Holmes Park: A Hidden Gem in Luddendenfoot

 Nestled in the picturesque village of Luddendenfoot, Holmes Park is a hidden gem that offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This charming park, with its lush green spaces, winding pathways, and stunning views of the surrounding countryside, is the perfect spot for a leisurely stroll, a family picnic, or simply a moment of quiet reflection.

What to Expect at Holmes Park:

• Serene Surroundings: Immerse yourself in the tranquility of nature as you wander through the park's well-maintained grounds.
• Scenic Views: Take in breathtaking panoramic views of the Calder Valley, distant Pennine Hills, River Calder and Rochdale Canal.
• Picnic Spots: Find a cosy spot under a shady tree and enjoy a picnic with family and friends.
• Play Areas: Let the kids burn off some energy at the park's play areas, equipped with swings, slides, and climbing frames.
• Walking Trails: Explore the network of walking trails that wind through the park, offering opportunities to spot local wildlife.

Local Tips:

• Best Time to Visit: Spring and summer are ideal for enjoying the park's blooming flowers and warm weather.
• Parking: There is ample free parking available near the park.
• Facilities: The park lacks any facilities, their is a pub nearby to purchase refreshements.

Whether you're a local resident or a visitor to the area, Holmes Park is a must-visit destination. So, pack a picnic, grab your walking boots, and head to this delightful park for a truly unforgettable experience.

The pictures below were taken in November 2013 with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet, I was just starting to take an interest in photography then. They can only be seen below or purchased in 6 x 4 size from Zazzle. Clicking any image should open a link in another window to the Zazzle listing.

The Crossfield Fountain.

Erected in the memory of John William Crossfield a local mill owner.

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Small Steps, Big Views: A Walk Along the Valley and up the Hill.

On a sun-drenched summer day, I embarked on a camera-in-hand adventure along the Rochdale Canal. Starting at Bridge 3 (Rose Grove), I followed the waterway towards Luddendenfoot, capturing the tranquil beauty of the towpath and passing under bridges 4 and 5. After reaching Bridge 6 (Station Road) at Luddendenfoot, I ventured inland, ascending a winding track through lush woodlands and grassy meadows towards the township of Warley. My journey culminated at the hill top overlooking the Luddenden Valley with Oats Royd Mill at Booth an outstanding industrial structure in the distance.

I took the pictures below on the 28th July 2024 with a Nikon d3300, they can also be seen in a higher resolution on Clickasnap by clicking any image.

Rose Grove Bridge, Number 3 over the Rochdale Canal.

The Rochdale Canal, pictured between Bridge 3 (Rose Grove) and Bridge 4 (Longbottom) on a stretch of the canal at Tenterfields between Sowerby Bridge and Luddendenfoot.

Bridge 6 over the Rochdale Canal, Station Road Bridge is just off Burnley Road and used to provide access to Luddendenfoot Railway Station which closed in 1962. The station would probably be a busy little halt now with all the housing developments that have completed in the local area since its closure.

The previous 2 pictures were taken on the walk up from Luddenden to Warley. Although the 2nd picture looks like a dried up river bed I believe it to be a footpath that suffers from drainage problems when the weather is wet, which in Northern England is quite often.

Oats Royd Mill, Booth.

Sometimes called Moggy's Mill, Oats Royd Mill was built in stages between 1842 and 1886. It was a worsted spinning mill until 1984 when it was separated into units occupied by several different industries. Large parts of the buildings were badly damaged by fire in February 1989. Despite local opposition the remaining buildings were converted in to private housing.

The Luddenden Valley pictured from Deep Lane, Warley.

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Memorial and Rain, Brearley

The following pictures were taken whilst walking the route 66 cycleway through Brearley, West Yorkshire. I'd set off to walk a loop from my home in Sowerby Bridge, down the valley from Sowerby through Boulderclough, and in to Mytholmroyd before returning along route 66 and the Rochdale Canal towpath.

Along the route, as you pass through Brearley, you pass the murder stone just north of the railway bridge. The stone is a memorial to William Deighton, a tax inspector who was killed in Halifax while investigating "King" David Hartley and his coiner gang. I have previously posted more on the memorial.

The path is part of the Route 66 cycleway (bridleway), with the railway bridge seen at the top of the picture and the green metal wall.

Underneath the skeletal artwork reads the following:A full and true account of a barborous, bloody, and inhuman murder. There is further artwork below this writing.

Carrying on my walk past the former chapel, now apartments, and through the centre of Brearley, the rain came, and trying to avoid soaking, I sheltered underneath Wheatley Royd Farm Bridge. This didn't work out as planned after nearly 30 minutes of waiting for my weather app to update to tell me it was going to be at least another hour, so I carried on with the walk and the soaking. The following two pictures were taken underneath the shelter of the bridge.

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Lord Nelson Inn, Luddenden (2013)

The Lord Nelson Inn can be found on High Street in the centre of the village of Luddenden, West Yorkshire. It is the only remaining pub in the village centre making it quite popular with the locals and quite well known and regarded further afield.

The building was built has a house in 1634 for Gregory Patchett, a prominent local landowner and was known as Newhouse, it may have also be used as a dairy around this time but by the middle of the following century the building had become a public house known as the White Swan. In 1805 shortly after the Battle of Trafalgar the pub was renamed the Lord Nelson in tribute to the great British Naval Hero and has kept the name since.

The Lord Nelson was home to Luddenden Library from 1776 until the collection was moved to Sowerby Bridge Library in 1917, a prominent member of the library being Branwell Bronte, brother of the famous sisters who when employed at nearby Luddendenfoot Railway Station was often found in the pub. The Inn has also stood in for the nearby St Mary's Church for various functions when it has been unavailable.

The 2 pictures below are all that remains of a set of 6 I took around the pub, they were taken on the 13th October 2013 with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet.

I took this from the garden - seating area at the junction of Old Lane and High Street.

I took this picture from the churchyard of St Mary's, the high building directly behind the Lord Nelson used to be the village school known as St Mary's Old School, it was closed in 1993 and is now a private residence.

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The Train Trip, Sowerby Bridge to Mytholmroyd.

A short video I recently did of the view outside the window as I took a train journey from Sowerby Bridge to Mytholmroyd. The trip was taken on New Years Eve 2018 at about 11.15am so the train wasn't overly busy. I didn't intend on filming it but as it was on the tripod already, I thought why not and set it going. I filmed it on my Nikon d3300 SLR.

The journey starts at Sowerby Bridge Railway Station Platform 1 and heads west firstly past County Bridge, Town Hall Clock and the River Calder. After this we passed Goodalls Transport which is built on part of the site of the former goods yard and near to where the original Sowerby Bridge Railway Station was sited until moving to it's current location in 1876. The train then enters Cemetery Tunnel, which is also known as Sowerby Tunnel or locally as Dixy Tunnel. The tunnel runs under Dixon Scar Woods and Sowerby Bridge Cemetery. I trimmed the tunnel section of the video to a few seconds as we were in the tunnel for a minute.

Once through the tunnel, the open country becomes visible as the train heads towards the Tenterfields area of Sowerby Bridge, a mill complex converted to business units. After this is the former VTL works now a caravan storage area which forms part of Fairlea Mills, with a little bit further the area that was Luddendenfoot Railway Station, which also is now Station Road Industrial Units.

After passing Luddendenfoot, once again the countryside becomes more prominent until passing the small hamlet of Brearley, which is home to a few houses and industrial units. Not overly visible from the train. Before reaching Mytholmroyd, Moderna Business Park becomes visible through the trees and St Michaels Church is Visible just before I had to get up to leave the train.

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Whispers of Mills and Murders: Unearthing Brearley's Hidden History

Nestled between the rumble of the mainline railway and the busy A646 Burnley Road, between Luddendenfoot and Mytholmroyd, lies the unassuming hamlet of Brearley. It's easy to pass by, a blink-and-you'll-miss-it spot in the verdant embrace of West Yorkshire. But beneath its tranquil surface, Brearley holds tales that echo through the centuries, whispering of industry, faith, and even murder.

One of the first things that catches the eye is the former Baptist Chapel. Once a vibrant hub of community life, its stone walls now house apartments, a silent testament to the changing fortunes of the area. The closure of the mills, once the lifeblood of Brearley, led to a gradual exodus, leaving the chapel's pews empty. It's a poignant reminder of how industrial shifts can reshape entire communities, leaving behind echoes of a bygone era.

But Brearley's history isn't just about the rise and fall of industry. Venture along the Route 66 cycleway, towards Mytholmroyd, and you'll encounter a stark reminder of a darker chapter: the memorial to William Deighton.

Deighton, a tax inspector, arrived in Halifax in April 1759. He quickly became aware of the rampant practice of coin clipping, a form of counterfeiting that plagued the region. His investigations led him to the notorious Cragg Vale Coiners, a gang who were systematically defrauding the government. The story takes a tragic turn in November 1769, when Deighton was ambushed and murdered on Swires Road, Halifax, by Robert Thomas and Matthew Normington, two members of the Coiners.

The initial acquittal of Thomas and Normington in August 1770 is a chilling reflection of the times, but justice, though delayed, was not denied. They were eventually convicted and executed for highway robbery in 1774, bringing a grim end to the Coiners' reign of terror. Deighton's memorial serves as a stark reminder of his dedication and the ultimate price he paid for his pursuit of justice.

And then, there are the bridges. Brearley boasts not one, but two 18th-century bridges, each a testament to the engineering prowess of the time. One gracefully spans the River Calder, while the other arches over the historic Rochdale Canal. These sturdy structures, weathered by time and traffic, offer a glimpse into the transport networks that once connected this bustling region.

Brearley, then, is more than just a quiet hamlet. It's a place where the echoes of industrial revolution mingle with tales of faith and crime. It's a place where you can stand on centuries-old bridges and contemplate the lives that have passed beneath them. It's a place where history whispers from every stone and every bend in the cycle path. So, next time you find yourself travelling through West Yorkshire, take a moment to pause in Brearley. You might just hear the whispers of its fascinating past.

The pictures were taken on consecutive August weekends in 2016 with a Nikon d3300 Camera. Clicking any image below should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

This first set of 7 were taken on the 14th August 2016.

The former Brearley Baptist Chapel and Sunday School, now apartments.

The River Calder towards Brearley Bridge.

Stoney Springs House.

The former Baptist Chapel and Sunday School.

Brearley Bridge and the River Calder.

The next set of 6 pictures were taken on the 20th August 2016.

Brearley Bridge and Weir.

The former Baptist Chapel and Sunday School.

This stone chair is found on the footpath the runs between Brearley and Luddendenfoot alongside the railway.

The William Deighton Memorial Stone. The stone is a dedicated to William Deighton, a local tax inspector who was murdered by the Cragg Vale Coiners Gang.

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