Christ Church, Barkisland - 29 December 2014

This set of pictures were taken in the grounds of Christ Church, Barkisland, Nr Halifax, West Yorkshire. The church is Anglican and was opened in 1852 on land donated by William Baxter who lived at the nearby Barkisland Lower Hall, there is a memorial dedicated to him within the church.

The Church was built by Mallinson and Healey who were responsible for the construction of around another dozen churches within the modern Calderdale area, Calderdale only coming in to existence as a borough on the 1st April 1974.  Christ Church was granted Grade II listed status on the 16th July 1984.

I took the pictures on the 29th December 2014 using a Polaroid is2132 bridge camera. They can be seen below or on Clickasnap where they are full size, resolution and un-watermarked.

Thanks for looking and please take a moment to share, all the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Priest Lane and Ripponden Church Spire.

 Ripponden cobbles is a short road known as Priest Lane that runs down from the A58 Halifax Road, passing the Old Bridge Inn, crossing the River Ryburn before ending near to St Bartholomew's Church, Ripponden. The picture below was taken just beyond the Old Bridge Inn looking up towards the A58.

The following 3 pictures show Ripponden Parish Church or St Bartholomew's by its better known name. They were taken at differing angles. 

St Bartholomew's Church occupies a site alongside the River Ryburn in what is considered the historic township of Barkisland, it is very much considered Ripponden now with Barkisland sitting atop the nearby hill overlooking Ripponden. The first place of worship to occupy the site was a small chapel which was consecrated in 1465. A much larger church was built as a replacement in 1610 and again this was replaced when a new church was opened in 1731. The 1610 church having been badly damaged by the flood of 1722 when the River Ryburn rose by over 20 foot, the flooding caused a few graves to be washed away and the deaths of 15 people who all lived nearby. 

The third church to occupy the site lasted until 1867 when the roof was in such a bad state of repair the building was closed and demolished to be replaced by the current St Bartholomew's which opened in June 1870. George Shaw of Saddleworth was the architect and builder. The church underwent repairs to the belfry in 1876, when the nearby Ripponden Mill burnt down and sparks from the fire reached the belfry.  There has only been minor alterations since with windows replaced and a new organ installed. There is a local legend that says the people of Barkisland refused to contribute to the cleaning of the church clock and that is why the clock facing Barkisland is left uncleaned.

The church pictured from across the River Ryburn near to
the Old Bridge Inn. The river rose over 20 feet in 1722.

The church pictured from the B6113 Elland Road (Ripponden Bank).The dirty
Barkisland facing clock face can be seen on the right of the spire.

The church pictured from the abandoned Rishworth Branch Line

The pictures were taken on the 29 April 2017 using a Nikon d3300. Clicking any image should open a link in another window to the version on Clickasnap.

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Scenic Drive Through Ryburn Valley: Scammonden to Sowerby Bridge Pt 1 and Pt 2.

Ever wonder what the winding roads of the Ryburn Valley look like from the driver's seat? I recently took a beautiful walk around the lake beside the M62 and decided to capture the return journey, transforming it into a five-part video series. It was a perfect opportunity to showcase the stunning landscapes and charming villages we passed through.

This video series takes you on a journey from Scammonden all the way to Sowerby Bridge, tracing the Ryburn Valley and passing through picturesque spots like Barkisland, Rishworth, Ripponden, Triangle, and Kebroyd. Each clip is set to music, making for a relaxing and visually engaging experience.

We're kicking things off with Part 1, a 4-minute and 7-second clip. This segment covers the initial 1.1-mile stretch from Scammonden to Withens End Lane in Barkisland. Get ready to see the early views of this scenic drive!

Part 2 takes in the 1.2 mile stretch of road from Withens End Lane to the edge of Rishworth, climbing down the valley and underneath the dam head of Booth Wood Reservoir. This clip last again for 4mins 7secs.

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