Upton, West Yorkshire Explained

Country:England
Official Name:Upton
Coordinates:53.62°N -1.29°W
Population:3,541
Population Ref:(2001 census)
Civil Parish:Upton and North Elmsall
Metropolitan Borough:City of Wakefield
Metropolitan County:West Yorkshire
Region:Yorkshire and the Humber
Constituency Westminster:Normanton and Hemsworth
Post Town:PONTEFRACT
Postcode District:WF9
Postcode Area:WF
Os Grid Reference:SE470134
Static Image:The Upton Arms, Upton - geograph.org.uk - 247396.jpg
Static Image Caption:The Upton Arms

Upton is a village in the civil parish of Upton and North Elmsall, in the City of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. The parish had a population of 3,541 in the 2001 census.

It is situated south of Badsworth and north of North Elmsall and is part of the SESKU (South Elmsall, South Kirkby, Upton) area. The village is also in the WF9 postal area (Pontefract) and very close to the South Yorkshire boundary. Until 1974 it was in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

History

The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book, where it is noted as having a church.[1] The name literally means Higher Town and is recorded as Uptune, Uptone and Opton in old documents.[2] Historically, the village was in the wapentake of Osgoldcross.[3] Upton was formerly a township in the parish of Badsworth,[4] in 1866 Upton became a separate civil parish,[5] on 1 April 2023 the parish was abolished to form "Upton and North Elmsall".[6]

In 1885, the Hull and Barnsley Railway opened a railway station at the south end of the village, which also served the community of North Elmsall.[7] In 1924, Upton Colliery was opened to the south east of the village, but was closed in 1964 due to geological faulting and a serious explosion which required the shafts to be sealed.[8]

A former coal mining community, regeneration is in progress as a housing overflow for the more expensive areas of Doncaster and Pontefract.

Sport

The village was home to Upton Colliery F.C. who appeared in the FA Cup and featured Charlie Williams as a player.[9] [10]

A short-lived greyhound racing track was opened near the village by the Carters' Knottingley Brewery Co Ltd. The racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body, the National Greyhound Racing Club) and was thus known as a "flapping track", which was the nickname given to independent tracks.[11] The lease was granted in 1933 to the tenant of the Greenfield Hotel, who wanted to attract the local mining community. The Greenfield Hotel and track are believed to have closed during World War II, with the six-acre site being made available for housing in 1947.[12] The Carters' Knottingley Brewery Co Ltd also leased out greyhound tracks at Great Houghton and Pontefract.

Notable people

Recent recognised villagers include playwright John Godber,[13] and Ada Mason (formerly the oldest living woman in England).[14] [15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Upton Domesday Book . opendomesday.org . 28 June 2020.
  2. Book: Ekwall . Eilert . The concise Oxford dictionary of English place-names . 1947 . Clarendon Press . Oxford . 12542596 . 465 . 3.
  3. Web site: Genuki: Badsworth, Yorkshire (West Riding) . www.genuki.org.uk . 28 June 2020.
  4. Web site: History of Upton, in Wakefield and West Riding. A Vision of Britain through Time. 4 August 2024.
  5. Web site: Relationships and changes Upton CP/Tn through time. A Vision of Britain through Time. 4 August 2024.
  6. Web site: The City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2023. Wakefield Council. 4 August 2024.
  7. News: Newton . Grace . Heritage line plans to resurrect station . The Yorkshire Post . 23 June 2020 . 6. 0963-1496.
  8. Web site: Upton Colliery . nmrs.org . 28 June 2020.
  9. News: Comic Charlie Williams dies at 78 . 28 June 2020 . BBC News . 3 September 2006.
  10. News: Charlie Williams . 28 June 2020 . The Daily Telegraph . 3 September 2006. subscription.
  11. Book: Barnes, Julia. Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 419. 1988. Ringpress Books. 0-948955-15-5.
  12. News: Upton. Greyhound Racing Times. 10 May 2019.
  13. News: John Godber comes home . 28 June 2020 . Pontefract and Castleford Express . 25 March 2011.
  14. News: Oldest woman dies at 111 . 28 June 2020 . The Times . 15 February 2007. subscription.
  15. News: 'Oldest' woman dies at age of 111 . 28 June 2020 . BBC News . 13 February 2007.