Discovering History at St Peter's Church, Langley Burrell, Wiltshire

Sometimes, the most unexpected detours lead to the most fascinating discoveries. That's exactly what happened on May 5th, 2018, while on a work trip to the Wavin site in Chippenham, Wiltshire. Driving along the B4069 from the M4, a discreet sign for "St Peter's Church" caught my eye. Knowing I was staying nearby, a seed of curiosity was planted, promising a potential evening exploration – a welcome diversion from the usual work routine.

With no dedicated camera gear, just the trusty lens of my LG mobile phone, I embarked on a spontaneous photographic journey. The church itself is a hidden gem, nestled in a secluded spot remarkably close to the road, yet easily missed without that serendipitous signpost. Its understated presence adds to its charm, making it feel like a personal discovery.

While the interior was closed during my visit, the grounds were thankfully accessible, offering ample opportunity to wander and capture its essence. Even without stepping inside, the church's rich history resonated through its ancient stones and peaceful surroundings.

A Glimpse into Centuries of Faith

St Peter's Church boasts an incredible lineage, with a history stretching all the way back to Saxon times, approximately the 9th century. Imagine the countless lives and stories that have unfolded within these hallowed grounds over more than a millennium! Remarkably, some of the lower structures around the porch and nave still bear the hallmarks of their Saxon origins, a tangible link to a distant past.

Over the centuries, St Peter's has been a living, evolving edifice, undergoing numerous renovations and extensions. It seems only the 16th century left the church untouched before further work continued its transformation. More recent history also marks its presence: since 1890, the church has seen significant restoration to its chancel, nave, and aisle. The sturdy tower received much-needed repairs in both 1890 and 1926, ensuring its continued sentinel watch over the village. Practical updates arrived in the 20th century, with electricity installed in the 1920s and heating in the 1960s, a testament to its ongoing use and adaptation to modern needs.

Today, St Peter's Church stands as an active Anglican place of worship, proudly serving its community within the Diocese of Bristol.

A Serene Stop on a Busy Day

My impromptu visit, captured through the lens of my mobile phone, yielded eleven pictures – a visual testament to the tranquil beauty and historical depth of this remarkable Wiltshire church. It was a stark reminder that sometimes, the most rewarding experiences are those that are unplanned, offering a moment of quiet reflection amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life.

If you ever find yourself travelling through Wiltshire, keep an eye out for that sign on the B4069. St Peter's Church, Langley Burrell, is more than just a building; it's a silent guardian of history, waiting to share its stories with those who take the time to discover it.

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Tuel Lane Lock and Tunnel: A Deep Dive into Rochdale Canal's History

Nestled near the starting point of the Rochdale Canal in Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, lies an impressive feat of engineering: Tuel Lane Lock and Tunnel. Opened in May 1996, this lock isn't just a vital part of the canal's navigation; it's also the deepest lock in the entire United Kingdom, boasting an astounding fall of 19 feet 8 inches!

But the story of Tuel Lane goes much deeper than its modern marvel. Originally, the canal flowed beneath a charming canal bridge, still visible just inside the mouth of the present-day Tuel Lane Tunnel. From there, it continued openly to Lock 3, situated alongside Christ Church and the local pub where Tuel Lane Road and the car park entrance now meet. Lock 4 was then located between this original lock and Bridge 1a at Tower Hill.

Sadly, these earlier sections of the canal and its locks were lost sometime in the 1940s or 50s. Tuel Lane was diverted and widened to its current configuration, and the canal and its locks were infilled to create the car park we see today.

Thankfully, the dream of a fully restored Rochdale Canal never truly faded. The formation of the Rochdale Canal Society in 1974 brought the canal's future into sharper focus. A pivotal 1991 report highlighting the benefits of restoration eventually led to a significant grant of £2.5 million from derelict land grants, paving the way for the reopening of Tuel Lane Lock and Tunnel.

For those eager to delve further into the history of this remarkable section of the canal, I highly recommend checking out my previous blog post from November 19, 2017. That post features a fascinating collection of pictures of the lock, canal, and tunnel from before their closure and prior to their reopening. These images, though not my own and credited where possible to the copyright holder, offer an incredible glimpse into the canal's past.

The pictures accompanying this post, however, are my own, captured in June 2014 using a Polaroid is2132 bridge camera. They showcase the section of the Rochdale Canal between Bridge 1a Tower Hill and Lock 2, passing by the impressive Tuel Lane Tunnel and Lock. I hope they inspire you to explore this historically rich and visually stunning part of our local waterways!

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Rochdale Canal towards Tuel Lane Lock and Tunnel, pictured from
under Bridge 1a Tower Hill.

The Rochdale Canal close to where Lock 4 was
originally sighted.

Tuel Lane Lock

Rochdale Canal away from Tuel Lane Lock towards Bridge 1a
Tower Hill. Lock 4 was sighted somewhere along this stretch.

Tuel Lane Lock, the lock keepers office is sighted to the right
of the picture.

Tuel Lane Tunnel looking down from the lock.

The lock gates give an idea of the depth of the lock.

Tuel Lane Tunnel from the other side, the original bridge that 
carried Wharf Street is just inside the tunnel mouth and the 
same shape and style as it's modern entrance.

Lock 2 towards Tuel Lane Tunnel entrance.

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Golden Hues of a Yorkshire Winter's Eve

There's something uniquely beautiful about the transition of seasons, especially when you catch it just right. I was recently going through some pictures on my iPhone, and this particular shot, taken during a walk in Warley, near Halifax, West Yorkshire, immediately caught my eye.

The scene perfectly captures that fleeting moment when autumn is truly giving way to winter. The trees, stripped of their vibrant leaves, stand stark against the sky, their branches painted in the warm, golden light of the setting sun. This beautiful glow, contrasting with the bareness of the trees and the moss-covered stone wall, truly evokes the feeling of autumn ending and winter's quiet approach.

It's a single shot, unplanned, just a moment of everyday beauty captured on a walk. Yet, the colours and the mood it conveys made it one I felt was definitely worth sharing. There's a certain peacefulness in this time of year, a sense of stillness before the deeper chill of winter sets in.

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A Red Relic in Rural Heptonstall: More Than Just a Phone Box

 There's something undeniably iconic about the classic red British phone box. For many, they evoke a sense of nostalgia, a bygone era before the ubiquitous mobile phone made them largely obsolete. So, stumbling upon one in a rural setting feels like finding a delightful, unexpected treasure.

This past week, I was reminded of this charm when looking back at a couple of photos I took in Heptonstall on August 2nd, 2020. The subject? A perfectly preserved red phone box, nestled amidst the greenery of this charming village.

In an age where everyone carries a powerful communication device in their pocket, phone boxes have certainly become a bit of a novelty. You rarely see them gracing the landscape, especially in such picturesque, rural spots like Heptonstall. This particular one, however, seems to have found a new lease on life. I'm told it now serves as a tiny community library, a brilliant example of adapting heritage for modern use. While the phone apparatus itself still remains inside, I also heard that making calls from it is no longer an option – though I confess, I didn't try to verify this myself!

The first image captures the phone box in all its vibrant glory, standing out against the lush backdrop of trees and flowering bushes. It's a snapshot of a moment, taken simply with my iPhone.

The second picture is the same scene, but with a little artistic intervention. I brought it into Photoshop and gave it a selective colour treatment, desaturating the background to black and white while keeping the phone box itself a striking red. This really makes the phone box pop, emphasizing its classic form and almost making it feel like a vibrant anachronism against the more subdued surroundings.

It's a wonderful example of how even outdated technology can find a new purpose, continuing to serve its community in a different, yet equally valuable, way. And for photographers, they remain a fantastic subject, full of character and a testament to a rich past.

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 All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Golden Hues and Icy Sparkle: A Winter Morning in Wing, Buckinghamshire

There's something truly magical about a winter sunrise, especially when it's accompanied by a crisp, frosty landscape. This stunning photograph, captured on the 6th of February, 2020, in the charming village of Wing, Buckinghamshire, perfectly encapsulates that breathtaking beauty.

As the sun gently peeks above the horizon, it casts a warm, golden glow across the frosty fields. The low angle of the sun highlights every individual blade of grass, now coated in a shimmering layer of ice, creating a dazzling, almost ethereal effect. You can almost feel the chill in the air, a refreshing contrast to the comforting warmth radiating from the rising sun.

The silhouettes of the bare winter trees stand proudly against the brightening sky, their branches forming intricate patterns that add depth and character to the scene. The subtle mist clinging to the ground in the distance further enhances the atmospheric quality of the shot, hinting at the lingering cold before the day truly awakens.

In the foreground, the dark picket fence provides a wonderful leading line, drawing our eyes into the heart of the landscape and grounding the image with a touch of human presence amidst the natural spectacle.

This picture isn't just a photograph; it's a moment frozen in time, a reminder of the quiet beauty that winter mornings can offer. It speaks of tranquillity, new beginnings, and the simple joy of witnessing nature's artistry. A truly captivating scene from Wing, Buckinghamshire.

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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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