[2] The village has pre-Norman Conquest origins; the Walton Cross is believed to be dated from the 11th century.

[4] Patrick Brontë served as curate of St Peter's Church in Hartshead between 1811 and 1815,[5] in which time he met his wife, Maria Branwell (although they met in Rawdon, some dozen or so miles away from Hartshead).

[6] They were married in Guiseley and became the parents of Anne, Branwell, Charlotte and Emily Brontë.

Robin Hood is reputed to have been buried near Hartshead[8] or in the grounds of the nearby Kirklees Hall.

No successor parish was created for the borough and it became an unparished area.