Walking trail reveals Birkby’s vibrant past

A guided trail around Birkby, outlining a rich and varied history dating from medieval times to the present day, has been produced by the Discover Huddersfield partnership.

It features a range of important buildings from the 16th century Bay Hall to St John’s Church, designed by one of England’s most celebrated architects, William Butterfield.

The trail, which also takes in sites associated with some of Huddersfield’s most celebrated industries including Hopkinsons and Ben Shaws, explores how Birkby grew from a small hamlet to a thriving suburb with all the amenities of a small town.

Written by Kirklees library staff and local residents, Lorna Brooks and Frank Grombir, the trail is one of 16 available free of charge from local information points and libraries, produced by the partnership.

A guided walk, based on the trail and lasting 1.5 – 2 hours,  is scheduled to start from St John’s Church at 2.30pm on Sunday, October 27 with a charge of £3 per person. No booking is required.

Details of other trails and the 2019 programme of Discover Huddersfield walks can be obtained here. Please click below to see the Birkby trail.