Rochdale Canal & Calder Valley Cycleway Stone Chair – Todmorden, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 42.515 W 002° 06.250
30U E 559129 N 5951472
This decorated stone seat is positioned next to lock 20 on the Rochdale Canal, and is one of 14 sculptures placed along the Calder Valley Cycleway.
Waymark Code: WMEVBZ
Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 07/09/2012
Views: 3
The Rochdale Canal was completed in 1804 and is one of three canals that cross the Pennine hills, connecting the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire.
The canal closed for commercial use in 1937, and there were plans to totally decommission it in the 1960s. However leisure boating had become popular in the UK and after a lengthy campaign the canal was restored and completely reopened by 2007.
Around the same time green issues had come to the fore and an organisation called SUSTRANS was campaigning for sustainable transport and encouraging cycle routes nationwide.
The canal tow path has been opened up to the use by cyclists and part of national route 66 has been routed along this area. Part of the route has been sponsored by Calder County Council.
In order to promote interest 13 sculptures were placed along the route. Interestingly the sculpture has no marker on it so most people have no idea why it’s there.
The back rest part of the seat has a carving of a nearby scene from the canal.
It shows an impressive railway bridge
(waymark WMETMJ) crossing the canal and lock 22
(waymark WMEQYD) which is very close to the bridge.
Details of the cycle way can be found
here .