Meltham, West Yorkshire

Coordinates: 53°35′31″N 1°51′00″W / 53.592°N 1.850°W / 53.592; -1.850

Meltham is a small town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Holme Valley, below Wessenden Moor, four and a half miles south-west of Huddersfield on the edge of the Peak District National Park. It had a population of 8,089 at the 2001 census, which was estimated to have increased to 8,600 by 2005.

Geography

The valley has been inhabited since pre-historic times and there are two Iron Age sites overlooking the town. Meltham also includes the small village of Helme which has its own school and church. Meltham is situated within close reach of several major cities. Bradford is 14 miles to the north, Leeds is 19 miles north-east, Manchester is 19 miles to the south-west and Sheffield is 21 miles to the south-east.

Surrounding villages within the Kirklees area include Crosland Moor, Golcar, Honley, Holmfirth, Linthwaite, Marsden, Netherton and Slaithwaite.