Altofts

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Altofts is a village near Normanton, West Yorkshire, England. The village is usually quiet, having a mixed population of young and old. There are four pubs, two Working Men's Clubs, a handful of small shops, one post office and a few farms. Lower Altofts is the area at the lower end of the village. It had the longest unbroken row of terraced houses in Europe, named Silkstone Row, until 1974, when it was demolished. Many people in Altofts still call the "one stop" shop The Spar.^[1] There are now just two shorter rows of terraced houses in Lower Altofts on Pope Street. Many people in the village previously worked in the local coal mines, the largest ones in the village being Pope and Pearsons. Nowadays, people are either employed in neighbouring towns and cities, or on the Europort 'Tuscany Park' Industrial Estate which has been developed over recent decades.

The most famous person to come from Altofts was Martin Frobisher, the Elizabethan sea captain and adventurer, credited with the discovery of Frobisher Bay in Canada.^[2] John Freeston lived in Altofts for most of his life. The amateur football team, several pubs and clubs, some large playing fields, and the churches are at the centre of the small community.

Contents 1 Churches 2 Altofts Sport 3 Brickworks 4 Schools 5 References

[edit] Churches

There are three churches. Altofts Methodist Church (www.altoftsmethodist.org.uk), opened in 1990, was built when the three Methodist congregations from Lower Altofts, Lock Lane and Upper Altofts joined together. The church is located on Church Road near the Robin Hood Pub.^[3] The Church of St Mary Magdalene is the Anglican Parish Church for the village, and is Anglo-Catholic in style. The Hebron is an independent church, also located on Church Road.

[edit] Altofts Sport

In Altofts, there is a Premier Cricket Club, which plays in the Premier division of CYCL.The Club, which plays at Lock Lane last year narrowly avoided relegation. Lock Lane boasts a sports club, cricket, football and bowls clubs. The cricket pitches at Altofts are highly commended, and are regularly the best batting tracks in the Central Yorkshire Cricket League.^[4]

[edit] Brickworks

Normanton Brick Co Ltd, Altofts Brickworks, moved to its present Greenfield Road site from Wakefield Road in the late 1990s. It still runs under Thomas Kirk's great grandsons to this day.^[5] The brickworks sells bricks locally but has over the years sent them to various other areas from Scotland to London. It still operates successfully under the directors George and Peter Kirk.

[edit] Schools

• Altofts Lee Brigg Infants School.
• Altofts Junior school. Recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.
• Martin Frobisher Infants School.

Coordinates: 53°42′N 1°26′W / 53.7°N 1.433°W / 53.7; -1.433

[edit] References

1. ^ "www.wakefield.gov.uk: Silkstone Buildings, Lower Altofts.". www.wakefield.gov.uk. http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/HistoricWakefield/Mining/mine6.htm. Retrieved on 2009-01-17. 
2. ^ "Martin Frobisher". www.nytimes.com. http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/m/mcdermott-01martin.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-17. 
3. ^ "Altofts Methodist Church: About Us". www.altoftsmethodist.org.uk. http://www.altoftsmethodist.org.uk/about_us/about_us.htm. Retrieved on 2009-01-17. 
4. ^ "Altofts CC - Play-Cricket - About Us". altofts.play-cricket.com. http://altofts.play-cricket.com/home/aboutUs.asp. Retrieved on 2009-01-17. 
5. ^ "Normanton Brick Co Ltd". www.applegate.co.uk. http://www.applegate.co.uk/company/14/79/729.htm. Retrieved on 2009-01-17.