Ryhill

Ryhill is a small village and civil parish situated on the B6428 road in West Yorkshire, England approximately 7mi south east of the city of Wakefield. It has a population of 2,628, increasing to 2,894 at the 2011 census.Like many of the surrounding villages, it is still recovering from the effects of pit closures which has seen the demise of the many collieries which once surrounded the village. The local economy is currently enjoying a return to prosperity as new housing developments have made the village popular with commuters to nearby towns.The first mention of Ryhill in recorded history is an entry in the 1086 Domesday Book which describes 'Rihella' as having 4 ploughlands and an area of pasturable woodland.The name "Ryhill" itself is almost self-explanatory: it simply means "hill where rye is grown". Originating in Old English, the name is formed of the elements ryge and hyll.An alternative interpretation is for 'Ra', which refers to Roe Deer. Both of the interpretations seem feasible; the village itself has a long-standing history in farming, but the naming of surrounding connected areas poses an interesting possibility for Roe Deer, Wintersett immediately below Ryhill being a place to take livestock during the winter months, Nostell being a roman stable, Newstead being grazing land, Cold Hiendley and South Hiendley also suggestive of clearings for livestock, possibly with connections to the larger Saxon settlement at Ringstone Hill, Brierley.MiningThere are historical accounts recorded of mining by monks at Nostell Priory just down the road from Ryhill going back 900 years and more, the area still shows several former bell pit sites on the road from Station Road, Ryhill through to Nostell. It is fair to surmise that mining for local use has also been active in Ryhill since settlement.