About Cleckheaton in West Yorkshire

Cleckheaton is a town in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated in the Spen Valley, on the A62 road between Leeds and Bradford. The town had a population of 17,773 at the 2011 Census.

Cleckheaton is part of the metropolitan borough of Kirklees and has been a town since 1974. It was originally a village in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The name Cleckheaton is derived from the Old English words clif (cliff or hill) and hēah (high), and tun (settlement or farm), meaning "farm on a high cliff".

The town is built on the slopes of a hill which rises from the River Spen. The town centre is at the top of the hill, with residential areas spreading outwards from there. The highest point in Cleckheaton is at Windmill Hill, which is also the highest point in Kirklees.

Cleckheaton has a long history dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book as Clachene, and later became an important market town. In medieval times, Cleckheaton was an important centre for woollen cloth production. The town's market charter was granted by King Edward I in 1296.

Cleckheaton's growth continued into the Industrial Revolution, when it became a major centre for textile manufacture, particularly wool and worsted fabrics. The town's industry declined in the late 20th century, but it has since been revived by small businesses and light industry.

Today, Cleckheaton is a thriving town with a wide range of shops, businesses and amenities. It is home to several schools, including Cleckheaton Grammar School, and has good transport links to Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield.