The Valley of Red Beck, near Brighouse

---

Introduction

This article was inspired by a book about the valley by John S Wharton - Waltercough Valley, A History, published by the Lightcliffe and District Local History Society. This is the result of much research into archives and is illustrated by many old photographs. I have explored the area on roads and footpaths and whilst I have borrowed freely from the text in the book I have looked at the old 1:2500 maps of various dates available to view on the National Library of Scotland website, and also the six-inch maps of 1850 and the mid-20C, and written descriptons to many of the images on geograph. There are also useful websites such as the Southowram Blog on Halifaxpeople.com , which also has pages for Hipperholme and Northowram.

Red Beck is the continuation downstream of Shibden Brook. The name starts at Stump Cross, where it is crossed by the A58, and it flows into the canal and the River Calder at Brookfoot.

This article is an exploration of the valley using its roads and footpaths. I have not including the built up areas in Northowram, Southowram and Hipperholme, although parts of them are in the catchment of the stream. I have used the A58 for the western and northern boundary, apart from the valley of Jum Hole Beck, the tributary stream that flows into Red Beck at Mytholme (Mytholm means a confluence of streams).

Many of the photographs were taken many years ago, and changes have often occured since. In particular there has been an increase in the growth of wild plants, especially brambles, on verges and alongside (and on) footpaths.

1. Stump Cross to Hipperholme

[map SE 10 25]

[map SE 12 25]

Three roads from Halifax to Wakefield pass through the northern part of the valley. The oldest, Wakefield Gate, is a packhorse track that climbs steeply out of Halifax and then descends gradually to cross Red Beck at Place Bridge before climbing steeply up to Tanhouse Lane and what is now a cross-roads at Hipperholme.

Wakefield Gate was not suitable for carts and carriages, so the first turnpike road was constructed soon after 1740. This is now Lister's Road, Shibden Hall Road, Halifax Old Road, and then meeting and replacing the old track, The Whitehall Inn was a coaching Inn at the cross roads with the turnpike from Brighouse to Denholme Gate.

This road was evidently not adequate and a new road, the present A58, was constructed with gentler gradients, crossing the ridge in a deep cutting and descending to Stump Cross, replacing an existing road, and then turning east to meet the first turnpike road at the top of Tanhouse Lane.

1.1 The A58, Godley Lane to Stump Cross

1.1.1 Godley Lane, Stump Cross, Hough

[smallmap SE 100 257]










1.1.2 Old Godley Lane

[smallmap SE 104 260]

1.2 Along Red Beck to the confluence with Jum Hole Beck

1.2.1 Shibden Grange Drive

[smallmap SE 107 260]





1.2.2 Red Beck Road

[smallmap SE 108 261]




1.2.3 Shibden Park

[smallmap SE 108 258]














1.2.4 Shibden Park woodland

[smallmap SE 109 260]





1.2.5 Footpath across the valley bottom

[smallmap SE 111 256]







1.2.6 Breakneck Lane

[smallmap SE 114 256]

---

---

( Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ... next >> )