Mytholmroyd

Mytholmroyd
240px View of Mytholmroyd from the north
Mytholmroyd  Mytholmroyd shown within West Yorkshire
Population	4,594 (2011)
OS grid reference	SE012260
Civil parish	Hebden Royd
Metropolitan borough	Calderdale
Metropolitan county	West Yorkshire
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HEBDEN BRIDGE
Postcode district	HX7
Dialling code	01422
Police	West Yorkshire
Fire	West Yorkshire
Ambulance	Yorkshire
EU Parliament	Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament	Calder Valley
List of places UK England Yorkshire

Mytholmroyd /ˈmaɪðəmrɔɪd/ is a town in Hebden Royd within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, England. It lies 1.2 miles (1.9 km) east of Hebden Bridge and 6.7 miles (10.8 km) west of Halifax.

Etymology

Mytholmroyd, recorded in the 13th century as Mithomrode, refers to a clearing where two rivers meet, and is derived from the Old English (ge)mȳthum (inflected form of (ge)mȳthe, "river mouth"), plus rodu ("field" or "clearing"). The l was probably inserted out of confusion with the common place-name element holm, Old Norse for a small island or eyot. "Mytholm" means two rivers meeting, where "Royd" is a clearing for settlement, together meaning a clearing where the two rivers meet.

History

During the late 18th century, the valley to the south, known as Cragg Vale, was home to a gang of counterfeiters known as the Cragg Coiners. The gang's leader, David Hartley, or King David as he was known, was found guilty of the 1769 murder of excise official William Dighton and was hanged at the York Tyburn on 28 April 1770. Two other gang members were also executed for their part in the murder.

Mytholmroyd today

Mytholmroyd is now known to locals as 'Royd'. The population is roughly 4,600. Mytholmroyd is prone to flooding, and in 2012 floodwaters breached the defence wall onto the A646. The village suffered flooding in 2012 with the floodwaters closing popular venues such as the Dusty Miller and Coiners Restaurant.

The village is part of the Valley of Lights Festival every year. The village also holds markets, performances at the St. Michael's Enterprise Centre, antique shows and fairs, together with events at the sports and leisure centre and at the Ted Hughes Theatre.

Mytholmroyd has many business / retail parks and a high street in the centre with mainly independent shops including a gift shop, garden shop, post office, sweet shop, hardware shop, travel centre, launderette, hair salons and take aways. There are also many eating venues including Aux Delacies Bistro & Wine Bar, Milly's Bistro, Riverside Cafe, the Hinchcliffe Arms, the Shoulder of Mutton and more.

There is a medical complex including a dental practice, pharmacy, health centre, opticians and more.

• Mytholmroyd, St Michael's Church - geograph.org.uk - 2051499.jpg

  St. Michael's Church, Mythomroyd

• Elphin Brook and railway viaduct, Mytholmroyd - geograph.org.uk - 267863.jpg

  Elphin Brook passing under the Caldervale Line railway viaduct

• New Lane, Mytholmroyd (7th November 2010).jpg

  New Road passing under the Caldervale Line railway viaduct

• Drinking Fountain, Cragg Road, Mytholmroyd - geograph.org.uk - 1462296.jpg

  Drinking fountain, off Cragg Road

• Gorillas next to the Rochdale Canal - geograph.org.uk - 103684.jpg

  Gorillas next to the Rochdale Canal

• Last colours of autumn, Mytholmroyd (7th November 2010).jpg

  Last colours of autumn, Mytholmroyd (7 November 2010)

Education

Mytholmroyd is the home of Calder High School, the largest Comprehensive School in the Upper Calder Valley. It is also home to Scout Road Primary School and Burnley Road Academy.

Culture

Mytholmroyd Community Centre hosts the annual Dock Pudding Championships, in April. In 2007 Robbie Coltrane entered the competition and was awarded second place.

Transport

Rail

The town is served by Mytholmroyd railway station, located on New Road.

Road

The town has two main bus stops in the town centre- recently equipped with departure screens, new shelters, toilets and seating. The bus services offer direct services to Cragg Vale, Rishworth, Huddersfield, Hebden Bridge, Rochdale, Halifax, Burnley, Todmorden, Sowerby Bridge and more. There is a large taxi rank based in the town and also cycling is very popular in the area since recent investment including the resurfacing of the Rochdale Canal and Route 66 Cycleway and Le Tour de France passing through the town. The Tour de Yorkshire now also passes through the town, including Cragg Vale, also in Mytholmroyd, the longest continuous climb in the country- and also the longest line of bunting hung from the bottom to the top of the road, this was verified in 2014 by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Air

Leeds Airport is accessible by Rail from Mytholmroyd.

Government

The town is part of the Luddendenfoot ward of the Metropolitan borough of Calderdale, part of the Metropolitan county of West Yorkshire.

At a district level Mytholmroyd Urban District Council was set up in 1894. In 1937 it merged with Hebden Bridge Urban District Council to become Hebden Royd Urban District Council. At a county level Mytholmroyd was administered by the West Riding County Council. Both of these were abolished as part of the reforms introduced in the Local Government Act 1972. They were replaced with West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council and Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council. The Hebden Royd Town Council area forms a civil parish. West Yorkshire County Council was abolished in 1986, leaving Mytholmroyd with a borough and town council.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Calderdale

Eric Harrison, Footballer

• Ted Hughes, English Poet Laureate
• Innes Ireland, Racing driver and Grand Prix winner
• Jane Lumb, actress and fashion model

External links

• Calder High