The lovely Huddersfield ex-pit village which lost its heart when ‘buzzing’ pubs shut but locals still say they are lucky

Mollie Fountain remembers when Clayton West had a colliery, a lot of shops, and some very busy pubs where everyone knew one another.

The former mill worker, 79, can point out former Clayton West pubs such as the Commercial and the Shoulder of Mutton that have long since been converted into homes or flats.

“There’s nowt going off really, the pubs have all shut down,” says Mollie. The fish shop went the same way as the butchers and now people do their shopping in Wakefield, even if they still identify with Huddersfield as the ‘local town’.

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Today there’s still Clayton Village Stores, and two pubs – the Woodman Inn and the Junction – but the former ‘heart’ of the village isn’t anything like it was, says Mollie. “It is a lot quieter since lockdown – folks have got used to stopping in.”

Mollie once lived in the house below the Commercial pub and says this suited her. “It was alright ‘cos I was a boozer,” she jokes. “It was handy.”

There are still ex-miners in the village who remember the Park Mill coal mine, which closed in 1989 and once employed hundreds of workers. A road called Colliers Way and a pit stack – now a wildlife haven – are reminders of the past.

John Kavanagh, who moved to Clayton West from Leeds around 35 years ago, clearly remembers his first encounters with locals back in the 1980s.

“It was insular – a proper mining community. People ignored me. It was 15 years before someone said ‘good morning’ to me.”

Back then, the pubs were ‘buzzing’. “The Shoulder (of Mutton) was as noisy as chuff. I used to go in the Junction and it was buzzing.”

John says lots of new people have moved into Clayton West from other parts of Yorkshire and not everyone is up for chatting to their neighbours.

“You have to work hard at it. Young people move in and are standoffish but in a different way.”

Mum-of-three Samantha described the village school as ‘brilliant’ because of the smaller class sizes. She’s trying hard to buy a house locally but says the prices are high compared with places such as Emley and Flockton.

“It’s a lovely little village. But there doesn’t seem to be many three-bed houses up for sale. They are going for stupid prices. The village is quiet and you are not in the middle of a city.”

Wendy Ewart, who owns Wendy’s Kitchen in High Street, said the village had changed a lot.

“I have lived happily in Clayton West with my family for over 30 years. It is a quiet and friendly village, which has changed over the years; pubs have shut and turned into housing, shops have closed, however, we have never been short of hairdressers!

“We are so lucky to have lots of countryside walks on our doorstep. Two years ago I opened Wendy’s Kitchen, a small cafe selling my homemade cakes and light lunches. I have a number of regular customers who are more like friends! It is often said that Wendy’s Kitchen was just what the village needed.”

Just to confuse matters, the village has two Wendy’s cafes – they are not related – with the other one just off Wakefield Road, called Wendy’s Sandwich Shop.

Brenda Sharpe, 80, said Scissett Club in Wakefield Road was also the place to go. “I used to love going to Scissett Club for bingo and if they had a ‘turn’ on – a singer.”

Brenda identifies more with Barnsley (seven miles away) than with Huddersfield (nine miles away).

“I do identify with Barnsley. I came here when I was 21 (from Barnsley). Clayton West is still a nice area. We are in the middle of all three – Wakefield, Huddersfield and Barnsley. You can choose to go anywhere. I choose Barnsley.”

For nature lovers, there is plenty to explore, from the River Dearne and the area around Clayton West Packhorse Bridge where you might spot a kingfisher. If you venture on Kaye’s Millennium Green do watch out for the grazing cows.

Beyond Colliers Way, visitors will find the old pit stack which has now been turned into a wildlife reserve.

Karen Richie, who moved to Clayton West from Oxford with her husband five years ago, is very fond of the village: “I absolutely love it. The people are so friendly and everybody knows everybody.”

She says the village has a great community vibe. She is a member of the Women’s Institute and the local choir, Clayton West Chorus.

“Moving here was the best decision we have made.”

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