Population 7,623 Metropolitan borough City of Wakefield Sovereign state United Kingdom Metropolitan county West Yorkshire | OS grid reference SE330240 Country England Local time Tuesday 3:07 PM | |
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Region Yorkshire and the Humber Weather 12°C, Wind S at 11 km/h, 71% Humidity | ||
Outwood is a district to the north of Wakefield, a city in West Yorkshire, England. The district is centred on the A61 Leeds Road south of Lofthouse. It was originally a small pit village, but there has been so much new housing in the last twenty years that the old village is now only a minority of the district. In 2001, it has a population of 7,623.
Contents
Map of Outwood, Wakefield, UK
History
Outwood was the site of a pit disaster on 4 March 1879, when 21 people were killed in an explosion at Deep Drop Colliery.
In 1905, the miners left homeless by the Kinsley evictions camped at Outwood Hall Farm, off Victoria Street, until they were able to return to their homes in Kinsley.
The area near the railway station was once the site of Lofthouse pit, that is known for the disaster in March 1973 that claimed the lives of several miners. The coal mine closed in 1981, and many of the coal miners subsequently took transfers to the new Selby Coalfield and left the village. The site of the mine is now a golf course and housing estate.
The Wakefield 41 Industrial Estate is also situated near to Outwood
Outwood Community Video has a selection of historical photos
St Mary Magdelene,the parish church was dedicated in 1858
Transport
Outwood railway station is an unmanned station, served by Northern Rail, offering rail services towards Leeds, Wakefield, Doncaster and Sheffield. The A61 (Leeds Road) runs through the middle of Outwood, connecting towards Leeds to the north and Wakefield to the south. Junction 41 of the M1 is also close-by.
Education
Outwood is home to Outwood Grange Academy, one of the largest secondary schools in the UK with over 2000 students. The local primary schools are Ledger Lane Junior & Infant School (headteacher Mrs Clayton)and Rooks Nest Primary School.
Sport and recreation
Outwood is home to one park. Outwood Park has facilities for football, 5 a side, crown green bowling and a children's play area. Outwood is also home to two other playing fields and another play area. Local teams include Nightingale Football Club and Outwood Rangers Junior Football Club.
Local agriculture
Outwood is located within the Rhubarb Triangle. Because of its mining history Outwood has good supplies of soot and ash to condition its soil, which provide good conditions for the plant to grow.