Life in the ‘cosmopolitan’ Yorkshire village named the best place to live in the North

Shop worker Denis Lowery was born and bred in Slaithwaite and says the village has achieved something approaching a ‘miracle’.

Denis, 74, says the village, which sits beside the Huddersfield Narrow Canal in the Colne Valley, has managed to preserve its heritage whilst reinventing itself as something of a tourist destination. He works in the Antiques Warehouse in the centre of Slaithwaite and has seen many changes over the years.

“There are a lot more touristy facilities now,” he says. “Slaithwaite has managed to keep most of its old pubs which is a miracle. I have noticed the changes and became more aware of them because I moved away to Crosland Moor and came back to Slaithwaite in 2013.

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“It has changed a lot. Most of the banks have gone. We are now down to one butcher when there used to be three or four. We have retained enough independent shops so you can do all your shopping without going to the supermarket.”

Denis wasn’t surprised to hear that Slaithwaite has been named Best Place to Live in the North in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2022 report which said: “The combination of countryside, connectivity and a community full of independence and imagination make this canalside mill village the perfect place to pursue post-pandemic happiness.”

Customers have been visiting the Antiques Warehouse, an expansive space packed full of curios, from across the North and it’s not uncommon to hear accents from New Zealand and Australia, says Denis.

“Some people come back to visit families,” he says. “They say it (Slaithwaite) has changed for the better.”

He believes the transformation has been boosted by the stunning Pennine location, the picturesque canal, and the growth in ‘high end’ holiday cottages along the valley. Denis has spoken to several customers in the shop who have moved to Slaithwaite from London. New arrivals from London have also been spotted in the florist, Lily of the Valley.

Shirley Denton, a retired antique dealer who moved to Slaithwaite 52 years ago, describes it as ‘very arty’ and ‘up and coming’.

“When I came to live here it was a village full of elderly people; a lot of mill owning families and it was very quiet. Now it’s a great place to live. You can’t live here without loving it. The only thing it is short of is a dentist but there’s one in the next village.”

Shirley says the standard of restaurants and cafes is very high and she trots off her favourites, from Vanilla Bean to The Little Bridge.

“I don’t know anybody who has a bad word to say. People want to live here.”

Not everyone is impressed, though. One anonymous lady shopper in a facemask hinted at a rivalry with the neighbouring Holme Valley, saying. “It (Slaithwaite) doesn’t look very enticing when you walk around.”

When I pointed out it was pouring down with rain, she added: “It’s just the Colne Valley which I don’t like. I always thought the Holme Valley a lot prettier than the Colne Valley.”

The Sunday Times report on Slaithwaite name-checks both the Handmade Bakery and the children’s store/cafe Acorn and Pip.

Sean McCrystal, 54, a retired beekeeper, loves popping into Acorn and Pip for a coffee. He says the rise in the popularity of Slaithwaite has seen a sharp increase in property prices. “House prices have gone through the roof – it’s ridiculous.

“I have lived here since 1976 when it was a little mill town…there was nothing here but a chippy. It’s a lovely place and it has become better and is quite fashionable. There are some lovely places to eat and drink. We are short of nothing around here now. There’s quite a bit of investment coming in.”

Over on Carr Lane at plastic-free retailer Zero Yorkshire, where shoppers can get refills of everything from pasta to chocolate, owner Jake Walker says Slaithwaite’s small, independent businesses are getting some deserved recognition.

“There are some interesting businesses that are taking more of a risk. They are about sustainability and working together.”

Designer Simon Kenworthy, who owns ‘ethical street wear’ shop Otso, describes Slaithwaite as having the vibe of “a new Hebden Bridge” because it is “quite creative with an independent feel to it.”

Newcomers have arrived from places like Manchester, making the village “feel more cosmopolitan”.

“A lot of young couples are starting families here. It’s nice to live in the country but close to the cities, in a triangle with Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds.”

Paul Clarke, who co-owns Polkadot Lane, which sells pottery from Bolesławiec in western Poland, said moving his premises from Hebden Bridge to Slaithwaite was “probably one of the best moves we’ve made.”

He got fed up with the recurring flooding in Hebden Bridge and found Slaithwaite people very supportive of his business.

“We have customers from Meltham, Holmfirth, and Huddersfield. We get a lot of local support and from all the shops too.”

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