Clayton West is a village in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. It had a population of 2,648 (2001 census) and 2,704 in 2008. It is 9 miles (14 km) southeast of Huddersfield and 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Barnsley.
It is in the parish of Clayton West and High Hoyland. An attractive stone-built village, there is also a little light industry and a number of new housing developments.
Facilities in the village include a village store, four pubs and a school called Kayes First School.
It also has a Scout Group which offers access to a number of outdoor activities including archery, target shooting, kayaking and much more.
Clayton West is located between the villages of High Hoyland, Scissett and Skelmanthorpe.
The river that runs though the village is called the River Dearne and was part of the 2007 United Kingdom floods.
The village coal mine (pit), "Park Mill", closed in 1989, having been somewhat bypassed by the events of the strike.
The village used to have a railway station on a branch of the Penistone Line. However the station along with Skelmanthorpe was closed in 1983. The Kirklees Light Railway now operates trains from the former station.
Clayton West is the home town of up-and-coming young rugby star Andy Forsyth, who plays for Leicester Tigers and has represented England at Under 18 and Under 16 level.
Clayton West was occasionally used as a location for Britain's longest running comedy series Last of the Summer Wine, in which one of the village's four pubs, "The Shoulder of Mutton" in Church Lane, features prominently. The village lost its post office in 2010.
Famous quotes containing the words clayton and/or west:
“Science is science, but a girl must get her hair done.”
—Robert M. Fresco. Jack Arnold. Stephanie “Steve” Clayton (Mara Corday)
“I cannot think that espionage can be recommended as a technique for building an impressive civilisation. It’s a lout’s game.”
—Rebecca West (1892–1983)