Although the first known written mention of the name Scammonden does not appear until 1275 (in the Wakefield Court Rolls) it would seem from the makeup of the word itself that its origins go back much further. The first part seems to be a Scandinavian personal name "Skambani" formed from the Old Norse words 'Skammer' (short/brief) and 'bani' (slayer) and the second part comes from the Old English 'denu' (valley).
Lying west of Huddersfield, Scammonden Valley was deeply secluded and cut off from the Colne Valley by a ridge of great height. Along this ridge ran the Roman road from Manchester (Mancunium), passing on its way other Roman communities at Castleshaw and Slack and enabling communication with York. In AD 79-80 Agricola reputedly founded the fort at Slack which covered about three acres and held a regiment of five hundred men. The accommodation included barracks for centurions and men, a fine bath house, granaries and even a cemetery. The fort seems to have been abandoned c.AD 122 and the garrison took with it all articles of value. During the years of occupation the local inhabitants were leniently treated and some examples of British manufacture have been found, thus emphasising the close links between native and invader.
Four centuries after the Roman withdrawal saw renewed invasions, this time from northern Europe. The story of the Angles and Danes in this district would fill a book, and so suffice it to say that there is evidence for Scandinavian occupation of the Scammonden district, notably the name itself as already mentioned.
Of the years up to the sixteenth century there is little evidence relating to life in the Scammonden valley. We do know, however, that the place was inhabited, for in 1301 the Archbishop of York sent a mandate to the Dean of Pontefract in respect of Elias the Smith of Skambaynden and in 1349 6s. 8d. tithe of sheaves of hay was received as the portion of Huddersfield Church.
The area in 1555 was described as
" ... grete wastes and moores, where the fertilitie of grounds ys not apte to brying forthe any corne nor good Grasses, but in rare Places, and by exceedings and greate industrye of the inhabitantes altogether doo Iyve by clothe making, for the greate parte of them neyther gette the corne nor ys hable to keepe a Horse ... "
Already people were subsisting by cloth making to supplement their inadequate living from the land. The cloth thus made, if any was left after the famiIy had been clothed, would be taken to market at Almondbury perhaps. Huddersfield did not have a market until 1671.
Scammonden Moor was enclosed in 1814. Under the Act of that year the commons could be divided up and cultivated. Drystone walls divided the land and more houses were built in the 'intakes' into the commons. Scammonden and Deanhead in 1821/2 comprised a population of 822, mostly living by cloth-making and farming combined.
By the late 1850s Scammonden had a population of about 1,000 souls and seemed to be an ideal place for the siting of a cotton mill. This project was the enterprise of a Company formed in 1861: The Scammonden Commercial Cotton Spinning Company with a capital of £30,000 in £5 shares. 25 acres of land were bought at £70 an acre and building went ahead in spite of the shortage of available cotton due to the American Civil War. Unfortunately by the time the sixth storey was completed there was no cotton to be had and the mill never opened its doors. It was sold in 1868 and resold in 1897 for £250, the mill had cost £6,000 to build. The remains of this mill can be seen downstream of the dam.
Population declined during the second half of the last century and by 1901 only 360 people lived at Scammonden. Most drifted to the towns, some left altogether for pastures new.
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