How to get over Standedge Tunnel

Saturday, 19 June 2010 20:45

Moor at Marsden.......

....or rather go to the top of Marsden moor! However, we did not have time to do this whilst moored at Marsden, because of the schedule imposed by British Waterways.

Slaithwaite (or Slough-it as the locals pronounce it) is worth exploring. There is the church of St James, some nice local shops and quite a number of pubs!

Whilst moored at Slaithwaite, we took a bus ride back to Marsden, once a mill town.

View from bus to Marsden

The idea was to have a look in the Visitor Centre at Tunnel End, have a look around Marsden and then take a bus "over the top" of Standedge Tunnel.

First we wandered into the village centre (Marsden is really a town now but the centre feels "village-like")

The Mechanics Hall, Marsden

River Colne in Marsden

The Visitor Centre was a little disappointing, although the video telling the story of the Huddersfield Canal was interesting - shame it's not open on Mondays for those coming through the tunnel.

Visitor Centre in the old transhipment warehouse

We had a cuppa at the café (sharing a table with someone who's grandfather used to be a tunnel legger) and then went back to Marsden to catch the bus to "the top".

Café and BW grass-cutting contractors?

At the "top", the line of Standedge Tunnel can be picked out by following the remains of the shafts and associated buildings. The Tunnel cuts under Pule Hill and under what is now the A62. The left photo below shows the line from Pule Hill (there are two shafts and the remains of an engine house on the side of the hill) and one of the capped construction shafts and spoil. Click on the photo for a larger view. The right photo is a distance shot of the shafts and ruin on Pule Hill.

Redbrook Reservoir, one of the reservoirs that supply the Huddersfield Canal, is empty while under repair by BW/May Gurney, on a recently started 6-month contract.

Reservoirs and tunnel line

Walking up Marsden Moor it is possible to follow an old turnpike road from Thieves Clough, built in 1760, up to the Pennine Way. Standedge (forming much of Marsden Moor) is crossed by five road crossings - the first was built by the Romans.

Old turnpike road  

 The Pennine Way, crosses Marsden Moor

We had a drink in the Great Western pub and returned to Slaithwaite on the 184 bus for one more night, before tackling the remaining eastern locks of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal

If you would like to see more photos of this trip have a look here - clickety click