26 December 2023 , 15:33
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A Yorkshire village with cold temperatures and a warm heart has an odd climate that has led to locals dubbing it “strange”.
The misty village of Grange Moor, between Huddersfield and Wakefield, has a particular climactic anomaly that has led residents to give it the name “Strange Moor”. Despite the welcoming nature of the people that live there, newcomers often don’t last long, with one resident saying: "Newer folk do say 'Strange Moor' because of the weather,” explained Lynne Wood. “Newcomers might last six months (and then leave) because it's too desolate. It's always two degrees colder."
However local chippy owner George Michaelas says he has never known people as friendly as those in Grange Moor. George arrived in the former coal mining village, six miles from Huddersfield, five years ago and found it very welcoming as he settled into running Grange Moor Fisheries, a compact little chippie that has been serving locals for decades.
He regularly received a cheery 'morning George' every time he stepped out and was surprised everyone knew his name. "People in Grange Moor know each other and are all somehow related to each other," explained George, who has previously lived in Bradford, Barnsley and Sheffield, which are no match for Grange Moor's congeniality.
"In Grange Moor, they know my name as if I have lived here all my life. I have not known many places that people know you by name. George says locals refer to the village as 'Strange Moor' which he thinks is down to the weird weather. "The fog is everywhere," he says.
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"As soon as you go somewhere else, there's no fog. It seems to get more strange things than anywhere else." George, who is originally from Cyprus, enjoys helping people and is known for serving 'ridiculously huge' portions. And once a month he helps the village community association with up to 60 portions of cut-price fish and chips for those in need.
Grange Moor Fisheries has been serving locals for decades (YorkshireLive/MEN)He loves life in the village and says: "It's very friendly and quiet and with no hooliganism. This has been a fish and chip shop for a long time. It used to fry using a coal fire. It has been here 70 or 80 years."
Two of his customers are Jeff and Dorothy Linley who described the fish and chip portions as a little over-generous. They moved up from nearby Lepton and noticed that Grange Moor can be 'two degrees colder' on account of its elevation and exposed location.
"We love it here. It has a lovely village atmosphere," says Jeff. "It is a lovely friendly village but it is colder than everywhere else," adds Dorothy. Retired carer Ann Holly has lived in Grange Moor for 12 years, having moved from Castleford. She says houses sell very quickly in Grange Moor as people fall in love with the tranquil lifestyle and stunning countryside.
Ann is fond of the historic centrepiece of the village, the Dumb Steeple, a squat stone structure that bears a plaque saying it was re-built in 1776. It might be considered something of a 'hidden gem' as some residents were unable to direct YorkshireLive to its location despite it being only a two minute walk away.
Incidentally, the monument isn't far from Dumb Steeple Farm where a German V-1 rocket landed on Christmas Eve, 1944, causing a huge explosion. Around 130 buildings were damaged but, miraculously, no one was hurt. Ann thinks that the location of Grange Moor is 'brilliant' and really handy. She says it is 'right in the middle' between Huddersfield, Wakefield and Dewsbury.
She likes the convenience of shopping in Wakefield and said she doesn't really venture into Huddersfield town centre due to what she sees is a lack of easy parking options and a 'one way system'. If she fancies a night out Ann finds it easier to head down to Horbury Bridge where there is Cinnamon Lounge (Asian cuisine) and Capri Bistro (Italian).
She also likes popping in to the local Premier shop in Grange Moor, run by Sukhjit Singh, who she described as a 'polite and sociable man'. Sukhjit took over the shop 18 months ago and had to spend a lot of money to transform its fortunes as it was a bit of a mess inside. He says villagers are known for 'sticking together' and for being pleasant.
"It's the only shop in the village. The last person was here 15 years. Grange Moor is on the border of Dewsbury and Huddersfield. When we have deliveries the drivers argue and say 'this is not my patch'."
Alan and Joan Ellis, who were walking their West Highland terrier Tosh, say that Grange Moor has grown over the years but the facilities have shrunk. It used to have a butcher, grocer, Co-op and a Post Office. They think the village is lacking in facilities, especially a GP surgery.
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