Tucked away at the entrance to the Washer Lane Industrial Estate in Halifax, a remarkable piece of local history stands as a silent sentinel. The Washer Lane Aqueduct, built between 1856 and 1873, is a striking relic from the town's booming industrial era. These images, captured on a lush June day in 2023, reveal its unique character and the fascinating story behind it.
A Landmark Built by an Industrialist
The aqueduct was constructed during the period when John Edward Wainhouse owned the Washer Lane Dyeworks. Wainhouse, a prominent figure in Halifax's industrial landscape, is perhaps best known for building the Wainhouse Tower, a flamboyant folly that dominates the local skyline . The aqueduct, while far less ornate, shares a similar connection to his industrial legacy.
The initials "J.E.W." are visible carved into the keystone of the arch, a personal touch that marks the structure as Wainhouse's creation. The aqueduct was originally built to carry water across the access road, a crucial component for the dyeworks which required a constant and clean supply of water for their operations.
A Quiet End to an Era
The dyeworks closed in 1896, and with its closure, the aqueduct's purpose came to an end. It has stood since as a picturesque, if unused, feature of the landscape. Without access to the top of the structure and with limited information available, it's safe to assume that the aqueduct no longer carries water.
Today, the aqueduct spans the top entrance road to the industrial estate, which runs down from Upper Washer Lane. The old cobbled road, flanked by high, moss-covered stone walls, passes directly beneath its stone arch. The entire scene feels like a journey back in time, a quiet corner of the valley where nature is slowly reclaiming the old industrial stonework.
The aqueduct is a hidden gem, a small but significant piece of Halifax's history that reminds us of the ingenuity and ambition of the industrialists who shaped the Calder Valley. It's a testament to a time when water was the lifeblood of industry and a reminder that even the most functional of structures can become a thing of beauty over time.
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The initials of John Edward Wainhouse can be seen on the centre stone of the aqueduct. Wainhouse owned the dye works from 1856 when he inherited them until he sold it to Henry Mossman in 1873. Because of the initials I think the aqueduct must date from this 17 year period.
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I first wrote about the Queensbury Tunnel in December 2017. Unfortunately, many of the photos from that original post have since been lost. I recently revisited my archives to recover and repost them. You can find the complete collection on Clickasnap. I've also compiled some of the images into a video, available on my website and YouTube. Please consider subscribing to my channel!
This video takes you on a journey along the historic Queensbury railway line, featuring a blend of modern and vintage images captured from Strines Cutting to the former site of Queensbury Station. All historical images and those taken inside the tunnel that are not my own are used under Creative Commons licenses or are of unknown copyright, with credits provided where possible.
Strines Cutting: A Feat of Engineering
Strines Cutting, a formidable railway cutting, marked the approach to the southern portal of Queensbury Tunnel. Approximately 1,030 feet long and 59 feet deep, it was carved directly through solid rock. An impressive aqueduct once carried the Strines/Ovenden Beck over the railway, and remarkably, this bridge still stands today. However, the ground beneath has since been infilled, transforming its appearance into what now resembles a wall across disused land. The majority of the cutting itself has been filled in, with only a short, often flooded section remaining near the tunnel entrance due to persistent drainage issues.
Queensbury Tunnel: A Challenging Construction
The Queensbury Tunnel was a vital link built by the Great Northern Railway, connecting Holmefield Station in Halifax to Queensbury Station, and extending onward to Bradford and Keighley. Construction began in May 1874 and spanned over three challenging years, finally opening to goods traffic on October 14, 1878. Passenger services commenced later, in December 1879, once Queensbury Station was complete. The final stretch to Keighley, however, took another five years to open due to financial setbacks.
Upon its completion, the tunnel stretched an impressive 7,503 feet, making it the longest on the Great Northern Railway and one of the deepest in the country. Original plans for eight air shafts were revised down to seven, and finally to just five, largely due to significant water ingress – a persistent drainage problem that plagued both the tunnel and the cutting. The deepest completed shaft reached a depth of 379 feet, while shaft number five would have extended to 414 feet had it been finished. Around 700 men toiled on its construction, and tragically, at least 10 are believed to have died, with many more suffering injuries.
Decline and a Hope for Revival
The tunnel remained operational until the 1950s. While passenger numbers declined, freight traffic remained busy until after the Second World War. The substantial maintenance costs of the tunnel and cutting made it an early target for closure during post-war economic austerity, leading to what many now view as a shortsighted decision. Passenger services were withdrawn on May 23, 1955, followed by goods traffic on May 28, 1956. The line through the tunnel was then mothballed until 1963 when the tracks were finally removed.
Today, there's an active campaign to reopen the tunnel as part of a cycleway connecting Bradford with Halifax. This initiative faces opposition from engineers proposing a scheme to abandon and fill the tunnel with concrete. I'm hopeful that the campaigners fighting to save this significant piece of railway heritage will be successful in their efforts. To find out more please take a moment to view the site at http://www.queensburytunnel.org.uk/
Strines / Ovenden Beck Aqueduct. Strines cutting used to run to a depth of approx 59ft beneath where I was stood to take the picture.
The southern portal of Queensbury Tunnel after it had been drained to allow engineers to asses the damage inside. The entrance rocks are what remains of Strines Cutting.
This is what the entrance to Queensbury Tunnel normally looks like.
Taken on the former Queensbury - Thornton - Keighley track bed looking towards the former site of Queensbury Station. Opened in 1879 the station was triangular in shape, when opened being one of only 4 shaped that way in England. The station had connections with Bradford, Halifax, Keighley and beyond. The station was 400ft lower than the town and closed to passengers in 1955, and goods, excursion traffic in 1963, other than track bed nothing of the station now remains.
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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.
