The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book, where it is noted as having a church.[2] The name literally means Higher Town and is recorded as Uptune, Uptone and Opton in old documents.[3] Historically, the village was in the wapentake of Osgoldcross and the parish of Badsworth.[4]
In 1885, the Hull and Barnsley Railway opened a railway station at the south end of the village, which also served the community of North Elmsall.[5] In 1924, Upton Colliery was opened to the south east of the village, but was closed in 1964 due to geological faulting and a serious explosion which required the shafts to be sealed.[6]
A former coal mining community, regeneration is in progress as a housing overflow for the more expensive areas of Doncaster and Pontefract.
In the 1960s the village was in its prime due to the strong mining community, with retail outlets such as "Mr Farthings" Chemist, and "Mr Kings" newsagents.
A short-lived greyhound racing track was opened near the village by the Carters' Knottingley Brewery Co Ltd. The racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body, the National Greyhound Racing Club) and was thus known as a "flapping track", which was the nickname given to independent tracks.[9] The lease was granted in 1933 to the tenant of the Greenfield Hotel, who wanted to attract the local mining community. The Greenfield Hotel and track are believed to have closed during World War II, with the six-acre site being made available for housing in 1947.[10] The Carters' Knottingley Brewery Co Ltd also leased out greyhound tracks at Great Houghton and Pontefract.
Notable people
Recent recognised villagers include playwright John Godber,[11] and Ada Mason (formerly the oldest living woman in England).[12][13]
upton, west, yorkshire, upton, village, civil, parish, west, yorkshire, england, population, 2001, census, uptonthe, upton, armsuptonlocation, within, west, yorkshirepopulation3, 2001, census, grid, referencese470134civil, parishuptonmetropolitan, boroughcity,. Upton is a village and civil parish in West Yorkshire England It had a population of 3 541 in the 2001 census 1 UptonThe Upton ArmsUptonLocation within West YorkshirePopulation3 541 2001 census 1 OS grid referenceSE470134Civil parishUptonMetropolitan boroughCity of WakefieldMetropolitan countyWest YorkshireRegionYorkshire and the HumberCountryEnglandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townPONTEFRACTPostcode districtWF9PoliceWest YorkshireFireWest YorkshireAmbulanceYorkshireUK ParliamentHemsworthList of places UK England Yorkshire 53 37 12 N 1 17 24 W 53 620 N 1 290 W 53 620 1 290 Coordinates 53 37 12 N 1 17 24 W 53 620 N 1 290 W 53 620 1 290It is situated south of Badsworth and north of North Elmsall and is part of the SESKU South Elmsall South Kirkby Upton area The village is also in the WF9 postal area Pontefract and very close to the South Yorkshire boundary Contents 1 History 2 Sport 3 Notable people 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditThe village is mentioned in the Domesday Book where it is noted as having a church 2 The name literally means Higher Town and is recorded as Uptune Uptone and Opton in old documents 3 Historically the village was in the wapentake of Osgoldcross and the parish of Badsworth 4 In 1885 the Hull and Barnsley Railway opened a railway station at the south end of the village which also served the community of North Elmsall 5 In 1924 Upton Colliery was opened to the south east of the village but was closed in 1964 due to geological faulting and a serious explosion which required the shafts to be sealed 6 A former coal mining community regeneration is in progress as a housing overflow for the more expensive areas of Doncaster and Pontefract In the 1960s the village was in its prime due to the strong mining community with retail outlets such as Mr Farthings Chemist and Mr Kings newsagents Sport EditThe village was home to Upton Colliery F C who appeared in the FA Cup and featured Charlie Williams as a player 7 8 A short lived greyhound racing track was opened near the village by the Carters Knottingley Brewery Co Ltd The racing was independent not affiliated to the sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club and was thus known as a flapping track which was the nickname given to independent tracks 9 The lease was granted in 1933 to the tenant of the Greenfield Hotel who wanted to attract the local mining community The Greenfield Hotel and track are believed to have closed during World War II with the six acre site being made available for housing in 1947 10 The Carters Knottingley Brewery Co Ltd also leased out greyhound tracks at Great Houghton and Pontefract Notable people EditRecent recognised villagers include playwright John Godber 11 and Ada Mason formerly the oldest living woman in England 12 13 See also EditListed buildings in Upton West YorkshireReferences Edit a b UK Census 2001 Local Area Report Upton Parish 00DB024 Nomis Office for National Statistics Retrieved 15 May 2019 Upton Domesday Book opendomesday org Retrieved 28 June 2020 Ekwall Eilert 1947 The concise Oxford dictionary of English place names 3 ed Oxford Clarendon Press p 465 OCLC 12542596 Genuki Badsworth Yorkshire West Riding www genuki org uk Retrieved 28 June 2020 Newton Grace 23 June 2020 Heritage line plans to resurrect station The Yorkshire Post p 6 ISSN 0963 1496 Upton Colliery nmrs org Retrieved 28 June 2020 Comic Charlie Williams dies at 78 BBC News 3 September 2006 Retrieved 28 June 2020 Charlie Williams The Daily Telegraph 3 September 2006 Retrieved 28 June 2020 Barnes Julia 1988 Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File page 419 Ringpress Books ISBN 0 948955 15 5 Upton Greyhound Racing Times Retrieved 10 May 2019 John Godber comes home Pontefract and Castleford Express 25 March 2011 Retrieved 28 June 2020 Oldest woman dies at 111 The Times 15 February 2007 Retrieved 28 June 2020 Oldest woman dies at age of 111 BBC News 13 February 2007 Retrieved 28 June 2020 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Upton West Yorkshire Map sources for Upton West Yorkshire Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Upton West Yorkshire amp oldid 1133216409, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
