Aireborough is a district within the
West Yorkshire Urban Area
The West Yorkshire Built-up Area, previously known as the West Yorkshire Urban Area is a term used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to refer to a conurbation in West Yorkshire, England, based on the cities of Leeds, Bradford and Wakefi ...
, in the
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county County of York, West Riding (the area under the control of West Riding County Council), abbreviated County ...
, England. It is mostly within the present
Leeds metropolitan borough, although some areas now in
Bradford metropolitan district may also be considered to form part of Aireborough. It includes the settlements of
Guiseley
Guiseley ( ) is a town in metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is situated south of Otley and Menston and is now a north-western suburb of Leeds.
It sits in th ...
,
Hawksworth,
Menston
Menston is a village and civil parish in the City of Bradford in the county of West Yorkshire, England. Along with Burley in Wharfedale, most of Menston is within Wharfedale Ward in the metropolitan borough of Bradford. The remainder of M ...
,
High Royds,
Nether Yeadon,
Rawdon,
Yeadon,
West Carlton,
East Carlton
East Carlton is a village and civil parish in the county of Northamptonshire, on the southern ridge overlooking the Welland valley to the north and covers on a long strip of land. and
Esholt.
The name ''Aireborough'' is used for a UK
census ward, which was named "the most average place in England and Wales", following studies arising from the
2001 census.
Etymology
The name ''Aireborough'' was first applied to a fictional and wealthy manufacturing town, in short stories written for newspapers of the late nineteenth century by
Charles Darcy Friel, who lived and worked in Leeds, and died there in 1910. The name derives from the
River Aire
The River Aire is a major river in Yorkshire, England, in length. The ''Handbook for Leeds and Airedale'' (1890) notes that the distance from Malham to Howden is direct, but the river's meanderings extend that to . Between Malham Tarn and Ai ...
, which intersects the West Yorkshire Urban Area.
In 1936, the urban councils of Guiseley, Yeadon and Rawdon, along with smaller settlements belonging to
Wharfedale Rural District, decided to form a new autonomous
Urban District Council
In England and Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected urban district council (UDC), which shared local gove ...
. While the area was similar to the former civil Parish of Guiseley, the name Aireborough was instead adopted – to reflect the equality of all townships included in the district and "wipe out old jealousies, and concentrate more readily on the problems ahead, working together as a team". On 1 April 1937, the Urban District came into being. Aireborough Urban District was subsumed by Leeds metropolitan borough under the 1974 local government reorganisation.
Physical characteristics
The area sits on the sandstone and millstone grit of the South Pennines, in a landscape shaped by human endeavour since ancient times. Water in the form of becks, tarns and wetlands, is a key natural resource, mostly draining towards the
River Aire
The River Aire is a major river in Yorkshire, England, in length. The ''Handbook for Leeds and Airedale'' (1890) notes that the distance from Malham to Howden is direct, but the river's meanderings extend that to . Between Malham Tarn and Ai ...
.
Local stone features in the drystone walls and solid stone buildings – as well as in the foundations of the Houses of Parliament. Whilst green-ways used for travelling to church, market, mill or dispersed farmsteads still cut across the town and landscape.
History
The main townships of Guiseley, Rawdon and Yeadon grew into industrial textile and manufacturing townships from their medieval farming/weaving origins. The smaller areas of Nether Yeadon, Carlton, and Hawksworth still retain their pre-industrial character.
Aireborough, in common with the
South Pennines Heritage Area, was an important area for social developments such as: non-conformist religion (e.g. Quakers, Baptists and Methodists); co-operative movements and; 19th century philanthropists who donated public buildings and facilities, such as
Jonathan Peate.
Many of the mills made fabric or supported the textile industry for national companies such as Jaeger and Marks & Spencer. However, since 2000 most of the bigger industry has left, and
Leeds Bradford International Airport
Leeds Bradford Airport is located in Yeadon, in the City of Leeds Metropolitan District in West Yorkshire, England, about northwest of Leeds city centre, and about northeast from Bradford city centre. It serves Leeds and Bradford and the ...
, in Yeadon, is now one of the biggest employers. There are though still some successful quality textile firms such as Abraham Moon who have survived and thrived, and a range of smaller and medium size businesses who base themselves in the area to take advantage of the setting and the local skilled labour force.
High Royds Hospital
High Royds Hospital is a former psychiatric hospital south of the village of Menston, West Yorkshire, England. The hospital, which opened in 1888, closed in 2003 and the site has since been developed for residential use.
History
The estate on ...
, a former psychiatric hospital at Menston, was redeveloped as housing at the beginning of the 21st century.
The name Aireborough has been used by many official bodies or organisations. Yeadon and Guiseley Secondary School was renamed
Aireborough Grammar School
Aireborough Grammar School was an English state grammar school situated on the Yeadon / Guiseley border in Aireborough, West Yorkshire. The school was founded in 1910 and closed in 1991.
History
In January 1906, a meeting of Rawdon, Yeadon, Gu ...
in 1937 (when the Urban District was formed) and retained the name until its closure in 1991 – the names of the different townships emblazoned on the school frontage are now set into the stone wall opposite Nunroyd Park. The
Royal Mail has an Aireborough
delivery office.
Community organisations using the name include:
*Aireborough Civic Society
*Aireborough Fundraising Group (Marie Curie)
*Aireborough Neighbourhood Development Forum and Aireborough Historical Society
*Aireborough Learning Partnership
*Aireborough Extended Services
*Aireborough Voluntary Services for the Elderly
*Aireborough Rugby Union Football Club
*Aireborough Swimming Club
*Aireborough Rifle & Revolver Club
*Aireborough Bridge Club
*Aireborough Camera Club
*Aireborough Gilbert & Sullivan Society
*Rotary Club of Aireborough
*Soroptimist International Aireborough
Gallery
File:Beck at Nunroyd Park - geograph.org.uk - 1113104.jpg, Beck at Nunroyd Park
File:Guiseley wells 2016.jpg, Guiseley wells 2016
File:Guiseley Moor - geograph.org.uk - 442511.jpg, Guiseley Moor
File:Hawksworth Village, looking NW along Old Lane - geograph.org.uk - 410434.jpg, Hawksworth Village, looking NW along Old Lane
File:The Steep Yeadon - geograph.org.uk - 1113114.jpg, The Steep Yeadon
File:Yeadon Tarn towards dusk - geograph.org.uk - 1542637.jpg, Yeadon Tarn towards dusk
File:Leeds-Bradford Airport (geograph 5052760).jpg, Leeds-Bradford Airport
References
Sources
*
External links
Vision of BritainAireborough Boundary Maps
Aireborough’s Natural and Built Environment Baseline Report{{City of Leeds
Places in Leeds
History of West Yorkshire
1937 establishments in England
Unparished areas in West Yorkshire