Ripponden

West Yorkshire

Ripponden is a village in the Calderdale metropolitan district of West Yorkshire.

The village is in the valley of the River Ryburn 3 miles south-south-west of Sowerby Bridge, 5 miles south-west of Halifax and 7 miles west-north-west of Huddersfield.

A charming heritage village, Ripponden has dozens of listed buildings, among them the rebuilt Ripponden Old Bridge beside which is The Old Bridge Inn where behind an exterior from the mid-1700s there are even older interior features and a history dating back to 1307.

Also next to the old bridge is St Bartholemew's Church. Dating from 1868, which it is the fourth to be built on the site since 1464.

Village features

The village is on the River Ryburn

Ripponden has local traders and a supermarket. Ripponden offers crafts, flowers, furnishings, gifts, jewellery and other goods.

The village has a sub-Post Office.

The village has pubs and a social club.

Ripponden has a selection of places to eat.

Takeaway food outlets in the village include fish and chips, sandwiches.

Ripponden has a filling station.

The village has a library - Closed but may be reopened by Parish Council 2022-3.

Ripponden has a school.

Places of worship: Anglican, Methodist.

Ripponden has an old parish church.

The village has a historic bridge and inn.

Travel

Bus travel

The village has buses to neighbouring towns and villages.

Road travel

Ripponden can be reached via the A58 A672 B6133

Places to Visit

Shibden Hall

Shibden HallShibden Hall Road, Halifax
The hall, dating from 1420, is located alongside Shibden Park, which was formed from its estate. Exploring the house reveals a variety of architecture from the various periods of its history and an insight into the people who lived there over the years. One of those was Anne Lister, whose diaries in the early 18th century were the inspiration of the recent BBC period drama series "Gentleman Jack", written by Sally Wainwright. Much of the series was filmed in the real-life location at Shibden Hall. The house also has a 17th century barn housing a carriage collection. Shibden Hall is managed by Calderdale Council museums.
For more information see the

Calderdale Museums - Shibden Hall web page.
Locate on map:

Shibden Hall

Hardcastle Crags

off Midgehole Road, Hebden Bridge
Hardcastle Crags is a delightful wooded valley about 2 miles north of Hebden Bridge with beautiful streams and more than 15 miles of footpaths. A visitor centre, cafe and shop is based in Gibson Mill, a former textile mill built around 1800, in the heart of the valley. The centre gets its power entirely from water turbines, solar panels and a biomass boiler, has a filtered spring water supply and recycles all waste. Hardcastle Crags is managed by the National Trust.
Find out more at the

National Trust - Hardcastle Crags website.

Eureka! The National Children's Museum

Discovery Road, Halifax
This modern museum near to Halifax railway station is full of interactive exhibits in themed galleries aimed at inspiring younger children to learn.
More information at

Eureka! website.

Wainhouse Tower

Wakefield Gate, off Skircoat Moor Road, King Cross
This facscinatingly ornate 77 metre (253 foot) tower overlooks the Calder Valley in the King Cross area of Halifax, 1.5 miles south-west of the centre. Although many legendary tales have developed about its construction, it was started as an elaborate mill chimney but finished as a folly. On bank holidays it is open to vistors, who can pay a small fee to climb its internal spiral staircase.
Locate on map:

Wainhouse Tower

Emergency services

West Yorkshire Police

West Yorkshire Police website.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service website.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust website.

Local government

Civil parish council

Ripponden Parish Council
Provides some local services in the area.
Link to council website:

Ripponden Parish Council

Metropolitan district council

Calderdale Council

Calderdale Council is centred in Halifax and also covers many other towns and villages, principally along the upper Calder Valley, including Brighouse, Elland, Hebden Bridge, Ripponden, Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden.

Part of the district includes seven civil parish councils, four of which are small single ward councils.

Calderdale has 51 elected councillors, 3 per ward across 17 wards. Each councillor serves a 4-year term with one councillor per ward elected each year in 3 out of 4 years.

Link to Calderdale Council website.

Political composition after May 2024 election is:

29116311 W
51 members
W = Workers Party

See our Yorkshire.guide Gazetteer for more about the

Calderdale metropolitan district and places within it.

County strategic authority

West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Covers some combined services of the five metropolitan district councils of West Yorkshire - Bradford, Calderdale, Leeds, Kirklees and Wakefield — which were at one time provided by a West Yorkshire metropolitan county council, with the addition of the non-contiguous unitary authority area of the City of York council as well as the unelected Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership. Since 2021 it has operated with an elected mayor as chairman and decision-maker for some responsibilities. These include transport, housing and planning and finance powers. The responsibilities also include those of Police and Crime Commissioner, a role substantially delegated to an appointee deputy mayor.

Elected mayor: ❚ Tracy Brabin Labour & Cooperative

West Yorkshire Combined Authority website.

Police and Crime Commissioner

The Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire
This role has become one of the many responsibilities of the West Yorkshire elected mayor since May 2021.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority website.

Fire Authority

West Yorkshire Fire Authority
The fire authority is made up of elected members of each of the five metropolitan district councils of West Yorkshire - Bradford, Calderdale, Leeds, Kirklees and Wakefield.

West Yorkshire Fire Authority web pages.

Parliamentary constituency

Calder Valley
Elected MP: ❚ Josh Fenton-Glynn Labour

National government region

Yorkshire and the Humber

Ceremonial county

West Yorkshire

Historic

-1974 Within the West Riding of Yorkshire

Also in Yorkshire.guide

New Places to visit Gazetteer