Clifford brings together distinctive churches and traces of its milling and local history. Two trails offer different distances and time commitments. You can tailor your stay to your own interests, balancing cultural discoveries with a walk.
Churches and their history
St Edward, King and Confessor, is a Roman Catholic church in the Romanesque style, with French-Norman influences. It contains the remains of the child martyr St Domitia the Second, brought over from the catacombs of Rome. Other notable details include fine stained glass by A.W.N. Pugin and other artists. In December 2022, St Edward was upgraded to Grade II*. Its architecture, furnishings and the recorded history of the relics give a visit to the church a distinctive cultural and historical focus.
St Luke’s Church is the oldest of Clifford’s three churches and has served the community since 1842. It was built in that year in the Gothic Revival style on land donated by the Hon. George Lane Fox of nearby Bramham Park. The churchyard is also part of the experience: it is considered a pleasant place to linger and observe the local wildlife, trees and flowers. Its condition can change with the seasons.
For wheelchair access, St Luke’s has a ramp that must be set up and is available on prior request. There is also an accessible toilet and step-free access to parts of the nave. A one-hour service is held at 11 am on the first, second, third and fourth Sundays of each month. If you are planning to visit Clifford for the service, check the schedule before you travel.
Mills, buildings and local history
Many older buildings in Clifford feature exposed magnesian limestone masonry. The former use of water can be traced through the mills and their engineering features: the old corn mills were converted into flax mills in the 19th century and mainly produced patent yarn and shoe thread. A mill pond and sluice regulated the flow of water to the mill pentrough through a channel running beneath the road. Both the craft and the water management are defining themes in the village’s history.
Individual buildings also tell stories of different eras. Green Dragon Cottage dates from the 18th century and was formerly the pub and brewery, The Green Dragon. The Farmhouse is dated to 1627. The former New Mill of the Grimston Brothers was built in 1857. Together with the converted corn mills, these buildings offer a glimpse into different periods of Clifford’s architectural and industrial history.
Two trails, two time commitments
The information about the Moor Trail and Mills Trail comes from a leaflet dated March 2013. The Moor Trail is about 2½ miles (4 km) long and takes 1½ to 2 hours at a steady pace. The shorter Mills Trail is about 1½ miles (2.4 km) and is estimated to take 1 to 1½ hours. The comparison can help you choose: according to these estimates, the Mills Trail takes less time, while the Moor Trail calls for a longer time slot. As the route information dates from 2013, it is best to check it against current information before setting out.
For trip planning, Clifford offers two different ways to explore local history: the churches and older buildings provide cultural highlights, while the trails focus on the mills and other points of interest. Which aspects you choose depends on how much time you want to allow for the walk and which historical topics interest you most.
Discover more destinations: Lofthouse, Drighlington, Elland, Oulton, Oakworth, Normanton, Pontefract, Meltham
For the main travel guide: West Yorkshire.
