Guiseley | |
---|---|
A view of Guiseley from the tower of St Oswald's church |
|
Guiseley shown within West Yorkshire | |
Population | 22,347 (ward Guiseley and Rawdon. 2011) |
OS grid reference | SE193422 |
• London | 175 mi (282 km) S |
Metropolitan borough | |
Metropolitan county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | LEEDS |
Postcode district | LS20 |
Dialling code | 01943 |
Police | West Yorkshire |
Fire | West Yorkshire |
Ambulance | Yorkshire |
EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
UK Parliament | |
Guiseley (/ˈɡaɪzlɪ/) is a small town in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is situated south of Otley and Menston, is now a suburb of north west Leeds. At the 2001 census, Guiseley together with Rawdon had a population of over 21,000, increasing to 22,347 at the 2011 Census. The A65, which passes through the town, is the main shopping street. Guiseley railway station has regular train services into Leeds, Bradford and Ilkley on the Wharfedale Line. Guiseley is also served by Menston to the north and Baildon to the south.
Guiseley's name is of Saxon origin. The settlement predates the Domesday Book, in which it is listed as "Gisele." Much of the Aire valley was once wooded, and "ley" means a clearing in the woodland.
Guiseley's church dedicated to St Oswald was the centre of a large parish that included many surrounding villages. It was used by generations of the Longfellow family. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 5th great-grandfather left here for the New World in the 17th century. The rector of St Oswald's for several decades was Rev. Robert More (died in 1642), the father-in-law of the English explorer, Captain Christopher Levett.Patrick Brontë and Maria Branwell were married at St Oswald's and became the parents of six children, including Anne, Charlotte and Emily Brontë.