Apperley Bridge

Apperley Bridge
Apperley Bridge  Apperley Bridge shown within West Yorkshire
OS grid reference	SE1837
Metropolitan borough	City of Bradford
Metropolitan county	West Yorkshire
Region	Yorkshire and the Humber
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BRADFORD
Postcode district	BD10
Dialling code	01274
Police	West Yorkshire
Fire	West Yorkshire
Ambulance	Yorkshire
EU Parliament	Yorkshire and the Humber
List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire

Not to be confused with Appley Bridge.

Apperley Bridge is a village in the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford, in West Yorkshire, England. Apperley Bridge is north-east of Bradford on the boundary with the City of Leeds bounded in part in the east by Carr Beck and to the south by Greengates. The village of Apperley Bridge straddles both the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the River Aire. It takes its name from the old bridge (Apperley Bridge) over the river Aire on Apperley Lane.

Parts of Rawdon in Leeds of similar character are included in the BD10 Apperley Bridge postal district.

History

The bridge at Apperley Bridge from which the village takes its name was built in the late 16th century or early 17th century. In 1777 a stone arched bridge was build on Harrogate Road over the canal but the present bridge dates from 1936 and has since been widened. From 1846 until its closure in 1965, Apperley Bridge had a railway station in Rawdon. Off Tenterfields close to the canal were four 19th century mills; Apperdale Mill (formerly known as Dyehouse Mill), Oaklea Mills, Valley Mills (formerly known as Canal Mills) and Whitfield Mill. Only Apperdale Mill and Oaklea Mills buildings survive to the present day. Both mills are close to the canal basin, which is now a pleasure boat marina. Since the 1990s there has been considerable housing development in the Tenterfields area between the canal, south up to Greengates. Valley Mills and Whitfield Mills were demolished to make way for the new development, while the others namely Apperdale Mill and Oaklea Mill were converted into living accommodation regenerating the area and making it a desirable place to live. There was a Hammonds sauce factory on Harrogate Road close to the canal but this too has been replaced by modern development. In the 2000s Apperley Bridge village was considered for conservation area status but this was turned down partly because many of its older buildings already had better protection with existing listed building status.

Governance

Apperley Bridge is in the Idle and Thackley ward.

Economy

On Apperley Lane is the head office of JCT600 vehicle hire and dealership. Next to the Harrogate Road bridge over the Leeds and Liverpool Canal is Apperley Bridge Quarries Limited and the art deco style headquarters, main warehouse and distribution depot of shoe retailers Barratt. On the canal itself is Apperley Bridge Marina with a cafe, office, and chandler operated by Calder Valley Marine. Regarding tourism there are several cafes and historic public house / restaurants in the area and the possibility of towpath and field walks.

Landmarks

Historic Apperley Bridge village is a collection of buildings and groups of buildings separated by green space, it does not have a square, green, or commercial area that could be identified as a focal centre for the village. The old bridge from which Apperley Bridge takes its name is of ashlar construction with two arches and a partially obliterated inscription by the road edge. Numerous farm buildings, barns, and previously canal related buildings along Apperley Road near Millman Bridge have listed building status. The Dog and Gun, The George and Dragon,^* and The Stansfield Arms^* public houses are historic former houses, farmhouses and barns. The Woodhouse Grove Methodist Church and the Queens Hotel on Harrogate Road are notable large buildings.

The canal marina has a modern steel, glass, and stone cafe, office and chandler. Close to the marina is the base of an original canal side wharf crane.

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  Dobson locks^*

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  Dobson Lock cottages^*

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  Apperley Road and Millman (swing) Bridge

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  Apperley Bridge Marina

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  Canal side apartments and mill conversion

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  Apperley bridge^* on the River Aire

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  Stylo Barratt's headquarters

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  Stylo Barratt's north light canal side warehouse

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  Thornhill Bridge on the canal

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  Leeds

^* listed building

Education

To the north of Apperley Bridge is Woodhouse Grove School a fee paying independent day and boarding school.

Sport

Apperley Bridge's sports (cricket) ground is on Apperley Lane north of the old Apperley Bridge and there are other sports grounds or playing fields close by between the canal and river.

Transport

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal runs east west through Apperley Bridge but its use is by pleasure craft. The Airedale rail line runs east west down the Aire valley, through the north of Apperley Bridge. Apperley Bridge railway station closed in 1965 although the WYPTE intends to re-open the station in 2012 with park and ride facilities. The main road through the area, the A658 Harrogate Road – Apperley Lane along with its bridges were widened in the 20th century.

See also

• Barratt.

External links

• Education: Woodhouse Grove School
• Listed buildings: Apperley Lane: The Bridge, Stansfield Arms, Walk Hill Farmhouse; Apperley Road: Mill Holme Farmhouse, 287, 289, Millman Swing Bridge, Field House, 293 and barn, Elm Tree Farmhouse, George and Dragon Inn; Laburnum Place: 2-5, 6-10, Coach House & stables, 12, 13-18; Leeds and Liverpool Canal: Bottom Farmhouse and Barn, Dobson Locks, Cottages and Depot; Harrogate Road: 997; Waterloo Crescent: 1-4
• Selected commercial: Calder Valley Marine
• Photographs: Flickr, Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Pennine Waterways, Towpath Treks Historic: Your Local Web
• Apperley Bridge at the Open Directory Project
• Local walks from: Yorkshire Water.