Wheatley Tunnel and Viaduct: Exploring Part of Halifax's Abandoned High Level Railway

Tucked away in the green, rolling landscape of Halifax, West Yorkshire, lie two magnificent relics of the area's industrial past: the Wheatley Viaduct and the Wheatley Tunnel. These structures were once key features of the short-lived, three-mile-long Halifax High Level Railway, a line engineered to connect the higher and lower parts of Halifax to the wider rail network. Today, the overgrown track bed and imposing stonework tell a haunting tale of ambition, engineering, and eventual closure.

The line, constructed in the late 1880s and opened in 1890, was an expensive undertaking, costing a reported £300,000—the equivalent of tens of millions today. The cost was largely due to the challenging terrain, necessitating two major engineering works: the viaduct and the tunnel.

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The Ten-Arch Giant: Wheatley Viaduct

As captured in some of these images, the Wheatley Viaduct is a spectacular sight. It crosses the Hebble Brook valley with ten magnificent arches, stretching for approximately 200 yards (180m) and towering 100 feet (30m) high. Built primarily from rock-faced stone, ashlar, and blue brick, its curved design is a testament to Victorian civil engineering. It once carried two lines of track, though mapping from the late 1940s suggests only a single line was in use as a freight-only branch.

Today, surrounded by a thick, lush canopy of trees , the viaduct has been reclaimed by nature in many spots, but its sheer scale remains dominating, contrasting sharply with the modern housing estates that now nestle in the valley below. Recent, vital restoration work, completed in 2024, has been carried out to repair masonry, install waterproofing, and secure the structure for the future, preserving this important local landmark.

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Into the Dark: Wheatley Tunnel

Connected to the eastern end of the viaduct is the Wheatley Tunnel, an 810-yard (740m) long dark passage burrowing through the hillside. The entrance to the tunnel is marked by a substantial stone portal, often concealed by dense greenery and reached via a secluded, overgrown cutting, as shown in the photographs.

Images taken inside the tunnel reveal a classic Victorian brick-lined bore. It's a dark, damp, and atmospheric space, littered with debris and marked by the occasional splash of modern graffiti—a silent echo of its use transporting coal and goods until its final closure in 1960. A walk inside is a humbling experience, transporting you back to the early 20th century when it was a vital artery for the region's industry.

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A Short-Lived Legacy

The Halifax High Level Railway's life was brief. Passenger services ceased as early as 1917, lasting just over 26 years. Freight operations, mainly coal traffic, continued until June 1960, after which the line was fully dismantled.

Despite its short operating life, the Wheatley Viaduct and Tunnel are indelible parts of Halifax’s landscape and history. They stand as rugged monuments to the ambition of the railway age, now forming picturesque—if inaccessible—features in the local scenery. These structures, silent and still, offer a unique window into a forgotten era of connectivity in the heart of West Yorkshire.

I took these pictures in July 2020 with a Nikon d3300, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

The Viaduct.

The Tunnel.

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The Historic Heart of Salterhebble Locks

There's a rugged charm to the Calder and Hebble Navigation, a waterway carved into the West Yorkshire landscape to fuel the Industrial Revolution. Nowhere is this blend of engineering, history, and community spirit more evident than at the Salterhebble Locks, a crucial flight of steps that descends from the high ground near Halifax to the main line of the navigation.

These locks—the top and middle ones, captured beautifully in these photographs—tell a story of industrial might, clever design, and the quiet life of the waterways.

The Calder and Hebble: A Georgian Highway

The Calder and Hebble Navigation, an early feat of civil engineering, was constructed in phases starting in 1759, with the main line to Sowerby Bridge completed by 1770. Its purpose was to extend the navigation westwards from Wakefield, creating a vital liquid highway for the transport of coal, wool, and other goods for the rapidly growing industries of West Yorkshire.

The Trio of Locks and the Missing Guillotine

The Salterhebble section features a series of three locks. You can see the Top Lock and Middle Lock here, with their traditional mitre gates and sturdy stone construction. However, what makes this flight truly unique is the final one: the Guillotine Lock. On the day I took these pictures, I did not picture the guillotine lock, I can not recall why, so the picture below is from an earlier set I took in February 2014.

 The Guillotine Lock, found immediately behind the Stainland Road bridge, is a sight to behold. Rather than having two hinged mitre gates, it uses a single, massive, vertical gate that is lifted and lowered like a medieval portcullis. This type of gate is often used to combat high river levels or where space is restricted. It’s a fascinating, modern piece of canal machinery that dramatically contrasts with the Georgian stonework of the locks above it, and is a great reason for boaters and towpath walkers to visit this spot.

Life by the Water: The Lock Keeper's Cottage

These pictures capture more than just the mechanics of the canal; they show the tranquil waters of the mooring pound between the locks, overshadowed by the charming lock keeper's cottage.

This Grade II Listed, stone-built house sits right next to the canal, historically serving as the home and office for the person whose job it was to manage the flow of traffic and water. Today, it is a private residence, accessed by a pedestrian footbridge over the Top Lock. Its location is truly unique—an island of historic peace bordered by the modern hustle of a busy road. The cottage is an integral part of the Salterhebble Basin and its future has been a focus for canal heritage groups.

The next time you walk the towpath or cruise the Calder and Hebble, stop at Salterhebble. Pause to admire the architecture, listen for the rush of the water filling the chambers, and imagine the thousands of barges that passed this way carrying the goods that built the North. It's a place where you can truly feel the history of the industrial age woven into the landscape.

I took the pictures below on the 24th November 2023 with a Nikon d3300, clicking any of them should open a link in another window.

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Stone, Steeple, and Stories: The Enduring Heart of Huddersfield, St Peter's Parish Church

The sunlit stone and towering steeple of St Peter's Parish Church, or Huddersfield Parish Church, are an unmissable landmark in the heart of the town. These pictures, taken on a beautiful clear day, showcase the Grade II* listed building in all its Gothic Revival glory, a monumental presence at the junction of Kirkgate and Byram Street. But this is more than just a magnificent building; it is a repository of history and some truly fascinating tales.

Roots in the 11th Century

The church you see today, with its impressive 135-foot clock tower dominating the skyline, is actually the third church to stand on this venerable site. Its origins date all the way back to the 11th century, shortly after the Domesday Book.

Legend has it that the very first church was established around 1090-1100 by Walter de Lacy, a Norman nobleman, who vowed to build a church after surviving a terrifying fall from his horse into a swampy marsh between Huddersfield and Halifax. A dramatic promise for a dramatic building site!

The Victorian Rebuild and a Cost-Saving Secret

The current, grand structure was built between 1834 and 1836 by the renowned York architect James Pigott Pritchett. The previous 16th-century church had simply become too small for Huddersfield's rapidly expanding population during the Industrial Revolution, and it was also structurally unstable.

In an interesting, and perhaps cautionary, piece of history, Pritchett was tasked with keeping costs down. To do this, he reused bricks from the dismantled 16th-century church in the new construction. While admirable for the effort to recycle, the quality of the old materials was poor, which unfortunately led to the church needing regular, extensive maintenance work almost from the start!

Architectural Highlights and Unique Features

The church is an excellent example of Gothic Revival architecture, characterised by its pointed arches, ornate tracery, and crenellated (battlemented) parapets. But its interior holds some of the most compelling stories and facts:

• The Highest Clock: The prominent west tower, with clocks on all four sides, was deliberately built to an unusual height of 135 feet to ensure the time could be seen from all parts of the burgeoning industrial town.

• The War Memorial Masterpiece: The sanctuary is dominated by a gilded timber Baldachino (a ceremonial canopy over the altar) and the East Window, which together form the parish's First World War Memorial. They were installed in 1923 and designed by the famous early 20th-century architect, Sir Ninian Comper.

• Underground Dining: The church's large crypt now hosts "The Keys" café/restaurant, providing a wonderfully quirky and atmospheric venue for visitors and locals alike, continuing the church's role as a true community hub.

From a dramatic rescue in the 11th century to a cost-cutting compromise in the 19th, and from architectural mastery to a hidden mouse, St Peter's Parish Church is a place that truly weaves the spiritual, social, and industrial history of Huddersfield into its very stone. Next time you're in the town centre, take a moment to step inside and appreciate the stories held within this magnificent building.

I took these pictures with a Nikon d3300 on the 27th May 2023, clicking any of them 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.

A Night at the Gas Works Bridge: Sowerby Bridge's Industrial Past

Sowerby Bridge, a town steeped in industrial history, offers a unique blend of rugged Pennine landscape and a rich heritage shaped by its canals and rivers. As the sun sets and the streetlights cast a warm, golden glow, places like the Gas Works Bridge come to life, telling a story of a bygone era.

Standing on this unassuming pedestrian bridge over the River Calder, you're not just looking at a waterway; you're looking at the lifeblood of an industrial revolution. The River Calder, flowing beneath the bridge, was a key artery for trade, powering the textile mills and feeding the Calder and Hebble Navigation and the Rochdale Canal, which meet just a stone's throw away. This confluence of waterways made Sowerby Bridge a vital trans-shipment hub, connecting the industrial heartland of Yorkshire to the ports of Hull and Liverpool.

But the Gas Works Bridge has its own fascinating history, one that's closely tied to the very name it bears. Built in 1816, this bridge is a significant piece of engineering. Made of cast iron by Aydon and Elwell of Shelf Ironworks in Bradford, it's one of the earliest surviving cast-iron bridges in the Calderdale area. Originally a road bridge, it was widened in the mid-19th century with a steel overlay, and today it serves as a footpath, a quiet walkway for those looking to connect with the town's past.

The bridge's name, however, isn't just a label—it's a historical marker. It was built for Thomas Fearnside & Son of Mearclough Bottom Mill, but it’s the nearby gas works that gave it its enduring name. The former gas works site, located near the bridge, was a crucial part of the town's infrastructure, supplying power for streetlights, factories, and homes. In fact, a gas-making plant was installed in Sowerby Bridge as early as 1805, a remarkably early example of commercial gas production. Though the gas works closed in 1954, the bridge remains as a testament to this important part of Sowerby Bridge's industrial legacy.

As you stand on the bridge at night, the lights of the town and the distant beacon of Wainhouse Tower on the hill create a striking contrast against the dark sky and the reflective surface of the river. The photos capture this atmosphere perfectly—the warmth of the lamplight, the cool blue of the distant town, and the haunting silhouette of bare winter trees. It's a scene that bridges the past and present, a quiet moment of reflection in a place that once thrummed with the energy of industry and innovation. The Gas Works Bridge is more than just a crossing; it's a silent guardian of Sowerby Bridge's history, a place where you can feel the echoes of its industrious past in the calm of the night.

I took these pictures on the 29th December 2018 with a Nikon d3300, 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 into the Heart of Whitby: Where the Harbour Meets History

There are some places that feel like a story waiting to be told, and Whitby is one of them. Nestled on the rugged North Yorkshire coast, this ancient fishing port is a captivating mix of salty sea air, winding cobbled streets, and a history as rich and deep as the North Sea itself. While many are drawn to its Gothic clifftops, a true understanding of Whitby begins at the water's edge, in the bustling town and the timeless harbour that defines it.

The Pulse of the Port: A Living History

Whitby’s lifeblood has always been its harbour. Divided by the iconic swing bridge, which gracefully pivots to let vessels pass, the harbour is a constant hub of activity. Here, the everyday rhythm of a working port is on full display. Fishing trawlers chug in and out, their holds filled with the day's catch, while pleasure boats like the replica of Captain Cook's Endeavour offer a glimpse of the town from the water.

The harbour is also a place of simple, timeless pleasures. You’ll find families huddled on the quayside, lines in hand, engrossed in the great British seaside tradition of crabbing. It’s here that the seagulls, ever-present and vocal, create the classic soundtrack to a day out. As the tide goes out, the mud and sand of the River Esk are exposed, a reminder that this is a place shaped by the very forces of nature.

Whitby's maritime heritage is monumental. It was once a powerhouse of shipbuilding, where legendary vessels—including those for Captain James Cook's epic voyages—were constructed. The town also had a significant role in the whaling industry, a past remembered today by the striking Whalebone Arch on the West Cliff, a powerful tribute to this bygone era.

Wandering the Labyrinth: East and West

From the harbour, the town rises on both sides of the River Esk, each with its own distinct character. On the east, a warren of narrow, cobbled alleys and hidden courtyards invites you to get lost. It's a place where history is etched into every stone, with ancient streets and a market place dating back to the 17th century. Here, independent shops overflow with treasures, including the famous Whitby Jet, a black gemstone polished to a deep shine. Its history, from its formation millions of years ago to its rise to popularity in Victorian England, is as fascinating as the town itself.

Crossing the swing bridge to the west side, the streets open up into a more modern but equally charming area. This is the place for a classic British seaside experience. The air is thick with the irresistible aroma of freshly cooked fish and chips, a local delicacy for which Whitby is renowned. A visit isn't complete without a trip to one of the famous chippies, where you can enjoy your meal straight from the paper while watching the boats bob in the harbour.

Whether you're exploring the historic landmarks, browsing the shops for a unique souvenir, or simply soaking in the atmosphere with a delicious portion of food, Whitby’s town and harbour offer an experience that is both authentic and unforgettable. It's a place that tells a story of discovery, industry, and enduring coastal charm, a perfect starting point for any North Yorkshire adventure.

The pictures below were taken in August 2018 with a Nikon d3300, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

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.