View source for Churwell

{{short description|Suburb of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| official_name = Churwell
| civil_parish = [[Morley, West Yorkshire|Morley]]
| pushpin_map = United Kingdom Leeds
| metropolitan_borough = [[City of Leeds]]
| metropolitan_county = [[West Yorkshire]]
| region = Yorkshire and the Humber
| constituency_westminster = [[Leeds South West and Morley (UK Parliament constituency)|Leeds South West and Morley]]
| post_town = LEEDS
| postcode_area = LS
| postcode_district = LS27
| dial_code = 0113
| london_distance =
| coordinates = {{coord|53.761|-1.589|display=inline,title}}
| static_image=Churwell, St Brigid's R.C. Church - geograph.org.uk - 227345.jpg
| static_image_caption=St Brigid's R.C. Church
}}
[[File:Churwell Working Mens' Club (23rd October 2021) 002.jpg|thumb|right|Churwell Working Men's Club]]
'''Churwell''' is a settlement in the [[civil parish]] of [[Morley, West Yorkshire|Morley]], in the [[City of Leeds|Leeds]] district, in [[West Yorkshire]], England, between [[Leeds city centre]] and Morley. It is {{convert|3|mi|km|0}} south-west of [[Leeds city centre]] and {{convert|1.5|mi|km|0}} away from the [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]] stadium [[Elland Road]].
Churwell still retains its semi-rural feel with farms nearby cultivating, in particular, vegetables and [[rhubarb]].
==Location==
Churwell is in the [[Leeds South West and Morley (UK Parliament constituency)|Leeds South West and Morley]] constituency, and is represented by [[Mark Sewards]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]) since the [[2024 United Kingdom general election]]. Until 2024, Churwell was in the now-defunct [[Morley and Outwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Morley and Outwood]] constituency, represented by [[Andrea Jenkyns]] ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]). Boundary changes in 2010 saw it leave the now-defunct [[Morley and Rothwell (UK Parliament constituency)|Morley and Rothwell]] constituency, in which it was represented by [[Colin Challen]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]).
It is in the LS27 postcode area, and its telephone area code is 0113, the [[Leeds]] prefix. Formerly a small village, forming part of the [[Municipal Borough]] of Morley, it was expanded significantly in recent decades to become more suburban in nature. For administrative purposes, it is still classed as part of Morley in the census; sitting within the governance of Morley [[Town Council]] and the [[Morley North (ward)|Morley North]] ward of [[Leeds City Council]]. It also has a primary school.
== History ==
Churwell was formerly a [[Township (England)|township]] in the parish of [[Batley]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/place/12001|title=History of Churwell, in Leeds and West Riding|publisher=[[A Vision of Britain through Time]]|accessdate=9 October 2024}}</ref> in 1866 Churwell became a separate [[civil parish]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10409536|title=Relationships and changes Churwell CP/Tn through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=9 October 2024}}</ref> 1 April 1937 the parish was abolished and merged with Morley.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/dewsbury.html|title=Dewsbury Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|accessdate=9 October 2024}}</ref> In 1931 the parish had a population of 2,190.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10409536/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics Churwell CP/Tn through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=9 October 2024}}</ref>
===Etymology===
The name ''Churwell'' is first attested in 1226 in the forms ''Churlewell'' and ''Churlewall''. The names comes from the [[Old English]] words ''ceorla'' (the [[genitive]] [[plural]] of ''ceorl'', 'free man of the lower class, peasant') and ''wella'' ('well, spring, stream'). Thus the name once meant 'spring of the peasants'.<ref>Harry Parkin, ''Your City's Place-Names: Leeds'', English Place-Name Society City-Names Series, 3 (Nottingham: English Place-Name Society, 2017), p. 36.</ref>
==Historical landmarks==
[[File:Back Clarendon Terrace, Park St, Churwell - geograph.org.uk - 333565.jpg|thumb|Back of Clarendon Terrace, Park Street, Churwell]]
Churwell is centred on ''"Churwell Hill"'' which is made up of the [[A643 road|A643]]. About three-quarters of the way up Churwell Hill, the road changes name from Elland Road to Victoria Road. There have historically been three local public houses, of which two remain: ''The Commercial'', the ''Golden Fleece'' (demolished) and the ''New Inn''. These are known locally as ''top oyle'', ''middle oyle'' and ''bottom oyle'', relating to their position on the hill. The ''Golden Fleece'' was demolished in 2010 and is now occupied by a Tesco Express store which still has the ''Golden Fleece'' sign outside of it. In spring of 2017 opposite the Tesco Express on Old Road, Bar 27 opened on the premises of the old fish and chip shop. This has become known locally as the '' little oyle'' due to its size.
Churwell once had a [[poorhouse]]. The building, Grade II listed, was built in 1865.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1250731|desc=Old Poor House|access-date=15 June 2021}}</ref> It is just off Elland Road, and was used as a community centre up until May 2011, at which point the Stanhope Memorial Hall, across the road from the Poor Hall, became the community centre.
The village expanded considerably in the early 1960s with new private and council housing developments, particularly to the north on land between School Street and the then-Leeds City boundary. In 1993, the old stone Churwell Primary School in School Street was demolished and moved to modern premises in the village. Houses now stand on the old school site.
In 1923, a runaway tram ran down Churwell Hill and ended in tragedy: six people were killed and 35 injured when the brakes failed and the tram crashed into a field wall at [[Cottingley, Leeds|Cottingley]].<ref>{{cite news|title=From the Archive - Leeds tram crash see reverse.JPG|url=http://yorkshirepost.newsprints.co.uk/view/27920121/leeds%20tram%20crash%20see%20reverse_jpg|access-date=27 May 2016|work=The Yorkshire Post|date=17 June 2014}}</ref>
Tragedy hit the village in 1962, when a motorcyclist ploughed into a group of girls returning from Sunday school on Churwell Hill, killing two and injuring several others.
==Churwell New Village==
Since 2001, a considerable amount of housing development has taken place, one notable area is '''''Churwell New Village''''' a development with more than 350 new residencies, planners estimated 0.5 cars per household. The development was built on a green field industrial area that once had a pit, brick works and later a reclamation yard on it.
==Notable people==
Natives of the town refer to themselves as Morleians. Notable Morleians include:
*British [[Prime Minister]] [[H. H. Asquith]]
*Sir [[Titus Salt]], the creator of [[Saltaire]]
*Alice Scatcherd, 19th century pioneer for women's rights and philanthropist who donated Scatcherd Park to the town<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.urbexforums.co.uk/showthread.php/4753-Mausoleum-Scatcherd-Family-St.-Marys-Leeds-July-09 |title=Urbex Scatcherd Family, St. Marys, Leeds |access-date=2 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321022206/http://www.urbexforums.co.uk/showthread.php/4753-Mausoleum-Scatcherd-Family-St.-Marys-Leeds-July-09 |archive-date=21 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=eIzLissZmscC&dq=Alice+Scatcherd&pg=PA619 The women's suffrage movement: a reference guide, 1866-1928]</ref>
*[[Jack Popplewell]], playwright, composer of popular music<ref>{{cite book|last1=Barraclough|first1= R.|last2= Reekie|first2= D.|title=Morley Entertainers|year=2003|publisher=Zodiac Publishing, London, U.K.}}</ref>
*[[Helen Fielding]], author of ''[[Bridget Jones's Diary (novel)|Bridget Jones's Diary]]''
*[[Bobby Peel]], [[Yorkshire CCC]] and England Cricketer of the late 19th Century
*[[Ben Kaye]], [[London Broncos#2006–2011: Harlequins Rugby League|Harlequins RL]] Player
*[[Nick Scruton]], [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford RLFC]] player
*[[Lee Smith (rugby league)|Lee Smith]], [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds RLFC]] player
*[[Jonathan Howson]], [[Middlesbrough F.C.]] player
*[[Mark Crook]], former professional footballer
*[[Ernie Wise]], of [[Morecambe and Wise]] fame
*[[Daniel Cammish]], [[Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain]] 2015 and 2021 Champion
*[[Aaron Murphy]], [[Huddersfield Giants]] Player
<!---Editors note; Please only add names of people born in the town. Do not add names who do not have a Wikipedia article, or a checkable supporting reference of notability. Unreferenced names will be removed without notice --->
==Public transport==
===Rail===
Churwell, ll particularly the New Village development, is very near the [[Cottingley railway station]] on the [[Huddersfield Line]], between [[Leeds railway station|Leeds]] and [[Morley railway station|Morley]]. There are hourly train services to [[Huddersfield]] and [[Leeds]], with increased frequency at peak times and additional destinations including [[Sheffield]] and [[Manchester Victoria railway station|Manchester]] in the evening peak period.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/ldbboard/dep/COT |title= Cottingley railway station live departure boards| author= National Rail Enquiries |access-date=21 May 2010}}</ref>
===Bus===
Churwell is well served by local bus services to city centre and [[Moor Allerton]].
==Location grid==
{{NSEW|[[Wortley, Leeds|Wortley]] and [[Cottingley, Leeds|Cottingley]]|[[Morley, West Yorkshire|Morley]]|[[Beeston, Leeds|Beeston]]|[[Drighlington]] and [[Gildersome]]|||||}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170528165617/http://churwellcommunitycentre.co.uk/ Churwell Community Association]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180901050018/https://beyondchurch.org.uk/ All Saints' Church, Churwell]
* [http://www.morley.gov.uk/ Morley Town Council]
* {{cite web | url = http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/WRY/Batley/index.html | title =The Ancient Parish of Batley | publisher = [[GENUKI]] | access-date=29 October 2007}} Churwell was in this parish
[[Category:Places in Leeds]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in West Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Morley, West Yorkshire]]