All the same, all different, part one

The rivers of the south Pennine divide share similar characteristics, they begin in high, rain soaked moorland, places as remote as anywhere in England, before quickly taking on an industrial aspect in the valleys. The River Holme is no exception. These spate rivers have been controlled since the earliest days of the industrial revolution, first as a source of power, then as a supply of drinking water to reservoirs for the burgeoning towns and cities of the north. This is a walk where the upland river meets human occupation.

For sale, one mill

Overgrown path, Hinchliffe Mill

House backs by river, Hincliffe Mill

Snicket steps, or is it a ginnel?

The river bank is full of sluices and culverts from former industrial uses

Last time I walked this way the mill was still in use. All's quiet now

This mill seems to have been extended and modernised in boom times. It's put to artisan use now

The river holds a small and fragile brown trout population, which will become even smaller and more fragile with such fishing tactics

Bridge to cricket club, locked

Art Deco mill by River Holme, sold

Prime building land

Camp site and caravan park, Thongsbridge

New industrial unit

Brownfield meets greenfield. Most of it is houses in waiting.

Demand

As the river has never been navigable, my guess is this was a lavatory

Millstone grit outcrop at Brockholes, with mill backing on to river

Slawit and Linfit

A temporary aspect, the mill gone and houses are to fill the gap. Rail, river and canal leapfrog up the valley. Slaithwaite viaduct with local stopper.


Weavers cottages and the mills that replaced them. The cottages survive, the mills are retail, leisure, artisan. Colne Valley was Luddite central, now Commuterland. Train to the fleshpots of Manchester, Leeds and beyond.


Canal between two compensating reservoirs at Sparth. The left is a Lido, both are fishing lakes. Marker stone in foreground.


Winding hole, canal, West Slaithwaite. Compost corner. The hillock more Devon than West Riding.


Coal drops, Slaithwaite. Quiet now except for birds.


A side entrance to the old station, or a goods office - I'm not sure. Nice bit of LNWR lamp work.


Viaduct east of Slaithwaite. The vertiginous lean is mine. Skip hire and whatnot beneath the vaulting arches.


The other side. Disused mill, wolf leading couple.


Heading towards Linthwaite along the canal. One doesn't like to ask.


Demolished cottage near Linthwaite coal drops. End of Colne Valley industrial excursions for the moment.

The Bridge

Here is a bridge undone by the light. A moment's inattention revealed the film and the express from Manchester, the horse feed buckets and the rusty rivets succumbed to a pocket sunset. A dandelion in the ruby shadow, the pink hill and the orange trees drowned in foolishness and the long walk along the canal and up the steps all redness and gilt.