Marsden, Lancashire

Description
Marsden, a village and an ecclesiastical parish in Almond-bury and Huddersfield parishes, in the W. B. Yorkshire. The village stands on the river Colne, adjacent to the Manchester and Huddersfield Canal and to the Manchester and Leeds railway, under the backbone of England, 4 3/4 miles E of the boundary with Lancashire, and 7 1/2 SW by S of Hnddersfield; is a large place, and has a station on the railway, a post, money order, and telegraph office under Huddersfield, and fairs on 25 April, 10 July, and 25 Sept. The ecclesiastical parish comprises the townships of Marsden- in-Almondbury, with an area of 5133 acres, and Marsden-in-Huddersfield, with an area of 3512 acres; population, 3010 and 845 respectively. A great part of the land is uncultivated moor and mountain. A railway tunnel, no less than 3 miles 61 yards long, begins a little W of the village ; and a tunnel for the canal adjoins it. A third tunnel, with a double line of rails, has recently been constructed. There are a cotton factory, a silk factory, several woollen mills, an extensive iron foundry, and a large corn mill. The townships adopted the Local Government Act in 1860 and 1862, and in 1884 the boards were consolidated, and the district is now governed by one board of twelve members. A mechanics' hall, connected with a mechanics' institution dating from 1841, was erected in 1861 at a cost of £2500, is in the Italian style, and will hold 1000 persons. Mr W. Horsfall of Marsden, in consequence of having introduced improved machinery, was shot in 1812 by the Luddites. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Wakefield; net value, £187 with residence. Patron, the Vicar of Almondbury. The old church is a plain, ancient, stone building; comprises aisles and chancel, with a belfry. A new church was built in 1867, and is in the Geometric Middle Pointed style. Another church was built in 1894-95. There are Congregational and Wesleyan chapels, a Liberal Club erected in 1874, two banks, national schools, and a town school. The Congregational chapel was rebuilt about 1860, and is in the Pointed style.