EAST ARDSLEY

'East Ardsley' (or Ardsley East) is a village 10 km (6 miles) south of Leeds City Centre and on the outermost fringe of the Leeds Metropolitan District.
East Ardsley though, is closer to Wakefield, being 4 km (2 miles) north of the city, with a Wakefield (WF3) post code. It formed part of the former Municipal Borough of Morley, and is still classed as part of Morley in the census. However, it is technically separate, and is not governed by Morley Town Council.
The village was known as '''"ERDESLAU"''' in the Domesday Book of 1086 and by 1285 the name had changed to '''"ARDESLAWE".''' It is approximately 140 metres (450 ft) above sea level.
East Ardsley had a very diverse economy at one point, including agriculture, textiles, railways and coal-mining. Its coal mine closed in 1968 - the same year that the nearby Middleton pit closed. On the site of the old pithead now stands the IOT plc head office (called Eurocopy up until June / July 2007), this company supplies and services photocopiers. Amblers Mill has now ceased textile prodcution and the building now houses Country Baskets; this is situated at the crossroads of the A650 Bradford Road, Westerton Road and Common Land. The old railway sidings location is now (August 2007) the start of a housing development.
Being in the middle of several large towns, it has become a dormitory settlement.
The M62 and M1 motorways cross near here. The main A650 road from Wakefield to Bradford goes through the village also.
Entertainer Ernie Wise was brought up in East Ardsley.
It is more widely known than the neighbouring village of West Ardsley.

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''East Ardsley - Reflections'' by N & M Brittlebank