Calderdale

❧

Wikipedia

Borough of Calderdale
Metropolitan borough
View over Mytholmroyd in the Upper Calder Valley
View over Mytholmroyd in the Upper Calder Valley
Official logo of Borough of Calderdale
Coat of arms of Calderdale Borough Council
Motto: 
Industria Arte Prudentia
(Latin: Industry, skill and foresight)
Calderdale shown within West Yorkshire
Calderdale shown within West Yorkshire
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Constituent country England
RegionYorkshire and the Humber
Metropolitan countyWest Yorkshire
Admin. HQHalifax
Established1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeMetropolitan Borough
 • BodyCalderdale Council
 • LeadershipLeader & Cabinet
 • MPsJosh Fenton-Glynn (L) (Calder Valley),
Kate Dearden (L)
(Halifax)
Area
 • Total
140.5 sq mi (363.9 km2)
Population
 (2020 estimate)
 • Total
211,439 (Ranked 95th)
 • Density1,500/sq mi (581/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[1]
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[1]
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
Postcode areasHD2–HD6, HX1–HX7, OL14, WF14, BD13–BD19
Dialling Codes01422 (central core)
01484 (Brighouse/Rastrick)
01706 (Todmorden area)
01274 (Shelf area)
ONS code00CY (ONS)
E08000033 (GSS)
ISO 3166-2GB-CLD
Websitewww.calderdale.gov.uk

Calderdale (/ˈkɔːldərdeɪl, ˈkɒl-/[2]) is a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England, which had a population of 211,439.[3] It takes its name from the River Calder, and dale, a word for valley. The name Calderdale usually refers to the borough through which the upper river flows, while the actual landform is known as the Calder Valley. Several small valleys contain tributaries of the River Calder. The main towns of the borough are Brighouse, Elland, Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden.

Calderdale covers part of the South Pennines, and the Calder Valley is the southernmost of the Yorkshire Dales, though it is not part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The borough was formed in 1974 by the merger of nine local government districts.

Halifax is the commercial, cultural and administrative centre of the borough. Calderdale is served by Calderdale Council, which is headquartered in Halifax, with some functions based in Todmorden.

History

The Roman settlement of Cambodunum is traditionally associated with the Calderdale area, though its precise location remains a matter of debate.[4] Archaeological excavations have identified a Roman fort and associated civilian settlement (vicus) at Slack, now within the neighbouring borough of Kirklees, which many historians equate with Cambodunum mentioned in Roman itineraries such as the Antonine Itinerary.[5] However, because Slack lies outside the modern boundaries of Calderdale and because the exact correspondence between archaeological sites and Roman place-names is not always certain, the identification of the fort at Slack as Cambodunum is not universally accepted.[4] As a result, while Cambodunum is often described as being located in or near Calderdale, its precise siting remains unresolved in academic literature.[5]

The metropolitan district of Calderdale was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. It covered the area of eight former districts and part of a ninth, which were all abolished at the same time:[6][7][8]

The area of the new district broadly corresponded to the ancient extent of the parish of Halifax, though not exactly.[9]

In 2022, Yorkshire Water built an emergency water pipeline from Calderdale to Ponden Reservoir in Haworth as Yorkshire experienced its driest period on record.[10]

Governance

Halifax Town Hall
Northgate House in Halifax was the council's headquarters until sale in 2013
Welcome sign in Calderdale

The borough is divided into 17 wards, each of which is represented on Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council by three councillors.[11] Councillors are normally elected using the first-past-the-post system for four-year terms, with elections staggered so that only one councillor per ward is elected in any given year.[12] Exceptions to this arrangement include by-elections and elections held following ward boundary changes.[13]

Demography

Ethnicity

The largest ethnic group within Calderdale at the 2011 census was White British at 86.7%, down from 90.8% in 2001.[14] The next largest ethnic group are Pakistanis, comprising 6.8% of the population (4.9% in 2001).[14]

In 2011, Christians comprised 60.6% of the borough's population. This was followed by those of no religion (30.2%) and Muslims (7.8%).[15]

The 2021 census showed further changes in the borough, with the White British population declining slightly to 82.7% and the proportion of residents of Pakistani heritage increasing to 8.5%. Younger residents showed a higher level of ethnic diversity with 74.7% of Calderdale's population aged under 16 identifying as White British compared with 93.5% of the population over 65. Those holding no religion had risen to 42.0% of the population, now comprising a slightly higher proportion of residents than Christians (41.5%) and the Muslim population remaining relatively stable increasing to 9.5%.[16] The large majority of Calderdale residents were born in England - falling slightly from 90.6% to 89.7% between 2011 and 2021.[17]

Ethnic Group 1981 estimations[18] 1991 census[19][20] 2001 census[21] 2011 census[22] 2021 census[23]
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
White: Total 187,572 96.4% 184,975 95.3% 178,981 93% 182,787 177,836 86%
White: British – – – – 174,775 90.8% 176,732 170,983
White: Irish – – – – 2,082 1.1% 1,795 1,564
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller – – – – – – 80 136
White: Roma – – – – – – – – 247
White: Other – – – – 2,124 1.1% 4,180 4,906
Asian or Asian British: Total 5,948 3.1% 8,230 11,237 16,875 21,726 10.5%
Asian or Asian British: Indian 405 532 814 1,130 1,861
Asian or Asian British: Pakistani 4,829 6,487 9,442 13,904 17,637
Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi 255 335 300 574 681
Asian or Asian British: Chinese 159 186 287 459 415
Asian or Asian British: Other Asian 300 690 394 808 1,132
Black or Black British: Total 534 653 437 899 1,439
Black or Black British: Caribbean 234 281 259 320 400
Black or Black British: African 72 82 128 479 847
Black or Black British: Other Black 228 290 50 100 192
Mixed: Total – – – – 1,546 2,797 4,027
Mixed: White and Black Caribbean – – – – 613 1,097 1,348
Mixed: White and Black African – – – – 96 247 372
Mixed: White and Asian – – – – 547 907 1,458
Mixed: Other Mixed – – – – 290 546 849
Other: Total 421 531 468
Other: Arab – – – – – – 111 327
Other: Any other ethnic group 421 531 204 357 1,276
Ethnic minority 6,823 9,025 13,424 21,039 28,795
Total 194,395 100% 194,000 100% 192,405 100% 203,826 100% 206,631 100%

Public services and facilities

Health

Calderdale is served by the local NHS through Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust and South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.[24][25] The borough has two hospitals and one hospice.[26] The main hospital is Calderdale Royal Hospital, part of Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, located on the main route to Huddersfield in Salterhebble.[27] It hosts specialist services including Calderdale’s accident and emergency department and the Calderdale Birth Centre.[28][29] The hospital was built on the site of the former Halifax General Hospital and opened in 2001.[30] Following the opening of the new hospital, the Royal Halifax Infirmary closed and its services were transferred to Calderdale Royal Hospital, along with services formerly provided at Northowram Hospital.[31]

NHS ambulance services in the borough are provided by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service from stations in Halifax, Brighouse, and Todmorden.[32] Overgate Hospice provides specialist palliative care services for adults in Calderdale.[33]

Elland Hospital, Calderdale’s only private hospital, is located near the Calderdale Way.[34] Formerly known as BUPA Elland Independent Hospital, it is now owned and operated by Classic Hospitals.[35]

Police

Calderdale is served by West Yorkshire Police; whose Calderdale Division headquarters is at Halifax police station. Other police stations are located in Todmorden[36] and at Brighouse, which reopened in 2009.[37]

Fire and rescue

West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue covers Calderdale and it has five fire stations in the borough. These are located at Rastrick (Since 2015), King Cross (Halifax Fire Station), Mytholmroyd, Illingworth, and Todmorden.[38]

Libraries

Calderdale Libraries provides services through 22 local library branches, including a central library in Halifax, and has a home library service and digital library service.[39] In 2014, construction began on a new central library and archive building in Halifax, adjacent to the Piece Hall and the Square Chapel.[40][41][42] The new Central Library and Archive officially opened in September 2017.[43]

Transport

Calderdale has seven operational railway stations: Brighouse, Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Sowerby Bridge, Todmorden, and Walsden.[44]

A new Elland railway station has been approved and is under development. Planning permission was granted in 2023, with construction scheduled to begin in 2024 and an original target opening date of December 2025.[45]

Rail services in the borough are operated by Northern and Grand Central.[46] Destinations served from stations in Calderdale include Bradford Interchange, Huddersfield, Leeds, York, Manchester Victoria, Blackpool North, Wigan North Western, Chester, Warrington Bank Quay, Hull, Preston, Burnley Manchester Road, and London King’s Cross.[47][48]

Education

Two selective schools in Calderdale jointly administer an 11+ admissions examination: The Crossley Heath School in Savile Park and North Halifax Grammar School in Illingworth.[49]

Calderdale College is a further education college located on Francis Street in Halifax.[50] In December 2006 it was announced that Calderdale College, in partnership with Leeds Metropolitan University, would open a new higher education institution in January 2007 called University Centre Calderdale.[51]

Media

In terms of television, Calderdale is served by BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire broadcasting from the Emley Moor transmitter.[52]

Radio stations for the area:[53]

Sports

There are three operational public swimming pools in Calderdale, located in Todmorden, Brighouse and Sowerby Bridge.[54] Halifax currently does not have a public swimming pool following the closure of North Bridge Leisure Centre in 2021, and plans are in progress to provide a replacement facility.[55]

Other sports facilities in Calderdale include North Bridge Leisure Centre in Halifax (currently closed), Sowerby Bridge Swimming Pool, Brighouse Leisure Centre and Pool, Todmorden Swimming Pool, The Shay, home of FC Halifax Town, and Spring Hall Sports Ground in Halifax, which includes track and field facilities.[56][57]

Parishes

There are eight civil parishes in Calderdale, covering the western part of the borough. The eastern part of the borough, including Brighouse, Elland, Halifax, Shelf and Sowerby Bridge, is an unparished area.[58] The two parish councils of Hebden Royd and Todmorden take the style "town council".[59]

Settlements

The borough contains numerous settlements, including:

Coat of arms

Coat of arms of Calderdale
Notes
Granted on 1 November 1977.
Crest
On a Wreath Argent and Vert out of a Mural Crown a Rose Tree of nine branches proper each terminating in a Rose Argent barbed and seeded proper.
Escutcheon
Vert a Paschal Lamb proper supporting over the shoulder a Cross Staff Or flying therefrom a forked Pennon of St. George between in chief a Bar wavy Argent charged with a Barruret wavy Azure and in base a Rose Argent barbed and seeded proper.
Supporters
On either side a Lion Or gorged with a collar wavy Azure and holding aloft in the interior forepaw a Crescent Sable.
Motto
Industria, Arte, Prudentia (By industry, skill and foresight.)

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council was granted a coat of arms in 1977. The Paschal lamb is the emblem of John the Baptist, the patron saint of wool workers. It was shown on the former arms of Halifax. The green and blue wavy line of the shield symbolises the River Calder and Calder Valley. The white rose is for Yorkshire. The crest shows a rose bush with nine white flowers representing the nine former authorities that now comprise the Calderdale district. The bush is shown growing out of a mural crown, a common feature in municipal arms. The lion supporters are taken from the arms of Halifax and also for England. A lion also featured on the shield of the arms of Brighouse. The black crescents, also from the arms of Brighouse, are featured on the arms of the Brighouse family. The blue wave around each lion's collar is from the arms of Todmorden and represents the Calder again. The motto, Industria arte prundentia, is Latin for 'Industry, skill, and foresight'.[60][61]

Freedom of the Borough

The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Borough of Calderdale.

Individuals

Military units

References

  1. 1 2 UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Calderdale Local Authority (E08000033)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ↑ Wells, John C. (2008). "Calderdale". Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0.
  3. ↑ "Estimates of the population for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Cambodunum Roman fort and vicus, Slack". Historic England. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Cambodunum (Slack Roman Fort)". Roman Britain. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  6. ↑ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 18 June 2023
  7. ↑ "The Metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/137, retrieved 18 June 2023
  8. ↑ Youngs, Frederic A. Jr. (1991). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol. 2: Northern England. Royal Historical Society. p. 797. ISBN 0-86193-127-0.
  9. ↑ Youngs, Frederic A. Jr. (1991). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol. 2: Northern England. Royal Historical Society. p. 797. ISBN 0-86193-127-0.
  10. ↑ "Yorkshire Water hosepipe ban lifted after three months". BBC News. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "Councillors and wards". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  12. ↑ "Local elections". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  13. ↑ "Changes to local authority boundaries and councillor numbers". Local Government Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  14. 1 2 "Calderdale demographic information". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  15. ↑ "Calderdale demographic information". Calderdale.gov.uk.
  16. ↑ "Calderdale Demographic Information". Calderdale Council. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  17. ↑ "How life has changed in Calderdale: Census 2021". Office for National Statistics. 19 January 2023.
  18. ↑ Ethnicity in the 1991 Census, Vol. 3: Social geography and ethnicity in Britain. HMSO. 1996. ISBN 978-0-11-691655-6.
  19. ↑ Ethnicity in the 1991 Census, Vol. 3: Social geography and ethnicity in Britain. HMSO. 1996. ISBN 978-0-11-691655-6.
  20. ↑ "1991 Census: Ethnic group statistics (Table 6)". UK Data Service (Casweb). Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  21. ↑ "2001 Census: Key Statistics (KS06 – Ethnic group)". UK Government Web Archive. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  22. ↑ "2011 Census: Key Statistics (KS201EW – Ethnic group)". UK Government Web Archive. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  23. ↑ "2021 Census: Ethnic group". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  24. ↑ "About Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust". NHS. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  25. ↑ "South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust". NHS. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  26. ↑ "Hospitals and health services in Calderdale". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  27. ↑ "Calderdale Royal Hospital". NHS. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  28. ↑ "Services at Calderdale Royal Hospital". NHS. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  29. ↑ "Overview – Calderdale Royal Hospital – NHS Choices". Nhs.uk. Archived from the original on 8 July 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  30. ↑ "History of Calderdale Royal Hospital". Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  31. ↑ "Halifax healthcare history". Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  32. ↑ "Our ambulance stations". Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  33. ↑ "About Overgate Hospice". Overgate Hospice. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  34. ↑ "Elland Hospital". Classic Hospitals. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  35. ↑ "Our hospitals". Classic Hospitals. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  36. ↑ "Calderdale Neighbourhood Policing". West Yorkshire Police. Archived from the original on 10 May 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  37. ↑ "Brighouse station back in action". Telegraph & Argus. 29 July 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  38. ↑ "Fire stations". West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. Archived from the original on 24 March 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  39. ↑ "Libraries". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  40. ↑ "Central Library and Archive, Square Road, Halifax (planning application 13/00671/LAA)". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  41. ↑ "Tour the new Central Library and Archive". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  42. ↑ "Take extra care while work underway". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  43. ↑ "Our new Central Library opens – the next chapter!". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  44. ↑ "Hebden Bridge Railway Station – Visit Calderdale". Visit Calderdale. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  45. ↑ "Elland railway station plans approved". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  46. ↑ "Train operators on the Calder Valley Line". National Rail. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  47. ↑ "Calder Valley Line route map". Network Rail. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  48. ↑ "Grand Central destinations". Grand Central Railway. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  49. ↑ "Calderdale grammar schools admissions". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  50. ↑ "About Calderdale College". Calderdale College. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  51. ↑ "University Centre Calderdale". Leeds Metropolitan University. Archived from the original on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  52. ↑ "Emley Moor Freeview transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  53. ↑ "Yorkshire Radio Stations". Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  54. ↑ "Swimming pools and leisure centres". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  55. ↑ "New Halifax leisure centre plans progress". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  56. ↑ "Sports centres and facilities". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  57. ↑ "The Shay Stadium". FC Halifax Town. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  58. ↑ "Parishes and unparished areas". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  59. ↑ "Parish Councillors". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  60. ↑ "Civic Heraldry of England and Wales - Yorkshire". Civicheraldry.co.uk. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  61. ↑ "Calderdale's Coat of Arms". Calderdale Council. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  62. ↑ "Freedom honour for Paralympian". BBC News. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  63. ↑ Shaw, Martin (8 November 2019). "Gentleman Jack writer Sally Wainwright set to be given the Freedom of Calderdale". Huddersfield Examiner. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  64. ↑ "Writer Sally Wainwright given freedom of Calderdale". BBC News. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  65. ↑ "Regimental Freedom Scrolls". The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) – Regimental Association. Retrieved 18 November 2019.

53°43′N 1°58′W / 53.72°N 1.97°W / 53.72; -1.97