Where is "Odersfelt"?

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Where is "Odersfelt"?

Saturday, 12 September 2009 08:52

From Lidl to Odersfelt!

Say "Odersfelt" quickly and you may guess where it is. It is a mill town where two canals meet. It has some impressive Victorian listed buildings and a modern University. If you haven't guessed yet you will by the end of this!

We set off to go to Lidl, just by Bridge 18 on the Calder and Hebble, but decided to take a detour to the railway station first. A train was arriving and since there wasn't the necessary ticket office we got on. We arrived at a large Victorian station in the heart of "mill country".

The railway station is a Grade 1 Victorian building

It was described as "the most splendid station façade in England" (second only to St Pancras station in London), by John Betjeman. He would not be happy with what they have done to St Pancras recently! It has also been described as "a stately home with trains in". The whole façade, including the "Head of Steam" pub, is certainly very impressive.

The station façade

Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway arms over the pub

Caged Harold Wilson strides away from the station

St George's Square in front of the station is being refurbished. This is the reason Sir Harold is "protected" and we saw the apology notice with a wry smile. The refurbishment firm had gone into liquidation.

The square is surrounded by other Victorian buildings

The George Hotel

The Lion Chambers lion

Britannia Rules over the old Building Society building

From here we wandered towards the town centre and came across an impressive arch and the market behind it. Now I will have to "give the game away" as the arch says where we are!

Market arch

Open Market building behind, built 1888, restored 1980

Further on we saw the Parish Church of St Peter

We commented on the fact that all the Northern towns we had visited were enhanced by the flower displays that were so lovingly tended all and placed over the town - Huddersfield was no exception.

We explored the inside of the church (another blog to be done!) and then had a marvellous lunch in The Keys Restaurant. This was fashioned out of the crypt below the church and is an impressive business with lots of atmosphere!

I would recommend it - good food, all cooked to order in an open kitchen. It was very busy once lunch time arrived; we were glad we had arrived at 12 before the rush!

The Keys

The view down towards St Paul's now a concert hall

We decided that we would try and find the Huddersfield Canal so got out the map - it was shown but not the access! We followed our noses and then asked a "local workman" who directed us in more or less the right direction!

Looking back from down Queen Street this was the view! mill and hills