Slaithwaite
Situated on the River Colne and Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Slaithwaite was at one time a prosperous centre of the woollen textile industry and several mill buildings still dominate the village.
Slaithwaite was used as the TV location for the ITV series "Where The Heart Is" and was also used in scenes for long-running comedy series "Last Of The Summer Wine", filmed principally around
Over the past 30 years, Slaithwaite has held celebrations of its old legend of the Moonrakers. The story is one of illegal liquor being hidden in the canal. The culprits having been found by militia trying to fish it out with a rake escaped arrest by saying they were raking out the moon, the reflection of which could be seen in the canal. The legend is celebrated with a lantern parade around the village during the Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival, which returned in February 2023 after an absence since 2017.
See also
Slaithwaite Moonraking FestivalHousing in the area is mainly terraced above the village, much of this being at Hill Top, perched above the railway line.
Community facilities in Slaithwaite include Slaithwaite Community Centre, next to St James' Church near the village centre. The village also has a fire station and a leisure centre.
Until the local government reorganisation of 1984, Slaithwaite was the centre of Colne Valley Urban District Council, based at Slaithwaite Town Hall. Unlike the other such areas around Huddersfield which were incorporated into Kirklees Council it did not retain a third-tier civil parish council after reorganisation.
Around Slaithwaite
Slaithwaite offers a wide range of village shopping including craft and gift shops, boutique and menswear clothing shops, hairdressers, antiques and interiors, motor parts, florists, hardware, charity shops, a newsagent, grocer, butcher, off-licence, general stores, washeteria, bookmakers and travel agent. Most of the shops in the centre are arranged along Carr Lane, Market Place and Britannia Road.
Slaithwaite has a Co-operative Food store and an Aldi supermarket.
Chemist shops are in Manchester Road and Carr Lane.
Slaithwaite Post Office is in Lewisham Road.
Around half a dozen pubs can be found close to the centre together with some cosier hostelies with good food in Slaithwaite's rural outskirts.
Slaithwaite has several cafes and restaurants offering cuisine including Mediterranean tapas, Asian, pizzas and more traditional food.
The village has fish and chip shops, a sandwich shop, indian, asian and pizza takeaways.
Slaithwaite has moorings and facilities on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. The canal was vital to the local transport of goods when it opened in 1811 but was abandoned 130 years later. It was restored and reopened in 2001 as a prominent feature running alongside the main street of the village.
The River Colne flows through the centre of Slaithwaite near to the canal.
Slaithwaite library opens on some days of the week in the Town Hall building in Carr Lane. Check opening times with the Friends of Slaithwaite Library support group. 
Friends of Slaithwaite Library
Colne Valley Leisure Centre in New Street, Slaithwaite, offers facilities including a swimming pool, gym and sports hall. It is run by Kirklees Active Leisure.
Slaithwaite Civic Hall in New Street, Slaithwaite, provides a venue for events and entertainments. The Civic is now managed by the Slaithwaite Civic Hall Trust with support from the Friends of the Civic. The Civic, SlaithwaiteThe renowned Colne Valley Male Voice Choir rehearses at Slaithwaite Conservative Club in Britannia Road.
Colne Valley Male Voice Choir
Slaithwaite Spa Park beside the River Colne provides a reminder of Slaithwaite's past as a Spa. By the end of the 19th century, in addition to water from the local springs, the resort had grown to include swimming baths, gardens, a grand hall, bandstand, bowling greens and tennis courts. The Spa finally fell into neglect after being requisitioned in World War II for training soldiers, but there have been efforts in the past 10 years to improve the remaining parkland. The park has a friends group Friends of Slaithwaite Spa (FoSS). Friends of Slaithwaite Spa
Nields Junior Infant & Nursery School is in Nields Road Nields Junior Infant & Nursery SchoolSlaithwaite C of E Junior and Infant School is in Holme Lane.
Slaithwaite C of E Junior and Infant School
St James, Slaithwaite, in Bank Gate, is the parish church of Slaithwaite with East Scammonden. St James, SlaithwaiteHoly Family Church in Commercial Street is in the Catholic Parish of the Holy Redeemer.
Parish of the Holy RedeemerSlaithwaite Methodist Church in Carr Lane is in the Huddersfield Methodist Circuit.
Huddersfield Methodist Circuit - SlaithwaiteProvidence Baptist Chapel is in Hollins Row.
Providence Baptist Chapel
Local government
Civil parish council
There is no civil parish council for this area, which prior to 1974 was in the Colne Valley Urban District.Metropolitan district council
Slaithwaite is in the Colne Valley ward of Kirklees Council. Kirklees Council website
Kirklees Council
Travel
Slaithwaite Station Road
Trans-Pennine Express rail services run from the station to Huddersfield and stations along the
Huddersfield > Slaithwaite ~ 6 min
Northern - Slaithwaite
Bus services
Some buses operate into Slaithwaite village centre, but more frequent services operate along Manchester Road. Operating via village centre:
335 Monday to Saturday (Hourly daytime service)
* Only one weekday early morning journey starts at Wilberlee and also operates more directly through Netherthong.
Timetable at
Metro Stotts Coach Travel 382 Monday to Saturday (until mid-evening), Sunday (late-morning and afternoon)
Timetable at
Metro First Bus 389 Mon - Fri (morning journey Meltham - Slaithwaite/Wilberlee*), Mon - Sat (afternoon journey Slaithwaite - Meltham - Blackmoorfoot)
* Morning journey continues to Wilberlee on schooldays only.
Afternoon journeys call at Meltham Morrisons.
Timetable at
Metro Stotts Coach Travel 394 Monday to Saturday daytime
Timetable at
Metro Stotts Coach Travel 395 Monday to Saturday daytime
Timetable at
Metro Stotts Coach Travel 396 Monday to Saturday evenings (2 journeys each way), Sunday daytime (4 journeys each way)
Timetable at
Metro Team Pennine 938 Monday to Saturday daytime (6 journeys each way Marsden - Blackmoorfoot, 5 on Saturday)
* Visits
First weekday bus from Marsden omits Holme Lane at Slaithwaite.
Additional weekday journeys Marsden - Woods Mount.
Timetable at
Metro South Pennine Community Transport 539 Saturdays (3 journeys Halifax - Holmfirth, 2 journeys Holmfirth - Halifax) Mon-Fri (1 journey to/from Barkisland - see below)
One Monday - Friday early morning journey operates this route from Holmfirth to Stainland then terminates at Barkisland. One return journey operates from Barkisland to Holmfirth in the evening.
Timetable at
Metro South Pennine Community Transport only at Manchester Road:
383 Every day until late
Timetable at
Metro First Bus 184 Every day until early evening
Typical journey time: Huddersfield - Oldham 1hour 22min
Timetable at
MetroAttempt to find timetable at
Stagecoach
Road travel
Slaithwaite is on the Other places near Slaithwaite: