Kippax, West Yorkshire

History

The name Kippax is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is first attested as Chipesch in the Domesday Book of 1086, and as "Kippeys" in charters from the 1090s to the 1270s, and Kypask and Kypax from the 13th century onwards. The placename seems to be composed of an Anglo-Saxon personal name Cippa (with initial [tʃ-], suggested by the Domesday Book form) or Cyppa (with initial [k-]) + æsc [æʃ] 'ash-tree'. This suggests that the village was first established in a wooded area of ash trees. The pronunciation of the name seems to show Scandinavian influence, perhaps in the change from initial [tʃ-] to [k-], and more clearly in the change of [-æʃ] to [-ask] (and thereafter [-aks]).

Locational surnames such as Kippax developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually to seek work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. The surname first appears in the late-14th century and other early recordings include: Johannes de Kypax, Johanna Kepas, and Johannes de Kepax, who were all recorded in the Poll Tax Records for Yorkshire in 1379.

The village's historical roots are evidenced by the presence of an originally Anglo-Saxon church which underwent significant modification in Norman times. |access-date=6 December 2009 Typical Saxon herring-bone masonry can be seen in the church tower. Despite being an administrative centre for hundreds of years, the population remained small and it was mostly agricultural until the late-18th century when coal mining began on a small scale in bell pits. The advent of deeper mining and the discovery of coal seams in Allerton Bywater saw Kippax undergo a rapid expansion into a typical northern mining community in the 19th century.

Exploitation of the coal led to a railway being built between Garforth and Castleford in 1873. The single line had two intermediate stations at and . It was closed to passengers in 1951. The decline in deep mining saw Allerton Bywater pit close in the 1990s having been in decline since the 1970s.

Kippax adjusted to its new status as a commuter village. Its proximity to the A1/M1/M62 means that many residents now commute to Leeds, Castleford, London, Wakefield or York. The high street has a mix of independent butchers, grocers and newsagents and a small co-op store.

Sport and notable people

The village is the home of the Kippax Welfare rugby league club. Its first team plays as the Kippax Knights.

Musician Robert Harvey, of the band The Music, is from Kippax.

Gallery

File:The Old Tree Inn, Kippax.jpg|The Old Tree Inn File:The White Swan at Kippax.jpg|The White Swan File:Kippax Library.jpg|Kippax Library File:Co-op in Kippax.jpg|Co-op File:The Moorgate in Kippax.jpg|The Moorgate File:Kippax - Fishing Ponds.jpg|Fishing ponds in Kippax File:Path at northern boundary of Roach Lime Hills SSSI.jpg|Roach Lime Hills SSSI

References

References

1. "Kippax Parish".
2. (1960). "The concise Oxford dictionary of English place-names". Oxford University Press.
3. Victor Watts (ed.), ''The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names, Based on the Collections of the English Place-Name Society'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004), s.v. ''KIPPAX''.
4. (2012). "Surname Database: Kippax Last Name Origin".
5. (2015). "Lost Stations of Yorkshire; the West Riding". Silver Link.
6. (2003). "Leeds Castleford and Pontefract Junction Railway.". Martin Bairstow.
7. (13 January 2003). "The Music, Brixton Academy, London". The Guardian.