Discover Scissett

Scissett can be explored through three distinct travel interests: Walk 9, the history of St Augustine’s Church, and the Engine House at Nortonthorpe Mills. When planning an overnight stay, this overview can help you decide what to focus on during your visit: a walk, church and community history, or preserved industrial machinery.

Walk 9: a walk with a named starting point

The Kirklees walking guide from December 2008 describes Walk 9: Scissett as a 45-minute walk. It gives the public car park between the church and Scissett First School as the starting point. The route description also includes a footpath crossing over the river.

Together, the name, duration, starting point, and river crossing give the walk a clear profile. If you would like to include a specific route in your travel plans, Walk 9 offers a named starting point rather than an unspecified walking idea. The 45-minute duration comes from the December 2008 walking guide, so check the route again before your visit.

St Augustine’s Church: community history and architecture

St Augustine’s Church has been part of the Scissett community since 1838. In 1840, it was consecrated by Bishop Longley of Ripon, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury. The distinction is important for the timeline: at the time of the consecration, Longley was Bishop of Ripon; his later position belongs to a subsequent phase of his career.

The building has its own chronology, too. In 1880, the chancel was added to the nave. This means the 1840 consecration and the later extension can be read as two separate dates. The nave and chancel are distinct parts of the church building; the 1880 date marks their architectural relationship.

The history also includes Benjamin Norton, the first person baptized at St Augustine’s Church, and a stained-glass window by Henry Payne. These two details draw attention to different aspects of the place: an early event in community life and a work of art attributed to a named artist. St Augustine’s Church is available for hire; check the details directly with the church.

Engine House at Nortonthorpe Mills: building and machinery

The Engine House at Nortonthorpe Mills adds an example of industrial heritage to this account of church history. The building was constructed in 1885–1886 for Norton & Co Ltd. Inside, the original 1885 steam engine by Pollitt & Wigzell is preserved. The dates are close together but refer to different things: 1885–1886 is the construction period of the Engine House, while 1885 is the year of the steam engine.

These two details make the site legible from two perspectives: as a building constructed for a specific company, and as a place where an original steam engine has been preserved. This makes the link between architectural history and technology the focus when choosing a theme; the specific dates also distinguish the construction period from the year of the engine.

Discover more destinations: Batley, Gomersal, Huddersfield, Holmfirth, Cleckheaton, Dewsbury

For the wider travel overview: Kirklees.