Colin Green Photography: Victorian Heritage

Showing posts with label Victorian Heritage. Show all posts

Tuesday, 2 June 2026

A Corinthian Masterpiece in Transition: Huddersfield Railway Station, 27th May 2023

Standing in the heart of West Yorkshire, Huddersfield Railway Station is more than just a transit hub; it is a "palace of the people." On the 27th of May 2023, the station stood as a poignant bridge between two worlds: its storied 19th-century past and a multi-billion-pound future. As the spring sun hit the gritstone facade, the station wasn't just a place to catch a train to Manchester or Leeds—it was a living monument to architectural ambition and industrial pride.

The grand, classical facade of Huddersfield Railway Station, featuring a large portico with Corinthian columns and a central clock. In the foreground is the open stone pavement of St George's Square, featuring the bronze statue of Sir Harold Wilson under a clear blue sky.

A white and blue Northern Railway train is stopped at a covered platform at Huddersfield Railway Station. Signs for the "Waiting room" and "Buffet" are visible on the left wall, and passengers are seen sitting on benches in the distance under the Victorian ironwork roof.

A wide view of the interior of Huddersfield Railway Station showing the complex steel truss roof. In the foreground, a blue metal railing surrounds a stairwell, and a modern glass lift shaft stands to the left. Other platforms and tracks are visible across the station under the industrial canopy.

The "Most Splendid" Facade in England

Arrival at St. George’s Square immediately presents you with one of the most celebrated sights in British rail. Designed by James Pigott Pritchett and completed in 1850, the station’s neoclassical frontage is often described as the finest in the country.

The centrepiece is the massive Corinthian portico, featuring six towering columns that give the building the appearance of a Roman temple or a grand stately home rather than a railway terminus. It is no wonder that the legendary poet Sir John Betjeman famously described this frontage as "the most splendid in England." In May 2023, this Grade I listed beauty remained the crown jewel of the town, standing firm while the platforms behind it prepared for a generational shift.

A Statue in the Square: The Legacy of Harold Wilson

Guarding the entrance on that May afternoon was the bronze statue of Sir Harold Wilson, the Huddersfield-born statesman who served as Prime Minister twice. Unveiled in 1999 by Tony Blair, the statue depicts Wilson in a characteristic stride, pipe in hand (symbolically, if not physically), looking toward the town he called home.

For travellers passing through on May 27th, the statue served as a reminder of the town’s political weight. Wilson’s "white heat of technology" speech in the 1960s seems particularly apt today as the station undergoes its most significant technological overhaul since the Victorian era.

The Transpennine Route Upgrade: Change is in the Air

By May 2023, the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) was no longer a distant plan—it was a visible reality. This massive project aims to electrify the line between Manchester and York, bringing faster, greener, and more reliable journeys to the North.

Visitors on this day might have noticed the subtle signs of preparation:

Platform Reconfiguration: Work was beginning to bubble under the surface to lengthen platforms to accommodate longer, more modern trains.
Heritage Preservation: While the goal is modernization, the TRU team has been tasked with the meticulous restoration of the station's "Euston-style" roof canopy, one of the few remaining examples of its kind.
The Tea Room: Even the Grade II listed Victorian tea room was being prepared for its own journey—a careful "dismantle and rebuild" process to ensure it remains part of the station’s soul.

Felix and Bolt: The Station’s Famous Residents

No visit to Huddersfield Station is complete without a mention of its most famous staff members: Felix and Bolt, the Senior and Junior Pest Controllers. These two cats have become global celebrities, with their own Facebook page and a dedicated following. On a warm May day, eagle-eyed commuters might have spotted them patrolling Platform 1 or lounging in the station's administrative offices, unbothered by the looming construction and the rush of commuters.

The Station as a Community Hub

Beyond the trains, the station serves as a social anchor. Flanking the main entrance are two of the best station pubs in the UK: The Head of Steam and The King’s Head. In late May, with the bank holiday weekend approaching, these venues were bustling with locals and "Rail Ale Trail" enthusiasts enjoying craft ales beneath high Victorian ceilings.

Why May 27th, 2023, Was Significant

This particular date sat at the precipice of the "Big Blockade." Shortly after this period, the station saw major service changes and temporary closures to allow for the heavy lifting of the TRU project. Capturing the station on this day was like taking a snapshot of a titan before it went into surgery—still magnificent, still functional, but aware that things were about to change forever.

Looking Ahead: Huddersfield in 2026 and Beyond

As we look back from 2026, the progress is staggering. The station is on track to fully reopen in its new form by early 2027, featuring:

Full Electrification: Slashing carbon emissions and improving air quality.
Step-Free Access: A new footbridge and lifts making the station accessible to everyone.
Increased Capacity: More frequent trains and more seats for the trans-Pennine commute.

Huddersfield Railway Station remains a testament to the idea that we don't have to destroy the past to build the future. Its Corinthian columns still stand tall, Harold Wilson still strides across the square, and the spirit of West Yorkshire remains as resilient as the stone the station was built from.

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Friday, 24 April 2026

Hidden Histories: Walking the 1850s Victorian Snicket of Sowerby Bridge

There is a specific kind of magic found in the narrow, stone-walled passages of West Yorkshire. Locally known as "snickets"—or "ginnels" and "alleys" depending on which side of the hill you stand—these pedestrian arteries are more than just shortcuts. They are the connective tissue of industrial history.

On a quiet afternoon on 14 July 2024, I set out to document one of Sowerby Bridge’s most atmospheric examples: the ancient snicket that climbs the steep terrain between Wharf Street and Beech Road.

A bright, narrow alleyway paved with uneven stone setts. The path is tightly sandwiched between two high stone walls. The left wall is topped with thick green ivy and vibrant garden plants, including purple flowers, which lean over the path. Small weeds and grasses grow in the cracks of the cobblestones.

A perspective shot looking down a narrow, cobbled pedestrian alleyway (snicket) lined with aged dry-stone walls. Dense green ivy and overhanging trees cover the left wall, while a tall green wooden fence sits atop the right wall. The path is made of weathered stone setts and recedes into a shaded bend.

A Portal to the 1850s

While much of the modern world has been paved over with asphalt and concrete, this particular snicket remains a stubborn holdout of the Victorian era. If you consult the Ordnance Survey maps from the 1850s, you will find this exact path etched into the landscape.

In the mid-19th century, Sowerby Bridge was a burgeoning hub of the Industrial Revolution. While the wealthy mill owners built their grand villas higher up the valley sides to escape the smog, the workers navigated these steep stone chutes to reach the canal basins and textile mills below. Walking here today, you aren't just taking a stroll; you are retracing the footsteps of generations of weavers, canal men, and Victorian families.

The Anatomy of a Yorkshire Snicket

What makes the Sowerby Bridge Snicket so visually arresting is its construction. As seen in the photographs, the path is defined by two primary elements: Dry stone walling and setts.

The Walls: Sentinels of Gritstone

The walls lining the path are masterpieces of functional masonry. On one side, you have the classic gritstone blocks, weathered by nearly two centuries of Pennine rain. These stones have turned a deep, soot-stained grey, a permanent reminder of the town’s coal-burning past. On the other side, moss and ivy have begun to reclaim the stone, turning the narrow corridor into a "living" tunnel of green.

The Ground Beneath Your Feet

The path is paved with traditional stone setts (often misidentified as cobblestones). These were essential for providing grip on the steep incline. Even on a damp July day, the uneven texture of the setts offers a tactile connection to the past. You can see where the stones have shifted slightly over the decades, creating a rhythmic, undulating floor that forces you to slow down and mind your step.

Exploring the Path: From Beech Road to Wharf Street

Starting at the top near Beech Road, the snicket feels secluded and almost suburban. Large garden fences and overhanging trees create a lush canopy. As you descend, the atmosphere shifts. The walls seem to grow taller, and the space becomes more intimate.

The Steep Descent

A view from the bottom of a narrow stone path looking toward a steep flight of dark stone stairs. The path is enclosed by high, moss-covered stone walls and a tall green fence on the left. Lush green foliage and tree branches form a natural canopy overhead, creating a tunnel-like effect.

One of the most striking features of this route is the sudden transition into stone steps. In this photograph the path plunges downward. This engineering was a necessity for the "vertical" towns of the Calder Valley. The transition from a flat-ish walkway to a steep staircase highlights the rugged geography that defined the lives of those living here in the 1850s.

Summer Growth and Hidden Colours

Though we often think of the industrial North as grey and bleak, the images captured on July 14th tell a different story. The height of summer has brought a riot of vegetation to the snicket:

Ivy (Hedera helix): Creating a thick carpet over the old stones.
Ferns: Tucked into the damp crevices where the mortar has crumbled.
Wildflowers: Splashes of purple Buddleia and yellow Crepis peeking over the walls.

This greenery softens the hard edges of the stone, turning an industrial relic into a scenic urban nature trail.

Why These Spaces Matter Today

In an age of high-speed transit and digital maps, why should we care about a 170-year-old alleyway?

Pedestrian Heritage: These paths represent a time when the human scale was the only scale. They encourage "slow travel" and offer a car-free sanctuary through the heart of the town.
Architectural Integrity: The snicket provides a raw look at Victorian civil engineering that hasn't been "sanitized" for tourism. It is authentic, gritty, and beautiful.
Local Identity: For the people of Sowerby Bridge, these snickets are part of the town’s DNA. They are the "secret" routes known to locals, offering a sense of place that a main road never could.

Photography Tips for Snickets and Alleys

Capturing the beauty of a narrow stone passage like the Sowerby Bridge Snicket requires a few specific techniques, as demonstrated in this set:

Leading Lines: Use the walls to draw the viewer’s eye toward the centre of the frame. This creates a sense of depth and pulls the audience into the "journey" of the path.
Manage Your Light: Snickets are notoriously shadowy. Shooting on a bright but overcast day (like this July day) helps prevent harsh highlights while ensuring the greens of the foliage remain vibrant.
Focus on Texture: Don’t be afraid to get close to the walls. The contrast between the rough gritstone and the soft moss makes for incredible detail shots.

Conclusion

The snicket running from Beech Road to Wharf Street is a small but significant thread in the tapestry of West Yorkshire. It has survived the arrival of the railway, the decline of the mills, and the rise of the automobile. As we look at these images from 2024, we are looking at a view that a Victorian resident from 1854 would still largely recognize.

Next time you find yourself in Sowerby Bridge, skip the main road for a moment. Step into the shadows of the stone walls, feel the setts beneath your boots, and take a short walk through history.