The Rochdale Canal from Mytholmroyd to Moderna

There's a special kind of magic to be found along the old towpaths of England's canals. On a quiet July day, a walk along a short stretch of the Rochdale Canal in West Yorkshire offers a journey back in time, connecting the bustling village of Mytholmroyd to the tranquil stretch toward Moderna.

Starting near Bridge 10 in Mytholmroyd, you immediately feel the canal's rich history. The stone arches, weathered by centuries of rain and traffic, frame the waterway perfectly. Here, you're surrounded by a mix of old stone buildings and lush greenery, a testament to how nature and industry have coexisted for generations. The cool, damp air under the bridge is a sensory experience, a brief and refreshing escape from the open sky.

As you emerge from the tunnel of the bridge, the path opens up. The gentle ripples on the water reflect the cloudy sky and the towering green hills that hug the valley. The path itself is a mix of packed earth and gravel, worn smooth by the countless feet of boatmen, walkers, and cyclists over the years. You'll pass industrial buildings that stand as silent reminders of the canal's working past, their reflections shimmering on the water’s surface. Yet, the scene feels far from industrial. The constant, soft sound of the water, the rustling of leaves, and the occasional bird call create a soothing soundtrack for your walk.

The route from Mytholmroyd is a testament to the canal's blend of rural and urban landscapes. One moment you're passing modern buildings, and the next you're enveloped in a tunnel of trees, where the light dapples through the leaves onto the path. This is especially true as you approach Moderna Bridge 9. The path narrows, and the greenery becomes more dense, almost reclaiming the land. This part of the canal is particularly peaceful, with the water often still enough to provide a perfect mirror image of the trees and sky. It's a place to pause, to breathe in the quiet, and to appreciate the simplicity of a world moving at a slower pace.

Whether you're looking for a peaceful stroll, a bit of local history, or just a beautiful backdrop for a morning walk, the section of the Rochdale Canal between Mytholmroyd and Moderna is a perfect choice. It’s more than just a path; it’s a living piece of history that invites you to be a part of its story.

I took these pictures with a Nikon d3300 on the 21st July 2018, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

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A Journey Through Time: Mytholmroyd Railway Station

 On the last day of 2018, with my Nikon D3300 in hand, I took a stroll around Mytholmroyd, a village nestled in the heart of the Calder Valley. My destination was the railway station, a place that, like many others in this industrial landscape, holds a wealth of history and a quiet dignity. The photos I captured on that day tell a story of a place in transition—a past of industrial grandeur giving way to a new future.

The Old Station Building: A Glimpse into the Past

The most striking feature of the station is the original building. This Grade II listed building, with its rugged sandstone and classical lines, stands as a testament to the Victorian era of railway expansion. Opened in 1871 by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, it was once the bustling hub of the community, complete with a booking hall, stationmaster's house, and waiting rooms. For many years, however, it sat derelict and boarded up, a sad sight for a building of such importance.

What the photos don't fully capture is the incredible story of its revival. After decades of neglect, a dedicated group of local volunteers, the Mytholmroyd Station Partnership, began a long-running project to bring it back to life. Their work, supported by grants from organizations like the Railway Heritage Trust and Northern, aims to transform the building into a creative community hub, breathing new purpose into this historic landmark.

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The Viaduct and the Modern Station

The station is uniquely situated atop a magnificent viaduct, a feat of 19th-century engineering. The viaduct itself was built by George Stephenson and dates back to 1840, making it even older than the station building it now supports. From the street below, the imposing stone arches give a sense of the scale and ambition of the railway age.

While the old building was awaiting its new lease on life, the modern station was already serving the community. With two platforms, it's a vital part of the Calder Valley Line, connecting the village to major cities like Leeds and Manchester. The station is known for having step-free access to its platforms, a rare and helpful feature for a station built on a viaduct. The contrast between the old, unused entrance and the bustling modern platforms tells the story of a place that, despite its challenges, remains a crucial link for the people of Mytholmroyd.

Clicking any of the images below should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

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Remembering Walkley Clog Mill (Canal Wharf Mills)

Nestled between the bustling towns of Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd, a silent sentinel of the industrial past once stood: Walkley Clog Mill, also known as Canal Wharf Mills. These images capture the mill in its later years, a testament to its imposing presence and the passage of time before its tragic destruction by fire.

From these photographs, we can discern the formidable stone structure of the mill, characteristic of the industrial architecture of the Pennine region. Its multi-story facade, punctuated by numerous windows, some sadly broken or boarded up, speaks to a history of industry and the hands that once toiled within its walls. The sheer scale of the building is evident, dominating the landscape and hinting at the significant role it played in the local economy.

One image shows the mill standing proudly alongside the River Calder, which would have been a vital source of power and transport for the mill's operations. The juxtaposition of the weathered stone and the verdant foliage, with trees and undergrowth reclaiming parts of the structure, paints a picture of a building slowly being absorbed back into nature.

Another perspective reveals its prominent roadside position, suggesting its accessibility and importance as a hub of activity. The surrounding landscape, with its characteristic hills and greenery, further emphasizes the mill's integration into the rugged beauty of the Calder Valley.

While the images capture a building in decline, they also hint at its former grandeur and the stories it held within its thick stone walls. Walkley Clog Mill was more than just a building; it was a living piece of local history, a tangible link to the area's clog-making heritage and broader industrial past.

Sadly, this iconic landmark met a devastating end, consumed by fire. These photographs serve as a poignant reminder of what was lost, allowing us to reflect on the mill's architectural character, its historical significance, and the enduring legacy of the industries that shaped this corner of West Yorkshire. Though the mill itself is gone, its memory, and the stories embedded in its very foundations, continue to echo through the valley.

I took these pictures with a Nikon d3300 on the 21st July 2018, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

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Hawksclough Bridge: A Walk Through Myth and History

Nestled amidst the rolling hills of the Calder Valley, in the charming Yorkshire village of Mytholmroyd, lies the Grade II listed Hawksclough Bridge. This seemingly unassuming structure, crafted from the warm embrace of local sandstone, is more than just a passage over the River Calder. It's a bridge woven with myth, whispered secrets, and the echoes of a bygone era.

As you stand upon its weathered stones, the gentle gurgle of the water below serenades you, transporting you back in time. Legend has it that the bridge was built by the devil himself, enticed by a wager with a local builder. The deal? The bridge's completion within a night was in exchange for the builder's soul. But as the rooster crowed, signalling the dawn, the bridge remained unfinished, just one stone short. The devil, cheated of his prize, vanished in a puff of brimstone, leaving behind the incomplete bridge as a testament to his trickery.

While the truth behind the bridge's construction is likely less fantastical, the myth adds a touch of magic to its history. It's a reminder that even the most ordinary structures can hold extraordinary stories, waiting to be unravelled by the curious mind.

But Hawksclough Bridge is more than just a relic of the past. It's a vibrant part of the Mytholmroyd community. Children clamber along its edges. Artists capture its rustic beauty in their paintings, and photographers find endless inspiration in its weathered nooks and crannies.

Below are a set of pictures taken at the bridge with a Nikon d3300 in July 2024, Clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

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A Timeless Walk on the Rochdale Canal

There's something about a vintage photograph that adds a layer of timelessness, and when applied to the landscape of the Rochdale Canal, it feels like a journey back in time. On a crisp November day in 2013, I took a walk along the stretch between Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge, armed with a Samsung Galaxy tablet. The images I captured, edited to have a sepia-toned, aged look, seem to echo the long and storied history of this waterway.

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A Glimpse into the Past

This section of the canal is particularly beautiful, winding through the heart of the Calder Valley. The path is often muddy and strewn with autumn leaves, and the trees, stripped bare of their foliage, reveal the skeletal beauty of the landscape. As the path meanders, you pass under stone bridges, their arches a constant reminder of the 18th-century engineering that created this vital transport link. These bridges, with their worn brickwork and mossy undersides, look as though they have stood for centuries, watching the world change around them. The canal itself is a mirror, reflecting the grey sky and the surrounding hills. Lock 7, with its white-painted lock gates, stands out against the muted tones of the landscape, a functional and artistic focal point. You can almost imagine the sound of the locks creaking open and the rush of water as barges passed through, a scene that played out for generations.

Where Nature and Industry Meet

As you continue towards Hebden Bridge, the canal becomes more populated with boats. Moored narrowboats, their names and histories hidden from view, float peacefully on the water, adding a touch of colour to the otherwise monochromatic landscape. The scene, captured from a higher vantage point, shows the canal snaking through the trees, a ribbon of water connecting the villages of the valley. It's a striking image of how nature and human-made industry have coexisted for over two centuries.

A Photographic Journey

Using a tablet to create these vintage-style photos felt like a fascinating experiment. The editing process transformed the modern digital images into something that felt like a glimpse into a bygone era. It highlighted the enduring beauty of the Rochdale Canal, showing that while technology and life move on, some places retain a timeless quality that transcends the decades.

This walk from Mytholmroyd to Hebden Bridge isn't just a physical journey but a historical one, too. It’s a chance to see the landscape through a different lens and appreciate the stories etched into every stone, every lock, and every reflection on the water.

Clicking any of the images below should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

Located a short distance from where Burnley Road crosses the canal, Lock 7 Broad Bottom is a Grade II listed structure. It was granted this status on June 21, 1984, and is situated near the former site of Walkley Clogs.

A classic shot of the peaceful Mayroyd Moorings in Hebden Bridge, taken from the historic Station Road Bridge overlooking the canal.

A view of the Broad Bottom Lane Bridge from Lock 7 in Mytholmroyd, a tranquil spot on the Rochdale Canal.

Bridge 12, Westfield Terrace Bridge, the canal had been drained for a stretch here, I can not remember why and for how far it stretched.

Mayroyd Bridge near the moorings at Hebden Bridge.

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A Walk in the Rain: Exploring Brearley and the Route 66 Cycleway

There’s a unique beauty to the Calder Valley when it's raining. The greens become richer, the stone walls darker, and the atmosphere takes on a moody, contemplative quality. My recent walk, a loop starting from home in Sowerby Bridge and leading through Boulderclough and Mytholmroyd before returning along the Route 66 cycleway, offered a perfect, if soggy, opportunity to experience this.

The Murder Stone: A Dark Tale on a Pleasant Path

The Route 66 cycleway, is a well-loved trail for cyclists and walkers alike. As you pass through the hamlet of Brearley, just south of the railway bridge, you encounter a fascinating and rather macabre piece of local history: the memorial to William Deighton.

The "murder stone," as it's known, is a solemn reminder of a brutal crime. The memorial commemorates William Deighton, a tax inspector who was killed in Halifax while investigating the notorious coin counterfeiter "King" David Hartley and his gang. The stone, with its weathered, skeletal carving and a fragment of text, stands as a chilling artifact of a time when the law in this part of Yorkshire was a dangerous business. The photographs capture the stone in its atmospheric setting, nestled in the long grass beside the path, a quiet and unexpected monument to a violent past.

The path is part of the Route 66 cycleway (bridleway), with the railway bridge seen at the top of the picture and the green metal wall.

Underneath the skeletal artwork reads the following: A full and true account of a barborous, bloody, and inhuman murder. There is further artwork below this writing.

A Shelter, and a Soaking

Carrying on my walk past the former chapel, now converted into apartments, and through the heart of Brearley, the skies opened up. The rain, which had been threatening all morning, finally began to pour. Seeking shelter, I ducked under the arch of the Wheatley Royd Farm Bridge. It was a temporary reprieve, a dry spot from which I could watch the rain stream down the stone walls of the bridge and form rivulets on the path. The view from under the bridge, a framed shot of the lush, wet greenery beyond, was a beautiful moment of calm.

However, after nearly 30 minutes of waiting, with my weather app stubbornly refusing to offer any hope of a quick clearing, I conceded defeat. The path ahead called, and there was nothing for it but to embrace the inevitable soaking.

The images from the walk, from the striking memorial to the moody, rain-soaked landscapes of the Calder Valley, tell the story of the day perfectly. They capture the unique blend of history, nature, and unexpected weather that makes walking in West Yorkshire such a rewarding experience, even when you end up soaked to the skin.

Clicking any image should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

 

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.