Altofts
| Altofts | |
| Yorkshire West Riding | |
|---|---|
 Altofts' Old Library | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SE385225 |
| Location: | 53°41’49"N, 1°24’58"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Normanton |
| Postcode: | WF6 |
| Dialling code: | 01924 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Wakefield |
Altofts is a village in the West Riding of Yorkshire, found five miles north-east from the centre of Wakefield and less than a mile north-west of Normanton. The M62 runs close to the village to the north-east, and the Aire and Calder Navigation to the north-west.
Churches
- Church of England: Church of St Mary Magdalene
- Independent: The Hebron
- Methodist: Altofts Methodist Church, which opened in 1990 when the three Methodist congregations (from Lower Altofts, Lock Lane and Upper Altofts) amalgamated.
History
Many people in the village previously worked in the local coal mines. The largest mine in the village, The West Riding Colliery, was owned by Pope and Pearsons. It was here that the first British coaldust experiments took place during 1908 and 1909, conducted by W. E. Garforth, manager of the colliery and president of the Mining Association of Great Britain. In the early 20th century Garforth's improvement to worker safety helped to develop underground safety and rescue procedures that are today common worldwide. Today people are either employed in neighbouring towns and cities, or on the Wakefield Europort's 'Tuscany Park' industrial estate which has been developed over recent decades.
Altofts' brickworks, Normanton Brick Co Ltd, moved to its present Greenfield Road site from Wakefield Road in the late 1990s. It ran under Thomas Kirk's great grandsons until it stopped production in 2011.[1]
Sport and community
The village has four pubs: The Horse and Jockey, Miners Arms, The Poplar, and the Robin Hood. The Horse and Jockey is the oldest pub in the village.
There are two Working Men's Clubs one of which has been converted into a community centre called The Brig. The Brig is owned by the registered charity called Altofts Community & Sports Foundation Ltd. It hosts an annual summer gala to promote local talent and community groups. In the village there is also a post office, a butchers and a small number of shops and farms.
Altofts Community Sports Club and playing fields provide for cricket, football and bowls. The Cricket Club plays at Lock Lane and is in the Bradford Cricket League.
Altofts AFC was founded in the 1890s.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Altofts) |
References
- ↑ "Normanton Brick Co Ltd". www.applegate.co.uk. http://www.applegate.co.uk/company/14/79/729.htm. Retrieved 17 January 2009.