Arch Accommodation Bridge Over Spen Valley Greenway - Oakenshaw, UK - Stone Bridges on Waymarking.com

The single arch bridge carries a farm track over the old railway line known as the Spen Valley Line. It gives access to both sides of the line for the farm. The bridge is also shared by a public footpath that connects Wyke Lane with Cleckheaton Golf Course.

The bridge even forms part of a long distance art work. Various artworks were placed along the trail to generate interest in it, including a long distance poem with stanzas from the poem attached to a number of the bridges over the route.

The Spen Valley Railway line
The railway line originally connected Low Moor with Thornhill, for much of the way at the Low Moor end it followed the route of the River Spen.

The first part of the line opened in 1848 and closed to passenger traffic in 1965. The line continued to carry goods traffic until this finally ceased in 1981.

The Spen Valley Greenway
In 2001 a stretch of the line between Dewsbury and Oakenshw was converted to a cycling and walking route called the Spen Valley Greenway. This bridge is now accessible and visible from below in a way that it wasn't when the railway was still in use. link.

Spring Along The Greenway Poem
Pauline Monkcom was interested in the way the written word impacts on the landscape, acting to inform, to interpret, to warn and sometimes to create ambiguity. 'Spring Along The Greenway' is a collaboration between the artist and poet Judith Stone. The poem was written as part of the Spen Valley Community Programme. Travelling up and down the Greenway, observing small changes of season and landscape, Judith has mapped a journey through time, through landmarks and through people.

It is a stream of consciousness, observing, naming and moving on. Their intention was to contribute to this sense of movement and urgency, presenting the poem as a series of captions on signs, which become titles for the changing landscape. At certain points along the way hazard warning signs draw attention to specific events or features. These may be permanent structures such as bridges or chance happenings dependant on weather and seasons - the song of a bird or the first blossom of spring.

The Spen Valley Greenway Artworks were funded by The Arts Council of England, Kirklees Metropolitan Council, Sustrans & The Henry Moore Foundation. The Project was co-ordinated by Public Arts Wakefield & Sustrans.

The part of the poem on this bridge is as follows...

bridges spanning
side paths parting
horizons scanning
rabbits darting
wild birds singing
cycles passing
church bells ringing

Physical Location (city, county, etc.): Oakenshaw, West Yorkshire Road, Highway, Street, etc.: Unnamed farm track Water or other terrain spanned: The Spen Valley Greenway cycle, pedestrian and horse riding route Construction Date: 1848 Architect/Builder: Not listed

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