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, Mytholmroyd

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 unraveled 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.

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Vintage Rochdale Canal Images.

The pictures below were taken on the Rochdale Canal between Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd in November 2013. I've edited them to give the impression of a vintage photograph with vignette and noise added to increase the effect.

They were taken using a Samsung Galaxy Tablet on November 2nd 2013, they can also be seen on Clickasnap un-watermarked and higher resolution.

Lock 7 Broad Bottom can be found on the canal near the point where Burnley Road crossers over the canal, a short distance from what was once the site of Walkley Clogs. The lock is Grade II listed having been given this status on the 21st June 1984.

Mayroyd Moorings, Hebden Bridge pictured from Station Road Bridge.

Broad Bottom Lane Bridge pictured from Broad Bottom Lock 7, Mytholmroyd.

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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Memorial and Rain, Brearley

The following pictures were taken whilst walking the route 66 cycleway through Brearley, West Yorkshire. I'd set off to walk a loop from my home in Sowerby Bridge, down the valley from Sowerby through Boulderclough, and in to Mytholmroyd before returning along route 66 and the Rochdale Canal towpath.

Along the route, as you pass through Brearley, you pass the murder stone just north of the railway bridge. The stone is a memorial to William Deighton, a tax inspector who was killed in Halifax while investigating "King" David Hartley and his coiner gang. I have previously posted more on the memorial.

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.

Carrying on my walk past the former chapel, now apartments, and through the centre of Brearley, the rain came, and trying to avoid soaking, I sheltered underneath Wheatley Royd Farm Bridge. This didn't work out as planned after nearly 30 minutes of waiting for my weather app to update to tell me it was going to be at least another hour, so I carried on with the walk and the soaking. The following two pictures were taken underneath the shelter of the bridge.

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St Michael's Church, Mytholmroyd

 Mytholmroyd Parish Church, better known as St Michael's Church was consecrated on the 8th September 1848. Built as part of the Million Pound Church act, a scheme officially known as the 1820 Church Building Act, that was intended to start a program of building churches in growing areas. The act was created after research had shown that few new churches had been built since the era of Queen Anne who had died in 1714. The act saw the government contribute over £1.1 million and public subscription raise an additional £1.9 million. Churches built to minimum budgets and became known as Commissioners Churches, Million Pound Churches or Waterloo Churches, a large amount of the money raised being taken from the war indemnity after the Napoleonic Wars.

St Michael's was extended in 1888, with a 2 storey Sunday School following soon after, this was reduced to 1 storeyand converted to the church hall in the 1970's. The church was badly flooded in the 2015 Boxing Day Floods, levels reaching a height of over 4 feet and forcing a closure that lasted for almost 2 years. This was the first significant flooding at St Michaels since the 1940's and has led to more flood prevention work taking place along the banks of the River Calder.

I took theses pictures with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet on the 26th October 2013, I have replaced the sky as the original picture showed a washed out lifeless one.

The River Calder flowing past St Michael's, a little over 2 years later the river burst its banks and rose to approx 4ft above the floor of the church. The buildings to the left were so severely damaged they were demolished shortly after and now it is an open space between Burnley Road and the River.

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Saint John in the Wilderness, January 2015

The Church of Saint John in the Wilderness has served the community of Cragg Vale since 1817. The church is also known as Cragg Church and Marshaw Bridge Church and sits across Cragg Brook from the Hinchcliffe Arms.

The current church that occupies the site was opened in 1839 funded by the million pound act at a cost of £2130. It was built to replace the earlier church on the site which had opened in 1817, a few years after the foundation stone had been laid in March 1813. This earlier church had accommodated 250 worshipers but is larger replacement could now house 800. This was useful when the church was responsible for control of the area as the vicar had the power to force people to attend services and often demanded people leave the nearby pubs to do so.

In 1844 the church was given independence from the Parish of Halifax and the prominent local Hinchcliffe family became more involved with the church, donating and supporting the church in funds and activities. A number of the families graves can be seen within the grounds. It is said the church was visited by the Bronte Family often, this could be due to Branwell Bronte's time spent working as a clerk at the nearby Luddenden Foot Railway Station. Another famous although now notorious celebrity with links to the church is Jimmy Saville who was made an honorary church warden in 1967.

The pictures were taken using a Polaroid is2132 bridge camera on the 10th January 2015. They can be seen here and on Clickasnap.

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Mytholmroyd Railway Station October 2013

 Mytholmroyd Railway Station was opened in May 1847 by the Manchester & Leeds Railway with temporary platforms and buildings, several years after the railway was completed through the Calder Valley. These temporary buildings were replaced by a new station with platforms overhanging Mytholmroyd Viaduct in December 1871 and thats how things remained for over 100 years. In the 1980's some of the buildings that overhung the viaduct were removed, in 1985 the station became an unstaffed stop, and by the decades end the Grade II listed former ticket office and entrance had been bordered up and closed, after new platforms were constructed to the eastern end of the station, the platforms overhanging the viaduct were also removed around this time.

Mytholmroyd Station has limited facilities including a small car park, bus shelter cover on each platform and electronic ticket machines. No refreshment or toilet facilities can be found at the station. In the last full years of passenger numbers the station was used by 45912 passengers. This was for the year 2020/21 during the covid pandemic and was an approx average of 882 per week, down from an average of 3884 per week pre covid.

These pictures were taken using a Samsung Galaxy Tablet on the 26th October 2013. They can be seen below or on Clickasnap full size, resolution and un-watermarked.

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