Ossett is a small market town 4 miles west of Wakefield and 3 miles from Dewsbury.
Osleset is mentioned in the Domesday survey. The name has Saxon origins, either 'The site of the God Hall' or 'St Oswald's seat'. The former can have referred to some shrine or edifice erected within the bounds of the town in very early times to some local god, whilst the latter indicates a connection with St Oswald the Northumbrian warrior king and saint, who has many local legends to his credit in the West Riding.
A settlement may have existed here when the Romans were using the Via Vincinalis or 'Accommodation Road' which ran between Agbrigg and Dewsbury.
By the end of the 14th Century, Ossett was a considerable sized town for the time. Ossett's economy was based upon textiles, coal and some agriculture, although compared with some areas the mills and mines were relatively small.
In 1890 Ossett was granted its Borough Charter. On 1st April 1974 Ossett became part of the Wakefield Metropolitan District thus losing its individual status as a council in its own right.
Ossett today has a growing number of shops and services and a market held twice a week on Tuesday and Friday. In 2001 the population figure was 15,788 and is expanding yearly. There are many clubs and societies, which cater for a wide range of interests including Cricket and Football clubs, Drama groups and an Amateur Operatic society.
