Kinsley, West Yorkshire
# Kinsley, West Yorkshire

53°37′34″N 1°22′12″W﻿ / ﻿53.626°N 1.370°W﻿ / 53.626; -1.370

Kinsley is a village in the civil parish of Hemsworth, and the City of Wakefield district of West Yorkshire, England.

Kinsley is a rural, ex-mining village. Its neighbouring villages are Fitzwilliam to the north, to which it is conjoined, and Hemsworth to the south-east.

The village is on the B6273 Wakefield Road, and approximately 7 miles (11 km) from Wakefield to the north-west and a similar distance from the towns of Pontefract and Castleford to the north. The M1 motorway is 8 miles (13 km) to the west, and the M62, 6 miles (10 km) to the north. A railway station at Fitzwilliam gives access to Wakefield, Leeds, Doncaster and Sheffield.

## History

The village is probably best known for the Kinsley evictions of 15 August 1905, when 25 families were evicted from their homes by police during a strike at Hemsworth Colliery. They were made temporarily homeless, and eventually set up camp at Outwood Hall farm in Outwood, West Yorkshire.

## Landmarks

Kinsley Greyhound Stadium is at the centre of the village on Wakefield Road.

To the south of the greyhound stadium and Hoyle Mill Road, is Hemsworth Water Park & Playworld, which has two lakes: the larger lake is used for pedalo rides and has sandy beaches; the smaller lake is in a more secluded area which attracts wildlife. Both lakes are stocked for fishing. Grassed areas provide for picnics and games, contain an outdoor adventure playground for children, and a miniature railway.

At the south of the Water Park is Vale Head Park, with 9-hole golf course, tennis court, crazy golf and play park facilities.

## Education

Education in Kinsley is provided by Kinsley J&I School on the Wakefield Road. Hemsworth Arts and Community Academy in the neighbouring village of Hemsworth is the secondary school for 11- to 16- and 16- to 19-year-olds.

In December 2016, three cleaners at Kinsley J&I School were sacked after striking in protest at outsourcing. The sacking was condemned by Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

