Huddersfield to Slaithwaite

Thu 19^th May  Huddersfield to Golcar Brook

The forecast for Saturday was wet, so we decided to leave Huddersfield today to avoid boating in the rain.  We would spend the wet day in Slaithwaite.

We visited the facilities block, and while James was doing the necessary, Hazel went to Sainsbury’s for the fresh items we needed.

Aspley Basin

 Alan’s boat by the Aspley pub

We saw that Alan was on his boat, so we crossed the bridge to say farewell, and to give him a Bible.

James took the chimney down, as we anticipated some low bridges, and we set off on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. The lock dimensions here are 70ft x 6ft10in. The Broad Canal dimensions are 57ft6in x 14ft 2in.  So wide boats could not use the Narrow Canal, and standard narrowboats could not use the Broad Canal. Aspley Basin was used for transhipment of goods, and there are some interesting warehouses in the area.

Huddersfield Warehouse

Lock numbers and bridge numbers are unusual on the Huddersfield Canals.  The locks on the Broad Canal are numbered from 1 to 9 from Cooper Bridge to Huddersfield. Then the numbering starts again with 1E to 42E from Huddersfield to Marsden. The first lock after the tunnel is 32W, down to Ashton Lock 1W at the Manchester end of the canal.  The bridge numbers start at Cooper Bridge (1) and continue straight through, finishing at Ashton (111).

The first part of the Huddersfield Narrow goes close to some of the university buildings, before moving into more industrial zones.  The first pound was very shallow and we were scraping the bottom.

Lock 1E

 Leaving Lock 1E

Shallow

There is then a very narrow section, incorporating an old lock that had to be moved to keep the canal at a lower level, in order to go under some modern buildings.

Narrow section

The old lock

We passed a sign instructing us to put on our tunnel light, which we did, but it was unnecessary as there was plenty of light. There was also a sign at Bates Tunnel telling us to check if someone is using the next lock, but there was no means of doing so as there was no towpath in the tunnel that leads to the lock.

Approach to Bates Tunnel

After the tunnel, the new lock is quite deep. The paddle gear is on the opposite side to the lock beam, and there is no footway across the top gates, so the poor lock operator has to walk round all the time.

Coal Wharf Lock 2E

 Paddle gear opposite the lock beam

There were two further signs. One gave a phone number to ring in case of low pounds.  We took a photo just in case.  Another told us we needed to book a passage through lock 24E as it was faulty.  We rang up and booked it for Monday at 10am.

The locks came frequently, and we climbed through a valley surrounded by industrial buildings and occasional woodland, with steep banks, following the river Colne, and accompanied by a railway high above us.

Lock 5E under a railway viaduct.

 Lock 6E quite deep

Lock 8E with lock beams extending into a road

When we reached lock 9E, we could not get in to the side as it was shallow. James got out from the bows in the lock mouth and discovered that two pounds above were very low.

Dry pound above 9E

He rang the phone number and a C&RT employee arrived within 30 minutes. He told us there was a boat coming down, several locks up, and that he had been running water down from Slaithwaite for two hours.  After an hour the pounds were deep enough for navigation and the oncoming boat, Tranquillity, came down first, bringing some more water with them.  Gabriel then moved into the lock and we were able to proceed without further incident.

Finally into lock 9E with some help from C&RT

A wooded section

The valley widened out after lock 15E, and we stopped for the day in sight of the huge Titanic Mill, built in 1912, and now used as a leisure spa resort.

A pleasant scene by lock 15E

Moored near Titanic Mill across a meadow

15 locks, 4 miles

Fri  20^th May  Golcar Brook to Slaithwaite

James went on an early walk to find dippers in the river. He saw some last time in 2007, but no luck today.

We set off for Slaithwaite hoping to avoid rain.  16E was our first lock. At 18E we found some lovely bluebells, but alarming leaks in the lock walls.

 16E first lock of the day

Leaking lock walls at 18E

Bluebells and leaks

Bluebells

Approach to 18E

We thought we had five locks to reach the visitor mooring, but we found it was above lock 21E, not below as Nicholson has it. So we had six locks instead. The new sanitary station was level with 22E.

Narrow approach to 21E, our last lock of the day

We explored the village – there are more shops than we anticipated or remembered, including a new Aldi.  Lots of cafes, a few pubs, and some takeaways.

The canal goes through Slaithwaite in a narrow channel alongside the road, which makes an interesting feature for the village. They all have accents up here, and they call the place Slawit.

We found Rosalan moored above 23E, but locked up. We assumed they were lined up for passage by appointment through guillotine lock 24E at 4pm but we found out later when Andy came to visit us that they had planned to go at 10am this morning, but the two pounds above 24E were dry.  They had been promised a passage through the following morning (Saturday, when they don’t usually operate).  There was also a boat above the dry pounds waiting for a passage down.

Our appointment here is for Monday at 10am. There are twenty more locks between here and Marsden, so we would like to break the journey on Monday evening, arriving in Marsden on Tuesday, ready for our meal out on our wedding anniversary.  On Wednesday we go through the tunnel.

6 locks, 1 mile

Sat  21st May  Slaithwaite

The heavy rain that was forecast duly arrived, just as we were thinking of going shopping.  We had an early lunch instead and wandered up to Aldi when it eased.  Inspired by a cafe offering cream teas, we bought some scones and clotted cream, and had cream tea with lemon curd instead of jam.

Rosalan must have gone through the guillotine lock, as we saw two boats come down.  One moored near us, and the other went on down the locks towards Huddersfield.

Heavy rain on and off throughout the day

No boating today.  No photos either!

Sun  22nd May  Slaithwaite

The rain had stopped and the sun was shining this morning

Visitor mooring in Slaithwaite

We went to find the Anglican Church for their worship and communion service at 1030.  It was very traditional, with well known hymns played on the organ. The vicar and a lay reader or server, both in robes, took the service between them. The talk was about the trinity, probably because it was Trinity Sunday.  The vicar left before the end, presumably to go another church service somewhere. These multi-church parishes are a challenge.  We had a warm welcome over coffee afterwards.  We then went to the Shoulder of Mutton pub for a Sunday roast.

Inside St James Church in Slaithwaite

 After the service

The church and the pub

We took a few photos of Slaithwaite in the sunshine. It is remarkable how the canal has been restored through the village, including four locks and a winding hole.

The narrow cut through Slaithwaite

 Above Lock 22E

Winding hole Slaithwaite

In the evening we returned to the Shoulder of Mutton, where we had discovered there was an open mic event.  We sang four songs which were fine, but most people in the pub were not there for the music. The leaders of the event sang a lot of Johnny Cash songs.

Open Mic at the Shoulder of Mutton

No boating today

Next week: heading west towards Manchester, wit

Wakefield to Huddersfield

Sat 14^th May  Wakefield

Our first stop today was a visit to the Hepworth Gallery, which has Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth sculptures.  Very interesting displays, in a very ugly building.

Hepworth Gallery

Barbara Hepworth Sculptures

Winged Figure

From a rare window in the gallery we had a good view of the weir and the barrier which had been washed out of place.  Later we saw that another boat had drawn alongside the stranded craft on the weir, and we guessed they were attaching winch lines.  Later on Monday we saw from a bus that the stranded craft had been retrieved and moved to one side.

Flood results

Securing winch lines?

We walked into town via a new footbridge from the gallery, and saw the collection of boats moored just above the weir, including a floating dry dock where a man was painting a narrowboat.

Floating dry dock

We took a free bus to the town centre, and after exploring the streets of Wakefield for a while, we had a large lunch in the Chinese Buffet. We then made our way to the museum, which is housed in a building called Wakefield One, which gives no clue that it houses a library and the museum. We had already been past in the free bus, and not realised it was the museum. The museum turned out to be very small in the end.

We returned to the boat using the free bus. We saw Rosalan go past, a boat that used to be on the Wey Navigation.  Sadly they didn’t stop so we couldn't chat.

No boating today

Sun 15^th May  Wakefield   Pentecost Sunday

We had found the New Life Christian Centre on a website, and James thought he had identified it on Google Earth, spotting a huge, church-like building with Zion written on the front.  We didn’t leave much time for error, and discovered that the building was now converted to apartments.  The real church was further along the same street, and we arrived ten minutes late to find it very full and lively.  They sang a Matt Redman song which was new to us – Unbroken Praise.

The talk was very good, partly about what a good church should be like, and partly about the day of Pentecost

New Life Christian Centre

  

Unbroken Praise lyrics

We met lots of people, and were invited for breakfast the next by Graham, who runs the cafe where we had had a coffee earlier, and had seen us there.

We wandered back towards the boat, and had lunch at the Ruddy Duck, where we also saw Tom and Jan from Waiouru.

We went for another service later at the historic Chantry Chapel on the bridge.

Chantry Chapel and bridge

Chantry Chapel from the front

 Blue plaque

Inside the chapel

We had discovered a facilities block near Fall Ing Lock, but when James tried the doors we found they were not the usual key, so we could only use the dustbins. Presumably they are for the exclusive use of the eight boats moored there permanently.

No boating today

Mon 16^th May  Wakefield to Dewsbury

We turned up for breakfast this morning at Othello’s Cafe, hosted as promised by Graham. He showed us round, including the room upstairs where they hold outreach events.  There was a place on the wall where people put handprints when they became Christians. It was good to see Graham’s business being used to bless and touch others in this way

Inside Othello’s Cafe

Handprints for new Christians

Graham

We made a last visit to Morrison’s before returning to our boat and setting off on the Calder and Hebble. We cruised past Sunday’s pub, and through the flood lock onto the river, where there is a fine view of some restored warehouses.

Our mooring in Wakefield

Through Wakefield Flood Lock

Wakefield warehouses

Moving upstream, we passed under a railway bridge with very ornate decorations at each end.  There is a viaduct here called the 99 arches, but our Nicholson Guide says there are only 95!  We didn’t bother to count them.

Ornate railway bridge

We left the river again at Thornes Lock, where we encountered the unusual steel boxes that house two paddle gear mechanisms. We also had the first opportunity to use the handspike.

Thornes Lock

Handspike in use

Thornes Flood Lock

As is typical for this navigation as far as Brighouse, we were soon back onto the river again through a flood lock. Although the levels were equal, for no apparent reason the gates were shut. James left them open, to make it easier for everyone.

At Horbury Bridge we found that the facilities block was in a small side arm that used to go through a lock to the river. There are now boats moored there, so it is not easy to get in to use the facilities.  We had to moor up using a centre line, and James had to trundle the two cassettes along the towpath and in through the main gate past a “private” sign.  The Elsan hut had a sign saying “No Fishing”.

Horbury Bridge

Awkward facilities

No fishing in the Elsan!

Further on there are two locks together, confusingly called “Figure of Three Locks”. These were the last locks of the day before we moored up by a disused railway bridge before Dewsbury.

Figure of Three Locks

Moored before Dewsbury

6 locks, 6 miles

Tue 17^th May  Dewsbury to Huddersfield

Morning mist near Dewsbury

After a misty start, we went through Mill Bank Lock, where we saw an incredible sunset in 2000. It was quite a tight fit, as our boat is 59ft, and the official maximum length should be 57ft6in.

Mill Bank Lock

Tight fit

No room to spare

Next came the side arm to Dewsbury on the right, while we carried straight on through Thornhill Double Locks.  These have a circular pound between the two locks, and they are the first locks we negotiated on our RYA helmsman’s course in 1997.

 Thornhill Double Locks

Circular pound

Then off the river through Greenwood Lock and back on through Greenwood Floodgates, before we arrived at Shepley Bridge Lock.  Here the ground paddles were operated by handspike, but they were too tough for ours, which snapped in two.  There were lots of special needs youngsters being shown the lock, so we had lots of eager help.

Greenwood Flood Gates

Shepley Bridge Lock

The demise of the handspike 

Our helpers at the lock

There was a lifeboat that had been converted into a home for someone. It looked upside down.

Upside down boat

We passed through Ledgard Bridge Flood Lock and saw the weir and the building where Ledgard Bridge Boat Builders used to be, where our first boat was built in 1997. We also recalled the time in 2007 when we came the other way in flood conditions, and found the flood lock closed, and nowhere to tie up to open it.  Thankfully we were able to throw a line to someone on the bank.

Ledgard Bridge

Ledgard Bridge Flood Lock and weir

There was another lock and flood lock at Battyeford before the river section leading to our final Calder and Hebble lock, at Cooper Bridge.  Here there was an assortment of unusual creatures, including geese, a chicken that was rearing baby ducks, and a goat.

River section at Cooper Bridge

Bored spectator at Cooper Bridge Lock

Cooper Bridge Lock

Then through the final flood gates onto the river, with a sharp turn to the left to reach the first lock on the Huddersfield Broad Canal.

 The final flood lock

Lock 1, Huddersfield Broad Canal

These locks were also a tight fit, particularly lock 6 and lock 8. It took us three hours from Cooper Bridge to negotiate all nine locks, and reach Huddersfield.

Red Doles Lock 9

In Huddersfield there is a very unusual lift bridge which doesn’t hinge from one side, but lifts up vertically, keeping flat.  Thankfully it is hydraulic and powered electrically.

Turnbridge Locomotive Lift Bridge

Starting to Lift

Vertical lift and safely through

We arrived at the visitor moorings, and were helped in by Alan, a chap we had met two years ago at Whitchurch on the Llangollen Canal. Then he had brought his guitar and joined us in a folk club, with Canal Ministries friends Roger and Mirjana, and Peter and Lin. It was good to see him again.

The boat in front of us was Rosalan from the Wey Navigation, and this time we managed to meet Andy and Jane. We discovered that they were booked through Standedge Tunnel two days before us.

After a very long day, we decided to have a meal at the Aspley, a pub overlooking Aspley Basin.

It was fairly quiet, although there some reflections from neon signs.

Night reflections

16 locks, 9 miles

Wed 18^th May  Huddersfield

It was overcast this morning as we saw Rosalan set off towards Slaithwaite and Marsden. We were moored a little out from the bank as it was shallow at the edge, so we utilised our plank. 

Rosalan departing

Our mooring in Huddersfield

It was Hazel’s birthday, and we went shopping.  We must have visited at least 15 clothing shops to buy a top to match a jacket she has. Success in the end. We had lunch at a Russian cafe in the market.  It was very tasty. We finished the day by having a decent Italian meal at San Vito, which James had found on Trip Advisor. It was excellent.

San Vito

Birthday Girl

San Vito card

No boating today

Next week: Huddersfield Narrow to Slaithwaite for church on Sunday. Standedge Tunnel on Wednesday.