Market cross
Highburton was known as "Bertone" in the Doomsday book. After the Norman Conquest, the manor was given to the Earl of Warrenne who granted it to the Burton family. They built a manor house at Highburton.The historic old part of the village can be found around the old cross on Slant Gate, Far Dene and Towngate. The cross marks the site of the medieval market, the well worn steps at the base probably date from the 14th century, the shaft and ball from the 18th or 19th. It is a grade II listed building.
Edge Tools and Shovels
Jeremiah Carter established the Carter Edge Tool Company in Highburton in 1740. He had 12 children, some of whom followed the same occupation, as did their children in time. And so the company became a family business. In the 1830s
Jeremiah's great grandson, Robert Carter, carried on the business living at what is now no. 40 Far Dene, Highburton with his smithy just next door. Across the street Henry Carter converted his home into a public house, the Smith's Arms, around 1830. He too was an edge tool maker, as were several future generations of the Carter family. Pigot's directory of 1834 shows 3 edge toolmakers in Highburton - all Carters – Robert, Henry and John. Robert and John made billhooks and other agricultural implements whilst Henry made clogmakers' knives. Around this time the Carters developed a trademark, the initials IC enclosed in a heart shape, and had it stamped on all their tools.
In 1850 Robert's son who was also Jeremiah's great great grandson, Richard Carter, relocated the business to Dene Works, Kirkburton.
See the Kirkburton page for further details of the company after 1850.
The Smith's Arms
The Smith's Arms occupies one of the oldest buildings in the village. It was built in 1669 in Tudor/Jacobean style and has a plaque over its door with the initials of the Roebuck family and the date 1669. Henry Carter, an edge tool maker, converted it into a public house in 1830 (see above).
Highburton Co-operative Society
Shortly before its closure in 2009 this was described as the oldest single store co-operative in the country. The society was established in 1856, but this store dates only from about 1882. In April 1907 the co-operative was fined £2.14s for having in use 7 weights and 2 measures unfavourable to the customer. The inspector stated that the manager had been informed every year since 1904 of the annual adjustment of weights and measures but he had failed to take notice. The faulty weights and measures were also confiscated. The store may have closed as a co-operative in 2009 but happily it re-opened as the village store in December 2010.
The Backs
This row of 'coil oils' and lavvies are of the kind once frequently to be found behind a row of terraced houses - outside lavatories and a place to store the coal which once fuelled every fireplace. They are fast disappearing but this one still stands proud off Slant Gate, Highburton.
The Community Centre
This was once a Church School opened in 1880 with only just over 40 pupils in total. It lasted very nearly a century before a new school was built, though, being
then converted for the use of the community. Kirkburton Parish Council meet there. It was renovated in 1999 with a combination of community and National Lottery funding.
Bridge Steps
The construction of the railway line into Kirkburton in 1867 at first obliterated the old once well used footpath between Highburton and Dean Bottom until the railway company agreed to reinstate it. This involved constructing a footbridge and a long series of steps up the steep hillside. The footbridge was replaced by even more steps in 1980.