Ossett
Ossett [pronounced "Oss-it"] is a town in the county of West Yorkshire, England. It is located half-way between Dewsbury, to the west, and Wakefield, to the east. The town was a centre of the "shoddy" industry, the recycling of woollen garments. There were also collieries around the town, at Healey and at Roundwood. It has a population of about 20,000 people. Its proximity to the M1 has led Ossett to become more affluent in recent years, attracting both industry and resident commuters to Leeds. House prices increased from around £50,000 in 1998 to around £130,000 in 2003 - one of the largest increases in the country. The novelist Stan Barstow, the author of A Kind of Loving, was born at Ossett. Benjamin Ingham, one of the founders of Methodism also came from the town. Team 17 are based here and their most famous game - "Worms - contained a Hell level with a sign saying, "Welcome to Ossett". (This has given the impression that the town is a unpleasant area. It is, in fact, more affluent than other towns in West Yorkshire, such as nearby Dewsbury.) Ossett has many Primary Schools however, it now has only one High School, Ossett School. Ossett is currently famous for its fish and chips. The village of Gawthorpe to the north - which was originally a separate entity, but has become almost like a suburb of the town - is known for its water tower and also holds an annual coal-carrying competition and a May Pole parade. There is an "Ossett Brewery" in the Healey area of the town and the "Ossett Beer Festival" takes place annually, in the adjoining "Brewers' Pride" pub. my friend lives there
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