A Winter's Tale at Willow Hall Dam

Looking back a year, I'm reflecting on a set of pictures I captured at Willow Hall Dam in Sowerby Bridge. The winter of 2018 felt like it would never end, delivering snow and cold seemingly endlessly. Now, after a much milder UK winter, I can honestly say I have no nostalgia for how truly awful the weather was! It's funny how a few inches of snow can bring the entire country to a standstill, isn't it? We Brits do have a unique obsession with the weather, even when it's just a bit out of the ordinary.

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More Than Just a Dam

Willow Hall Dam is actually two distinct bodies of water. The lower dam serves as a popular fishing lake, while the upper one, looking somewhat overgrown, primarily feeds it. I'm not entirely sure of the dam's original purpose, but with a number of now-vanished mills nearby, I'd hazard a guess it was once crucial for powering local industry.

Surrounded by woodland on three sides, the dam is a favourite spot for locals out walking their dogs. Dam Head Road runs directly across the top of the dam, with terraced housing flanking both sides of the dam head, adding to the picturesque, quintessentially British landscape.

These particular photos were taken on the 18th of March, 2018, using my Nikon D3300 SLR camera. Despite the lingering winter chill, there's a certain beauty to the stark, snow-dusted scenery. It's a reminder of a winter that certainly made its mark, even if we're all happier with the milder weather this year!

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Lost Lines and Echoes of Steam: A Journey Through Calderdale's Railway Heritage

Calderdale, with its dramatic valleys and industrial past, was once a thriving hub of railway activity. Today, I'm excited to share a project that sheds light on this rich history: a short YouTube video slideshow titled "Railway Stations of Calderdale."

This isn't just any slideshow; it's a comprehensive visual journey featuring public domain pictures of nearly every single railway station that has ever served an area of Calderdale. From grand Victorian structures to humble halts, this collection paints a vivid picture of a rail network that once crisscrossed our region.

What's even more remarkable is the sheer scope of this project. Out of all the stations that existed, there were only four that I couldn't track down a public domain image for: Brighouse Clifton Road, Halifax Shaw Syke, Rochdale Road Halt (Stainland Branch), and West Vale Station. For every other station, I managed to find at least one photograph, and crucially, the video also includes a current picture of every station that remains open today. To help you trace their stories, opening and closing dates are included with each image, alongside the estimated re-opening date for Elland, which is currently projected for 2022.

A Heritage Lost, and a Future Imagined

Watching this slideshow is a bittersweet experience. It starkly highlights the magnificent railway heritage that, sadly, we largely 'chucked away' in this area. Of all the closed stations, only Elland and potentially Hipperholme stand a chance of ever seeing trains again.

Imagine the possibilities if we had 'land banked' those closed lines and stations. We could have been looking at a revived Queensbury Lines, with Holmfield or Ovenden Stations providing an invaluable extra route to the north via Keighley. The Pickle Bridge line, with its Baliff Bridge or Clifton Road Stations, could have offered much-needed extra capacity on the route between Huddersfield and Bradford. Think of the impact on road congestion if we had added extra stations at Luddendenfoot, Cornholme, or Portsmouth (Lancs), or at Norwood Green or Lightcliffe.

This video isn't just a nostalgic trip; it's a poignant reminder of what was and a prompt to consider what could have been. It underscores the importance of preserving our infrastructure and planning for the future.

Take a moment to explore Calderdale's railway past – you might be surprised by what you discover!

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Exploring the Ryburn Valley Reservoirs: Baitings and Ryburn

Join me on a picturesque journey around two of the stunning reservoirs nestled in the Ryburn Valley: Baitings Reservoir and Ryburn Reservoir. These images were captured back in July 2018 using my trusty Nikon D3300 camera, a perfect companion for exploring the beautiful Calderdale landscape.

Ryburn Reservoir: A Timeless Water Source

Our exploration begins with Ryburn Reservoir, a vital water source built in 1933. It's gracefully surrounded by a tapestry of ancient woodland and open rural fields, making it a truly tranquil spot. Located just south of the A58, on the edge of the charming village of Ripponden, Ryburn was originally constructed to supply fresh water to the people of Wakefield. There are numerous walking paths around the dam, inviting you to wander through its serene surroundings. For those feeling adventurous, you can even climb further up the valley to reach the higher Baitings Reservoir.

Baitings Reservoir: Head of the Valley

Continuing our ascent, we arrive at Baitings Reservoir, which opened a little later in 1956. Also built to supply Wakefield, Baitings sits proudly at the head of the Ryburn Valley, primarily fed by the River Ryburn itself, along with several smaller streams.

Baitings holds a fascinating secret: during periods of exceptionally low water levels, the original bridge crossing becomes visible. While the water levels were too high to reveal it during this particular visit in July 2018, I was fortunate enough to capture a picture of it on a subsequent trip, which I'll be sure to share with you all very soon in a future post!

These two reservoirs offer not just essential resources, but also incredible beauty and a chance to connect with nature right here in West Yorkshire.

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The pictures above are Baitings Reservoir.

The previous 6 pictures were taken. at Ryburn Reservoir.

Baitings Reservoir in the distance from Ryburn Reservoir.

The previous 3 pictures are Ryburn Reservoir.

Ryburn Reservoir.

Baitings Reservoir.

Baitings Reservoir.

Baitings Reservoir.

Back o'the Heights Road Bridge.

The previous 4 pictures are taken around Baitings Reservoir.

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