View source for Mirfield

{{Short description|Town and civil parish in West Yorkshire, England}}
{{for|the Anglican college, also known as Mirfield|College of the Resurrection}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| coordinates              = {{coord|53.6807|-1.6888|display=inline,title}}
| official_name            = Mirfield
| population               = 19,563
| population_ref           = (Ward. 2011 Census)
| civil_parish             = Mirfield
| metropolitan_borough     = [[Kirklees]]
| metropolitan_county      = [[West Yorkshire]]
| region                   = Yorkshire and the Humber
| constituency_westminster = [[Spen Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Spen Valley]]
| post_town                = MIRFIELD
| postcode_district        = WF14
| postcode_area            = WF
| dial_code                = 01924
| os_grid_reference        = SE205205
| london_distance          =
| static_image_name        = Shops in town centre, Huddersfield Road, Mirfield - geograph.org.uk - 67962.jpg
| static_image_caption     = Mirfield town centre
}}

'''Mirfield''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɜːr|f|iː|l|d}}) is a town and [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in the [[Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees]], [[West Yorkshire]], England. [[Historic counties of England|Historically]] part of the [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], it is on the [[A644 road (Great Britain)|A644 road]] between [[Brighouse]] and [[Dewsbury]]. At the 2011 census it had a population of 19,563.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=13689909&c=Mirfield&d=14&e=62&g=6371750&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1456401556750&enc=1|title=Kirklees Ward population 2011|access-date=25 February 2016|publisher=Office for National Statistics|work=Neighbourhood Statistics}}</ref> Mirfield forms part of the [[Heavy Woollen District]].

The name Mirfield derives from the [[Old English]] ''myrgefeld'' meaning 'pleasant field'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Yorkshire+WR/Mirfield|title=Key to English Place-names|website=kepn.nottingham.ac.uk|accessdate=29 September 2025}}</ref>

==Governance==
[[File:Salvation Army Worship Hall and Community Centre - Huddersfield Road - geograph.org.uk - 903946.jpg|thumb|The former Mirfield Town Hall]]
From 1894 to 1974, Mirfield was an [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]] in the [[West Riding of Yorkshire]] until it was merged into the [[Metropolitan Borough]] of [[Kirklees]]. In 1988 a [[Parish councils in England|parish council]] was formed, one of five in Kirklees, the others being:- [[Denby Dale]], [[Meltham]], [[Kirkburton]] and [[Holme Valley]]. As a parish council an additional tax precept to the Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council tax is levied on the town's residents. It is made up of 16 councillors who serve for a fixed four-year term, and represent wards within the parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/you-kmc/parishcouncil/mirfield.shtml#parish|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051201025022/http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/you-kmc/parishcouncil/mirfield.shtml|url-status=dead|title=Kirklees MBC Website – Mirfield|archivedate=1 December 2005|accessdate=16 June 2024}}</ref> The members elect a town mayor, who serves for a fixed one-year term. [[Mirfield Town Hall]] now serves as a worship hall for [[the Salvation Army]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Glen Cinema |url=https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/65222 |website=Cinema Treasures |access-date=1 January 2024}}</ref>

===Local elections===
In addition to the town council Mirfield is represented by three councillors on [[Kirklees Metropolitan Council]], and the local Mirfield Area Committee.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Party !! Date !! Candidate !! Votes !! Share
|-
| {{center|{{color box|#0087DC}} CON}} || 2000 || Beverley Warby || 2,300 || 55.7
|-
| {{center|{{color box|#0087DC}} CON}} || 2002 || Martyn Bolt || 2,147 || 52.9
|-
| {{center|{{color box|#0087DC}} CON}} || 2003 || Kathleen Taylor || 1,802 || 39.8
|-
| {{center|{{color box|#0087DC}} CON}} || 2004 || Beverley Warby || 2,947 || –
|-
| {{center|{{color box|#0087DC}} CON}} || 2004 || Martyn Bolt || 3,661 || –
|-
| {{center|{{color box|#0087DC}} CON}} || 2004 || Kathleen Taylor || 3,166 || –
|-
| {{center|{{color box|#0087DC}} CON}} || 2008 || Martyn Bolt || 3,400 || –
|-
| {{center|{{color box|#0087DC}} CON}} || 2010 || Vivien Lees-Hamilton || 5,908 || –
|-
| {{center|{{color box|#0087DC}} CON}} || 2011 || Kathleen Taylor || 3,561 || –
|-
| {{center|{{color box|#0087DC}} CON}} || 2011 || Martyn Bolt || 2,775 || –
|-
|}
{{clarify|reason=It is not clear what this table represents|date=June 2021}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kirklees.gov.uk/you-kmc/kmc-howcouncilworks/votingandelections/previouselections.shtml|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521103506/http://kirklees.gov.uk/you-kmc/kmc-howcouncilworks/votingandelections/previouselections.shtml|url-status=dead|title=Kirklees Website|archivedate=21 May 2011|accessdate=16 June 2024}}</ref>

In May 2005, Mirfield became the first Fairtrade Town in Kirklees and only the fourth in West Yorkshire.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}}

==Culture==
The [[Mirfield Show]] is an annual agricultural event held on the third Sunday in August at Mirfield showground. It is organised and run by the Mirfield Agricultural Society (MAS) as a non-profit making event for the families of Mirfield and district.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2008/06/20/show-aims-to-attract-youngsters-86081-21109228/|title=Show aims to attract youngsters|work=Huddersfield Examiner|date=19 June 2008}}</ref>

Local residents introduced the Mirfield Food & Craft Fayre in April 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/events/eventdetails.asp?evDtID=105657&evID=16117|title=Leisure and culture |publisher= Kirklees Council|accessdate=16 June 2024}}</ref> scheduled to be run the last Saturday of each month and "''help raise the profile of Mirfield, be a benefit to local traders, businesses, organisations and charities, and add more destination events to the Yorkshire calendar''".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/neighbourhood-news/mirfield-ravensthorpe/community-news/2012/04/10/summer-of-fun-events-planned-for-mirfield-86081-30726198/|title=Summer of fun events planned for Mirfield|first=Martin|last=Shaw|date=9 April 2012}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Church of the Resurrection.jpg|thumb|Church of the [[College of the Resurrection]]]]
There are two secondary schools in Mirfield: [[The Mirfield Free Grammar|Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form]] and [[Castle Hall Academy]].

Primary schools include Battyeford CE Primary School, Crossley Fields, Old Bank, Hopton Primary School and Crowlees Junior and Infant School, all of which were assessed by [[Office for Standards in Education|Ofsted]] as 'Grade 1 – Outstanding' in the March 2007 inspection.<ref>[http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/107/107725.pdf "Crowlees Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204120900/http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/107/107725.pdf |date=4 December 2007 }}, Ofsted, 27 March 2007</ref>

The [[College of the Resurrection]] in Mirfield is a [[Church of England]] theological college, associated with the [[Community of the Resurrection]] religious community. There [[Rowan Williams]], later [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], lectured from 1975 for two years and Archbishop [[Trevor Huddleston]] spent his last days.

==Landmarks==
[[File:Old and new church, Mirfield. (3402662366).jpg|thumb|upright|[[St Mary's Church, Mirfield|St Mary's Church]]]]
[[File:St Paul, East Thorpe, Mirfield 2 (3401845715).jpg|thumb|upright|St Paul's Church]]
The 13th-century [[St Mary's Church, Mirfield|St Mary's Church]] was rebuilt in 1826 but proved too small for the growing population and was regarded as too minor for the growing district. A new church, designed by Sir [[George Gilbert Scott]], was built a few yards to the northwest, on the site of Castle Hall, a mansion then home to the families of Mirfields (sometimes spelled Mirfin), Hetons and Beaumonts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/WRY/Mirfield/MirfieldHistory.html|title=Genuki: MIRFIELD, Yorkshire (West Riding)|last=GENUKI|website=www.genuki.org.uk}}</ref> At Scott's suggestion, the tower of the earlier church, which includes some medieval work, was retained.

St Mary's was the boyhood church of [[Patrick Stewart|Sir Patrick Stewart]], of ''[[Star Trek]]'' fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.favouritechurches.org.uk/patrick-stewart|title=The UK's Favourite Churches|website=www.favouritechurches.org.uk}}</ref>

==Navigation==
During the 18th century, a canal was constructed through the town linking the [[River Calder, West Yorkshire|River Calder]] with other rivers in the area. The canal is part of the [[Calder and Hebble Navigation]]. Its construction resulted in many industries in Mirfield, such as the textiles and [[Marina|boat yards]]. The canal is still in use for recreational users with duck-feeding being especially popular.

Mirfield is the base of the [[National Community Boats Association|Safe Anchor Trust]], a charity founded in 1995 to provide canal boat trips for vulnerable and special needs people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://safeanchor.org.uk/about-us/|title=About Us |website=safeanchor.org.uk|accessdate=16 June 2024}}</ref> In 2012, [[Anne, Princess Royal|Princess Anne]] commissioned a new boat for the Trust.<ref>{{cite news|title=Princess Anne to visit Mirfield|url=http://www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk/news/local/princess-anne-to-visit-mirfield-1-4970517|newspaper=Dewsbury Reporter}}</ref>

==The Brontës==
Roe Head school, Mirfield, was a boarding school on the road from Leeds to Huddersfield where [[Charlotte Brontë]] went as a pupil on 17 January 1831, followed by her sisters [[Emily Brontë|Emily]] and [[Anne Brontë|Anne]].  Charlotte was happy there and later returned to teach.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://victorianweb.org/authors/bronte/gallery/25.html|title=Roe Head|website=victorianweb.org|accessdate=16 June 2024}}</ref>

In April 1839 Anne returned to the town as governess to four children of the Ingham family of Blake Hall. Her unhappy experiences there were used in her first novel ''[[Agnes Grey]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.annebronte.org/2017/04/09/anne-bronte-and-the-inghams-of-mirfield/|title=Anne Brontë and the Inghams of Mirfield|date=9 April 2017|accessdate=16 June 2024}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Lee Blakeley]], theatre director
*[[Alun Cochrane]], comedian
*[[Andi Durrant]], radio presenter and music producer
*[[Debbie Lindley]], [[Weather presenter|TV weather presenter]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Baldwin|first=Andrew|title=Mirfield angry at special 'honour'|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/tm_headline=mirfield-angry-at-special-honour%26method=full%26objectid=13480268%26siteid=50060-name_page.html|access-date=10 June 2012|newspaper=The Huddersfield Examiner|date=4 October 2003}}</ref>

*[[Richard Reed]], co-founder of [[Innocent Drinks]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Kids meet a real smoothie operator|url=http://www.mirfieldreporter.co.uk/news/local/kids_meet_a_real_smoothie_operator_1_1379126|work=Mirfield Reporter|access-date=5 July 2011}}</ref>
*[[Brian Robinson (cyclist)|Brian Robinson]], cyclist, the first Briton to win a stage of the [[Tour de France]]
*[[Mary Snell-Hornby]], translation scholar
*[[Patrick Stewart|Sir Patrick Stewart]], actor
*[[Hilda Annetta Walker]], artist
*[[David Whyte (poet)|David Whyte]], poet, philosopher 
<!---Editors note; Please only add names of people born in the town. Do not add names who do not have a Wikipedia article, or a checkable supporting reference of notability. Unreferenced names will be removed without notice --->

==Economy==
There are many national businesses based in Mirfield including John Cotton Group Ltd, [[Furniture And Choice]] and We Buy Any Stairlift.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.examiner.co.uk/news/business/business-profiles/business-profile-john-cotton-john-8210030|title=Business Profile: John Cotton of John Cotton Group Ltd|first=Henryk|last=Zientek|date=2 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/05349107|title=FURNITURE CHOICE LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk}}</ref> 

The town has a variety of local independent shops as well as national chains such as [[Lidl]], [[Tesco]] and [[Co-op Food]].

==Sport==

Mirfield is represented in [[Rugby League]] by Mirfield ARLFC, who play home matches at Frank Middleton Park and compete in the Pennine League Premier Division.

The town also has three teams in the [[Huddersfield Cricket League]]. Mirfield Cricket Club and Moorlands Cricket Club both based at the Memorial Park off Huddersfield Road. Mirfield Parish Cavaliers based on Wellhouse Lane, Northorpe.

The Mirfield [[Petanque]] Club who currently play in the West Yorkshire Petanque League and are also based at the Memorial Park.

==Location==
{{NSEW|[[Liversedge]]|[[Lepton, West Yorkshire]]|[[Dewsbury]]|[[Brighouse]]|[[Hartshead]]|[[Heckmondwike]]|[[Huddersfield]]|[[Grange Moor]]|}}

==Twin town==
Mirfield is [[sister city|twinned]] with:
* [[Kramolna]], Czech Republic

==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|escutcheon = Azure a chief Gules over all a ram's head caboshed between two ears of barley stalked and bladed in saltire Or.
|crest = On a wreath of the colours a demi knight affrontee in mail Proper with surcoat Argent two bars Sable supporting a representation of a church Or.
|motto = Fruges Ecce Paludis (Behold The Fruits Of The Marsh)
|notes= Granted 26 February 1935 to Mirfield Urban District <ref>{{cite web|url=http://civicheraldry.co.uk/yorkshire.html |title=Yorkshire Region |publisher=Civic Heraldry of England |accessdate=2 March 2021}}</ref>}}

==See also==
*[[Listed buildings in Mirfield]]
*''[[Mirfield Reporter]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Mirfield}}
{{EB1911 Poster|Mirfield}}
* [http://www.mirfieldtowncouncil.gov.uk/ Mirfield Town Council homepage]
* [http://www.mirfieldinpictures.net/ Mirfield in Pictures]
* [http://www.lostrailwayswestyorkshire.co.uk/Mirfield%20Low%20moor.htm Mirfield to Low Moor railway line]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051201025022/http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/you-kmc/parishcouncil/mirfield.shtml Kirklees Council Website, Mirfield Information page]

{{West Yorkshire}}
{{Portal bar|United Kingdom|Yorkshire}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Mirfield| ]]
[[Category:Towns in West Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Heavy Woollen District]]
[[Category:Geography of Kirklees]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in West Yorkshire]]