Kirklees was established as a borough in April 1974 and its continued existence still splits opinion
On April 1, 1974, the towns of Huddersfield, Mirfield, Dewsbury, Holmfirth, Batley, Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike, Birstall, and many more merged to become Kirklees, a new municipal borough with its own council and mayor.
This was part of comprehensive local government reforms that included the abolition of the West Riding of Yorkshire, which was renamed the current West Yorkshire. Huddersfield, as the main town in the area, serves as the borough’s administrative center, with the council making the majority of crucial decisions at Huddersfield Town Hall.
Not everyone was pleased with this arrangement then, as it is now, with accusations flying back and forth that one area is given preferential treatment over another. Kirklees may have been around for 50 years, but people have long memories and still fondly remember Huddersfield Corporation and other long-gone companies.
We take a nostalgic look back at what Huddersfield and the surrounding villages were like in the 1970s, when Kirklees was still establishing its feet.
Princess Anne arrives at Huddersfield Town Hall in 1973 to launch the new Huddersfield Sports Centre, which is currently being demolished to make way for a Tesco superstore, and a new sports centre will be built near Springwood. Whitfield’s Furniture Store is visible in the backdrop on Ramsden Street. In 1975, Barclays Bank asked for permission to share the building with the business, but the council denied the request since the area was designated primarily for shopping and the bank would be damaging to the street. For many years, Ramsden Street was the hub of Huddersfield’s civic and cultural activity, housing the Theatre Royal, Ramsden Street Baths, Ramsden Street Congregational Chapel, Philosophical Hall, and various council departments.
Liverpool fans back from European Cup 1977 in Rome Outside The Unicorn pub in the town centre
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