Damems

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Damems
Yorkshire
West Riding
Damems Lane (geograph 6203653).jpg
Damems Lane
Location
Grid reference: SE048389
Location: 53°50’48"N, 1°55’41"W
Data
Local Government
Council: Bradford
Parliamentary
constituency:
Keighley

Damems is a village near Keighley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Until the mid-19th century it was also known as Dam Elms or Dam Ems.[1]

Damems railway station

The village is served by Damems railway station, opened in 1867, which claims to be Britain's smallest,[2] although it is no longer part of the main rail network. It is used as a request stop for heritage trains, on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

Damems is located on the Worth Way, a circular hiking path connecting Keighley with Oxenhope and the communities along the River Worth.

History

Originally a farming community, by the mid-19th century the textile industry had become the major employer of the Damems population. In 1851 a school room was provided by a local resident.[1]

Rushey Hall

The Roper family of Rushy Hall (also known as Rushy Fall and Rushey Hall), Keighley, had a cotton mill built near Damems around 1780. This was originally water-powered and straddled the River Worth. After 1824 turned into a worsted mill, and a larger water wheel was installed in 1843. In 1852 it was the scene of a weavers' strike connected with the introduction of power looms. A steam engine was added before 1859. The course of the roads and the river had to be altered in connection with the construction of the railway lines in the vicinity. The warehouse burned down in 1874 and the mill in 1878, but were rebuilt. It changed hands several times and was sold in 1934 to Salts (Saltaire) Ltd. who had the mill chimney removed in the same year. The mill was during its last years powered by electricity. In 1977 the premises were sold to Oxenhope Engineering and Ogden's of Oakworth.[1]

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References