The Town of Rastrick, West Yorkshire, England
The town of Rastrick is located on the south side of the river Calder, opposite Brighouse, and is on the main road between Bradford and Huddersfield in West Yorkshire. It is also very close to the M821 motorway between Manchester and Leeds.
The settlement existed at the time of the Domesday Book.
In 1284, Rastrick "contained only six freemen, the rest were…"Nativi tenentes vallains, or bondsmen'." (Rastrick History(GENUKI)).
The 1379 Poll Tax for Rastrick, Fixby and Hipperholme lists the names of 19 inhabitants of Rastrick (excluding children).
Rastrick Grammar School is listed in 79th position (1701) on the survey of the oldest active registered charities in England and Wales.
Halifax: Geographical and Historical Information from the year 1837 (GENUKI) lists the following information for the town of Rastrick:
"RASTRICK, is a populous and flourishing village and chapelry, in the parish of Halifax, wapentake of Morley, and manor of Wakefield, West Riding, five miles s.e. of Halifax. The manufacture of fancy goods is extensive here, and the establishments in this line are of the highest respectability. The houses are scattered over a wide acreage of ground, in the midst of which stands the church, a neat edifice of free stone, rebuilt about the year 1795 : the living is in the gift of the vicar of Halifax, (to which place it is a chapel of ease,) and the curacy, which is perpetual, is enjoyed by the Rev. Thomas Burton. The society of friends have a meeting house, which was rebuilt in 1737, and the independents have also a chapel here. The free school, which has lately been rebuilt, was endowed by Mrs. Mary Law, of Elland, in 1721, for teaching twenty poor boys reading and writing ; the endowment at present amounts to 40. per annum. The same benevolent lady also bequeathed a small farm (now letting for about 16. per annum), to be enjoyed by four poor widows, besides which there is a small legacy annually expended in clothing for the poor. The prospects around here are pleasing and the seat of John Clay, Esq. contiguous to the village, is an object of attraction. The chapelry contained in 1831, 3,021 inhabitants."
Pigot's 1834 Commercial Directory Rastrick and Brighouse with Hipperholme, and the hamlets of Clifton, Lightcliffe & neighbourhoods.
The Town of Rastrick in 1894 The sample map on the Village Atlas website features the Brighouse and Rastrick area.
Links to photographs of the town of Rastrick by Christopher J H Rothery
Bridge End , Rastrick
Bridge End School, Rastrick, 1821
Star Inn, Bridge End , Rastrick
Links to photographs of the town of Rastrick by Keith Pitchforth
St Matthews Church, Rastrick
Links to other websites related to the town of Rastrick<
Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band
Rastrick High School