There are two canals in Skipton

Sunday, 09 August 2009 19:35

But the Springs Branch has no winding hole

Only boats of 35 feet or less are able to turn in the Springs Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Other lengths would need to reverse to the end. There are a few permanent moorings in the branch, but the best way to see it is either by trip boat or on shanks pony! We took the latter course.

We started on Coach Street Bridge and stopped to look down on the Branch

Lord Thanet owned both Skipton Castle and some limestone quarries at Haw Bank. According to Malcolm Hanson who has produced "The Gateway Walk" - a walk through the history of Skipton, the Earl was a canny businessman and saw the possibility of linking his railway and moat with the new canal. He proposed a quarter of a mile canal to link the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

He saw the potential as the first (lock free) section of the Leeds and Liverpool from Skipton to Bingley (the centre of the limestone trade) was opened that year, followed by the opening of the Bingley Five Rise Locks the next year. In 1773 an Act of Parliament was passed supporting the Springs Branch construction and completion was swift.

The quarry was so busy that eventually the Lord's limestone barges were blocking the canal at the junction, so eventually, to have some control, the L and L Canal Company took over the lease in 1775 - at great profit to the Earl no doubt!

To return to our walk - High Corn Mill (or the Soke Mill) is alongside the branch

It was the corn mill attached to the Castle and there has been a mill here since before 1130.

It was powered by a waterwheel which has now been restored

The Mill race silted up long ago but the sluices are still to be seen

In 1785 the mill was extended to house machinery to spin rags into paper, again powered by water. One hundred years later an extension was built for machinery and the waterwheel became derelict.

Mill Bridge crosses the canal and the Eller Beck

The towpath becomes a walkway, high above the canal as it bends left and we saw the high north walls of the castle, built on "Sceapotne Rock" 100 feet above the Springs Branch.

Walkway along the Springs Branch, Eller Beck on left

The castle high above

Note the buttresses at the far end of the castle walls. These are not part of the Castle but housed the chutes for Lord Thanet's limestone. It was delivered to the chutes by the railway and then sent down into the waiting barges below - a very noisy procedure I should think!

The opposite side of the walkway and falling into the Eller Beck is a waterfall

The water comes from the feeder ponds to the Mill Race, and the house above must have a lovely view across the beck and canal. We had now reached the end of the Springs Branch but the path continued across the footbridge over the Eller Beck.

A lonely duck at the end of the Springs Branch

We went through the gap in the wall and turned right towards Skipton Woods. This is a really lovely part of Skipton, very quiet and secluded. The small complex of restored buildings are now a home and a holiday let. They used to be the Saw Mill and its associated buildings, built around 1785.

Old Saw Mill

We decided not to go on into Skipton Woods, perhaps another time, as there is more to see in the woods. We wandered back towards the Springs Branch, but not before taking a photo of the view across the gardens of the house there (mentioned above).

Castle from drive, over mill ponds

Walking back along the Springs branch we saw the trip boat Leo coming under Mill Bridge - it had a few passengers and at £3 is not really expensive. However we were glad we had walked the route as we could take our time and savour the history!

Trip Boat Leo

More to come about other sights in Skipton - I have taken far too many photos and my camera has now gone on strike. Actually it has given up the ghost - it failed us on our trip on a steam train today and I cannot get my photos off until I buy a card adaptor for my laptop! Thank goodness it is still under guarantee. Tomorrow I am back to my antique digi camera which is like an elephant after the gazelle that was my new one!