What a beautiful day today. Lovely and warm with a little sun and a nice run down to the River Calder. The first obstacle was the bridge with three names, Turnbridge, Quay Street or Locomotive Bridge. It was built in 1865 to replace an old swing bridge and was originally windlass operated but now is electrical.
It's 'nickname' of Locomotive Bridge maybe as it looks like an early steam loco! It lifts straight up.
After the bridge the route is through industrial areas with reminders of old wharves and mills etc. Once it passes under the dual carriageway it soon takes on a more countrified atmosphere. There are playing fields on both sides and in the distance the Huddersfield Football and Rugby League Stadium. The pitches have lots of blokes that seem to be the various football teams training.
Helen enjoying the sunshine.
The Huddersfield Broad Canal locks are officially 57'6" long but a longer narrow boat can fit in by going behind the gate on one side, in a sort of diagonal fashion. With the greater length you can stay well clear of the sill but you have to work harder to avoid the leaky gates. Once lowered down the other side gate is opened then I just went up the side and pushed the bow over and out we went. We are 58'8" plus fendering and this is about the least room we had on the Broad Canal.
An old corn mill near Deighton.
The lock cottage at the first/last lock on the Broad Canal with Fearnley Mill Chimney in the background. The mill was converted into flats around 2006.
Leaving the Broad Canal behind. It was opened in 1776 and was promoted heavily by the lock land and mill owner Sir John Ramsden, and this is what it was nicknamed as. It was quite successful bring in coal and other raw materials and taking out finished fabrics etc that could be transported down the canals and rivers to Hull and hence had an easy access to export markets.
As you leave the bottom lock there is a very large weir just on your right. Today the current was very benign but would be something to take great care of in a wet period. After passing under a road bridge I knew the Calder and Hebble branched off but it isn't very clearly seen until almost upon it.
The white sign would be clear coming from the west on the River but from the Broad Canal the entrance to Cooper's Bridge Cut is not easy to spot.
We were soon moored up through the flood gate and on the 48hr visitor moorings opposite an old warehouse building with a crane still in the yard.
Below the warehouse door what should we spot but a kingfisher that sat still long enough for us to get a photo. I must put a telephoto lens on my Christmas list.
No sooner had we got moored up and the fire lit than the rain started that put paid to our plans to walk up to the pub. I couple of hire boats moored up astern of us but we settled down for an evening aboard.
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