55-661: Holmfirth ( / ˈ h oʊ m f ɜː θ / ) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees , West Yorkshire , England. It is located 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Huddersfield and 14 miles (23 km) west of Barnsley ; the boundary of the Peak District National Park is 2 miles (3.2 km) to the south-west. The town is sited on the A635 and A6024 roads in the Holme Valley , at
110-457: A local rugby team, with their story providing the more comedic elements of the series; Pharoah was a keen rugby fan and thought it added good balance to some of the show's "dark storylines". The story which set the tone for the show was the issue of euthanasia. In the opening episode the lead characters help their patient to die. Originally ITV was not keen on exploring the issue, but changed their stance after reading Pharoah's scripts. The network
165-546: A more sober nature. The printing works on Station Road has now been converted into residential flats. Bamforth's company were early pioneers of film-making, before they abandoned the business in favour of postcards. During the early 1900s Holmfirth was well known for film making; During the periods 1898–1900 and 1913–1915 Bamforth and Co. produced what the British Film Institute describes as 'a modest but historically significant collection of films'. There are
220-531: A number of instances when flooding has occurred in the Holme Valley affecting Holmfirth and other settlements in the valley. The earliest recorded Holmfirth flood was in 1738 and the most recent was 1944. The most severe flood occurred early on the morning of 5 February 1852, when the embankment of the Bilberry Reservoir collapsed causing the deaths of 81 people. Following a severe storm in 1777
275-462: A private house. Other sections of the line further down the valley have been sold off for private housing and the viaduct, crossing the valley from the A616 (New Mill Road), at Brockholes, over Spring Wood, has been demolished. The station was presided over and maintained by a groundskeeper, Cecil Walker, between the years 1850 and 1879, when he retired and maintenance responsibilities were transferred to
330-456: A toilet paper factory in Meltham and decided to incorporate it into the scripts because it dominated the town's employment. He told Deborah and Anthony Hayward , in their book Where The Heart Is , that "I thought it would be good to have that sense of industry. It gave us a workplace for the men that added a completely different angle from the women's nursing storylines." The show also features
385-502: A wide selection of folk music and folk dance acts from around the UK. Performances take place in a variety of indoor and outdoor venues throughout the town. Holmfirth Arts Festival is a multi-arts festival which celebrates Creativity, Ideas, People and Landscape in the Holme Valley. Its ticketed, community engagement, outdoor arts and arts in the landscape programmes take place throughout the year, culminating in an annual four-day festival on
440-452: Is a coeducational secondary school that takes in students from the local primary schools named above as well as students from neighbouring villages and hamlets. The school has over 1,300 pupils, split over five-year groups from years 7 to 11. As of June 2023, the school has an Ofsted rating of "outstanding". Holmfirth's economy is dominated by rural and tourism activities. A 2013 youth survey identified reducing opportunities for young adults in
495-492: Is served by the local newspaper, Huddersfield Daily Examiner . The nearest National Rail station is at Brockholes , 2.2 miles (3.5 km) away from the town centre. Northern Trains operates a regular service along the Penistone Line between Huddersfield , Barnsley and Sheffield . The town was previously served by Holmfirth railway station , which was at the end of a short branch line, which diverged from
550-788: Is surrounded by several hamlets and villages. These neighbouring settlements are often collectively referred to as "Holmfirth" and include:- Austonley , Arrunden, Burnlee, Cinderhills, Cliff, Deanhouse, Netherthong, Gully, Flushhouse, Hade Edge , Thongsbridge , Upperthong and Washpit. Many of these are located on Cartworth Moor. Other villages and hamlets within the Holmfirth post town include:- Brockholes , Fulstone , Jackson Bridge , Hepworth , Holme , Holmbridge , Honley , Meltham , Netherthong , New Mill , Scholes , Totties , Thongsbridge , Upperthong , Longley , Hade Edge , Underbank and Wooldale . Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees Too Many Requests If you report this error to
605-511: The River Holme burst its banks, sweeping away people and property with the loss of three lives; the stone church built in 1476, was also swept away. A storm in 1821 again caused the river to burst its banks. The flooding on the night of 29 May 1944 was not nationally reported and it was then overshadowed by the D-Day landings the following week. Holmfirth (and the surrounding countryside) is
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#1732780821617660-536: The confluence of the River Holme and Ribble . It mostly consists of stone-built cottages nestled on the eastern slopes of the Pennine hills . Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire , Holmfirth was a centre for pioneering film-making by Bamforth & Co. , which later switched to the production of saucy seaside postcards. Between 1973 and 2010, Holmfirth and the Holme Valley became well known as
715-443: The 13th century. Three hundred years later Holmfirth expanded rapidly as the growing cloth trade grew and the production of stone and slates from the surrounding quarries increased. The present parish church was built in 1778 after the church built in 1476 was swept away in a flood the previous year. Dr Albert Lister Peace was the church's organist, at the age of nine, in the early 1850s. In 1850 Holmfirth railway station opened, on
770-591: The Heart Is", was performed by the band Prefab Sprout . Featherstone's inspiration for the series came from a visit to the Colne Valley, where she attended a wedding. Featherstone was intrigued by a close-knit community based in Meltham, particularly the district nurses working in the town. Featherstone had previously worked with Pharoah writing for the BBC television drama Silent Witness . She recalled that he
825-731: The Holme Valley Business Association, campaigned for its demolition. Their campaign was featured in the 2005 Channel 4 documentary, Demolition . The building has since been converted into several smaller shops, including a Sainsbury's Local, with some accommodation on the top floor. Until 1974, the area was administered by Holmfirth Urban District Council which was based at the Council Offices in Huddersfield Road in Holmfirth. Since then, Holmfirth has been administered by Kirklees Council . At
880-740: The Holme Valley Orchestra plays throughout the year. The town is particularly associated with an unusual choral folk song , known as the Holmfirth Anthem . Holmfirth's Film Festival and Festival of Folk are held every May, and its Arts Festival takes place over two weeks in June. The town's cinema, the Picturedrome, which opened in 1912 as the Valley Theatre, is now a live music venue and has been nominated for
935-788: The NME Best Small Venue. It hosts various music events. Acts such as Adam Ant , Bad Manners , Buzzcocks , Evile , Fish , Half Man Half Biscuit , Hawkwind , John Martyn , Ocean Colour Scene , the Red Hot Chilli Pipers , Ron Sexsmith , Saxon , Suzi Quatro and the Beat have performed. Holmfirth Art Week, with its July exhibition in the Civic Hall, raises money for Macmillan Cancer Relief . The Holmfirth Festival of Folk takes place in May of each year, featuring
990-692: The Penistone Line just south of Brockholes . A viaduct took the line across the valley and into Thongsbridge where another station was sited. The line then went along the side of the valley coming to a halt just outside the town centre on Station Road. Plans did exist for the line to be extended up the valley and then tunnel under Black Hill to join the Woodhead line between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield Victoria . The line closed to passengers in 1959, with goods traffic lasting until 1965. Holmfirth's station building and platform still remain as
1045-533: The United Kingdom on 6 April 1997. The show focuses on the lives of a group of district nurses and their families who reside in the town. The show was created after Featherstone visited the Yorkshire town of Meltham . She was intrigued by the tight-knit community, particularly those connected to the local district nursing office. She approached Pharoah with her ideas, and they pitched the show to ITV; after
1100-576: The Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.226 via cp1108 cp1108, Varnish XID 212168104 Upstream caches: cp1108 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 08:00:21 GMT Where the Heart Is (1997 TV series) Where the Heart Is is a British drama television series set in the fictional Yorkshire town of Skelthwaite, created by Ashley Pharoah and Vicky Featherstone . The series first aired on ITV in
1155-429: The area and an intention to leave to find employment. The survey resulted in a successful bid for lottery funding to create new opportunities and training to increase employment opportunities in the area. Tourism economic activity is increasing with several accommodation and tourist pursuits developing in the town including booking software to manage and market accommodation. New holiday accommodation includes that linked to
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#17327808216171210-681: The branch line built by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company. Local men who served and died in the First and Second World Wars are commemorated on the Holme Valley War Memorial found outside Holme Valley Memorial Hospital. Holmfirth was the home of Bamforth & Co Ltd , who were well known for their cheeky seaside postcards – although around the time of the First World War , they produced postcards of
1265-519: The cast in how to perform first aid, apply bandages, and take a patient's blood pressure. Filming began in the British winter of 1996. They soon discovered they had to exclude the use of medical aprons in scenes because they affected on-set lighting. Ferris told Hayward that "we decided to take liberties with that sort of thing", noting it was a drama rather than a factual documentary. Where The Heart Is debuted on ITV on 6 April 1997. The first episode
1320-522: The character that Pharoah had always wanted to create; the teenager keen to move away from a tight-knit community. This characterisation was what initially prompted Featherstone approach Pharoah to create the series. Stephen was portrayed as loath to end up like his father Vic, who had settled for a life time lived in a small community. Jessica Baglow completed the Snow family, playing Peggy and Vic's young daughter Lucy. Other original characters featured in
1375-687: The council. Holmfirth bus station is located in the centre of the town, from which regular services take varying routes around the outlying villages and to Huddersfield's bus and railway stations. Additional routes connect the town with Barnsley , Sheffield , Wakefield , Denby Dale , Penistone , Slaithwaite and Honley . A limited service operates to Glossop in north Derbyshire . Services are operated by First Calderdale & Huddersfield , Stott's Coaches and South Pennine Community Transport. Holmfirth Choral Society hold regular classical choral music concerts in Holmfirth Civic Hall and
1430-417: The decision has been taken in order to create some flexibility for new programme ideas in that 8pm Sunday slot." The show's producer, Ian Hopkins, said he was "sorry" the show had been cancelled and added "I would like to thank you for all your support for the programme over the last 10 years." The series initially focused on the Snow and Goddard family, which was headed by matriarch Peggy Snow. The character
1485-521: The families and friends. Margaret Tiffany, a real-life Meltham district nurse, provided Featherstone with the premise of the show. She was employed as a script advisor and coached the cast and helped the production create an authentic representation of life in the Colne Valley communities. Where The Heart Is initially focuses on five main characters from the Snow and Goddard family. In later series it expanded its focus to additional characters using an ensemble cast format. On 12 October 2006, ITV announced that
1540-586: The fastest growing cycling club in the UK. Holmfirth Harriers is an over one hundred year old running group from the area. Holmfirth Cricket Club plays just out of the centre of town next to the river Holme, there are also many local village football teams, such as the Holme Valley Academicals, playing in the Huddersfield District League . Underbank Rangers , one of the most famous amateur Rugby League clubs are based in
1595-477: The filming location of the BBC 's situation comedy Last of the Summer Wine . In 2023, the filming location of Sid's Cafe in the town centre was preserved. The name Holmfirth derives from Old English holegn ('holly'), in the name of Holme, West Yorkshire , compounded with Middle English frith ('wood'). It thus meant 'the woods at Holme'. The town originally grew up around a corn mill and bridge in
1650-443: The lowest tier the local parish council is Holme Valley Parish Council . Holmfirth's only primary school is Holmfirth Junior, Infant, and Nursery School located on Cartworth Road; however, there are many other primary schools in villages and hamlets closely surrounding Holmfirth. In 2017, 82% of the school's student were achieving the expected standard for their age and 12% were exceeding the expected standard. Holmfirth High School
1705-483: The network ordered production of the first series, they – along with producer Kate Anthony – began creating the show. The series was filmed in the Colne valley of West Yorkshire , mainly in the villages of Marsden and Slaithwaite and the town of Meltham. Where The Heart Is focuses on the stories that occur in small communities without being sentimental. Pharoah wanted to explore the hidden conflicts that occur within
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1760-496: The new Winery in Cartworth Moor. Longley Farm , founded in 1948, manufacturer of dairy products, is a significant employer in the town. On 6 July 2014, Stage 2 of the 2014 Tour de France , from York to Sheffield, passed through the town. The event was televised internationally and attracted huge crowds cheering the riders through the town. Holmfirth Cycling Club was formed in 2013 and, with over 400 members by 2016 became
1815-520: The nurses as well as those working in a local toilet paper factory. Where The Heart Is was created by Ashley Pharoah and Vicky Featherstone . The show is a drama series and was made for ITV's "prime time" television slot. The series was filmed in the Colne valley of West Yorkshire , mainly in the villages of Marsden and Slaithwaite , and the town of Meltham . The production team would also use Huddersfield Town Hall as an occasional filming location. The show's theme song, also titled "Where
1870-481: The part. Ferris had previously played matriarch Ma Larkin in The Darling Buds of May . She had previously refused other similar roles but liked the scripts for Where The Heart Is . She explained that the show was "daring" for portraying euthanasia and which made her want the role. The role of Peggy's sister-in-law Ruth Goddard was given to Sarah Lancashire. She had been approached with the role while she
1925-424: The rugged landscape of Yorkshire, it follows the busy professional and family lives of District Nurses, as they bring nursing and emotional care to young and old alike." Initially, it mainly concentrated on the lives of two of the district health nurses, Peggy Snow ( Pam Ferris ) and Ruth Goddard ( Sarah Lancashire ). The story expands to focus on the lives of more Skelthwhaite residents, particularly those related to
1980-471: The second weekend in June. The Holme Valley Brass Band Contest takes place each year at the civic hall. Actress Jessica Gunning , who won an Emmy Award for her role in Baby Reindeer , was born in Holmfirth in 1986. Holmfirth constitutes a town of its own almost seven miles (11 km) south of the larger town of Huddersfield. While the town of Holmfirth itself is comparatively small, it
2035-498: The series and travelled to the Yorkshire towns of Meltham, Marsden and Slaithwaite, which she decided to use as filming locations for the show. Naming the show's main town Skelthwaite was inspired by the real village of Slaithwaite. Anthony recalled watching the sun gleam over the Yorkshire moors and feeling that the show had found its home. She then set about finding the show's cast with the help of Lewis and casting director Gail Stevens. One of Featherstone's biggest inspirations for
2090-424: The series included William Travis as factory worker Dick Lampard, Andrew Knott as Stephen's best friend Henry Green, Maggie Wells as part-time district nurse Patricia Illingworth and Laura Crossley as Deborah Allis. Graham Turner played Walter Charlton, a recurring character created by Pharoah. Anthony disliked his "old man" characterisation and decided to rewrite him. Turner originally auditioned for another role in
2145-444: The series was Margaret Tiffany, a district nursing sister based in Meltham. Tiffany had twenty-three years experience working her role in the Colne Valley area. She helped Pharoah research information for the stories included in the first series of the show and assisted cast members with their research as well, particularly Ferris. Tiffany also acted as a nursing advisor, providing information on medical practises and procedures, coaching
2200-521: The series, but Anthony believed he fitted her plans for Walter. He has learning difficulties, which Anthony was keen to portray in Where The Heart Is . She thought that television series were often scared to fully explore learning difficulties and she wanted to show how people like Walter fit into a community. A tie-in book based on the characters of Peggy and Ruth, written by Kate Lock, was released on 7 May 1998. A television companion book
2255-630: The setting for the BBC 's long-running comedy Last of the Summer Wine . Thousands of tourists flock to the area each year to enjoy scenery and locations familiar from the series. Filming of the TV Slaithwaite -based drama, Where the Heart Is , had also taken place in and around the area. The former Lodge's supermarket building had been sitting empty in the heart of the town since the Co-op moved to new premises in Crown Bottom. Lodge's
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2310-444: The show would need to be suitable for a pre-watershed time slot and were mindful to exclude profanity and nudity. Pharoah was adamant that Where The Heart Is would not be sentimental and would include conflict. The decision to make the two main characters female was made to give the show a "maternal heart". Pharoah decided to make certain characters related to add to the conflict that arises from family disagreements. Pharoah observed
2365-415: The staff, Pharoah realised they had valid stories which had the potential to be explored fully on a television series. After two days in Meltham, Pharoah was determined to create the show. He had even envisioned all the characters based on the people he had met and thought of storylines. Pharoah was soon hired by United Productions, where Featherstone was already employed, to write a script. The pair knew
2420-412: The tenth series was the last as they decided to focus on creating other shows. The final episode was broadcast on 10 September 2006. Where the Heart Is focuses on the personal lives of two district nurses in the small Yorkshire town of Skelthwaite. The official ITV website described the series as "an engaging story of life, love, family and people’s ever-changing fortunes in rural England. Set against
2475-494: The town. Local news and television programmes are provided by BBC Yorkshire and ITV Yorkshire . Television signals are received from the Emley Moor and local relay transmitters. Local radio stations are BBC Radio Leeds on 92.4 FM, Heart Yorkshire on 106.2 FM, Capital Yorkshire on 105.6 FM, Greatest Hits Radio West Yorkshire on 96.3 FM and Hits Radio West Yorkshire on 102.5 FM. The town
2530-480: Was also concerned about the show's structure in regards to its equal focus on all of the characters. They believed the programme better suited a "pyramid structure", in which the matriarchal character of Peggy was at the top. Simon Lewis took on the role of the executive producer of Where The Heart Is . Kate Anthony was hired as the show's producer and was intrigued by the story of a woman choosing how she wanted to die. She met with Featherstone and Pharoah to discuss
2585-556: Was based on Pharoah's mother Maureen, sharing her "decency, warmth and down-to-earth humanity." Peggy's role in the series was to drive the stories featured in each episode by being an investigator. Anthony told Hayward that Peggy's characterisation could be interpreted as nosiness but her "caring and inquisitive" nature allowed her to "wheedle out the stories". Anthony wanted to find an actress who could portray Peggy's "tremendous strength and resolve" alongside her "warmth and humour". The casting team decided to approach actress Pam Ferris for
2640-471: Was built in the 1970s by the prominent local grocery company. It was opened by Radio 1 DJ Tony Blackburn and occupied an unusual location over the River Holme beside the town's small bus station. Lodge's was bought in the 1990s by Co-operative Retail Services who eventually closed the store down in 1997, after investing in a brand new £2 million supermarket for the town. Local residents, led by
2695-423: Was fearful that casting the wrong person as Peggy's husband Vic Snow would ruin the relationship dynamic they envisioned. Tony Haygarth auditioned and was cast as Vic; according to Anthony he stood out because "he had all the qualities of strength and humour - as well as the potential to be a bit grumpy." Vic was scripted as a well loved family man but has never amounted to great success materially. Thomas Craig
2750-450: Was inspired to do so having met a nurse with similar characteristics. He decided that they should be best friends and sisters-in-law in order to create tension and conflict in their friendship via family disagreements. Auditions for the male leads proved difficult for casting directors, who were determined to find actors that matched the strength that Ferris and Lancashire offered their respective role. Anthony auditioned countless actors and
2805-417: Was keen to create a story about a teenager who wanted to break away from a tight-knit community, and thought that the two stories could be combined. When Featherstone approached Pharoah with her idea, he was uninterested in the concept because he believed it "sounded soft and sentimental". She convinced Pharoah to accompany her to Meltham where they visited a small district nursing office. After conversing with
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#17327808216172860-399: Was pivotal to the show, not only as Peggy's sibling but the owner of the local toilet paper factory. He was characterised as a Thatcherite but also liked being a part of his community. He was portrayed as "ruthless and ambitious" but his role of an employer made him one of Skelwhaite's main providers. William Ash was hired to play Peggy and Vic's son, Stephen Snow. He was transformed into
2915-423: Was selected to play Simon Goddard, Ruth's husband and Peggy's younger brother. Simon was one of the final original characters to be cast, with Thomas receiving the offer weeks prior to filming. He had auditioned for another role and during his audition he tried to sell some cheap fireworks. This caused Anthony to offer him the role of Simon because she thought his behaviour better suited Simon. The character of Simon
2970-419: Was still appearing in the soap opera Coronation Street as Raquel Watts . Ferris and Lancashire being so well known for other roles worried Pharoah but having watched them perform and learning of their commitment to their new roles, he accepted them. Pharoah scripted Ruth very differently to Peggy; he stated that he wanted "someone who was lively, younger, less experienced and a little disrespectful." Pharoah
3025-406: Was watched by more than ten million viewers during its first broadcast in the United Kingdom. On 12 October 2006, it was announced that ITV had decided to not renew the show for an additional series. The show was dropped despite high ratings, averaging more than six million viewers per episode. A publicist from the channel stated " Where The Heart Is has been a very successful series for ITV1. But
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