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Denby Dale - History
Denby Dale is world famous as the 'Pie Village', a name acquired from the tradition of baking record-breaking huge pies. It's a tradition that dates back to 1788, when a pie was baked and shared by the villagers to celebrate the return to health of King George III. There have been a further 9 pies, baked at irregular intervals and for various events from celebrating the repeal of the Corn Laws to raising funds for Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. The Millennium Pie of 2000 was 12 meters long and weighed 12 tonnes. Visitors can view the dish for the 1964 pie, which was baked to raise funds for a village hall, outside the resulting Pie Hall on Wakefield Road. The dish, 18ft x 6ft, is now a flower planter.
Pies are not the only thing done on a large scale in this area. Visible from most of Denby, and indeed from the M1 and the M62 is the TV mast at Emley. At a height of 330m, Emley Mast is the tallest self-supporting structure in Britain. It was completed in 1971 and replaced an earlier mast that came down in dramatic fashion when a combination of high winds and ice building up on the guide ropes, brought the structure crashing down in the spring of 1969.
Another striking landmark is the viaduct that spans the Dearne valley at Denby Dale. The original structure was made of wood, but fortunately this was replaced in 1880 before it had a chance to fall down. It carries trains on the Penistone Line between Sheffield and Huddersfield (and is a delightful railway that runs through attractive countryside and quaint stations). The busy line has recently been designated a community railway. The Penistone Line Partnership organises guided walks between stations, hosts monthly music trains and documents the history of the line with the Tracking Lives project. The Art Along the Line project has seen artists working with local groups to create artworks for various stations. Mosaics can be viewed at Denby Dale station.
Railway fans may also like to visit the Kirklees Light Railway, just a couple of miles along the road at Clayton West. It is a narrow gauge line, running along the route of a former standard gauge branch line that served local coal mines from 1879 and continued to carry passengers until 1983. |
Did you know...
Emley Moor Mast is the UK's largest unsupported structure, and stands an impressive 330m (1084ft), high, that's taller than the Eiffel Tower!
The silk for the Queen Mother's wedding dress was made at Springfield Mill when it was a working textile mill.
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