Spenborough

Spenborough was, from 1915 to 1974, a local government district in the administrative county of Yorkshire, West Riding, England.

Spenborough
Area
• 1921	4,992 acres (20.20 km2)
• 1961	8,251 acres (33.39 km2)
Population
• 1921	31,117
• 1971	40,683
History
• Created	1915
• Abolished	1974
• Succeeded by	Kirklees
Status	Urban district (1915–1955), municipal borough (1955 on)
Government	Spenborough Urban District Council (1915–1955), Spenborough Municipal Borough (1955–1974)
• HQ	Spenborough Town Hall, Cleckheaton
• Motto	Industry Enriches

Spenborough was created as an urban district in 1915 by the merger of Cleckheaton, Gomersal and Liversedge urban districts.^[1] The amalgamation was carried out at the instigation of Cleckheaton Urban District Council, in order to resist plans by the County Borough of Bradford to annex the area. The name "Spenborough", after the River Spen, was also suggested by Cleckheaton UDC.^[2] The district was expanded in 1937 by taking in the abolished Birkenshaw and Hunsworth urban districts, as well as part of the parishes of Clifton and Hartshead from the Halifax Rural District.^[1] Attempts to incorporate neighbouring Heckmondwike which is considered to be in the Spen Valley area, were never successful.

On 29 July 1955, it was granted a charter of incorporation creating it a municipal borough.^[3]

In 1974, Spenborough was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972, with its area forming part of the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire. Today, Kirklees Council recognises the former Spenborough borough area, with neighbouring Heckmondwike, as the Spen Valley Locality in its structure.

Legacy

Despite the borough's abolition in 1974, the name continues in use in the area. Examples are the Spenborough Guardian, a Cleckheaton-based local newspaper and the Spenborough and District Athletic Club, both in Liversedge.^{[4] [5]}

See also

• Spen Valley (UK Parliament constituency), 1885–1950
• Brighouse and Spenborough (UK Parliament constituency), 1950–1983
• Cleckheaton Town Hall, the meeting place of Spenborough Urban District Council

References

1. Youngs, Frederic A Jr. (1991). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. Vol. II Northern England. London: Royal Historical Society. ISBN 0-86193-127-0.
2. "Yorkshire Municipal Extension". The Times. 16 October 1913. p. 14.
3. "Court Circular". The Times. 30 July 1955. p. 8.
4. "Spenborough Guardian". Retrieved 23 March 2009.
5. "Spenborough and District Athletic Club". Kirklees Council. 7 February 2008. Retrieved 23 March 2009.

53.719°N 1.694°W / 53.719; -1.694