Slaithwaite marks a century of change for one parade of shops

The 100th anniversary of a parade of shops which local residents have described as “iconic” is being celebrated by telling the tale of each business over the past century.

The eight shops on Carr Lane in Slaithwaite – which is known by people in the area as “Slawit” – have remained a constant presence as long as people can remember.

They have always been in the background as Slaithwaite has transitioned from a traditional West Yorkshire mill village to what is now a popular home for young families.

These days, the high street parade contains an estate agents, jewellers and newsagents, as well as “hipster” cafes and a co-working space – but these are just the latest businesses to ply their trade in the century-old premises.

It is the story of who and what occupied – and occupies – those eight shops over the past 100 years that organisers of the Slawit SHOP! project hope to focus on in the coming months.

They aim to explore the parade’s story, set up an archive and celebrate its centenary with a special exhibition.

Community artist Sky Burton-Smith, who is helping co-ordinate the project, says the grocer’s shop on the Carr Lane parade was actually the inspiration for the Slawit SHOP! project.

She explains that Green Valley Grocers – in the centre of the parade – is the one store that has been selling the same sort of thing for a whole century.

“Out of all of the eight shops, Green Valley Grocers deserves the extra birthday candle on the cake,” Ms Burton-Smith says.

“It’s never been anything else. So that sparked the idea for this project.”

Angela Dews, who works at the grocer’s, says it has been well-established for a very long time – the shop’s roots going as far back as when the parade was built.

“We’re a community cooperative, but before that it had only been in the hands of five families over 100 years,” she says.

“Initially, it was the Walker family, The Dacre family were the ones who maintained it through three generations, and then the shop was run as The Artichoke for a while.

“In 2009, we took it on – selling exactly the same things as the previous generations.”

Inside the grocer’s, Dennis is doing his daily shopping. He says Slaithwaite’s high street – and the parade of eight shops on Carr Lane – is a testament to how the village is “thriving”.

“We moved into Slaithwaite about eight years ago, so we come into the village every day to shop.

“I think a high street like this is absolutely vital. It’s very much the heart of the community. If it wasn’t for places like this, the whole area would really suffer.”

Next door, in what was once a butchers, is now Culture – a “hipster” cafe that sells coffee, homemade pastries and breads.

The venue is Alex Litu’s second venture in Slaithwaite, which he opened two years ago and which fits naturally alongside the yoga studio and brunch restaurant he also runs.

“It was definitely something missing from the village,” he says.

“We’re small hipster, indie. Everyone’s really friendly and we know everyone’s name. We know what the dogs are called, we know if they’ve got a new t-shirt.

“I’ve been in Slaithwaite for 10 years. I met my wife in the States. We used to work on cruise ships and then we moved here.

“Slaithwaite adopted me and we love it.”

Inside is barista Connor Taylor, who, as well as making coffee, also runs a blacksmithing business called Taylor Forged Knives.

Despite Alex being his boss in the cafe, Connor has taken on Alex as an apprentice at the forge.

“My grandfather used to be a welder, and seeing Connor and hearing what he was doing made me curious,” says Alex.

“So I went to the workshop and it’s connecting me with my youth.”

Connor says while blacksmithing might be seen as a dying trade, it’s the sort of craft that fits nicely into Slaithwaite.

“It’s a beautiful place for heritage,” he says.

“Obviously, it’s a mill village. We’ve still got people who make fabric textiles. But it’s good to bring a bit of variety.”

Next door to the cafe is Colne Valley Motor Parts, which has been selling motor accessories on the parade for 50 years.

In the 50 years before that, the premises were occupied by a hairdresser and a drapery shop.

Adam Cottrell, who runs the present-day shop – and whose partner makes and sells hats – says: “I’ve had this shop for eight years and whatever you can think of, people have asked me for it.

“I purchased the shop off the previous owner who retired. He was a bit of an institution in the village, was Ray.

“I’m a Slaithwaiter born and bred,” says Mr Cottrell.

“It’s changed a lot, especially since they opened the canal back up again. It’s made a big difference. It’s a lot nicer.”

The parade of shops on Carr Lane remains in the shadow of a mill which opened in 1887 and produced wool yarn.

Alongside the mill runs the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, once the transportation hub of the village, which even contained a dock.

In 1925, John Jagger took advantage of the busy area and built the parade of shops. But then, in the 1950s, the canal was filled in.

Back at the grocer’s, Ms Dews explains: “It was a major transportation route on the canals, but when the railway was built it took over.

“Fast-forward to 1999 and it was decided they were going to re-establish the canal and they dug it out.

“There was a lot of difference of opinion in the village about whether it would be a good thing to open up the canal.

“But when you look at it on a day like this – beautiful sunshine, lots of people out – it’s a lovely thing to have.”

The final shop on the parade is Vanilla Bean, a cafe, bar and restaurant that has been running for eight years.

Over the past 100 years, the same premises have been home to a clothing store, a bridal boutique and even a crumpet factory.

Today, it is owned by Matthew Castle and his wife Charlie.

Mr Castle explains that he left a career as an executive chef in hotels to set up the family business.

He says the street has thrived since the Covid lockdowns, with working from home allowing people to do more weekday shopping.

“In Covid, people realised what was on their doorstep,” he says.

“People aren’t going over to Leeds, Manchester – they stay local now. A lot of the businesses are thriving since Covid.”

Ms Burton-Smith agrees that the past five years have seen accelerated change for Slaithwaite – and she hopes that will be reflected in the Slawit SHOP! project.

“Flexible working has had a massive positive impact on our high street,” she says.

“You see people now in the daytime who you wouldn’t have seen at that time.”

Ms Burton-Smith says the aim of the project is not just to archive the history of the parade – although the research will be added to the West Yorkshire Archive Service in Huddersfield – but to connect the shops to residents and one another.

“This project is helping people communicate and connect them to a common cause,” she says.

“Hopefully, at the end, this community of shops will have this special connection through the project and that will last.”