Todmorden Unitarian Church July 2020

Todmorden Unitarian Church is located at Honey Hole Road, Todmorden, West Yorkshire. The church was built in the memory of John Fielden, a local mill owner, social reformer, and member of parliament for Oldham between 1832 and 1847. Fielden was also a prominent member of the local unitarian movement. Building work began in 1865, paid for by his three sons, Joshua, John, and Samuel, on land the Fielden family donated; the budget was not limited by them, with the final bill over £35,000 (over £3.5 million at 2020 rates). The work was completed in 1869, with the church opening in April with a sermon preached by William Gaskell to a congregation of over 800 people.

The church continued to grow until the early part of the 20th century, when, like most other religions in the UK, congregations started to decline. As numbers decreased, it became increasingly difficult to fund the upkeep of the building, and by 1987, the decision was taken to close the main church building and move services to the nearby lodge at the entrance to the church grounds. These services continued until 1992, when the church and grounds were closed completely.

After the complete closure, the church decayed and was subject to large amounts of vandalism. In 1994, the Historic Chapels Trust took over the church, and over the next few years, they spent over £1 million on repairs.

The church was granted Grade I listed status on the 22nd November 1966, with the lodge at the entrance gaining Grade II listed status on the 22nd February 1984.

The pictures were taken with a Nikon d3300 on the 11th July 2020. They can be seen below or on Clickasnap un-watermarked and higher resolution.

This picture taken from the Rochdale Canal, looking across the Golden Lion Pub, shows the Churches Spire. Notice the guitarist sat on the bench. Copies of this image can be purchased from Photo4Me.

The Lodge, stands at the entrance to the church grounds. This was used for services after the main building closed. I believe it is now a private residence. A copy of this image can be purchased from Photo4Me.

This lamp post can be found on the main driveway, the path to the right leads through the woodland circling the eastern side of the church.

A copy of this image, plus a black and white version can be purchased from Photo4Me.

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The Grandeur of Todmorden Town Hall's Frontage. January 2024

As you approach Todmorden, nestled amidst the Pennine Hills, a majestic sight unfolds: the imposing frontage of the town hall. More than just a grand building, it's a symbol of civic pride, rich history, and a vibrant present.

The frontage, spanning an impressive 53 feet, is a visual delight. Constructed in the Italianate style, it boasts a symmetrical design with towering columns, arched windows, and intricate stonework. The town hall opened on the 3rd April 1875, at a cost of £54,000. The original plans for the hall were conceived a couple of decades earlier, when architect James Green was charged with building a town hall for the town of Todmorden. Legal and financial problems saw this work grind to a halt by the mid-1860s. The Fielden family, a local owner of many of the town's cotton mills, purchased the site and took financial responsibility for completing the hall. 

Look closer at the frontage, and you'll discover the symbolic language whispered in the stone. The pediment features two allegorical figures, representing Lancashire and Yorkshire, united by industry and prosperity. The friezes below depict scenes of cotton spinning and engineering, reflecting the town's heritage. The hall was built atop Walsden Water, the historic boundary of Lancashire and Yorkshire, to unite the town populace. 

The frontage isn't just aesthetically pleasing; it's a window into the town's soul. Imagine grand balls held in the opulent ballroom, the echo of justice served in the former magistrate's court, and the countless community events that have brought laughter and life to these walls. Every scratch, every detail, whispers untold stories of the people who have walked these steps and made Todmorden what it is today.

The pictures below were taken on the 6th January 2024 with a Nikon d3300, they can also be seen on Clickasnap by clicking any of them(opens in another window).

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Stoodley Pike November 2016

Towering over the Calder Valley, Stoodley Pike is more than just a hill overlooking the town of Todmorden, West Yorkshire; it's a monument; it's a beacon, a challenge, and a gateway to breathtaking panoramas. I embarked on my own Stoodley Pike adventure, and let me tell you, it was an experience in stunning vistas.

There are several routes to the summit, each offering its own unique charm. I opted for the Shaw Wood Road trail, starting from the A646 Burnley Road. The trail leaves Burnley Road almost immediately, crossing over the Rochdale Canal alongside Lock No. 15 Shawplains. The road winds through woodlands before reaching a housing estate at Lee Bottom Road, which runs eastward, offering glimpses of the imposing Pike as you ascend. Be prepared for a good workout, as the trail steadily gains elevation.

Finally, after conquering the final incline, the reward arrives. The 39-step spiral staircase beckons, leading you up another 40 feet to the balcony of the monument. Remember, a torch is recommended, as the narrow passage plunges into darkness, despite a grill that is meant to offer a light source.

The views from the top are nothing short of magnificent. The hill, at a height of 1300 feet, shows rolling fields in every direction, dotted with villages, reservoirs, and the distant Pennine peaks. On a clear day, you can even see Manchester and the Irish Sea! Take a deep breath, soak it all in, and feel the sense of accomplishment wash over you.

But Stoodley Pike is more than just a scenic overlook. It's steeped in history, dating back to the Iron Age. Explore the monument's intriguing inscriptions and weathered stones, whispering tales of the past. A monument was originally built to commemorate the Napoleonic Wars and then rebuilt to remember the Crimean War.

The monument features the following faded inscription above the north facing door:

STOODLEY PIKE

A BEACON MONUMENT

ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION

COMMENCED IN 1814 TO COMMEMORATE

THE SURRENDER OF PARIS TO THE ALLIES

AND FINISHED AFTER THE BATTLE OF

WATERLOO WHEN PEACE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1815.

BY A STRANGE COINCIDENCE

THE PIKE FELL ON THE DAY THE RUSSIAN

AMBASSADOR LEFT LONDON BEFORE THE

DECLARATION OF WAR WITH RUSSIA IN 1854.

WAS REBUILT WHEN PEACE WAS RESTORED IN

1856.

RESTORED AND LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR FIXED IN

1889.

 

The pictures below were taken on the 19th November 2016 with a Nikon D3300; they can be seen un-watermarked on my Clickasnap portfolio. Click any image to view it there.

The path up to Stoodley Pike, the monument visible at the summit.

I think the snow clinging to the side of the structure gives the monument a completely different feel to its usual look.

The Calder Valley and beyond towards Lancashire, taken from the base of the monument.

Looking west away from the monument, I have always liked this picture as it's gives the impression the clouds will shortly fall over the edge of the hill.

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Water Street and The Golden Lion, Todmorden

These 2 pictures were a couple of random ones I took on Saturday 6th January 2024, I'd caught the train to Todmorden with a view to walking the Rochdale Canal to Sowerby Bridge and captured these 2 images shortly after reaching Todmorden.

The Picture shows Water Street a thoroughfare thats runs away from the Town Hall Building. The street is lined by shops on one side and a tributary of the River Calder on the opposite. Past names of the road have included Pall Mall and Old Shop Lane.

The Golden Lion pictured from the Rochdale Canal. The pub is amongst the oldest buildings in the town centre, it's original construction being in 1770 as a coaching inn as a new turnpike connecting Manchester with Halifax had recently opened. The Golden Lion has been the scene of many prominent town meetings included the ones that saw the decisions to build the Town Hall and the monument at Stoodley Pike. It has also be used for town inquests and was the post office for a time.

The higher resolution, un-watermarked versions can be seen on Clickasnap by clicking the image. These can also be purchased at Photo4Me.

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Rochdale Canal Artworks

 The following pictures - artworks are based on 3 pictures I took on the Rochdale Canal between Todmorden and Hebden Bridge. It was my first attempt at creating a pencil sketch type drawing using photoshop.

The original pictures were taken with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet on the 9th November 2013.

I belive this picture was somewhere near to the medical centre at Todmorden.

This was about half way between Todmorden and Hebden Bridge.

The moorings at Hebden Bridge.

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Todmorden Town Hall (2013)

Todmorden Town Hall is a neo-classical Grade I listed building. Building work commenced in 1860 and the hall went through many changes with architect James Green being the original designer, work stopped in the 1860's due to legal and financial problems, before the Fielden family purchased the land and hall in January 1866 at auction. John Gibson of Westminster was then appointed to redesign the building which was completed and opened on 3rd April 1875 at a cost of £54,000.

The building was built across the Lancashire - Yorkshire county boundary to help unite the rivalries, although this boundary was moved on the 1st January 1888, bringing the hall and the town of Todmorden within the Yorkshire county fully.

The pictures below were taken on the 28th November 2013 with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet.

This was taken from the grounds of St Mary's Church, the A646 Halifax Road heading off and the A646 Burnley Road going off towards the left of the picture.

The Yorkshire Bank Branch pictured here was closed in 2017, plans to convert the building to a branch of McDonalds were ongoing in 2019 prior to the Covid 19 Pandemic, these seem to have been abandoned and the building remains unused as of September 2023.

The front of the town hall, St Mary's Church is pictured to the left of the hall.

The rear of the building, again St Mary's Church is visible this time to the right of the hall.

The waterway that once separated the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire ran underneath the hall, people dancing in the halls ballroom could start a dance in one county and finish in the other.

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Fielden Square, Todmorden

Fielden Square is an area of Todmorden outside the Golden Lion Pub. Cleared to house a statue of John Fielden a local businessman, benefactor and social reformer, the area is now mainly used as a car park near the town centre. The statue was moved in 1939 to Centre Vale Park.

I took this picture on the 9th November 2013 with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet. The original image had a totally flat, lifeless overcast sky so this was my first attempt at replacing a sky within an image.

Also seen in the picture, to the left the Golden Lion, the pub was closed when I took this having been badly flooded, I believe it reopened the following year. The spire that overlooks the town is that of Todmorden Unitarian Church. The Fielden family contributed to it's construction.

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Lumbuts Mill Artwork

 

Lumbutts Mill Water Tower. This Artwork created by is based on a picture I took. I gave the picture a sunset colour scheme as a nod to the areas links with the 1838 Mankinholes Riots to give the impression of a passion.

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Artworks of Calderdale

 The following are a collection of digital artworks I created based on photograph's I took in 2013 of various well known places of interest in Calderdale. They can also be seen on Clickasnap, where copies can also be purchased or just view if you require.

Todmorden Town Hall.

Hebden Bridge Railway Station

Stoodley Pike Monument

Halifax Railway Station

St Mary's Church Clocktower, Luddenden.

Todmorden Unitarian Church

Ruins of the Church of Thomas a' Becket, Heptonstall

Copley Toll House

Brighouse Library and Smith Art Gallery

Piece Hall before refurbishment

Old Bridge Over Hebden Water, Hebden Bridge

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Jumble Hole, Between Todmorden and Hebden Bridge

 Jumble Hole is a wooded Valley that runs down from Blackshaw Head towards Eastwood between Hebden Bridge and Todmorden. Jumble Hole Clough is the water that runs down it flowing towards the River Calder, although historically this was known as Blackshaw Clough.

The water was used to power a number of mills along its path and a few dwellings were also scattered alongside the stream. Water from Jumble Hole was also used in baptisms by the nearby Nazebottom Baptist Church. This waterway is the traditional boundary between Yorkshire and Lancashire.

I was walking along this stretch of Woodland on the 4th May 2022 and whilst passing a bridge over the clough I discovered and abandoned dwelling that I had to picture. I also did a couple of artworks based around the fireplace that still remains. They can be seen below or on my Clickasnap profile where they are full size, resolution and un-watermarked. They were taken using a Nikon d3300SLR camera.

Inside the abandoned dwelling I found. This artwork is based on
a photo that can be seen below.

Jumble Hole Clough.

Jumble Hole Clough, the abandoned dwelling is just to the right
of the picture.

Another artwork of the inside of the abandoned dwelling.

The abandoned dwelling, it was the top of the fireplace, just visible
that made me go and take a look around.

Jumble Hole Clough weir.

The photo of the fireplace my artworks are based on.

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.