Sowerby Bridge
Coordinates: 53°42′N 1°55′W / 53.70°N 1.91°W
| Sowerby Bridge | |
 Sowerby Bridge skyline |
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 Sowerby Bridge
Sowerby Bridge shown within West Yorkshire |
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| Population | 9,948 (2001) |
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| OS grid reference | SE058233 |
| Metropolitan borough | Calderdale |
| Metropolitan county | West Yorkshire |
| Region | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SOWERBY BRIDGE |
| Postcode district | HX6 |
| Dialling code | 01422 |
| Police | West Yorkshire |
| Fire | West Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament | Halifax |
| List of places: UK • England • Yorkshire | |
Sowerby Bridge is a market town that lies within the Upper Calder Valley in the district of Calderdale in the county of West Yorkshire, in northern England.
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[edit] Geography
Sowerby Bridge is situated on the edge of Halifax, about three miles from its centre. It is at the confluence of the River Calder and River Ryburn, and the name Sowerby Bridge references the area's use as a crossing point over the River Calder to the older settlement at Sowerby.
The town had a population of 9,948 at the 2001 Census.
[edit] History
[edit] Industrial heritage
From 1892 to 1930 home of Pollit & Wigzell ltd a prominent manufacturer of quality stationary steam engines used in the cotton and woollen mills of Yorkshire, Lancashire and India.
The Wood Brothers an engineering and millwright company also produced engines from their Valley Iron Works. The Markfield Beam Engine is an example for their work.
[edit] Education
There are two high schools in Sowerby Bridge.
- Ryburn Valley High School on St Peter's Avenue Sowerby
- Sowerby Bridge High School on Albert Road.
[edit] Transport
The town is served by Sowerby Bridge railway station, which sees a regular service to Manchester, Bradford and Leeds on the Caldervale Line.
The town is at the junction of the Calder and Hebble Navigation and the Rochdale Canal; Tuel Lane Lock on the Rochdale Canal is also the deepest lock in the United Kingdom.[1] The canal basin and associated warehouses where the two canals meet, known as Sowerby Bridge Wharf, are listed buildings and house The Moorings Bar and Restaurant, 12-04 Restaurant, and Temujin Mongolian Restaurant. The Basin is the HQ of The 12th Halifax Sea Scouts where HRH Prince of Wales opened the William Andrew Memorial Room. Shire Cruisers run Holiday Canal Hire barges, build Narrow Boats and provide Mooring facilities.
[edit] In popular culture
The canal basin was formerly used as a filming location for the ITV comedy-drama Stay Lucky, and the ITV drama Dead Clever was set in the town.
[edit] Notable residents
- Joe Riley - former professional rugby league player for England
- John Tillotson - former Archbishop of Canterbury
- Walter Lees - former professional cricketer for England
- Danny Smith - television personality Tool Academy UK
[edit] Traditions
Rushbearing, the annual ceremony of (now nominally) taking rushes to churches for covering the floors throughout winter, still takes place here over the first weekend of September.
[edit] References
- ^ "Deepest Canal Locks". Pennine Waterways. http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/locks.htm.
[edit] External links
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