Luddenden Background

Location

Luddenden stands on the sides of the valley of the Luddenden Brook. The earliest settlement clustered about the ford in the valley bottom but later buildings were built higher up the hillsides.

History and Development

THe village grew up where the packhorse trail from Halifax into Lancashire came down from the hills into the valley to cross the Luddenden Brook. The fast flowing beck was exploited from early times and corn mills were established in the village by 1284. Before the 15th century the area was mostly agricultural, but during that century handloom weaving was established. Sheep farming and handloom weaving were dominant until the latter part of the 18th century.

Upto 1800, the village was confined to a small cluster of houses at the bridge and the church. By 1820, four cloth mills were established along the valley and terraces of workers' houses were built against the slopes of the hillside. The Parish Church was rebuilt larger in 1817 and a new school was built in 1825, both indicating the prosperity and growth of the period. In 1842 the first steam-powered mill was established at Oats Royd. The construction of the New Road to take coal from the Calder Valley at Luddenden Foot. to Oats Royd Mill resulted in a ribbon of development alongside it on the upper slopes of the hillside. Above the village, a number of large houses, such as Carr Field, were built by prosperous industrialists. Despite the vilage's long history, one of the oldest surviving buildings is the early 17th century Lord Nelson Inn ,and parts of Box House Farm, on the hill above, are probably contemporary with the inn. Most of the other old buildings date from between 1740 and 1840.

Character

The early pattern of historical development has created a tightly packed huddle of stone buildings characteristic of Luddenden and many other Pennine villages. The village later spread in more straggling form up the valley sides. Surronding this village centre is a series of small settlements based around old farmsteads and the New Road. The houses are simple stone cottages with plainly detailed doors and windows, and stone or slate roofs. They possess rows of square mullioned windows, some of which are weavers windows. The overall character is formed by simple buildings grouped together in a Pennine landscape, to which their materials are closely related.

The Luddenden Conservation Area was designated on the 26th February 1973

Text taken from Calderdale Council Town Planning leaflet