# Civil parishes in West Yorkshire

A civil parish is a subnational entity, forming the lowest unit of local government in England. There are 101 civil parishes in the ceremonial county of West Yorkshire, most of the county being unparished. At the 2001 census, there were 557,369 people living in the parishes, accounting for 26.8 per cent of the county's population.

## History

Parishes arose from Church of England divisions, and were originally purely ecclesiastical divisions. Over time they acquired civil administration powers.
The Highways Act 1555 made parishes responsible for the upkeep of roads. Every adult inhabitant of the parish was obliged to work four days a year on the roads, providing their own tools, carts and horses; the work was overseen by an unpaid local appointee, the Surveyor of Highways.
The poor were looked after by the monasteries, until their dissolution. In 1572, magistrates were given power to 'survey the poor' and impose taxes for their relief. This system was made more formal by the Poor Law Act 1601, which made parishes responsible for administering the Poor Law; overseers were appointed to charge a rate to support the poor of the parish. The 19th century saw an increase in the responsibility of parishes, although the Poor Law powers were transferred to poor law unions. The Public Health Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict. c. 79) grouped parishes into rural sanitary districts, based on the poor law unions; these subsequently formed the basis for rural districts.
Parishes were run by vestries, meeting annually to appoint officials, and were generally identical to ecclesiastical parishes, although some townships in large parishes administered the Poor Law themselves; under the Divided Parishes and Poor Law Amendment Act 1882, all extra-parochial areas and townships that levied a separate rate became independent civil parishes.
Civil parishes in their modern sense date from the Local Government Act 1894 (56 & 57 Vict. c. 73), which abolished vestries; established elected parish councils in all rural parishes with more than 300 electors; grouped rural parishes into rural districts; and aligned parish boundaries with county and borough boundaries. Urban civil parishes continued to exist, and were generally coterminous with the urban district, municipal borough or county borough in which they were situated; many large towns contained a number of parishes, and these were usually merged into one. Parish councils were not formed in urban areas, and the only function of the parish was to elect guardians to poor law unions; with the abolition of the Poor Law system in 1930 the parishes had only a nominal existence.
The Local Government Act 1972 retained civil parishes in rural areas, and many former urban districts and municipal boroughs that were being abolished, were replaced by new successor parishes; urban areas that were considered too large to be single parishes became unparished areas.

## The current position

Recent governments have encouraged the formation of town and parish councils in unparished areas, and the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 gave local residents the right to demand the creation of a new civil parish.
A parish council can become a town council unilaterally, simply by resolution; and a civil parish can also gain city status, but only if that is granted by the Crown. The chairman of a town or city council is called a mayor. The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 introduced alternative names: a parish council can now choose to be called a community; village; or neighbourhood council.

## List of civil parishes and unparished areas

| Name | Status | Population | District | Former local authority | Refs |
| Addingham | Civil parish | 3,599 | Bradford | Skipton Rural District | [12] [13] |
| Baildon | Civil parish | 16,363 | Bradford | Baildon Urban District | [14] [15] [16] |
| Bingley | Town | 15,883 | Bradford | Bingley Urban District | [17] [18] |
| Bradford | Unparished area | 248,037 | Bradford | Bradford County Borough | [19] [20] |
| Burley | Civil parish | 6,755 | Bradford | Ilkley Urban District | [21] [22] [23] |
| Clayton | Civil parish | 8,270 | Bradford | Bradford County Borough | [19] [24] [25] |
| Cross Roads | Civil parish | | Bradford | Keighley Municipal Borough | [26] [13] |
| Cullingworth | Civil parish | 2,759 | Bradford | Bingley Urban District | [17] [13] |
| Denholme | Town | 2,976 | Bradford | Denholme Urban District | [27] [13] |
| Harden | Civil parish | 1,915 | Bradford | Bingley Urban District | [17] [28] [16] |
| Haworth and Stanbury | Civil parish | | Bradford | Keighley Municipal Borough | [26] [13] |
| Ilkley | Civil parish | 13,828 | Bradford | Ilkley Urban District | [21] [29] |
| Keighley | Town | 51,429 | Bradford | Keighley Municipal Borough | [26] [13] [16] |
| Menston | Civil parish | 4,371 | Bradford | Ilkley Urban District | [21] [22] [23] |
| Oxenhope | Civil parish | 2,476 | Bradford | Keighley Municipal Borough | [26] [13] |
| Queensbury | Unparished area | 9,702 | Bradford | Queensbury and Shelf Urban District | [30] [31] |
| Sandy Lane | Civil parish | 2,399 | Bradford | Bradford County Borough | [19] [32] [25] |
| Shipley | Town | 24,741 | Bradford | Shipley Urban District | [33] [34][35] |
| Silsden | Town | 7,999 | Bradford | Silsden Urban District | [36] [13] |
| Steeton with Eastburn | Civil parish | 4,277 | Bradford | Skipton Rural District | [12] [13] |
| Trident | Community | 17,184 | Bradford | Bradford County Borough | [19] [37] [38] |
| Wilsden | Civil parish | 4,312 | Bradford | Bingley Urban District | [17] [39] [25] |
| Wrose | Civil parish | 6,729 | Bradford | Shipley Urban District | [40] [25] |
| Blackshaw | Civil parish | 935 | Calderdale | Hepton Rural District | [41] [42] |
| Brighouse | Unparished area | 36,219 | Calderdale | Brighouse Municipal Borough | [43] [44] |
| Elland | Unparished area | 19,763 | Calderdale | Elland Urban District | [45] [46] |
| Erringden | Civil parish | 194 | Calderdale | Hepton Rural District | [41] [42] |
| Halifax | Unparished area | 76,870 | Calderdale | Halifax County Borough | [47] [48] |
| Hebden Royd | Town | 9,092 | Calderdale | Hebden Royd Urban District | [49] [42] |
| Heptonstall | Civil parish | 1,448 | Calderdale | Hepton Rural District | [41] [42] |
| Ripponden | Civil parish | 6,412 | Calderdale | Ripponden Urban District | [50] [42] |
| Shelf | Unparished area | 4,821 | Calderdale | Queensbury and Shelf Urban District | [30] [51] |
| Sowerby Bridge | Unparished area | 20,254 | Calderdale | Sowerby Bridge Urban District | [52] [53] |
| Stainland and District | Civil parish | 3,178 | Calderdale | Elland Urban District | [54] [55] |
| Todmorden | Town | 14,941 | Calderdale | Todmorden Municipal Borough | [56] [42] |
| Wadsworth | Civil parish | 1,456 | Calderdale | Hepton Rural District | [41] [42] |
| Batley | Unparished area | 47,083 | Kirklees | Batley Municipal Borough | [57] [58] |
| Colne Valley | Unparished area | 22,765 | Kirklees | Colne Valley Urban District | [59] [60] |
| Denby Dale | Civil parish | 14,982 | Kirklees | Denby Dale Urban District | [61] [62] |
| Dewsbury | Unparished area | 51,077 | Kirklees | Dewsbury County Borough | [63] [64] |
| Heckmondwike | Unparished area | 10,651 | Kirklees | Heckmondwike Urban District | [65] [66] |
| Holme Valley | Civil parish | 25,049 | Kirklees | Holmfirth Urban District | [67] [62] |
| Huddersfield | Unparished area | 121,140 | Kirklees | Huddersfield County Borough | [68] [69] |
| Kirkburton | Civil parish | 23,986 | Kirklees | Kirkburton Urban District | [70] [62] |
| Meltham | Town | 8,089 | Kirklees | Meltham Urban District | [71] [62] |
| Mirfield | Town | 18,621 | Kirklees | Mirfield Urban District | [72] [62] |
| Spenborough | Unparished area | 45,124 | Kirklees | Spenborough Municipal Borough | [73] [74] |
| Aberford | Civil parish | 1,059 | Leeds | Tadcaster Rural District | [75] [76] |
| Aireborough | Unparished area | 25,909 (excluding Rawdon) | Leeds | Aireborough Urban District | [77] [78] |
| Allerton Bywater | Civil parish | 3,948 | Leeds | Garforth Urban District | [79] [76] |
| Alwoodley | Civil parish | 9,129 | Leeds | Leeds County Borough | [80] [81] [82] |
| Ardsley East and West | Unparished area | 15,458 | Leeds | Morley Municipal Borough | [83] [84] |
| Arthington | Civil parish | 561 | Leeds | Wharfedale Rural District | [85] [76] |
| Austhorpe | Civil parish | 65 | Leeds | Tadcaster Rural District | [75] [76] |
| Bardsey cum Rigton | Civil parish | 2,385 | Leeds | Wetherby Rural District | [86] [76] |
| Barwick in Elmet and Scholes | Civil parish | 5,120 | Leeds | Tadcaster Rural District | [75] [76] |
| Boston Spa | Civil parish | 4,006 | Leeds | Wetherby Rural District | [86] [76] |
| Bramham cum Oglethorpe | Civil parish | 1,715 | Leeds | Wetherby Rural District | [86] [76] |
| Bramhope | Civil parish | 3,400 | Leeds | Wharfedale Rural District | [85] [76] |
| Carlton | Civil parish | 169 | Leeds | Wharfedale Rural District | [85] [76] |
| Clifford | Civil parish | 1,641 | Leeds | Wetherby Rural District | [86] [76] |
| Collingham | Civil parish | 2,967 | Leeds | Wetherby Rural District | [86] [76] |
| Drighlington | Civil parish | 5,147 | Leeds | Morley Municipal Borough | [83] [87] [88] |
| East Keswick | Civil parish | 1,224 | Leeds | Wetherby Rural District | [86] [76] |
| Garforth | Unparished area | 15,128 | Leeds | Garforth Urban District | [79] [89] |
| Gildersome | Civil parish | 5,708 | Leeds | Morley Municipal Borough | [83] [87] [88] |
| Great and Little Preston | Civil parish | 1,449 | Leeds | Tadcaster Rural District | [75] [76] |
| Harewood | Civil parish | 3,854 | Leeds | Wetherby Rural District | [86] [76] |
| Horsforth | Town | 18,928 | Leeds | Horsforth Urban District | [90] [76] |
| Kippax | Civil parish | 10,120 | Leeds | Garforth Urban District | [79] [87] [91] |
| Ledsham | Civil parish | 162 | Leeds | Tadcaster Rural District | [75] [76] |
| Ledston | Unparished area | 400 | Leeds | Tadcaster Rural District | [75] [76][92] |
| Leeds | Unparished area | 425,093 | Leeds | Leeds County Borough | [80] [93] |
| Lotherton cum Aberford | Civil parish | 230 | Leeds | Tadcaster Rural District | [75] [76] |
| Micklefield | Civil parish | 1,852 | Leeds | Tadcaster Rural District | [75] [76] |
| Morley | Town | 27,738 | Leeds | Morley Municipal Borough | [83] [76] |
| Otley | Town | 14,124 | Leeds | Otley Urban District | [94] [76] |
| Parlington | Civil parish | 87 | Leeds | Tadcaster Rural District | [75] [76] |
| Pool | Civil parish | 1,785 | Leeds | Wharfedale Rural District | [85] [76] |
| Pudsey | Unparished area | 45,013 | Leeds | Pudsey Municipal Borough | [95] [96] |
| Rawdon | Civil parish | 6,461 | Leeds | Aireborough Urban District | [77] [78][97][98] |
| Rothwell | Unparished area | 32,365 | Leeds | Rothwell Urban District | [99] [100] |
| Scarcroft | Civil parish | 1,153 | Leeds | Wetherby Rural District | [86] [76] |
| Shadwell | Civil parish | 1,864 | Leeds | Leeds County Borough | [80] [76] |
| Sturton Grange | Civil parish | 417 | Leeds | Tadcaster Rural District | [75] [76] |
| Swillington | Civil parish | 3,530 | Leeds | Tadcaster Rural District | [75] [76] |
| Thorner | Civil parish | 1,503 | Leeds | Wetherby Rural District | [86] [76] |
| Thorp Arch | Civil parish | 1,123 | Leeds | Wetherby Rural District | [86] [76] |
| Walton | Civil parish | 217 | Leeds | Wetherby Rural District | [86] [76] |
| Wetherby | Town | 11,155 | Leeds | Wetherby Rural District | [86] [76] |
| Wothersome | Civil parish | 40 | Leeds | Wetherby Rural District | [86] [76] |
| Ackworth | Civil parish | 6,493 | Wakefield | Hemsworth Rural District | [101] [102] |
| Badsworth | Civil parish | 583 | Wakefield | Hemsworth Rural District | [101] [102] |
| Castleford | Unparished area | 37,302 | Wakefield | Castleford Municipal Borough | [103] [104] |
| Chevet | Civil parish | 66 | Wakefield | Wakefield Rural District | [105] [102] |
| Crigglestone | Civil parish | 9,189 | Wakefield | Wakefield Rural District | [105] [102] |
| Crofton | Civil parish | 5,978 | Wakefield | Wakefield Rural District | [105] [102] |
| Darrington | Civil parish | 1,308 | Wakefield | Osgoldcross Rural District | [106] [102] |
| East Hardwick | Civil parish | 191 | Wakefield | Osgoldcross Rural District | [106] [102] |
| Featherstone | Town | 14,175 | Wakefield | Featherstone Urban District | [107] [102] |
| Havercroft with Cold Hiendley | Civil parish | 2,103 | Wakefield | Hemsworth Rural District | [101] [102] |
| Hemsworth | Town | 13,311 | Wakefield | Hemsworth Urban District | [108] [102] |
| Hessle and Hill Top | Civil parish | 97 | Wakefield | Hemsworth Rural District | [101] [102] |
| Horbury | Unparished area | 9,695 | Wakefield | Horbury Urban District | [109] [110] |
| Huntwick with Foulby and Nostell | Civil parish | 90 | Wakefield | Hemsworth Rural District | [101] [102] |
| Knottingley | Unparished area | 13,503 | Wakefield | Knottingley Urban District | [111] [112] |
| Newland with Woodhouse Moor | Civil parish | 0 | Wakefield | Wakefield Rural District | [105] [102] |
| Normanton and Altofts | Town | 19,949 | Wakefield | Normanton Urban District | [114] [102] |
| Notton | Civil parish | 880 | Wakefield | Wakefield Rural District | [105] [102] |
| Ossett | Unparished area | 21,076 | Wakefield | Ossett Municipal Borough | [115] [116] |
| Pontefract | Unparished area | 28,250 | Wakefield | Pontefract Municipal Borough | [117] [118] |
| Ryhill | Civil parish | 2,628 | Wakefield | Hemsworth Rural District | [101] [102] |
| Sharlston | Civil parish | 2,756 | Wakefield | Wakefield Rural District | [105] [102] |
| Sitlington | Civil parish | 5,718 | Wakefield | Wakefield Rural District | [105] [102] |
| South Elmsall | Town | 6,107 | Wakefield | Hemsworth Rural District | [101] [102] |
| South Hiendley | Civil parish | 1,667 | Wakefield | Hemsworth Rural District | [101] [102] |
| South Kirkby and Moorthorpe | Town | 10,979 | Wakefield | Hemsworth Rural District | [101] [102] |
| Stanley | Unparished area | 30,776 | Wakefield | Stanley Urban District | [119] [120] |
| Thorpe Audlin | Civil parish | 659 | Wakefield | Hemsworth Rural District | [101] [102] |
| Upton and North Elmsall | Civil parish | | Wakefield | Hemsworth Rural District | [101] [102] |
| Wakefield | Unparished area | 56,588 | Wakefield | Wakefield County Borough | [121] [122] |
| Walton | Civil parish | 3,377 | Wakefield | Wakefield Rural District | [105] [102] |
| Warmfield cum Heath | Civil parish | 844 | Wakefield | Wakefield Rural District | [105] [102] |
| Wentbridge | Civil parish | | Wakefield | | |
| West Bretton | Civil parish | 546 | Wakefield | Wakefield Rural District | [105] [102] |
| West Hardwick | Civil parish | 29 | Wakefield | Hemsworth Rural District | [101] [102] |
| Wintersett | Unparished area | 50 | Wakefield | Wakefield Rural District | [105] [102] |
| Woolley | Civil parish | 575 | Wakefield | Wakefield Rural District | [105] [102] |