Dewsbury is often presented negatively in the media.

It's often cited as a rundown, post-industrial town where multiculturalism hasn't worked.

Of course to view the town in such terms doesn't do Dewsbury justice.

The town has its problems but there is plenty good about it as reporter Dave Himelfield discovered when he visited the town as a tourist earlier this year.

It's got great places to eat and meet as well as treat yourself.

So you've probably guessed that the list below is tongue in cheek.

We've listed some complaints people may have about the town and mixed in a few myths for good measure.

Then we've turned them on their heads to show that Dewsbury is actually a decent place to live, work and play.

1) It's got no history

A preaching cross from around 850AD, kept at Dewsbury Minster
A preaching cross from around 850AD, kept at Dewsbury Minster

Take Dewsbury Minster for example.

St Paulinus is said to have preached at the crossing point of the River Calder at Dewsbury in 627AD.

A church was established in Saxon times when the parish extended from Wakefield to Burnley, Lancashire.

Some masonry fragments from the eighth and ninth century survive.

The nave arcades of the minster date back to the 12th and 13th century.

The minster's tower and north aisle were added by the famous Yorkshire architect John Carr in 1767.

Patrick Bronte, father of the famous sisters and authors Charlotte, Emily and Anne, was the minster's curate from 1809 to 1811.

Dewsbury's textile industry put the town back on the map from the early 19th century onwards. At one time the town was part of the Heavy Woollen District which made waves - and plenty of money - making hard wearing fabrics for blanket and uniforms.

Yeah. Definitely no history to speak of.

2) It's dreary and miserable

Seriously, how awful is this?

Sunset over Dewsbury towards Halifax Road
Sunset over Dewsbury towards Halifax Road

The view from Foxroyd Lane, Thornhill
The view from Foxroyd Lane, Thornhill

3) You never see any wildlife

A heron in Crow Nest Park
A heron in Crow Nest Park

Sparrowhawk in a Staincliffe garden
Sparrowhawk in a Staincliffe garden

Woodpeckers pictured in Dewsbury

Three Mandarin ducks at Crow Nest Park in Dewsbury. A local mallard keeps a jealous eye out
Three Mandarin ducks at Crow Nest Park in Dewsbury. A local mallard keeps a jealous eye out

4) The town is left to rack and ruin

Just look at these neglected buildings.

Dewsbury Minster
Dewsbury Minster

Inside Dewsbury Town Hall
Inside Dewsbury Town Hall

5) It's an example of failed multiculturalism

Farhana (left) and Siobhan from White Kid Brown Kid
Farhana (left) and Siobhan from White Kid Brown Kid

Dewsbury has its problems but to say it's divided into ghettos where the twain never meets is rather unfair.

The situation may have been engineered for TV but Siobhan and Farhana on Channel Four's White Kid Brown Kid showed that people from Asian and white British backgrounds could get along.

6) There's no culture

Fire Festival at Crow Trees Park, Dewsbury.
Fire Festival at Crow Trees Park, Dewsbury.
Crow Nest Park lake, Dewsbury
Crow Nest Park lake, Dewsbury
Work from the Geometric Friends project in Dewsbury led by Saba Rifat
Work from the Geometric Friends project in Dewsbury led by Saba Rifat

7) The people are all really common

Arts and Culture Festival at Dewsbury Minster - Rod Ismay of the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers with Brooke Lee, 12
Arts and Culture Festival at Dewsbury Minster - Rod Ismay of the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers with Brooke Lee, 12
Farook Yuna and Colonel Mike Butterwick, Commander of the British Army's 4th Infantry Brigade meet outside Zakaria Mosque in Savile Town, Dewsbury on Wednesday 11 May 2016.
Farook Yuna and Colonel Mike Butterwick, Commander of the British Army's 4th Infantry Brigade meet outside Zakaria Mosque in Savile Town, Dewsbury on Wednesday 11 May 2016.
All the fun of the beach at Dewsbury-on-Sea.
All the fun of the beach at Dewsbury-on-Sea.

8) Children are badly brought up and disrespectful

Remembrance service at Dewsbury Cemetery involving schools from the area. Some of the schoolchildren with wreathes and single poppies which were laid at some of the war graves in the cemetery after the service at the war memorial.
Remembrance service at Dewsbury Cemetery involving schools from the area. Some of the schoolchildren with wreathes and single poppies which were laid at some of the war graves in the cemetery after the service at the war memorial.


Have they no manners?

9) There's no pride in the town

This message at Pixelle Print, Dewsbury, seems very fitting for the times
This message at Pixelle Print, Dewsbury, seems very fitting for the times

On the contrary, reporter Dave Himelfield found the town's residents had plenty of fighting spirit despite adverse circumstances when he visited Dewsbury – as a tourist.

10) There's nothing to do

Except maybe an evening stroll along the canal towpath...

Calder and Hebble Navigation Canal, Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury
Calder and Hebble Navigation Canal, Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury

An ice cream at Charlotte's in Whitley

Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour, Whitley.
Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour, Whitley.

Or go see a show at Dewsbury Arts Group

Sweet Charity at Dewsbury Arts Group
Sweet Charity at Dewsbury Arts Group

11) There are no decent shops

Brimelow's is an Aladdin's Cave of rare herbs, essential oils and whole foods

Brimelow's Herbalist, Dewsbury
Brimelow's Herbalist, Dewsbury

As is Greenwood's, which sells an unusual mix of jewellery and army surplus!

John Greenwood and Sons has been in Dewsbury since 1856
John Greenwood and Sons has been in Dewsbury since 1856

12) Nobody from Dewsbury ever amounted to anything

These people were all born in Dewsbury
These people were all born in Dewsbury
Franz Ferdinand bassist Bob Hardy, left, is from Dewsbury
Franz Ferdinand bassist Bob Hardy, left, is from Dewsbury
Dewsbury boxer Gary Sykes sleeps with the Lonsdale belt he reclaimed after winning his British super-featherweight title against John Kays
Dewsbury boxer Gary Sykes sleeps with the Lonsdale belt he reclaimed after winning his British super-featherweight title against John Kays
Yorkshire County Cricket Club Captain Andrew Gale is from Dewsbury
Yorkshire County Cricket Club Captain Andrew Gale is from Dewsbury

13) The schools and colleges are rubbish

If you've seen Channel Four's Educating Yorkshire you'll know that's cobblers.

Thornhill Academy in Dewsbury appeared on Educating Yorkshire
Thornhill Academy in Dewsbury appeared on Educating Yorkshire
Participants from the television programme Educating Yorkshire with the award for Best Documentary, at the 2014 National Television Awards at the O2 Arena, London
Participants from the television programme Educating Yorkshire with the award for Best Documentary, at the 2014 National Television Awards at the O2 Arena, London.
Kirklees College graduates Nadia Sabir and India Tinker at Dewsbury Town Hall.
Kirklees College graduates Nadia Sabir and India Tinker at Dewsbury Town Hall.

14) All the buildings are really ugly

Proper eyesores they are...

Dewsbury Town Hall in the fog
Dewsbury Town Hall in the fog
Crow Nest Park Lodge, Dewsbury
Crow Nest Park Lodge, Dewsbury

15) You can't even get a decent pint

The West Riding Refreshment Rooms at Dewsbury Station which is famed for its real ale and decent grub
The West Riding Refreshment Rooms at Dewsbury Station which is famed for its real ale and decent grub
The West Riding Refreshment Rooms at Dewsbury Station which is famed for its real ale and decent grub
The West Riding Refreshment Rooms at Dewsbury Station which is famed for its real ale and decent grub

This view would put me off my drink

The Leggers Inn, Dewsbury
The Leggers Inn, Dewsbury

16) The parks are rubbish

Dewsbury Country Park
Dewsbury Country Park
The lake at Crow Nest Park
The lake at Crow Nest Park
Crow Nest Park
Crow Nest Park

Yep, total rubbish.

Yes, we're pulling your leg! Like anywhere else, Dewsbury isn't perfect - but if you look, you'll find plenty to love about this little town.

We ran a version of this story in May 2016. Since then we've updated it and added more reasons to the list.