1.681