About our District

The Heavy Woollen District is so called because of the nature of the cloth manufactured in the towns of Dewsbury, Batley, Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton, Mirfield and the surrounding villages during the 18th, 19th and early part of the 20th century.

It was one of the key textile centres in Yorkshire, famed for its production of "shoddy and mungo" (cloth derived from left over cotton and wool).

Of course the wool is a thing of the past, but the Heavy Woollen District name has stuck. The District is in the county of West Yorkshire and comes under Kirklees local authority, which is based in the nearby town of Huddersfield. 

Claims to fame

• Heckmondwike was the first town in England to have Christmas lights.

• Thomas Clifford Allbutt, inventor of the clinical thermometer, was born in Dewsbury.

• Roger Hargreaves, author of the Mr Men and Little Misses series of books, was born and brought up in Cleckheaton.

• Pop singer Robert Palmer was also born in Batley.