Yorkshire and the Humber

Yorkshire and the Humber
Tim Green from Bradford · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Yorkshire and the Humber
Type	Region
Area km2	15769
Population	5,485,000
Seat	Leeds
Subdivisions	North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, City of York, parts of Lincolnshire

Contents

Yorkshire and the Humber is a region in northern England encompassing historic Yorkshire territories and the Humber Estuary. It includes major urban centres such as Leeds, Sheffield, Hull, Bradford and Doncaster and rural landscapes like the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales. The region has played central roles in the Industrial Revolution, maritime trade via the Port of Hull and cultural movements tied to figures such as Brontë family and J. B. Priestley.

History

The area was settled by Celts and later incorporated into the Roman Britain province through sites like Eboracum and roads such as Ermine Street, then transformed by Anglo-Saxon kingdoms exemplified by Kingdom of Northumbria and the establishment of York Minster. Viking incursions produced the Danelaw and place-names linked to Cnut and Norse chieftains; later medieval power struggles included the Harrying of the North under William the Conqueror and battles such as Battle of Stamford Bridge. The region’s textile towns expanded during the Industrial Revolution with technology from inventors like Richard Arkwright and industrialists in Bradford and Leeds, while coalfields around Barnsley and Rotherham fed steelworks like Parkgate and firms such as Sheffield Steel Corporation. Ports including Kingston upon Hull and ferry links to Rotterdam supported trade; wartime mobilisation connected the region to events like the Battle of Britain and shipbuilding at Sunderland and Cleveland. Postwar shifts involved nationalisation under Clement Attlee policies and later deindustrialisation during the premiership of Margaret Thatcher with consequences seen in former pit communities like Rotherham and reclamation projects linked to European Union funding.

Topography ranges from the uplands of the Yorkshire Dales and the Pennines to the low-lying Humber Estuary and the Holderness coastline. River systems include the River Ouse (Yorkshire), River Aire, River Don, and River Humber, feeding wetlands such as the RSPB Bempton Cliffs and reserves like Spurn Point. Climate is influenced by the North Atlantic Drift and Atlantic depressions tracked via meteorological stations at Leeds Bradford Airport and Humberside Airport. Geological heritage features Millstone Grit, Carboniferous coal measures exploited by companies like National Coal Board and Jurassic chalk on the Yorkshire coast. Environmental initiatives involve organisations such as The Wildlife Trusts and projects tied to Natural England and the Environment Agency addressing coastal erosion at Hornsea and habitat restoration in former industrial landscapes like Thorne Moors.

Population centres include Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Kingston upon Hull, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Halifax, Scunthorpe, and York. Demographic change reflects migration from Ireland during the 19th century, arrivals from South Asia and the Caribbean in the postwar era and recent EU migration from countries like Poland. Language and dialect heritage persists in regional speech forms documented by linguists referencing Geoffrey Leech and regionalisms found in works by Alan Bennett; communities celebrate religious life in institutions such as York Minster, Bradford Cathedral, Sheffield Cathedral, mosques like Leeds Grand Mosque and gurdwaras in Bradford. Social indicators have been the focus of studies by bodies including the Office for National Statistics and public health responses coordinated with NHS England trusts such as Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Historic industrial sectors included textile manufacturing centred on Bradford and Huddersfield, steel production in Sheffield associated with brands like Thomas Firth & Sons, mining in the South Yorkshire Coalfield and shipbuilding in Hull and Goole. Contemporary economy features finance and professional services in Leeds City Region, advanced manufacturing at Rotherham and Doncaster, aerospace at firms like Airbus and maintenance hubs such as Doncaster Sheffield Airport, and renewable energy projects off the Holderness and Dogger Bank areas involving developers like Ørsted and Equinor. Logistics hubs use ports like the Port of Hull and inland terminals connected to the East Coast Main Line and M62 motorway; cultural tourism leverages York Minster, Brontë Parsonage Museum, the National Railway Museum, Whitby Abbey and festivals such as Bradford Festival and Hull UK City of Culture 2017. Enterprise zones and investment have been targeted through schemes involving Local Enterprise Partnerships including the Leeds City Region LEP.

The region comprises ceremonial and administrative counties: East Riding of Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and the unitary City of York; parts of North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire lie adjacent across the Humber. Local government structures include metropolitan boroughs like Bradford (Metropolitan Borough), Kirklees, Calderdale, Wakefield, Barnsley and Rotherham, and unitary authorities such as Kingston upon Hull City Council. Regional development has involved national bodies like the Department for Transport and regional initiatives linked to City of Culture bids and the Northern Powerhouse agenda promoted by ministers including George Osborne. Devolution debates have referenced models used in Greater Manchester Combined Authority and proposals engaging MPs from constituencies including Leeds Central and Sheffield Hallam.

Literary heritage is prominent in figures like Emily Brontë, Charlotte Brontë, Anne Brontë, Ted Hughes, J. B. Priestley and Alan Bennett; musical traditions range from folk artists collected by Vaughan Williams to modern bands such as Arctic Monkeys, The Human League, Pulp and The Who roots linked to venues in Sheffield and Leeds. Culinary specialties include Yorkshire pudding and Henderson's Relish while sporting culture features clubs like Leeds United A.F.C., Sheffield Wednesday F.C., Huddersfield Town A.F.C., rugby league teams such as St Helens R.F.C. and events at Doncaster Racecourse and York Racecourse. Museums and institutions include the Yorkshire Museum, Cartwright Hall, The Hepworth Wakefield, Royal Armouries and Hull Maritime Museum; festivals and civic traditions are celebrated in Guisborough, Hebden Bridge and seaside towns like Scarborough. Identity politics intersects with movements represented by organisations such as the Trade Union Congress historically strong in mining communities and cultural campaigns promoted by VisitEngland and local trusts.