The Halifax Gibbet: A Gruesome Chapter in History

 Imagine a time when justice was swift and often brutal. A time when a simple theft could lead to a gruesome public execution. Welcome to the chilling world of the Halifax Gibbet, a medieval guillotine that once loomed over the English town of Halifax.

A Legacy of Fear

First used in the 13th century, the Halifax Gibbet was a stark reminder of the consequences of breaking the law. Over the next 400 years, it claimed the lives of 52 known individuals, and up to 100, including women and children. The condemned were often executed for petty crimes, such as stealing cloth or livestock.

A Gruesome Execution

The execution process was as terrifying as it was efficient. The condemned would be placed on a platform, their neck positioned beneath the heavy, blunt blade. A cord would be pulled, releasing the blade, which would swiftly sever the victim's head.

Escaping the Blade

However, there was a glimmer of hope for the condemned. If a victim could manage to escape the immediate vicinity of the gibbet, specifically across the nearby Hebble Brook, they could avoid execution. This daring escape was attempted by a few, including the infamous "Running Man," John Lacey. Unfortunately, Lacey's luck ran out, and he was eventually captured and executed.

The End of an Era

The Halifax Gibbet was finally outlawed by Oliver Cromwell in 1650. The last victims of this gruesome device were Anthony Mitchell and Abraham Wilkinson, who were executed on April 30th of that year.

A Dark Past, A Haunting Legacy

Today, the site of the Halifax Gibbet stands as a chilling reminder of a bygone era. A replica of the guillotine has been erected, allowing visitors to appreciate the brutality of this dark chapter in history. The original blade, now preserved in the Bankfield museum, serves as a chilling artifact of the past.

I took these pictures on the 27th March 2019 with a Nikon d3300, they can be seen in a higher resolution on Clickasnap.

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Spen Valley Greenway, M62 to Cleckheaton Central

The Spen Valley Greenway is a cycle-pedestrian corridor connecting Low Moor with Ravensthorpe, West Yorkshire, passing through the towns of Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike and Liversedge on route. The route runs for approx. 8 miles along the former routes of the Spen Valley Railway and Ravensthorpe Branch Lines. 

The Greenway was planned after Sustrans acquired the trackbed in 1998, and opened in 2000. In addition to the remaining bridges, occasional railway signposts and ornamental benches along the route, there are artworks including Sally Matthews flock of Swaledale sheep and Trudi Entwistle's Rotate. The route is traffic free and pretty flat along it's length, with a few small gentle slopes up and down. There are supermarkets along the route including a Tesco alongside the former site of Cleckheaton Station and a Morrison's a short walk from the site of what was Heckmondwike Station.

Before conversion from an overgrown and abandoned former railway to a pleasant tarmacked cycle and pedestrian route, the greenway had a life as a railway known as the Mirfield and Low Moor Railway. The original double track line opening was in 2 stages, from Low Moor to Mirfield on the 18th July 1848, and the Ravensthorpe Branch connecting Thornhill with Heckmondwike on the 1st June 1849. At it's height the line had 8 stations along it's route which included Low Moor, Cleckheaton Central, Liversedge Central, Heckmondwike Central after which the line split with stops at Northorpe North Road and Mirfield along the Mirfield route, and Ravensthorpe Lower and Thornhill along the Ravensthorpe Branch Line. The line remained in use until passenger services were withdrawn in July 1965 and goods traffic ended in the late 1980's.

There are currently small campaigns trying to get the line reopened, as much of the trackbed remains clear and unbuilt upon this seems an easy but perhaps expensive plan. There is currently a population of over 50000 along the Spen Valley Route with limited access to rail without commuting. There are competing plans featuring heavy rail and light rail proposals.

I have previously posted the pictures taken on the route from Low Moor to the M62, the following set were taken from the M62 to the former site of Cleckheaton Central Station, they were pictured with a Nikon d3300 on the 30th December 2019.

The M62 Chain Bar Railway Bridge, pictured from the north (Low Moor) side. The line closed here whilst the M62 was constructed, this stretch of track remained open until 1981 as far south as Heckmondwike.

The southern end of the M62 Chain Bar Bridge. Laithe Hill Footbridge can be seen a sort distance down the cutting.

Laithe Hill Bridge.

Whitechapel Road Bridge,

A row of railway sleepers to the north of Cleckheaton, i'm guessing these were placed here as a nod to the greenways railway heritage.

The Spen Valley Greenway on a slight climb up to Whitcliffe Road Bridge. The line started to pen up just beyond the bridge to enter Cleckheaton Central Station and goods yard.

Whitcliffe Road Bridge from the opposite side.

The former trackbed away from Whitcliffe Road Bridge in the direction Cleckheaton Central Station.

The previous 2 pictures show the site of Cleckheaton Central Railway Station, the goods yard was off to the right of the picture and is now a Tesco Supermarket.

Cleckheaton Central was opened in 1847, and remained open to passenger traffic until June 1965, with goods traffic continued until May 1969. The station was demolished in stages between 1968 and 1971 where they story of Cleckheaton Central takes an unexpected turn.

In 1972 a contractor appeared before Wakefield Crown Court accused of stealing stone, timber, metal and other fittings from Cleckheaton Central, or as was widely reported at the time he was claimed to have stolen Cleckheaton Central Railway Station. In August 1971 British Rail's appointed contractor when arriving to clear the site found that it had already been removed. The accused had been contracted by another party to clear the site which had taken him 3 weeks to do. Despite efforts the other party was never traced and the defendant was found not guilty having proved he had been duped and left significantly out of pocket by the incident. To date this remains the only time a "Railway Station has been stolen" in the United Kingdom.

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Canal Bridges

 

Canal Bridges is a set of 20 pictures I took that shows a variety of Canal Bridges taken at various locations and on differing canals in the UK and Italy. They can also be seen on Clickasnap un-watermarked.

Bridge 199 on the Leeds - Liverpool Canal near Bingley. Taken with a Nikon d3300 on

the 9th July 2016.

Long Cut End Viaduct over the Calder and Hebble Navigation at Thornhill Nr Dewsbury. I took this with a Nikon d3300 on the 30th December 2019.

Bridge 59 on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, taken with a Nikon d3300 on the 25th July 2020 somewhere between Slaithwaite and Marsden.

The Calder and Hebble Navigation underneath the M62 at Brighouse. Taken on the 30th March 2019 with a Nikon d3300.

Gauxholme Viaduct carries the railway over the Rochdale Canal between Todmorden and Hebden Bridge, I took this with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet on the 14th November 2013.

Concrete Pipe Bridge on the Rochdale Canal, I can't remember the exact location only it was somewhere between Littleborough and Walsden on the Rochdale Canal. Taken with a Polaroid is2132 on the 31st May 2014.

Hollins Mill Tunnel and the Rochdale Canal, Sowerby Bridge, taken with a Nikon d3300 on the 16th December 2018.

Not sure what the bridge is, but i took this on the Tennant Canal near Neath with a Nikon d3300 on the 20th September 2017.

Accademia Bridge over the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, taken with a Nikon d3300 on the 30th October 2018.

Disused as a canal crossing for decades the bridge used to cross the Calder and Hebble Navigation Halifax Branch near Siddal, Halifax. I took this in June 2015 with a Polaroid is2132 on the Hebble Trail.

Bridge 54 on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, taken on the 25th July 2020 with a Nikon d3300.

Co-op Bridge steps at Sowerby Bridge, crossers the Rochdale Canal. I took this with a IPhone 11 on the 26th September 2021.

Bridge 52 on the Rochdale Canal at Smithy Bridge. I took this on the 27th December 2019 with a Nikon d3300.

Longbottom (Tenterfields) Bridge over the Rochdale Canal, taken with a Nikon d3300 on the 16th December 2018.

Bridge 34 over the Rochdale Canal at Walsden, St Peter's Church Spire is viewed in the background. I took this with a Nikon d3300 on the 27th August 2019.

Brighouse Marina Footbridge, taken from underneath Huddersfield Road Bridge on the Calder and Hebble Navigation. I took this on the 4th August 2018 with a Nikon d3300.

Bridge 62 over the Huddersfield Narrow Canal at Marsden, taken with a Nikon d3300 on the 25th July 2020.

Wakefield Road Bridge at Salterhebble Locks, the bridge crossers the remaining section of the Halifax Branch Canal. Taken on the 22nd May 2018 with a Nikon d3300.

Moderna Bridge over the Rochdale Canal at Mytholmroyd, I took this with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet on the 2nd November 2013.

Wheatley Bridge over the Calder and Hebble Navigation, taken with a Polaroid is2132 on the 18th April 2015.

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Copley Railway Viaduct (The Lesser Known One)

Copley Railway Viaduct, its official title being MVN2/160 or Copley Bottom Bridge is a railway crossing over the River Calder. The bridge is hidden away at the bottom end of Old Rishworthians Sports Ground and North Dean Woods to the east side of the village of Copley, West Yorkshire.

Opened in August 1840 by the Manchester and Leeds Railway the bridge once carried the main railway traffic through the Calder Valley until the nearby lines at Milner Royd and Greetland Junctions were built to carry rail traffic in the direction of Halifax. The line over the bridge was subject to closure plans during the late 1970's after the removal of Brighouse (Closed 1970) and Elland (closed 1962) Stations, but continued as a diversionary route for passenger trains and carried freight only traffic during this period. until the reopening of Brighouse Station in 2000 saw passenger traffic crossing the bridge regularly again. The open nature of the North Dean Side of the viaduct allows great opportunities to photograph the steam trains that pass over the bridge quite often, but if seeking out this chance please remember to always keep a safe distance away from the tracks, I normally stay well within the tree line.

These pictures were taken using a Nikon d3300 SLR on the 25 February 2019. They can also be seen full size, resolution and un-watermarked on Clickasnap.

The Copley side of the viaduct

Taken on the North Dean side of the bridge, looking in the
direction of Copley.

The bridge again taken from the North Dean side.

Taken from the far end of Old Rishworthians sports ground.

The top of the bridge, the open nature of the track at the bottom of North
Dean Woods allows great access for taking pictures of trains passing.
Please be aware of a safety when near the lines, this is level with the tree
line which i consider a safe distance from the track. although when
trains are approaching I stand much further back than this.

The River Calder flows underneath the bridge,

The River Calder, taken looking towards Copley from underneath
the viaduct.

Again in the direction of Copley but from the other side of the bridge.

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Spen Valley Greenway. Low Moor to the M62.

The Spen Valley Greenway is a cycle-pedestrian corridor connecting Low Moor with Ravensthorpe, West Yorkshire, passing through the towns of Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike and Liversedge on route. The route runs for approx. 8 miles along the former routes of the Spen Valley Railway and Ravensthorpe Branch Lines. 

The Greenway was planned after Sustrans acquired the trackbed in 1998, and opened in 2000. In addition to the remaining bridges, occasional railway signposts and ornamental benches along the route, there are artworks including Sally Matthews flock of Swaledale sheep and Trudi Entwistle's Rotate. The route is traffic free and pretty flat along it's length, with a few small gentle slopes up and down. There are supermarkets along the route including a Tesco alongside the former site of Cleckheaton Station and a Morrison's a short walk from the site of what was Heckmondwike Station.

The following is a short video i put together of the pictures I took along the line, it includes images of the station sites whilst still operational.

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Before conversion from an overgrown and abandoned former railway to a pleasant tarmacked cycle and pedestrian route, the greenway had a life as a railway known as the Mirfield and Low Moor Railway. The original double track line opening was in 2 stages, from Low Moor to Mirfield on the 18th July 1848, and the Ravensthorpe Branch connecting Thornhill with Heckmondwike on the 1st June 1849. At it's height the line had 8 stations along it's route which included Low Moor, Cleckheaton Central, Liversedge Central, Heckmondwike Central after which the line split with stops at Northorpe North Road and Mirfield along the Mirfield route, and Ravensthorpe Lower and Thornhill along the Ravensthorpe Branch Line. The line remained in use until passenger services were withdrawn in July 1965 and goods traffic ended in the late 1980's.

There are currently small campaigns trying to get the line reopened, as much of the trackbed remains clear and unbuilt upon this seems an easy but perhaps expensive plan. There is currently a population of over 50000 along the Spen Valley Route with limited access to rail without commuting. There are competing plans featuring heavy rail and light rail proposals.

The following pictures are taken on the route from Low Moor to the M62 Motorway Bridge at Chain Bar. They were taken on the 30th December 2019 with a Nikon d3300.

Thanks for looking, please take a moment to share and follow me on social media.

Clicking any image should open a link in another window to the un-watermarked, higher resolution version on Clickasnap.

All the images remain the copyright of Colin Green.