9 Surprising Facts About Sowerby Bridge

There's quite a bit more to the small town in West Yorkshire that's near Halifax than meets the eye. Here's some interesting facts about it:

Sowerby Bridge isn't Halifax

Neil Turner on Flickr / Via Flickr: neilt

Though some see Sowerby Bridge as a mere extension of its close neighbour Halifax, it's actually a town in its own right, with a population of around 10,000 people. That makes it twice as big as Hebden Bridge, a more well-known town further up the Calder Valley. Although we still have a Halifax postcode and dialling code.

We have the deepest canal lock in Britain

Tuel Lane Lock / Via Flickr: neilt

At six metres, Tuel Lane Lock, located in the town centre, is the deepest in Britain. It opened in 1996 when the Rochdale Canal was restored, replacing two smaller locks. Because of its depth, it is manned by a volunteer lock keeper and boat crews are encouraged to book in advance if they wish to pass through.

There's the annual Rushbearing festival

Rushbearing / Via Flickr: neilt

The Sowerby Bridge Rushbearing Festival happens during the first weekend in September every year. A cart with fresh rushes is pulled between all of the churches - and many of the pubs - in the town and its surrounding villages, which takes two days. The cart is usually accompanied by various morris dancing troupes, and plenty of spectators.

Although the modern festival dates back to 1977, it celebrates the tradition of delivering fresh rushes to lay on the floors of churches each autumn.

It has famous former residents

Via en.wikipedia.org

John Tillotson was an Archbishop of Canterbury in the 17th Century, and Branwell Bronte, brother to the Bronte sisters, worked at the town's railway station.

The town is at the junction of two canals...

Sowerby Bridge Canal Wharf / Via Flickr: 61160254@N07

The Calder and Hebble Navigation ends in Sowerby Bridge, and becomes the Rochdale Canal, which was fully-reopened in 1996. The point where the two meet is Sowerby Bridge Wharf, a series of warehouses that have been restored and now house offices, bars and restaurants.

...and the confluence of two rivers

Canoeists / Via Flickr: neilt

The River Calder flows through the town, and is joined by the smaller River Ryburn. The Calder is popular with canoeists due to its rapids.

It's got a brilliant high street

Monkeying about on a motorcycle / Via Flickr: neilt

When the Daily Express asked its readers to nominate their best high street, Sowerby Bridge was one of those picked. There's a wide range of small, independent retailers, and a market with many small stallholders. Many of the shops are part of Totally Locally, a campaign to support independent retailers in small towns.

There's the feral geese

Geese / Via Flickr: neilt

A gaggle of feral geese have made the town their home. Hated by some, and fed by others, they're often found on the River Ryburn, or trying to cross the road.

There's a great range of pubs

Jubilee Refreshment Rooms / Via Flickr: neilt

Sowerby Bridge has several entries in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide, and with 12 pubs on (or just off) the high street there's the opportunity for a serious pub crawl. As it's West Yorkshire, which has the highest concentration of microbreweries of any English county, the majority serve real ale, including Sowerby Bridge's own Slightly Foxed Brewery. Pictured is the Jubilee Refreshment Rooms, located at the railway station.

So why not come and visit?

Sowerby Bridge isn't far from the M62 and has a railway station with regular trains to Leeds, Bradford and Manchester. Whether you fancy a walk along the canal, a pub crawl around the town, shopping in the delis, boutiques and gift shops, a quiet drink in a tearoom or some white water canoeing, Sowerby Bridge caters for many tastes.