The Calder and Hebble Navigation is an inland waterway connecting Sowerby Bridge with Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Opened in 1770 to extend the navigational parts of the River Calder, the canal runs through 27 locks on its 21.5 mile journey from the canal basin at Sowerby Bridge to it's junction with the Aire and Calder Navigation at Fall Ings Lock, Wakefield. The canal unlike many others has never fallen out of use, with commercial traffic still using the canal until 1981, and leisure traffic increasing since the reopening of Tuel Lane lock and tunnel at Sowerby Bridge in 1996.
The pictures below were taken on the canal between Ravensthorpe Bridge and Bull Bridge, Mirfield. This stretch includes sections of cutting and river that are navigable. They were taken on the 8th April 2015 with a Polaroid is2132 camera.
This was taken just past Ravensthorpe Bridge looking in the direction of Mirfield. The navigation is on the River Calder at the moment.
The canal is still on the River Calder, the lock seen in the middle of the picture is Greenwood Lock. The lock allows traffic to leave the river section and enter Greenwood Cut.
This agian shows part of the River Calder section of the navigation, Greenwood cut is just off picture to the left.
This weir can be found at the top of Greenwood Cut End just before Shepley Bridge Marina. The canal ane river are a joint navigation for a short spur here.
Shepley Bridge. This section of the navigation is a river and canal joint bit, the canal bears off through Shepley Lockseen near the centre of the picture underneath the bridge. The River Calder continuing beyond.
Shepley Bridge Marina, Nr Mirfield.
Shepley Bridge Marina and Lock.
Wheatley Bridge, Mirfield.
The abutments above and below used to carry the Mirfield to Low Moor Railway (Cleckheaton Branch) over the canal. The line closed in 1965 along this stretch.
Gill Bridge, Mirfield. Just saw the 2 lads fishing and quietly letting the day pass buy. I took the picture as it reminded me of my youth and attempt at fishing, I quickly learnt it's not a hobby for me.
The Calder and Hebble at Mirfield.
Bull Bridge, Mirfield.
On the day I walked the navigation from Saville Town, Dewsbury to Brighouse. I'm posted the pictures in individual post's of various sections of the canal.
Clicking any image should open a link in another window to the un-watermarked version on Clickasnap.
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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.
