Copley: A Walk Along the River Calder

A stroll along the River Calder at Copley offers a fascinating glimpse into a landscape in transition. These images, captured in March 2015, show a stretch of the river that has undergone significant change. The area, once dominated by industrial and natural spaces, has since been redeveloped with new housing and industrial units, connected by a new bridge and roads.

---

Echoes of the Past

The riverbanks at Copley once bustled with activity. The Sterne Mills, a site with a history of milling dating back to the 18th century, stood on the north bank. By the turn of the millennium, the site was unoccupied, but its legacy remains. The weir that once powered the mill and a nearby sluice gate are still visible, a quiet tribute to the area's industrial past.

---

A Changing Landscape

The river crossing at Copley has also evolved over time. What was once a simple fording point was later a wooden bridge, then a single-track concrete structure from 1914, before being replaced by the current, modern bridge. This evolution mirrors the larger changes in the area, where new developments now sit alongside historic remnants. This blend of old and new makes the Copley Valley a unique place to explore.

The pictures below were taken on the 8th March 2015 with a Polaroid is2132 camera, clicking on any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

The former sluice gate is all that remains of the mills that once occupied the site.

The weir and modern bridge crossing, the 1914 bridge abutment can just be seen before the metal banking, behind the watermarked col.

The river passing Copley Village, the stone wall to the pictures left is all the remains of Edward Akroyd's Copley Mill which was demolished in 1974, the site is now covered by housing.

This picture was taken from the side of Copley Playing fields looking towards the bridge and wier.

Taken from the south bank, this path used to pass Sowerby Bridge Sewage Works, the site is now occupied by industrial units. I was told once that the river used to be navigable past this point until the canal came and weirs were built to power the mills.

The river again pictured here to the west of Sterne Mills Bridge, the north bank pictured across the river is now covered by housing on what was once considered a flood plain. Just about visible through the trees is the Halifax Bank's Copley Data Centre, opened in the mid 1980's the centre is earmarked for complete closure in 2025.

Please take a moment to share this post, follow me on social media, and explore my work on Clickasnap and Photo4Me using the links below. Your support means a lot!

All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.