Hunger Hills Wood

The name Hunger Hills derives from the Old English/Norse word 'Hangra' as meaning a wooded hillside. The northern fringe of the Yorkshire coal-field is close to the surface here in Horsforth, and many 'Bell pits' were dug on the hill to exploit it for local use. In 1785 as way of disguising the earthworks W S Stanhope of Horsforth Hall planted 3000 saplings to create a 'riding' - a scenic woodland bridleway. later enlarged it has become known as Hunger Hills or locally as The Bluebell wood.