|
Harden is a civil parish and village within the City of Bradford Metropolitan District, West Yorkshire, England, 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Bingley. It had a population of 1,615 in the 2001 census, but by 2011 this had risen to 1,900.
Excavations on Leech Lane, off Hill End towards Cullingworth, have suggested Roman settlement in the area from c. 150 AD. Archaeologists have in the past unearthed pottery, coins and even elephant ivory on this site, suggesting that an Anglo-Roman villa may have stood here.
There is a small section of Roman Road on Harden Moor which points in a rough north east direction. The route is lined with stones that have deep cart-groove marks.
Between 1960 and 1997, Harden's biggest employer was Ellison Circlips. The huge factory adjoined another smaller factory producing similar products. On 24 February 1979, Ellison's Mill caught fire in the computer room and the resultant blaze gutted the timber floored mill. The outer stone walls stayed upright during the fire, but because of the threat of explosions from the acid baths if they came into contact with water, two houses were evacuated as a precaution.
The factories were bounded on the south by Long Lane (the B6429) on the east by Keighley Road, on the west by Effingham Road and the north by fields leading up to Harden Moor. The company relocated to Glusburn in 1997 and the factory was demolished to make way for housing.
At least two other mills were in operation in Harden, both situated alongside Harden Beck to the south of the village. One of the mills is still there and now operates as a printing works. The other mill was further upstream from the existing mill and during the early part of the 20th century was turned into a café and ballroom. It was destroyed by fire in 1927.
Woodbank, an area to the east of Harden and south of the B6429, played host to some of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. Many of the stained glass works around Bingley, Bradford and Silsden (including the Church of All Saints, Bingley) were designed by Burne-Jones.
Harden has two churches, one Congregational] and the other one is St Saviours Church in the newly created benefice of Cullingworth, Denholme, Harden & Wilsden. Harden Primary School has been in existence since 1877 and the school still uses some of the Victorian buildings to this day.
There is also a Post Office, a convenience store, a garden centre and an independent butcher's. There is a village park which contains a large square piece of land that hosts the annual gala during the summer. Harden is the location of the St. Ive's Estate, a large stretch of land with woodland and a well-equipped children's playpark, as well as paths up to moorland. St Ive's also contains an 18-hole golf course and golf club. There is a beautician and a hairdresser in Long Lane, opposite Harden Primary School's car park. Harden has an establishment which holds drama plays every year, it is located in the centre of Harden.
Harden has a cricket club which has been in existence since at least 1950. They play matches on a pitch adjacent to the hamlet of Cuckoo's Nest on the east side of Harden village.
|
