Hartshead. West Yorkshire: Patrick Brontes curacy and the family's early home

Patrick Bronte served as curate of the St. Peters Church in Hartshead between 1811 and 1815, in which time he met his wife, Maria Brandwell  (although they met in Rawdon, some dozen or so miles away from Hartshead). They were married in Guiseley and became the parents of Anne, Branwell, Charlotte and Emily Bronte. Kirtkless Hall is between Hartshead and the nearby village of Clifton Robbin Hood is reputed to have been buried near Hartshead or in the grounds of the nearby Kirklees Hall. The exact place is not known, as the gravestone has been moved at least 3 times. Hartshead was historically a chapter in the parish of Dewbury, becoming a civil parish in 1866. In 1931 the parish had a population of 849. On 1 April 1937 the parish was abolished, with most of the area, including the village, being added to the parish of Liversedge in the urban district of Spenborough (which became a borough in 1955). The remainder was added to Brighthouse. Spenborough Urban District was abolished in 1974 when Kirklees was created