Oxygrainz Bridges and Clough, Rishworth Moor

Amongst the heather-clad moors of Rishworth, on the edges of West Yorkshire, lies a hidden gem: Oxygrainz Clough and Bridge. This charming spot offers a peaceful escape for nature lovers and history buffs alike, combining stunning scenery with intriguing remnants of the past.

As you approach the clough, the ancient packhorse bridge, believed to date back to the 16th or 17th century, stands proudly, a silent witness to centuries of travellers and goods traversing the moors. Imagine weary traders leading laden horses across its weathered stones, carrying essential supplies between villages and markets. The historic bridge was replaced when the Oldham Turnpike was constructed a few metres to the north, allowing for larger goods traffic to cross between Lancashire and Yorkshire.

The clough itself unfolds like a verdant secret garden. A babbling brook meanders through moss-covered stones, whispering tales of a bygone era. Lush greenery carpets the banks, offering a vibrant contrast to the heather-dominated moors above. Sunbeams dance through the leaves, creating a magical, dappled light on the forest floor.

Your exploration doesn't have to end here. Rishworth Moor itself beckons with further adventures. Hike to the summit for panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, marvel at the ancient standing stones steeped in myth and legend, or visit the historic village of Rishworth with its charming pubs and traditional cottages.

The pictures below show the area around both bridges and the clough. They were taken in December 2020 with a Nikon d3300. The un-watermarked and higher resolution versions can be seen on Clickasnap by clicking any images (opens in another window).

The A672 Oldham Turnpike connects Oldham with Ripponden, the bridge replaced the much smaller Oxygrainz Bridge below which was once the packhorse route connecting the 2 towns.

Old and new, the original packhorse bridge, and the replacement turnpike bridge beyond.

Oxygrainz Clough flowing under the packhorse bridge and down Rishworth Moor, eventually reaching Booth Wood Reservoir.

The turnpike bridge viewed from the north side looking south. The M62 motorway is just beyond the hills peak.

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Baitings Reservoir Now Very Low 24 September 2022

Baitings Dam is a reservoir built to supply Wakefield with fresh water, completed in 1956 it is the higher of the 2 dams that block the flow of the River Ryburn here, the lower being Ryburn Dam. Construction cost around £1.4 million and took 8 years to complete, it involved flooding a small hamlet known as Baitings and sub merging the old packhorse bridge that provided a road link between Lancashire and Yorkshire, the bridge still stands and is revealed every time the water level is low. The bridge was replaced by a concrete structure called Back O'th Heights Bridge which gives a good indication of how high the dame is when full by the time marks just underneath the road level. When full the dam can hold over 113,000,000 cubic feet of water, or approx. 703,858,407 gallons.

Baitings is fed by runs offs from the local moorland and is the start of the River Ryburn that flows down the valley eventually reaching the River Calder at Sowerby Bridge approx 6 miles down the valley. It also flows in to the Ryburn Dam a little lower down the valley and built in 1933, also to supply water to Wakefield.

The dam must be somewhere near a historically low level now, the bridge completely uncovered and recently a sluice gate has appeared. I am assuming this was to regulate the flow in to the Ryburn Dam prior to Baitings being built. There was a footpath bridge between this sluice gate and the dam head but the water hasn't got low enough yet to reveal wether this is still there. Maybe a couple more weeks of low rainfall and it might appear if still there.

These pictures were taken on the 24th September 2022 using a Nikon d330 SLR camera, they can be seen below and on Clickasnap full size, resolution and un-watermarked.

The packhorse bridge appearing from beneath the water has gone from a once in decade or so event to every couple of years.

Whilst it's likely that levels have been low enough before for the original dam and sluice gate to appear, this was the first time I had seen them.

The original packhorse bridge, often submerged seen through the legs of it's modern replacement.

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Early Morning at Baitings Dam

Baitings Dam is a reservoir built to supply Wakefield with fresh water, completed in 1956 it is the higher of the 2 dams that block the flow of the River Ryburn here, the lower being Ryburn Dam. Construction cost around £1.4 million and took 8 years to complete, it involved flooding a small hamlet known as Baitings and sub merging the old packhorse bridge that provided a road link between Lancashire and Yorkshire, the bridge still stands and is revealed every time the water level is low. The bridge was replaced by a concrete structure called Back O'th Heights Bridge which gives a good indication of how high the dame is when full by the time marks just underneath the road level. When full the dam can hold over 113,000,000 cubic feet of water, or approx. 703,858,407 gallons.

Baitings is fed by runs offs from the local moorland and is the start of the River Ryburn that flows down the valley eventually reaching the River Calder at Sowerby Bridge approx 6 miles down the valley. It also flows in to the Ryburn Dam a little lower down the valley and built in 1933, also to supply water to Wakefield.

The pictures were taken around dawn on the 19th August 2022, whilst Baitings was at its lowest level for a couple of years. Despite being low and contrary to what local news outlets would have you believe this was not the first time in over 50 years the old bridge was visible, having been seen on at least 3 occasions in the last few years. It was once in a decade event but with the recent summer heat events being experienced in the UK this is becoming more regular.

The pictures were taken using a Nikon d3300 SLR and can also be seen on Clickasnap where they are full size, resolution and un-watermarked, copies can also be purchased there.

The tide marks underneath Back O'th Heights Bridge show the dams level when full.

The former bridge is submerged for most of the year, it's appearances becoming
more frequent in recent years.

The former bridge can be seen beyond it's replacement, this gives an idea of how low
the water level has dropped due to the recent dry weather.

The waterless back of the dam beyond the former bridge, the water level normally
hiding the river that feeds it.

I took this further up the A58 towards Rochdale, looking across the fields in the direction
of the bridges and Baitings Dam.

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Sunrise at Baitings Dam (Single Shot)

Baitings Dam has featured in our local newspapers quite regularly during the recent hot weather, due to how low the water level has dropped. Reading some of them online, they have claimed that the bridge which can be seen in the foreground of the picture has been unveiled for the first time in over 50 years. This is incorrect, whilst it used to be perhaps a once in a decade event the water level dropping so low that the bridge appears, it is now every couple of years. I took a set around the bridge in September 2019 with the level similarly low in the dam, and I believe it has happened again since then.

Baitings Dam is a place I regularly walk my dogs and it was whilst out walking them a couple of days ago I thought i'd try and get up there early and picture the dam and bridges as the sun was rising. The following picture is the first of the set, the others to follow in a few days. The picture can also be seen on my Clickasnap account full size, resolution and un-watermarked.

The picture was taken using a Nikon d3300 SLR on the 19th August 2022.

The bridge in the foreground is the original packhorse bridge that crossed the River Ryburn before Baitings Dam was completed in 1956. Its replacement bridge Back O'th Heights seen behind, the water level at it's highest a couple of feet below it. The sun is rising in the distance with the dam head wall just visible beyond the higher bridge.

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Exploring the Rishworth Branch Line: December 2013

As an avid photographer and history enthusiast, few places capture my imagination quite like the remnants of old railway lines. One of my absolute favorite spots to explore with my camera is the Rishworth Branch Line, a fascinating piece of history that once connected the Ryburn Valley with the mainline at Sowerby Bridge.

This railway wasn't just a simple track; it was a vital link, with stations and halts at Rishworth, Ripponden, Triangle, and Watson's Crossing. Even today, much of the line remains remarkably intact. You can still find a number of old bridges providing crossings over the former trackbed, silently witnessing the passage of time.

A Glimpse into its History

The Rishworth Branch Line was initially conceived as the first stage of an ambitious plan: to shorten the railway connection between Sowerby Bridge and Littleborough by about five miles, by tunnelling right underneath the Pennines. Imagine the engineering feat that would have been! However, this grand scheme was eventually abandoned due to difficulties encountered during the construction of the line to Rishworth.

Despite this, the line itself had a significant life. Authorized in 1865 as part of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, the section to Ripponden was completed in 1878, extending to Rishworth in 1881. Stations opened in Rishworth and Triangle that same year. Interestingly, though built for double track, for much of its existence, only one line was actively used, with the second serving as storage for carriages.

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The Rise and Fall of a Railway

The turn of the 20th century brought innovation to the line with the introduction of motor railcars. This led to the opening of a new halt at Watson's Crossing in 1907, perhaps marking the peak of the line's usage. However, the golden age was fleeting. Growing competition from trams and the burgeoning popularity of motor cars led to a decline in passenger numbers. Passenger service was eventually withdrawn on July 8th, 1929, with only goods traffic continuing.

The line's final chapters saw further closures. The section between Ripponden and Rishworth closed in March 1952 due to engineering issues, and the entire line officially ceased operations on September 1st, 1958.

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What Remains Today

Today, while the station buildings are long gone, along with the former pedestrian bridge, Ripponden Bank road bridge, and the wooden trellis bridge that once connected Rishworth Station with the turnpike, the spirit of the line endures. The Scar Head Tunnel still runs underneath the Norland Hillside (though it's inaccessible), and you can still see the platform at Rishworth, now beautifully reclaimed by vegetation.

Much of the former trackbed is now a fantastic place for walkers to explore, offering a unique journey through history and nature, though it's worth noting that some stretches are privately owned.

These photos, capturing the atmospheric remnants of the Rishworth Branch Line, were taken on December 7th, 2013, with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet. It just goes to show you don't always need fancy equipment to capture the magic of a place!

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Scar Head Tunnel Portal

The former site of Triangle Station

The pictures above were taken on the stretch of former track bed between Scar Head Tunnel and the site of Triangle Station, the following images were taken between Triangle and Ripponden Stations, although nothing remains of either stop.

The former Ripponden station used to sit at the top of the abutment.

The final set of pictures were taken between Ripponden and Rishworth station sites, This section was the last to open in 1881 and also the first to fully close in 1953.

The former trackbed through this section was so wet on the day I was there it resembled a canal rather than the former trackbed of a railway.

The former Rishworth station platform still remained, although largely reclaimed by nature, when I visited it had been 60 years since it had seen a train and 84 since a passenger had waited on it stone concourse.

This was the entrance to Rishworth Station which was reached by a wooden trestle bridge, which constantly had issued regarding stability. The bridge was strengthened in the 1920's and was one of the reasons that led to the closure of Rishworth station in 1953 some 5 years before the rest of the line, when the bridge was demolished.

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