Methley

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Methley is a dispersed village in south east Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, which is located near Rothwell, Oulton, Woodlesford, Mickletown and Allerton Bywater. It nestles in the triangle formed by Leeds, Castleford and Wakefield, and between the confluence of the River Aire and River Calder. The latter is crossed by Methley Bridge, the A639 road, (grid reference SE409258) about a mile south east of the village. It is often claimed that the village is the second largest in England (in terms of area).

Today, the village is often described in terms of the area around Church Lane, Main Street and Pinfold Lane. However, the buildings on these streets largely date from the 20th century - and this area does not represent the original geographical centre of the village. The original village was established near to St. Oswald's Church, and in particular along Churchside. This is reflected in the 17th and 18th century buildings along Churchside and parts of Watergate.

The village has a long history of coal mining, at one stage having no less than three mines each with a railway line to transport the coal away. Methley Junction lies to the south. Methley Hall was the former seat of the Earl of Mexborough. The Hall was demolished in 1958, although the Mexborough Estate are still important landowners in the district.

H. M. Queen Mary, consort of H. M. King George V (1910-1936), visited the village in 1935 and stayed at the Hall as a guest of the Earl.

Methley was once served by three railway stations. The original railway line through the village was built by the North Midland Railway in 1840, as part of the Derby to Leeds main line.

The composer Edward Elgar was friends with the former owner (Mr. Embleton) of 'The Cedars' - now a residential home - and often stayed in the village. The Castleford-born artist Henry Moore was a frequent visitor to St. Oswald's Church.

Nick Hodgson, drummer of the Leeds band the Kaiser Chiefs, has family connections with the village. The band officially opened the new village primary school in 2006.

St. Oswald's Church had a spire from the mid-18th century to 1937. The spire became unsafe and was dismantled.

Methley was surveyed by the Tudor cartographer, Christopher Saxton, author of the first atlas of England (1577). Unfortunately, the map is now lost.

The village has a long history of growing turnips and hosts the second largest turnip convention in the world.^{[citation needed]} The 2006 Judges Choice winner was local historian Barbara Haydock from Guiseley.

Methley was a possible alternative name for Fritz Lang's Metropolis^{[citation needed]}.