Halifax Headlands: A New Year's Walk Across Albert Promenade

There’s a unique beauty to the start of a new year in the West Yorkshire Pennines, and my walk on January 1, 2019, with my Nikon D3300, captured the best of it. Tracing the paths around Albert Promenade and Scar Bottom in Halifax reveals a landscape that is simultaneously rugged, historical, and deeply connected to its industrial past.

These photos are a testament to the dramatic views you get when the winter sun breaks through the heavy Pennine clouds, casting a golden light over the valley.

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The View from Albert Promenade

Albert Promenade is famous for providing breath taking panoramic views over the Calder Valley and the town of Halifax itself.

• The Vista: The image overlooking the valley captures a mosaic of the town. The houses and buildings are clustered in the valley floor, while the surrounding hills—typical of the area—are bare and covered in muted winter vegetation. The view is framed beautifully by stone benches and a classic stone wall in the foreground, creating a perfect spot for reflection.

• Wainhouse Tower's Presence: Even from this high vantage point, the unmistakable silhouette of Wainhouse Tower dominates the skyline to the right. Standing tall against the rolling moorland, the tower is a constant, dramatic feature, visible even when obscured by the sparse winter foliage.

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The Geological Drama of 'The Rocks'

Just off the promenade, the landscape takes a more dramatic turn at a section commonly referred to as 'The Rocks'.

• Millstone Grit: This area showcases the sheer power of the local geology. Large, dark, stacked slabs of Millstone Grit rock jut out from the hillside, forming natural cliffs and ledges.

• Light and Texture: The winter sunlight, caught breaking through the clouds, highlights the rugged texture of the stone and the exposed, mossy growth clinging to the edges. This area provides a wonderful contrast between the manicured promenade above and the wild, natural structure beneath.

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Descending to Scar Bottom and Copley

Following the paths downward offers a different perspective—one that puts you directly beneath the iconic landmarks.

• Wainhouse Tower from Below: The view from Scar Bottom is perhaps the most intimate and imposing. The full height of the 253-foot Victorian folly is framed against a bright blue winter sky, towering over the terraced stone houses built into the hillside. The foreground features old stone walls and archways, reminding you that these paths have been walked for generations.

• Copley Viaduct: Looking further into the valley, you can spot the impressive Copley Viaduct. Its sturdy stone arches span the valley floor, a powerful symbol of the railway engineering that drove the textile industry in this region. The viaduct is a reminder that this rural landscape is deeply interwoven with Britain's industrial heritage.

These images from a brisk New Year's Day in 2019 capture the enduring, dramatic character of Halifax. It’s a place where history, geology, and architecture collide, offering a stunning vista from every hillside. If you ever find yourself in the area, a walk along Albert Promenade is a must!

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The Salvage Archive: Time Travel to 1974, A Peaceful Scene at Barrowford Locks

There's a gentle magic to slides that precisely transport you back to a specific moment. This 35mm slide from my collection, dated to 1974, offers a serene glimpse of the Barrowford Locks – a truly iconic section of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Lancashire.

The image immediately brings to mind sunny, unhurried days along England's historic waterways, a lifestyle that has continued to charm for centuries.

The Beauty of Barrowford Locks

Barrowford Locks are a well-known feature of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, forming part of a flight of seven locks that raise the canal's level. This particular vantage point seems to be looking along one of the sections of the canal, with boats moored on both sides.

• The Canal Itself: The water is a deep, tranquil blue, reflecting the sky and the surrounding greenery. The towpath, a broad concrete path, runs alongside, inviting a leisurely stroll.

• The Boats: A variety of canal boats, likely narrowboats and pleasure cruisers of the era, are gently resting in the water. Their designs, with the simple cabins and classic lines, are very typical of the 1970s. Many appear to be private boats, enjoying a quiet mooring.

• The White Railings: The prominent white railings in the foreground add a clean, classic feel to the scene, guiding the eye along the canal and offering a barrier from the water.

• Rural Backdrop: The gentle, rolling hills in the background, covered in trees and fields, confirm the rural setting. This is classic Lancashire countryside, relatively untouched by dense urban development in this particular view.

A Snapshot of 1974

The date of 1974 adds a wonderful layer of context:

• Leisure in the 70s: The 1970s saw a growing interest in inland waterways holidays in Britain. While commercial traffic on canals had declined significantly by this point, leisure boating was on the rise, and people were rediscovering the charm of slow travel through the countryside.

• Fashion & Figures: The lone figure walking along the towpath, with a simple shirt and trousers, offers a subtle nod to 70s casual wear. Another person or perhaps gear is visible closer to the railing on the left, blending into the scene.

• Quiet Respite: The overall impression is one of peace and quiet. There are no crowds, just the gentle hum of nature and the lapping of water. It's a stark contrast to the busy world outside, highlighting the canal as a sanctuary.

This photograph isn't just a record of a place; it's a feeling. It evokes the simplicity and charm of a summer's day decades ago, a time when life might have moved at a slightly slower pace, particularly along these beautiful, historic waterways.

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Walking the Waters of Industry: A Scenic Stroll on the Rochdale Canal near Littleborough

The Rochdale Canal is more than just a waterway; it’s a living museum that threads through the history and landscape of the North West. The walk along the stretch between Bridge 49 and Lock 47 near Littleborough offered a beautiful blend of industrial heritage, tranquil nature, and the undeniable charm of a canal in its prime.

This particular section, where Greater Manchester meets West Yorkshire, captures the canal at its most picturesque. It’s a route that invites reflection on the engineering ambition of the past and the serene beauty of the present.

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The Path Less Travelled: Greenery and Grandeur

The towpath itself, a wide and well-maintained track of gravel, is an absolute delight for walkers, cyclists, and runners. It’s a corridor of green, often bordered by lush ferns and a thick canopy of trees that dapples the water with shifting patterns of light and shadow.

In several spots, the canal feels completely remote, surrounded only by tall grasses and dense foliage . The only sound is the gentle ripple of the water and the occasional bird call. The contrast between this peaceful, overgrown environment and the canal’s original purpose—a bustling highway for the Industrial Revolution—is striking. You might even spot some local wildlife, like a Canada goose serenely gliding across the dark water, reminding you that nature has well and truly reclaimed this corridor.

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Engineering Echoes: Bridges and Locks

The journey between Bridge 49 and Lock 47 is punctuated by powerful examples of Victorian canal architecture.

Bridge 49: The Archway of Light

Passing under Bridge 49 offers one of the most atmospheric views of the walk. The classic, low-slung stone arch frames the water perfectly, creating a dark, cool passage before you emerge into the bright, open canal view on the other side. The stonework, weathered and marked by moss, speaks to centuries of resilience.

Lock 47: The Heart of the Waterway

Further on, the presence of Lock 47 announces the shift in elevation that makes this canal such an engineering feat. The Rochdale Canal is known as the highest canal in the country, and its 92 locks are the mechanism that allows it to cross the Pennines.

Approaching the lock, you’re often greeted by the charming sight of traditional narrowboats moored nearby, their bright colours providing a splash of contrast against the green banks . The lock chamber itself is a fascinating, moss-covered chamber of stone and wood, showcasing the immense wooden gates that hold back the water.

In the background, solid, historic stone buildings stand watch, often converted from their original industrial uses, giving a glimpse into the thriving communities that grew up around these vital transport links.

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A Moment of History in Littleborough

This stretch, near the Greater Manchester town of Littleborough, is particularly significant as it sits on the Pennine summit section of the canal.

Commissioned in 1794, the Rochdale Canal was the first of the three trans-Pennine canals to be completed, acting as a crucial link between the manufacturing heartlands of Manchester and the port of Sowerby Bridge (where it connected to the Calder and Hebble Navigation). Its success was pivotal, allowing raw materials like cotton and wool to be transported efficiently.

Today, after a long period of decline and an incredible restoration effort in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the canal is fully navigable again, allowing leisure boats to make the famous journey over the backbone of England.

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Ready for Your Own Walk?

If you’re looking for a peaceful escape that combines easy walking with stunning historic scenery, the Rochdale Canal near Littleborough is highly recommended. The accessible towpaths make it perfect for a leisurely afternoon ramble, offering endless photographic opportunities of its rugged stone structures and beautiful waterscapes. Pack your camera and your walking shoes, and step back into a forgotten age of industrial majesty.

I took this set of pictures on the 26th May 2014 with a Polaroid is2132, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

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The Salvage Archive: Pillars of the Past, A 1960s/70s Glimpse of the Temple of Jupiter, Baalbek

One of the greatest joys of digitizing my 35mm slide collection is stumbling upon photographs of truly monumental places. This particular batch transported me far away from England to the magnificent ruins of Baalbek in Lebanon, capturing the awe-inspiring scale of the Temple of Jupiter.

These slides, taken sometime in the 1960s or 1970s, offer a wonderful, sepia-toned view of one of the greatest surviving examples of Roman imperial architecture.

The Scale of the Gods

What immediately captures the eye in these photographs is the immense scale. The Romans spared no expense in building the sanctuary at Heliopolis (the Roman name for Baalbek).

In the wide shot, we see the legendary remaining six columns of the Temple of Jupiter. Standing nearly 20 meters (65 feet) high, these Corinthian columns are a fraction of the original 54 that once surrounded the temple. The sheer size of the column shafts and the entablature they support is breath taking, especially against the backdrop of a vast, open sky. It’s a powerful reminder of the ambition and engineering prowess of the Roman Empire, which built this temple between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD.

Up Close with Ancient Detail

The closer, more dramatic photograph pulls us right into the details of the ruins. The focus is split between the distant, towering columns and the intricate stonework right at the photographer's feet.

Here, we see a stunning example of Roman sculptural relief: a lion's head carving. This lion protome would have been part of the decorative cornice, likely serving as a functional water spout (or gargoyle) to drain water from the roof. The detail is remarkable, the lion’s gaping mouth frozen in a silent roar over the tumbled stones of the lower wall. This close-up view perfectly illustrates the blend of monumental scale and meticulous artistic detail that defines Baalbek.

A Time Capsule of a Timeless Place

While the Temple of Jupiter itself is thousands of years old, the sepia tones and slightly grainy quality of the slides date the image to the 1960s or 1970s.

During this period, Lebanon, and sites like Baalbek, were popular destinations for travellers and historians before later conflicts made access more difficult. These pictures capture the ruins when they were likely enjoyed by smaller numbers of visitors, before modern mass tourism, giving the scene a more tranquil, almost solitary atmosphere.

It's humbling to realize that these pillars have stood for two millennia, witnessing countless generations. To see them captured on a decades-old slide adds a unique layer to their history—a memory of a memory. It’s a testament to the fact that even a tiny piece of film can hold an epic story.

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Wheatley Tunnel and Viaduct: Exploring Part of Halifax's Abandoned High Level Railway

Tucked away in the green, rolling landscape of Halifax, West Yorkshire, lie two magnificent relics of the area's industrial past: the Wheatley Viaduct and the Wheatley Tunnel. These structures were once key features of the short-lived, three-mile-long Halifax High Level Railway, a line engineered to connect the higher and lower parts of Halifax to the wider rail network. Today, the overgrown track bed and imposing stonework tell a haunting tale of ambition, engineering, and eventual closure.

The line, constructed in the late 1880s and opened in 1890, was an expensive undertaking, costing a reported £300,000—the equivalent of tens of millions today. The cost was largely due to the challenging terrain, necessitating two major engineering works: the viaduct and the tunnel.

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The Ten-Arch Giant: Wheatley Viaduct

As captured in some of these images, the Wheatley Viaduct is a spectacular sight. It crosses the Hebble Brook valley with ten magnificent arches, stretching for approximately 200 yards (180m) and towering 100 feet (30m) high. Built primarily from rock-faced stone, ashlar, and blue brick, its curved design is a testament to Victorian civil engineering. It once carried two lines of track, though mapping from the late 1940s suggests only a single line was in use as a freight-only branch.

Today, surrounded by a thick, lush canopy of trees , the viaduct has been reclaimed by nature in many spots, but its sheer scale remains dominating, contrasting sharply with the modern housing estates that now nestle in the valley below. Recent, vital restoration work, completed in 2024, has been carried out to repair masonry, install waterproofing, and secure the structure for the future, preserving this important local landmark.

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Into the Dark: Wheatley Tunnel

Connected to the eastern end of the viaduct is the Wheatley Tunnel, an 810-yard (740m) long dark passage burrowing through the hillside. The entrance to the tunnel is marked by a substantial stone portal, often concealed by dense greenery and reached via a secluded, overgrown cutting, as shown in the photographs.

Images taken inside the tunnel reveal a classic Victorian brick-lined bore. It's a dark, damp, and atmospheric space, littered with debris and marked by the occasional splash of modern graffiti—a silent echo of its use transporting coal and goods until its final closure in 1960. A walk inside is a humbling experience, transporting you back to the early 20th century when it was a vital artery for the region's industry.

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A Short-Lived Legacy

The Halifax High Level Railway's life was brief. Passenger services ceased as early as 1917, lasting just over 26 years. Freight operations, mainly coal traffic, continued until June 1960, after which the line was fully dismantled.

Despite its short operating life, the Wheatley Viaduct and Tunnel are indelible parts of Halifax’s landscape and history. They stand as rugged monuments to the ambition of the railway age, now forming picturesque—if inaccessible—features in the local scenery. These structures, silent and still, offer a unique window into a forgotten era of connectivity in the heart of West Yorkshire.

I took these pictures in July 2020 with a Nikon d3300, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

The Viaduct.

The Tunnel.

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The Historic Heart of Salterhebble Locks

There's a rugged charm to the Calder and Hebble Navigation, a waterway carved into the West Yorkshire landscape to fuel the Industrial Revolution. Nowhere is this blend of engineering, history, and community spirit more evident than at the Salterhebble Locks, a crucial flight of steps that descends from the high ground near Halifax to the main line of the navigation.

These locks—the top and middle ones, captured beautifully in these photographs—tell a story of industrial might, clever design, and the quiet life of the waterways.

The Calder and Hebble: A Georgian Highway

The Calder and Hebble Navigation, an early feat of civil engineering, was constructed in phases starting in 1759, with the main line to Sowerby Bridge completed by 1770. Its purpose was to extend the navigation westwards from Wakefield, creating a vital liquid highway for the transport of coal, wool, and other goods for the rapidly growing industries of West Yorkshire.

The Trio of Locks and the Missing Guillotine

The Salterhebble section features a series of three locks. You can see the Top Lock and Middle Lock here, with their traditional mitre gates and sturdy stone construction. However, what makes this flight truly unique is the final one: the Guillotine Lock. On the day I took these pictures, I did not picture the guillotine lock, I can not recall why, so the picture below is from an earlier set I took in February 2014.

 The Guillotine Lock, found immediately behind the Stainland Road bridge, is a sight to behold. Rather than having two hinged mitre gates, it uses a single, massive, vertical gate that is lifted and lowered like a medieval portcullis. This type of gate is often used to combat high river levels or where space is restricted. It’s a fascinating, modern piece of canal machinery that dramatically contrasts with the Georgian stonework of the locks above it, and is a great reason for boaters and towpath walkers to visit this spot.

Life by the Water: The Lock Keeper's Cottage

These pictures capture more than just the mechanics of the canal; they show the tranquil waters of the mooring pound between the locks, overshadowed by the charming lock keeper's cottage.

This Grade II Listed, stone-built house sits right next to the canal, historically serving as the home and office for the person whose job it was to manage the flow of traffic and water. Today, it is a private residence, accessed by a pedestrian footbridge over the Top Lock. Its location is truly unique—an island of historic peace bordered by the modern hustle of a busy road. The cottage is an integral part of the Salterhebble Basin and its future has been a focus for canal heritage groups.

The next time you walk the towpath or cruise the Calder and Hebble, stop at Salterhebble. Pause to admire the architecture, listen for the rush of the water filling the chambers, and imagine the thousands of barges that passed this way carrying the goods that built the North. It's a place where you can truly feel the history of the industrial age woven into the landscape.

I took the pictures below on the 24th November 2023 with a Nikon d3300, clicking any of them should open a link in another window.

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The Salvage Archive: The Skyline Across the Water, Dating a View of Ottawa

This latest slide from my collection takes us far across the Atlantic to North America, capturing a beautiful panoramic view of a city skyline across a wide body of water. The file name confirms our location: Ottawa, Canada.

This is clearly a view of the city's modern architecture, likely taken from across the Ottawa River or perhaps the Gatineau shore, looking back at the capital of Canada. The expansive, choppy water in the foreground, combined with the low, tree-covered shoreline that gives way to a dense cluster of high-rise buildings, sets a powerful scene.

The Challenge of Dating the Skyline

Dating a city skyline can be like solving a puzzle, as it relies on identifying the construction status of major buildings. Unlike cars or trains, these large structures take time to build, and their appearance marks specific periods.

Here's what we can deduce from the image's architecture:

• The High-Rises: The cluster of tall, brown/dark-coloured residential or commercial towers appears to be a well-established skyline. This mass development of high-rises along the Ottawa River, particularly on the Hull (Gatineau) side or the western edge of Ottawa (e.g., Tunney's Pasture area), gained significant momentum starting in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s.

• Missing Modern Peaks: The overall profile feels a bit lower and less dense than Ottawa's skyline in the 1990s and 2000s. Crucially, the taller, glassier, and more architecturally complex buildings that would define the cityscape post-1980s and 1990s don't appear to be present in this shot.

• The Bridge: A large, multi-lane bridge is visible on the right, suggesting a major crossing of the Ottawa River. The presence and style of the bridge would be key to identifying the exact viewpoint.

Estimated Date: Given the style of the buildings—tall, boxy, and characteristic of development booms—and the apparent lack of super-modern, post-1980s structures, a strong estimate for this photograph is the late 1970s or early 1980s.

Possible Locations for the Shot

The shot is clearly taken from the north side of the Ottawa River looking south, or from a large section of the river/lake looking east/west, given the long, horizontal spread of the city.

1. Gatineau Side (Most Likely): If the photographer was standing on the Gatineau side of the Ottawa River, they would be looking directly at the core of Ottawa or an adjacent area. The river is wide enough here to create the vast water foreground.

2. A Lake or Wide Section of the River: The water in the foreground looks particularly wide and expansive, more like a lake than a narrow river section. This suggests the view might be from a section of the Ottawa River that widens out, such as Lac Deschênes or another broad area to the west of the main downtown core.

The long line of buildings and the bridge strongly suggest a panorama of the city's periphery, perhaps near the Parkway or the Queensway if looking east/west, or directly across the main channel if looking at the core.

This slide is a fascinating reminder of Ottawa's evolution. It captures the moment the capital transformed from its traditional, largely low-rise landscape dominated by Parliament Hill into the modern, high-rise urban centre we know today. What a great piece of Canadian history to find in the archive!

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