Almondbury

Almondbury is a district 2 miles (3 km) south east of Huddersfield Town Centre in West Yorkshire, England. The population of Almondbury is put by the 2001 census at 7,368.

Almondbury appears in the Domesday Book as Almondeberie. After the Norman Conquest, the land around Almondbury was held by the powerful De Lacy family, who gave their name to De Lacy Avenue in the village.

For 300 years up until the 17th century, the village's Monday market was the most important in the area. Almondbury village was the hub of Parish activity, and indeed in its early history Almondbury was a more important centre than the town of Huddersfield. The villages of Linthwaite, Lockwood, Honley, Holmfirth and Meltham were all part of the Almondbury parish area.

The village is close to Castle Hill, Huddersfield's most prominent landmark. Almondbury has several notable buildings, including the 16th century Wormald's Hall, now the village Conservative club, and All Hallows Church.

Education

In 1547 the people of Almondbury were faced with the possible dissolution of its Chantry Chapel By "concent of the parishe," Arthur Kay of Woodsome and his son John "dyd shifte yt" stone by stone, down St. Helen's Gate, to be reconstructed as a school house. A Royal Charter (formally called The Letters Patent) was granted by James I on 24th November 1608 and the school became a grammar school. The school has had various names (Almondbury Grammar School, King James's Grammar School) and today is called King James's School There is also Almondbury High School and Language College on Fernside Avenue. The Harry Taylor Trust was established in 1987 in memory of Harry Taylor, former Headmaster of King James's Grammar School 1952-1974, to benefit pupils at the school and young people in the village of Almondbury.