Salterhebble Hill Bridge – Salterhebble, UK - Stone Bridges on Waymarking.com

The Calder and Hebble Navigation completed in 1770 consisted of artificial improvements to the River Calder and River Hebble to allow canal boats use what used to be un-navigable rivers.

It ran for 21 miles from the Aire and Calder Navigation at Wakefield to Sowerby Bridge, was one of the first navigable waterways into the Pennines. It was an extension westwards of the Aire and Calder Navigation.

Work began in 1758 to make the River Calder navigable above Wakefield. The navigation to Sowerby Bridge was completed in 1770, including a short branch to Dewsbury.

In 1828 this branch to Halifax was opened, rising 110 feet to a terminus at Bailey Hall, behind Halifax Railway Station. There were 14 locks on the branch which closely followed the route of the River Hebble. Most of the branch was abandoned in 1942 apart from the short section from Salterhebble to Salterhebble Bridge

This bridge now marks the end of the Halifax arm and much of the route has been turned into a walking and cycling trail called the Hebble Trail.

The trail starts from under this bridge and in early 2013 access to the trail was made easier by putting in a ramp to replace some steps. It leads from the canal towpath and the road under the bridge. This is useful for cyclists, and pushchair and wheelchair users alike.

The bridge was originally built as a stone arch bridge immediately next to a canal lock. A lock always forms the narrowest part of the canal and so incorporating the bridge into the lock makes it smaller and cheaper to build.

The road was widened at some point and the modern road bed now overhangs the old arch which is still visble.

Although the canal has been drained at this point the lock walls have been retained and as you walk under the bridge to join the trail the path actually passes through the body of the lock.

Physical Location (city, county, etc.): Salterhebble, Yorkshire Road, Highway, Street, etc.: Salterhebble Bridge (A629) Water or other terrain spanned: Originally Salter and Hebble Navigation, now the Hebble Trail Construction Date: 1/1/1828 Architect/Builder: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   07/14/2021 dibby3 visited it 06/30/2021 fm1906 visited it

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