Upperthong & Holmbridge

Upperthong and Holmbridge sit in the Holme Valley within Kirklees, West Yorkshire, on opposing slopes with the River Holme running between them. Upperthong occupies higher ground and follows a main lane that climbs from the valley floor; Holmbridge clusters at the river crossing that gives the settlement its name. The layout mixes small residential streets, farmsteads and pasture, with moorland above the valley rim framing the villages. Narrow lanes and stone boundary walls shape movement and views within the area.

Local life centers on a primary school, village halls and a small number of shops and pubs that serve nearby farms and hamlets. Community groups maintain allotments and sports pitches, and the river corridor still shows traces of past industry in old weirs and stone retaining walls. Housing ranges from 19th‑century stone cottages to later terraces and detached homes, reflecting gradual change rather than large-scale development, while road links and footpaths connect the settlements to the wider Holme Valley network.