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Knottingley is a town in the metropolitan district of the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England on the River Aire and the A1 road. Until 1699, it was an important inland river port but, in that year, the Aire was made navigable as far as Leeds. Nonetheless, Knottingley remained a centre for boat building into the twentieth century. After 1870, the town also became known for glass manufacturing. The current population is 17,000. It was the birthplace of the famous gunslinger and Marshall of Austin, Texas, Ben Thompson, reputedly the inventor of the shoulder holster, because the laws of his city forbade public display of firearms. Knottingley is famous as a glass manufacturing town, indeed, the way most glass is manufactured in the world was due to an invention by a Knottingley postmaster. The last known occurence of bear baiting in England was also in the "low end" of the town. Close to Knottingley is Ferrybridge power station which has the largest cooling towers in the country, at 375ft. The oldest purpose built cinema in England is still standing in Aire Street, but has now been converted into flats.

Contents 1 Etymology 2 Industry 3 Famous people from Knottingley 4 Education 5 Location Grid

Knottingley means "the clearing of Cnotta's people", from the Old English personal name Cnotta meaning "knot", describing a small, round man and -ingas "people of" + leāh "wood, modern lee, not the same meaning as Leah (personal name)". The name was recorded as Cnotinesleahemm in 1128.

During the 3 Sieges of Pontefract Castle, Oliver Cromwell took residence in the town of Knottingley, believed to be in Wildbore House. Wildbore house was demolished and the land beneath was turned into a quarry for the limestone underneath.

Knottingley has a few industries, such as glass works and mining, and more surprisingly ship building.

The town is one of the last in the country to still have a working coalmine at Kellingley Colliery.

Famous Knottingley residents (past and present),include:-

-Ben Thompson, Former Marshall of Austin, Texas

-Terry Cooper, Former Leeds United & England defender.currently southamptons european scout

-Graham Steadman, Former York Wasps, Featherstone Rovers, Castleford Tigers & Great Britain stand off

-Wayne Godwin, Hull FC Hooker, who came through the Castleford Tigers academy.

Knottingley currently has one high school, Knottingley High School and Sports College.

	North: Sherburn in Elmet
West: Castleford	Knottingley	East: Goole
	South: Adwick le Street

Coordinates: 53°42′N, 1°14′W