Dewsbury factfile

How to get to Dewsbury
Dewsbury lies on the River Calder, just west of Wakefield. You can reach the town from the M1 and M62 motorways or by TransPennine Express train on the Huddersfield Line.

Dewsbury through the ages
The town has a long and illustrious religious history. Legend has it that in 627, St Paulinus, the first Bishop of York, preached here. Numerous Saxon graves have been found in the area and John Wesley visited the area many times in the 18th century.

Dewsbury is the largest town in West Yorkshire's "Heavy Woollen District", centred around cloth manufacturing. Its popular market was established in the 14th century for local clothiers. By the time of the industrial revolution, Dewsbury was a flourishing centre for the "shoddy" (recycled cloth) trade.

Famous people from Dewsbury
Notable natives include Andrew Morton, the biographer of Diana, Princess of Wales, writer Tim Fountain and Former Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd. Wallace Hartley, heroic bandmaster on the fated RMS Titanic, called Dewsbury home at the time of his tragic death in 1912. A blue plaque marks the house in which he lived.

How Dewsbury got its name
The town is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Deusberia". The most common explanation for its meaning is "fortified place by a stream", from the Old English "deaw" (stream) and "burg" (fort).

Things to see and do around Dewsbury
Dewsbury Market is a must-see for visitors. It's the largest open market in Yorkshire, with up to 300 stalls to browse.

The area Dewsbury is in is often referred to as "Bronte Country". The Reverend Patrick Bront?, father of Anne, Charlotte and Emily, was rector of the parish church. In Charlotte Bront?'s novel Shirley, Dewsbury features as Whinbury. Several buildings associated with the literary family still remain, including Roe Head School, where Charlotte, Emily and Anne were pupils.

Famous landmarks in Dewsbury
Dewsbury Minster (Church) dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, when St Paulinus is said to have visited. The church has a heritage centre, exhibitions and medieval stained glass. It houses the "Devil's Knell", a bell rung each Christmas Eve in a tradition dating back to the 15th century. It was donated by one Sir Thomas de Soothill in penance for murdering a servant boy in a fit of rage.

Entertainment in Dewsbury
Crow Nest Park has stunning landscape gardens. Dewsbury Museum is housed in Crow Nest Mansion, providing family-friendly fun including a Growing up in Dewsbury exhibition.