Todmorden

9 Locks, 4 Miles, now moored at Todmorden.

Autumn leaves piling up in the canal.

With an improvement in the weather it was time to get moving again. Due to the scarcity of pump out and water facilities over the next couple of weeks we pulled over to the facilities at Hebden Bridge. Here we had a problem of a boat who had spent the night on the facility moorings. Originally there had been 2 of them but the other boat left at 2am. We could get onto the mooring but only reach the water and not the pump out. A quick bang on the side of the boat got an abrupt reply but when madam boater came to the front doors she was told quite firmly by Dot that she shouldn’t be there, never mind the whinging. She gave some lame excuse about her daughter being in hospital having a baby but we told her the 24 hour moorings were on the other side. Once she had left in her unlicensed boat we were able to complete both tasks.

This guy must love gardening. All terraced with stone walls.

Along the way we passed 4 boats all at different locks but it did make locking a bit easier with most of the locks set in our favour.  We did have a problem with one lock where Dot couldn’t get the gate to move so a little gentle persuasion from the boat soon solved this problem. Being a fine day there were plenty of hikers all along the towpath and most of them giving a cheery “Hello” We thought at one stage that we had found an Indian Reservation complete with Tepee or wigwam. It turned out to be some hippy boaters had formed a community cooperative and were trying to be self sufficient.

These boaters had a hippy community growing their own produce. Campsite came complete with Indian Wigwam.

Travelling through Yorkshire we have been amazed at how many mill’s there used to be. Even small towns and villages all had a mill or mill’s, some of which are still standing or the demolition site is quite obvious. So many are being converted into apartment blocks which is good because they still retain the character.

The Woodhouse mill is now apartments but the chimney still stands tall. Not sure where the boiler house was?

1889 locks, 3788 ½ miles, 70 tunnels, 127 swing bridges and 53 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Layover Day.

Another boat with a Kiwi connection. Timaru Aotearoa seen here in Hebden Bridge

With a strong gusty wind and squally showers it was decided that we could afford to have a day off from cruising today and move on towards Todmorden tomorrow when the forecast is better.  Time to sort out the winter clothing again, so that will keep us busy today.  The temperatures are definitely dropping smartly now autumn is here with a vengeance. Having checked British Waterways final stoppage list we have a few stoppages to clear before the 2nd of November but we also have a few days leeway before things start to become a problem.

River Hebden flowing through Hebden Bridge

This afternoon the rain cleared away so we ventured into town for a stroll. It was still very windy but at least the sun did make an appearance.

Replica Fustion needle pointing due North towards the Nutclough Mill which used these needles to produce Corduroy and other similar clothes.

The old Nutclough Mill that produced Fustion cloth such as Corduroy cloth.

Over and Under houses as they were known at Hebden Bridge originally known as the hilltop village of Heptonstall.

Hebden Bridge Railway

The station is cared for by a “Friends of Hebden Bridge Station” society including the floral arrangements and a pictorial history of the railways of the region. Basically the station is how it was when built by the Lancs & Yorks railway company circa 1880.The goods warehouse has long gone but everything else is there.

Hebden Bridge Railway Station as it was when built by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company. Circa 1880. Signal box as it was when built by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company.All the signs are original (circa 1880) and the station is looked after by “Friends of the Station” including the flowers. Hebden Bridge Station platform 2.

Hebden Bridge.

4 Locks, 3 ½ Miles,1 Tunnel. Now moored at Hebden Bridge.

There was light drizzle in the air as we set off this morning. Stuart and Yvonne were going to tag along to Hebden Bridge before returning towards Sowerby bridge. By the time we had done 3 locks and reached the old Clog Mill by bridge 14 Stuart decided that because of the weather it would be prudent to wind and start heading back otherwise he could run short of time. Luck was on his side because we had no sooner winded him for his return journey when another hire boat from the same company came around the corner and they were more than happy to team up. Bang went Stuart’s lunch break, it was going to be a case of lunch on the run but at least they had a boat to lock through with who had plenty of crew members to help.

This used to be basement housing for the canal navvies. There was a house above this.

We only did one more lock which we shared with the BW tug that was returning to Hebden Bridge. We spoke to the BW guy about so many locks only having one paddle gear on the top gates and he told us that they were all being overhauled but by leaving one paddle gear operational at least boaters could still get through.

The old Croft Mill now flash apartments.  Hebden Bridge, Rochdale Canal.

After lunch we went for a walk into this fascinating Pennine town with it’s narrow cobbled streets, alleyway’s and buildings dating back to the 19th century. As we are close to the railway station a visit there was a must and a pleasant surprise it was. 

This shop had all the old window dressing of the early 1900's with more up to date stock inside. Hebden Bridge, Rochdale Canal.

Urban District Council 1898. Hebden Bridge, Rochdale Canal. Black doors on the right are the original fire station.

Getting back to the Clog factory which was still in production up until somewhere around the 1980’s, Stuart used to wear Clogs as a child as did most people around the Pennines.

Stairway to Heaven. Hebden Bridge, Rochdale Canal.

1880 locks, 3784 ½ miles, 70 tunnels, 127 swing bridges and 53 lift bridges since Nov 2006

How Embarrassing?

13 Locks, 9 Miles, 1 Tunnel. Now moored at Luddenden Foot Bridge 6 Rochdale Canal.

It was a cool but fine day as we set off from Brighouse along with Stuart and Yvonne on the hire boat.

Mill Royd Mill apartment conversion nearly complete after 5 years. It contains it's own Gym and swimming pool.

Reminiscent of the Fens with water pouring through the gates.  Who needs paddles anyway?

Everything was going well until we got to Elland Lock where we found the BW dredger actually in the lock coming down. Once the water had drained out of the lock they opened the gates,unfortunately neither gate would open fully and they couldn’t get the dredger out. Only thing for it but to refill the lock and put the dredger to work and clear what ever was stopping the gates opening fully. Because of the size of the dredger they have very little room to manoeuvre. The BW guys suggested we had a coffee break as it would take about 15 – 20 minutes. Eventually they extricated the dredger from the lock and we were able to carry on.

Look who's got stuck in the lock! Another converted Mill at Elland saved from the bulldozers.

After a lunch break at Elland we pressed on towards Sowerby Bridge as the TV on the hire boat had packed up and Stuart had arranged to pick up a replacement. The hire company met us at lock 1 on the Rochdale Canal but caused us some delay in trying to tell Stuart how to do a lock after they had already been on the boat for 4 days. Stuart and Yvonne had been doing quite nicely prior to this so the lecture was unnecessary. Anyway the hire company boss finished up with egg on his face so to speak because the replacement TV wouldn’t work and he had to go and get another one.

Righto you 2 ,in you come. Even the sluices are hydraulic. Salterhebble Guillotine lock.Salterhebble top lock keepers cottage.

By this stage it was getting late and we had to be through Tuel Tunnel lock by 4pm. As Stuart knows the area well he went to see the lock keeper who was assisting 2 boats down, so we were instructed to wait in the pound prior to the Tuel Lane Tunnel for his arrival. The reason behind the lock keeper is that Tuel Tunnel lock is the deepest in the country replacing what used to be locks 3 & 4 and it’s 19’ 9” deep and requires 140,000 gallons of water so it requires careful use. We finally got through the lock by about 4.30pm.

Nearly ready for the big lift.

The lock keeper advised us that this pound was long and shallow so mooring would be difficult except for a few places. Needless to say we had to travel further than we would have liked before finally mooring at bridge 6 just before 6pm (9 hours, our longest day ever). As it was late and neither of us felt like cooking it was across the road for Indian takeaways, Lamb and Chicken Korma’s followed by Raspberries and ice cream. Well after the long hard day we had just done we deserved it.

Rich Mill owner Wainhouse had this tower built as a chimney for a Dye works but was never used. Open on bank holidays, it's 420 steps to the top.

1876 locks, 3781  miles, 69 tunnels, 127 swing bridges and 53 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Taniwha!

Spotted yesterday. Another boat with a NZ connection.

Diesel Rip Off

6 Locks, 4 Miles. Now moored at Brighouse.

We pulled the pins at Mirfield this morning at about 9am with the intention of perhaps making Sowerby Bridge. When we got to Battyeford lock we were still on our own but by the time Dot had the lock set a hire boat that had been moored behind us last night appeared on the horizon. Naturally we waited for them to catch up so we could lock through together.

Another pair of railway bridges over the Calder & Hebble. The nearest one is not in use.

It transpired that they had only been on the boat for 3 days and it was their first boating experience. Initially the husband was doing everything as the wife was petrified of being on water but by the time we had reached the fourth lock of the day I had her driving and hopefully improved her confidence. By the time we reached Brighouse they wanted to stop for lunch and a visit to Sainsbury’s so we pulled into Sagar Marine for water and diesel.

Well there was no surprise here as the 60/40 split was the only option, but the price was a killer at 78.8p per litre for domestic and £1.24 for propulsion. With so many yards here in the North not now selling diesel and the rest sticking to the 60/40 regime it’s becoming a real rip off. The people in the yards I have spoken to all say that it’s what Customs & Excise require but I think it’s them making it easy for themselves with Tax returns. Not one of them will even contemplate self declaration.

This is where Gypsy Rover was built and launched in March 2004, the buildings are still there but Heron Boats have long gone.

After some discussion with another boater it was decided that we would stay here in Brighouse and press on tomorrow. We had a look around the Mill Royd Mill complex (mill conversion to apartments) that was just being started in 2004 and found that the ground floor apartments were still incomplete. We got chatting to a guy who must have been one of the actual developers and he told us that they ground floor apartments had not been finished due to a ruling on the level of a 100 year flood.

The experts claimed that due to climate change a 100 year flood would reach the top of the door frames on the ground floor apartments. The developer has spent the best part of the last year fighting this and they have now revised the estimations so that if the developer raises the flooring in these apartments by a foot he can finish the block. By raising the floor a foot is still a good 6 feet lower than the original flood level estimations so somebody got their maths wrong.

Spotted in a truck dealers yard. Eurocargo with a NZ Fern and the words “All Blacks” underneath. UK sponsors perhaps?

The developers have now raised all the floors in these bottom apartments and are busy finishing them off. When the apartment conversion was first advertised, while still in the early stages of development, all the apartments were sold on the first day which pleased the developer immensely.

The other hassle that the developer had was putting the overhanging balconies out over the canal. This is deemed British Waterways air space and negotiations had to take place to allow them to go ahead, at a price mind you. Now I thought BW’s domain was canals, towpaths and buildings but airspace, what next?

1863 locks, 3772  miles, 68 tunnels, 127 swing bridges and 53 lift bridges since Nov 2006