Burley in Wharfedale
Burley-in-Wharfedale is a
village in the county of
West Yorkshire,
England. Along with
Menston, Burley is part of
Wharfedale Ward in the
metropolitan borough of the
City of Bradford. It lies on the
A65, approximately fourteen miles north-west of the centre of
Leeds, between
Otley and
Ilkley. Burley has a railway station on the
Wharfedale line, with direct trains to
Leeds,
Bradford and
Ilkley.
Despite the great transport links to local
urban areas Burley in Wharfedale retains its rural feel and setting in the green
Wharfedale valley.
The village is adjoined by
Burley Woodhead, a small cluster of farms and homes at the foot of
Burley Moor.
Originally a small
agricultural community with likely
Roman and
Anglo-Saxon roots, Burley developed in the late 18th and 19th centuries into an
industrial village with many residents employed at the
cotton mills known as
Greenholme Mills, which were powered from a
goit fed from the
River Wharfe.
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Traditional 18th and 19th century stone terraced housing in the village centre |
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New Housing Development in Burley, 1990s |
The development of industrial and commercial centres in the nearby cities of Leeds and Bradford, combined with rail and bus links, prompted major changes to the village in the early 20th Century.
Council housing was built in the 1920s and 1950s, as the village became a dormitory settlement for the two cities.
Developments in the second half of the twentieth century have seen Burley become a prosperous but socially diverse village. The village has a high percentage of elderly and retired people, as well as many young families attracted by job opportunities, local
schools and new housing developments.
Whilst the cotton mill no longer operates, the village retains a strong range of local businesses and a strong community atmosphere.
Whilst the 1991 census give a population figure of just over 6300, the development of new housing estates has resulted in a significant population increase.
The village has two state
primary schools, Burley and Woodhead Primary School and Burley Oaks Primary School, along with
Ghyll Royd School, a
private primary and
nursery school for boys.
It also has an
Anglican Church, an
United Reformed Church, a
Methodist and a
Catholic Church.
It benefits from a range of public buildings, such as the Queens' Hall, originally built as a
lecture hall for mill workers. Recent work by community groups has resulted in developments including a new
nature reserve and
village green.
Burley Woodhead was also the home of the late
Richard Whiteley, a popular television celebrity, until his death in 2005.
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Burley-in-Wharfedale railway station*
Burley in Wharfedale Community Web Site Official Burley in Wharfedale village web site, from Burley Community Council
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Burley in Wharfedale Census 1851 - 1901*
Burley in Wharfedale Chamber of Trade*
Salem United Reformed Church in Burley in Wharfedale*
Wharfedale Forums Village Discussion Forum
