WILSDEN, a village, a township, a chapelry, and a sub-district, in Bradford parish and district, W. R. Yorkshire. The village stands 3 miles SSW of Bingley r. station, and 5 WNW of Bradford; and has a post-office under Bingley. The township contains also the villages of Cullingworth-Gate, Lingbob, Manuel-Heights, Hewenden, Harecrofts, Birkshead, Norr, and Hallas-Bridge; and comprises 2,450 acres. Pop. in 1851, 3,454; in 1861, 2,888. Houses, 588. The decrease of pop. was caused by reduction of hands in factories. The manor belongs to W. B. Ferrand, Esq. Worsted-spinning and the manufacture of stuffs are carried on. -The chapelry and the sub-district consist of W. and Allerton townships. Acres, 4,420. Pop. in 1851, 5,495; in 1861, 4,902. Houses, 1,021. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Ripon. Value, £300.* Patron, the Vicar of Bradford. The church is modern, in the later English style, with a pinnacled tower. There are five dissenting chapels and national and British schools.

(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))