Stone Sentinels and Industrial Dreams: A Winter Walk at All Saints Church, Salterhebble

Discovering Victorian Gothic grandeur and the final resting place of a confectionery legend on the hillsides of Halifax.

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The Spire Over the Valley

If you drive along the valley bottom south of Halifax, your eye is inevitably drawn upwards to a needle-sharp stone spire piercing the skyline. It belongs to All Saints Church in Salterhebble, a building that has stood sentinel over this industrial landscape since the mid-19th century.

To walk through its churchyard today, especially amid the rust-coloured bracken and bare trees of winter, is to step back into a time when Halifax was a powerhouse of the Victorian textile industry. It is a place of immense atmosphere, where the roar of modern traffic fades away, replaced by a quiet solemnity and architectural beauty.

The imposing spire of All Saints, framed by winter branches against a crisp blue sky. This vertical composition perfectly captures the church's dominance over the landscape.

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Architects of the Textile Boom

All Saints Church was consecrated in 1858. It was born out of necessity; the industrial revolution had swelled the local population, and the existing chapels could no longer cope.

The church was designed by the architectural partnership of Mallinson & Healey. If you look closely at churches across West Yorkshire, you will frequently find their names. They were the go-to architects for the region's booming mill towns, masters of the "Gothic Revival" style. They didn't just build functional spaces; they built statements of civic and religious pride, designed to emulate the soaring spirituality of medieval cathedrals, constructed from durable local stone.

The church is large, dignified, and solid—a perfect reflection of the confident era in which it was built.

The imposing spire of All Saints, framed by winter branches against a crisp blue sky. This vertical composition perfectly captures the church's dominance over the landscape.

Presented in sepia, the textures of the local stone construction and the rhythmic pattern of the lancet windows are brought to the fore.

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Victorian Views on Death and Status

TheVictorians did not hide away from death; they celebrated it with elaborate rituals and grand monuments. A person’s status in life was often reflected by the size of their memorial in death. All Saints churchyard is a fascinating necropolis, filled with the graves of mill owners, merchants, and the professionals who kept the town running.

While many stones are now leaning, reclaimed by ivy and tall grass, others remain starkly impressive. The grounds feature several significant "chest tombs" and mausoleums—above-ground burial chambers designed for wealthy families who wanted to ensure their legacy was visible long after they were gone.

Victorian funerary grandeur. This large, ornate chest tomb, featuring intricate carvings and cusped arches, indicates a family of significant wealth and local standing.

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A Sweet Slice of History: The Mackintosh Grave

Among the hundreds of weathered stones, there is one that holds a particular fascination for anyone interested in Halifax's commercial history—and anyone with a sweet tooth.

Tucked away in the churchyard is the family grave of John Mackintosh (1868–1920).

Known internationally as "The Toffee King," Mackintosh began his confectionery empire right here in Halifax. Starting with a small pastry shop, his unique blend of brittle English toffee and soft American caramel revolutionized the sweets industry. His company would eventually give the world beloved brands like Quality Street, Rolo, and Toffee Crisp. Standing before his modest but dignified memorial is a direct connection to a global business empire born in this very parish.

The final resting place of the "Toffee King." The inscription for John Mackintosh, J.P. (Justice of the Peace), is clearly visible in this black and white photograph.

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Atmosphere and Shadow

There is a distinct mood to All Saints that changes with the light. On a bright day, the warm Yorkshire stone glows against the blue sky. But when the clouds roll in, or when viewed through the lens of black and white photography, the church takes on a brooding, gothic atmosphere.

The interplay of shadow against the heavy masonry creates a sense of drama, highlighting the intricate carvings and the sheer weight of the history contained within these walls and grounds.

High drama and deep shadows. This monochrome shot captures a large mausoleum nestled against the church walls, emphasizing the gothic atmosphere of the site.

Visiting All Saints

All Saints, Salterhebble, remains a functioning place of worship and a vital part of the local community. When visiting the churchyard to explore its history and architecture, visitors are encouraged to remain respectful of the site as an active burial ground and a place of quiet reflection.

It is a location that rewards a slow walk and a keen eye, offering a profound connection to the generations that built the Halifax we know today.

I took these pictures on the 24th November 2023 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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All the images remain the copyright of Colin Green.

A Forgotten Waterway: Walking the Halifax Branch Canal

The Calder and Hebble Navigation is one of Yorkshire's great industrial arteries, but one short spur holds a particularly fascinating, and largely buried, history: the Halifax Branch Canal. Recently, I took a walk along the small, navigable section that remains today, from Salterhebble Top Lock to the Salterhebble Basin, and was inspired to look deeper into this forgotten waterway.

The Last Surviving Stretch

The walk starts where the main navigation meets the spur. The modern-day journey is short, a serene quarter-mile of placid water contrasting sharply with the busy road nearby. This short section is a peaceful haven, offering moorings and a tranquil reflection of the industrial past.

The basin at Salterhebble, now a calm, boat-filled pool, was once the hive of activity for the main canal's final push towards Halifax before the branch opened. Today, it’s a spot to pause and appreciate the peaceful coexistence of nature and history.

The Buried Climb to Bailey Hall

What many people don't realise is that this short length is just the beginning of what was once a mighty, ambitious climb right into the heart of Halifax. When the branch opened in 1828, it extended for about a mile and a quarter, rising an astonishing 110 feet via 14 locks to terminate at Bailey Hall Basin, near the modern-day railway station and the former Mackintosh (now Nestlé) factory site. This monumental civil engineering feat was necessary to bring heavy goods like coal and stone directly into the thriving industrial town. The canal was crucial, as one horse could haul up to 60 tons by boat, a huge advantage over carting goods over the steep, difficult roads of the area.

An Expensive, Challenging Engineering Feat

The Halifax Branch was notoriously expensive to run. The terrain was challenging, and local mill owners were fiercely protective of the water supply in the Hebble Brook. This meant the canal company couldn't rely on the usual gravity-fed reservoirs.

The solution was a feat of ingenuity: a brick-lined culvert was built to carry water from the bottom of the arm all the way to a reservoir near the top at Phoebe Lane, where a massive steam-powered pumping engine then lifted the water to the highest level. The cost of running this engine and maintaining the long, leaky canal meant tolls were double those on the main Calder and Hebble.

The Ghosts of the Locks

The branch’s life was relatively short; it officially closed in 1942 and much of it was quickly drained and infilled. The route is now largely preserved as the Hebble Trail, a fantastic walking route that traces the canal's former path.

Walking this trail is like following a ghost. You walk over what were once the lock chambers—those well-built stone walls and depressions you see are the tops of the buried locks! It's an incredible sensation to know you're traversing a route where barges once struggled up and down a staircase of water.

Interestingly, the old structures, including bridges and the lock chambers themselves, were so robustly built that demolition would have been too costly. They were simply buried—a fascinating thought for a history enthusiast! Even the aqueduct that carried the canal over the Hebble Brook at Farrah Mill Lane still stands, though it faces problems today.

A Legacy of Industry and Leisure

Though its commercial life ended over 80 years ago, the spirit of the Halifax Branch lives on. The remaining section at Salterhebble serves as a reminder of the colossal ambition that shaped the West Riding's industrial landscape. The Hebble Trail ensures the route isn't completely forgotten, allowing walkers and cyclists to literally walk in the footsteps of the horse-drawn barges of old.

So next time you're in the area, don't just see the tranquil waters at Salterhebble. Take a moment to think about the 14 locks and the 110 feet of elevation that lie buried beneath your feet, connecting the busy present with a forgotten past.

I took these pictures with a Polaroid is2132 camera on the 13th June 2015, 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.

From Mill Smoke to Slalom Gates: A Springtime Stroll Through Historic Sowerby Bridge

 Sowerby Bridge, nestled in the heart of West Yorkshire's Calder Valley, is a place where industrial grit and rolling green hills meet.  This photo set, perfectly captures this unique blend, telling a story of the town’s past as a vital hub of the Industrial Revolution and its present life as a vibrant, water-focused community.

Relics of the Industrial Giants

The town’s landscape is dominated by the enduring structures built on the wealth of textiles and engineering. These buildings, often made of local sandstone, speak volumes about the power and scale of the mills that once drove the valley.

Nothing defines this legacy more than the iconic mill chimney, as captured dramatically against the bright blue sky in your images. The tall, slender structure of the Carlton Mill Chimney stands as a magnificent, slightly defiant sentinel. One photo perfectly frames it through the narrow arch of Old Cawsey, a classic Sowerby Bridge passage. This viewpoint is gold—it juxtaposes the sheer vertical scale of the chimney with the intimate, historic stonework of the side streets, reminding us that industry was built right into the fabric of daily life.

The Waterways: Heart of the Town

Sowerby Bridge’s existence is defined by water. It sits at the junction of the River Calder and the Rochdale Canal, making it a crucial transit point for transporting coal and wool. Today, these waterways are where the town’s historical and contemporary identities collide.

This shot of Lock 2 on the Rochdale Canal beautifully captures the engineering feat of the 18th century. The sturdy stone walls, the white lock gates, and the church tower looming in the background create a picturesque scene that draws in canal enthusiasts and history buffs alike. This lock is a gateway, physically and metaphorically, connecting Sowerby Bridge to Manchester and the broader network of Britain's canals.

The River Calder: From Industry to Adventure

In the heart of the town, the River Calder transforms from an industrial route to a recreational hub. Your photos brilliantly capture the dramatic, rocky sections of the river, home to a surprising watersport facility.

The images showing the Canoe Slalom course—marked by the vertical white poles and the churning water—reveal a hidden, adventurous side of the town. These shots, framed by the old mill buildings and dense greenery, perfectly illustrate the repurposing of the landscape. The river, once used to power the mills like Valley Mill, is now a playground for canoeists. The rugged, rocky terrain makes for a challenging and scenic course, perfect for capturing the spirit of outdoor adventure in a historic setting.

Hidden Gems and Local Life

Beyond the major structures, Sowerby Bridge hides charming, centuries-old corners.

A visit to Sowerby Bridge isn't complete without a nod to the local landmarks. The image of the Puzzle Hall Inn captures a piece of genuine local history—a traditional pub nestled amongst the new. Similarly, the shot of the Town Hall Clock tower, peeking above the spring foliage, reminds us of the civic pride and architectural detail of the town centre. These human-scale photos ground the massive industrial features in everyday life.

The pictures were taken with a Nikon d3300 on the 3rd May 2025, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

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An August Evening in the Pennines: Where Moorland Meets Motorway at Scammonden

Date: August 4th, 2018 Location: Scammonden, West Yorkshire

The Yorkshire Pennines, with their sweeping moorlands and dramatic valleys, hold a timeless quality. Yet, there’s one spot where the ancient landscape collides spectacularly with modern human ingenuity: Scammonden. Looking back at the photographs I captured on an early August evening in 2018, the unique character of this location—a crossroads of history, engineering, and stunning nature—is vividly apparent.

The Scenery: Golden Hour on the Moor

• The Light: The sun, low in the sky, bathes the scene in a warm, amber glow. On a summer evening, particularly following what was a famously hot summer in 2018, this light is intensely beautiful, bringing out the deep, earthy tones of the heather and rough grasses that cover the hills.

• The Landscape: You can sense the vastness of the exposed Pennine moorland—a land shaped by centuries of wind and rain. The slopes look rugged yet inviting, a perfect place for quiet reflection as the day cools down.

This area, high up on the backbone of England, offers a breath taking sense of isolation, a characteristic that makes its juxtaposition with the nearby motorway all the more striking.

The Modern Marvel: The M62 at Scammonden Dam

The M62, the vital trans-Pennine route, here performs one of its most impressive feats. Instead of a conventional bridge, the motorway runs along the crest of a massive structure known as the Scammonden Dam, which impounds the water to form Scammonden Reservoir (or Scammonden Water).

• A World-Class Design: Completed in the early 1970s, this dam was the first in the world to carry a motorway along its crest, and remains the only one of its kind in Britain. It's a spectacular example of multi-purpose civil engineering, solving the problems of both crossing a deep valley and providing a much-needed water supply for Huddersfield.

• The Viewpoint: Your pictures clearly show the elevated position of the motorway, giving an incredible vantage point for drivers and observers alike. The sheer scale of the cutting and the embankment is immense—a lasting monument to the ambition of the mid-20th-century road builders.

The faint streams of traffic in the images—perhaps captured with a slightly longer exposure as the light faded—represent the ceaseless flow of commerce and life connecting the East and West of the country, all happening atop this silent, earth-filled wall.

The Companion Reservoir: Booth Wood

• Booth Wood's Role: Lying just north of the M62 and Scammonden, Booth Wood Reservoir is another important feature in this water-rich landscape, supplying water to Wakefield. Like its larger neighbour, it was completed around the same time, in 1971.

• A Complex Water System: Looking out over Booth Wood, you get a sense of the complex network of reservoirs in this area, catching the water from the high moors and channelling it down to the towns and cities of West Yorkshire. It's a reminder that this scenic expanse is also a crucial utility landscape, quietly sustaining the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

A Village Beneath the Water

Perhaps the most fascinating detail of all lies beneath the surface of Scammonden Water. The reservoir's creation required a significant sacrifice: the valley floor was once home to the small village of Deanhead.

When the valley was flooded, most of the village's structures were demolished. However, the old Deanhead Church was spared and converted into what is now the local sailing club headquarters, sitting on the reservoir's edge—a tangible connection to the community that was displaced. Imagine the history held within the silent water, with the roar of the M62 overhead creating a truly unique historical contrast.

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Scammonden is more than just a stop-off; it is a profound location that tells a story of:

• Natural Beauty: The enduring wildness of the Pennines.

• Human Endeavor: The audacity and scale of its civil engineering.

• Lost History: The ghost of the village that sleeps beneath the dam.

Your photos from that August evening perfectly capture this three-part harmony. It's a place that commands attention, making you pause and appreciate the layers of life, nature, and engineering piled one atop the other.

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Uncovering the Urban Wild: A Stroll Along a Stretch of Halifax's Hebble Trail

There’s a unique charm in finding pockets of forgotten beauty amidst the urban sprawl. On June 13th, 2015, armed with a Polaroid is2132 camera, I ventured onto a stretch of the Hebble Trail in Halifax, specifically the path between Water Lane and Sedburgh Road. What I discovered was a captivating blend of industrial history, rebellious artistry, and nature's resilient reclaim.

The trail itself felt like stepping into a liminal space, a narrow canyon carved between towering walls. On one side, gabion basket walls, overflowing with stones and topped with wire fencing, hinted at past engineering and perhaps flood defences or land stabilization efforts. The raw, exposed rock and mesh provided a stark, almost brutalist aesthetic. Yet, clinging to these walls, and in every available crevice, was an explosion of tenacious greenery – ferns, weeds, and wild grasses pushing through, softening the edges of the man-made structures.

Across the path, older, more ornate brickwork, possibly remnants of bygone industrial buildings, stood as a testament to Halifax's rich manufacturing past. Arched window openings, now mostly bricked in or obscured, whispered stories of bustling factories and forgotten laborers. These walls, however, weren't silent. They were alive with a riot of colour and expression – vibrant graffiti tags, intricate murals, and bold statements painted by countless anonymous artists. One image in particular, a striking green, skull-like creature with glowing red eyes, captured the raw energy and subversive spirit of this urban art gallery.

Walking deeper into this concrete canyon, the path twisted and turned, at times narrowing, at others opening slightly to reveal glimpses of the sky. The ground underfoot shifted from rough asphalt, dappled with moss and fallen leaves, to uneven cobblestones, suggesting an older pathway that once served a different purpose. Litter, unfortunately, was also a constant companion – discarded papers, plastic, and general debris adding to the raw, untamed feel of the place. It's a reminder that even in these hidden gems, the challenges of urban neglect are present.

One of the most intriguing aspects was the presence of the Hebble Brook itself. Peeking through gaps in the foliage and under archways, the dark, fast-flowing water added another layer to the landscape. Its ceaseless movement contrasted with the static permanence of the walls, a natural force carving its way through the man-made environment. The way the brook disappeared into dark culverts and reappeared further along added a sense of mystery, making me wonder what other hidden passages and secrets lay beyond.

The overall impression was one of stark beauty and resilient life. It’s a place where nature battles concrete, where history meets modernity, and where anonymous artists leave their mark. The light shifted throughout my walk – some sections were bathed in bright, diffused light, while others, particularly where the path dipped under structures or narrowed, were shrouded in a captivating gloom. The black and white image, in particular, stripped away the colour to highlight the textures, the stark contrasts, and the interplay of light and shadow, emphasizing the raw, almost melancholic beauty of the trail.

The Hebble Trail, at least this section of it, isn't manicured or picturesque in the traditional sense. It's grittier, more authentic, and in its own way, incredibly beautiful. It's a testament to how urban spaces can evolve, becoming canvases for expression, havens for wildlife, and intriguing pathways for those willing to look beyond the obvious. My Polaroid captured not just images, but the very essence of this urban wild – a truly memorable and inspiring stroll.

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Unveiling the Hidden Arches: A Norland Perspective of Copley Viaduct

The Copley Viaduct, a stoic sentinel of stone and rail, is a familiar and imposing sight to many in the Calderdale valley. Its grand, rhythmic arches, usually captured and admired from the more accessible Copley side of the river, are a profound testament to the ambition and structural ingenuity of Victorian engineering. However, on a crisp 5th of November in 2016, armed with my trusty Nikon d3300, I embarked on a personal quest to unveil a lesser-seen, often-overlooked side of this magnificent structure – the view from the wilder, higher Norland embankment.

The Quest for a New Angle

My intention was born from a desire for a unique perspective. The viaduct, an integral part of the railway line stretching towards Halifax, is the longer and more impressive of the two major crossings in the area. Yet, the rugged Norland bank of the River Calder at this point is rarely photographed. I wanted to see it through fresh eyes, framed by the wild, untamed beauty of the western slope, capturing the interplay between the raw landscape and the man-made marvel.

The viaduct itself, a Grade II listed structure completed in 1852 for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, is a marvel designed by the prominent engineer Sir John Hawkshaw. Its original purpose was to link Sowerby Bridge and Halifax more directly, bypassing the earlier, circuitous branch line. Its 21 to 23 arches (sources vary slightly) elegantly span the valley, crossing not just the River Calder, but also the historic Calder & Hebble Navigation and the Wakefield Road (A6026). This sheer scale and historical importance add immense weight and character to every stone.

An Unrecommended Ascent

The specific viewpoint I sought demanded an ascent. The climb up the embankment was, to put it mildly, a significant challenge. It was a steep, difficult scramble, weaving through thick undergrowth and navigating treacherous, uneven terrain. As I pushed upwards, my mind was half-expecting to encounter a formidable fence at the summit, a clear, sensible demarcation preventing access to the elevated, active railway line.

To my surprise, when I reached the top of the banking overlooking the line, there was no fence. While this offered an unobstructed view, it instantly reinforced the absolute necessity of extreme caution. I maintained a safe and sensible distance away from the active railway lines at all times. The brief moments at the top were only for two quick, carefully composed shots before I commenced the careful and difficult descent back down the banking.

I must stress this point strongly: I absolutely would not recommend anybody else attempt this climb. The risks involved, especially the proximity to a busy, active main railway line like the Calder Valley route, are far too high, and the terrain itself was unforgiving. Safety, around any railway infrastructure, must always be paramount.

The Rewards of the North Bank

The effort, for me, was justified by the images captured, which offer a rare glimpse into the hidden world beneath and beside the viaduct from this unique vantage point.

Looking up from the base of the embankment, the sheer scale of the viaduct becomes strikingly apparent. The imposing, semi circular arches, usually perceived as elegant distant features, now loom overhead, their weathered, rock-faced sandstone a massive canvas of time and history. They dwarf the surrounding trees and give a visceral sense of the colossal effort that went into their construction.

The scene, captured on an autumnal day, is framed by the skeletal trees, stripped bare by the approaching November chill. Their branches reach like gnarled, dark fingers towards the sky, creating natural, gothic frames for the stone arches. The low, crisp light of the day filters through the canopy and between the arches, creating pockets of illumination and deep shadow—a moody, almost ethereal atmosphere that hints at the industrial and natural secrets held within the valley.

The Norland side, less manicured and more rugged, provides a powerful contrast to the structure itself. It reminds you that this incredible piece of Victorian infrastructure was driven right through a landscape that did not easily surrender, a landscape still defined by the steep banks of the River Calder.

The images taken from the top of the embankment offer the true prize: an unprecedented, sweeping view along the length of the viaduct as it vanishes towards Halifax. This perspective, often monopolized by the distant Copley side, reveals the full, majestic sweep of the arches from a parallel, elevated angle—a fitting reward for a difficult photographic quest to see a familiar landmark with completely new eyes.

Clicking any of the images 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.