Jim Shead Waterways Photographer & Writer

Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.

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Calder and Hebble Navigation

Description of Calder and Hebble Navigation: Runs from the junction with the Aire and Calder (Wakefield Section) to Sowerby Bridge.

History of Calder and Hebble Navigation: Promoted by Acts of 1758, 1769 and 1825. Opened from Wakefield to Sowerby Bridge in 1770. The branch to Halifax was opened in 1828 and abandoned in 1942.
For more details see the History page.

Points of Interest of Calder and Hebble Navigation: Many of the locks still use the unique Calder & Hebble handspike to raise the paddles. Make sure you have one before navigating the canal.

Navigation Authority of Calder and Hebble Navigation MD's Office: Northern Waterways, General Manager: Yorkshire Waterways, Fearns Wharf, Neptune Street, Leeds LS9 8PB: Telephone 0113 281 6800 : Fax 0113 281 6886 :

Elland Lock

Related Articles of Calder and Hebble Navigation

Related Books of Calder and Hebble Navigation

The Canals of Yorkshire and North East England (2) by Charles Hadfield, Edition: volume 2, ISBN: 0 7153 5975 4, 252 pages, Published by David & Charles, in 1973, Order now from .
The Canals of North West England (1) by Charles Hadfield and Gordon Biddle, ISBN: 07153 49562, 236 pages, Published by David & Charles, Volume 1. . Order now from .
Yorkshire's River of Industry by J Ogden, Published by Terrence Dalton Ltd, in 1972, The River Calder.
Nicholson/Ordnance Survey Guide to the waterways - 5 by Not known, ISBN: 978-0-00-728165-7, 190 pages, Published by Nicholson, in 2009, North West & the Pennines. Includes the Aire & Calder (leeds to Wakefield), Bridgewater, Calder & Hebble, Huddersfield Broad, Lancaster, Leeds & Liverpool, Macclesfield, Peak Forest, Ashton and Rochdale canals plus the Trent & Mersey north of Hardings Wood Junction.. Order now from .
Pearson's Canal Companion: Pennine Waters by Michael Pearson, Edition: Third, ISBN: 0 9545383 4 X, 80 pages, Published by J M Pearson & Son, Includes the Leeds & Liverpool Canal from Wigan to Leeds, the Aire & Calder/ Calder & Hebble and Rchdale route from Leeds to Littleborough, and the Huddersfield Broad and Narrow canals.. Order now from .
The Calder & Hebble Navigation by Mike Taylor, ISBN: 0 7524 2755 5, 128 pages, Published by Tempus, in 2002, A photographic history of the navigation,. Order now from .

Related videos of Calder and Hebble Navigation

The South Pennine Ring , Released in 2002, 57 minutes Produced by VideoActive, The Huddersfield Narrow and Broad canals, Calder & Hebble, Rochdale and Ashton Canal. Available on tape DVD. Order on video tape from . Order on DVD from

Related photographs of Calder and Hebble Navigation

Related External Web Sites of Calder and Hebble Navigation

Sagar Marine Ltd Dutch barge specialists based at Brighouse on the Calder & Hebble Canal.
Shire Cruisers Hire boats based at Sowerby Bridge where the Calder & Hebble meets the Rochdale Canal.
Pennine Waterways Peak Forest, Ashton, Rochdale, Leeds & Liverpool, Huddersfield and other canals in the area.
Ledgard Bridge Boats Limited Builder of both narrow and broad- beam boats
South Pennine Boat Club Boat Club on the Calder & Hebble Navigation at Mirfield.
Calder Navigation Society The society was formed in 1969 as an association of Boaters, Ramblers and others who are interested in the preservation and development of the Calder & Hebble Navigation, the Huddersfield Broad Canal, the Wakefield Branch of the Aire & Calder Navigation, and other associated waterways.

Related Cruising Logs of Calder and Hebble Navigation

Other Related Pages of Calder and Hebble Navigation

Cruising Times

Lock Sizes and maximum craft dimensions of Calder and Hebble Navigation: Wakefield to Broadcut Top Lock: Length 120 foot, beam 17 foot 6 inches. The rest of the navigation to Sowerby Bridge: Length 57 foot 6 inches, beam 14 foot 2 inches. NOTE: For more details of maximum lock and craft sizes and the basis of these figures see Craft and Lock Sizes Page

Calder and Hebble Navigation: Table of distances		Miles	Locks	Navigable (N)	Grid ref	OS Map No
Fall Ing Lock No 1	Junction with Aire & Calder Navigation - Wakefield Section Aire and Calder Navigation (Wakefield Section) junction	0	1	N	SE342198	111
Wakefield Flood Gates		0.5	1	N	SE336198	111
Thornes Locks No 2 (Double Locks)		1.4	2	N	SE327188	111
Thornes Flood Gates		2	2	N	SE319186	111
Motorway Bridge (M1)		2.8	2	N	SE312178	110
Broad Cut Low Lock No 3		3.1	3	N	SE308173	111
Waller Bridge	Navigaion Inn and Railway Viaduct	3.3	3	N	SE305171	111
Broad Cut Top Lock No 4		3.6	4	N	SE302170	111
Horbury Bridge	A642 Road Bridge, Bingley Arms Hotel (Flood Control Point)	5.1	4	N	SE279178	110
Bridge and Horbury Cut (closed)		5.8	4	N	SE271185	110
Figure of Three Locks No 5	No 6 follows shortly	6.1	5	N	SE267188	110
Mill Bank Lock No 7		6.8	7	N	SE258193	110
Dewsbury Arm Junction	Junction with Aire & Calder Dewsbury Old Cut Section Dewsbury Basin at the end of the arm is three-quarters of a mile away.	7.3	7	N	SE250198	110
Thornhill Double Locks Nos 8 & 9		7.3	9	N	SE249198	110
Forge Lane Bridge		8.1	9	N	SE236199	110
Thornhill Flood Gates		8.8	9	N	SE231202	104
Greenwood Lock No 10	Ravensthorpe Village	9.6	10	N	SE222197	110
Greenwood Flood Gates		9.9	10	N	SE219198	110
Shepley Bridge Lock No 11	The Ship Inn, Shepley Bridge	10.1	11	N	SE214197	110
British Waterways Board Yard	Dry Dock and section Inspectors Office.	10.1	11	N	SE213197	110
Mirfield Bridge No 20		10.4	11	N	SE212196	110
Ledgard Flood Gates		11	11	N	SE202196	110
Battyeford Lock No 12		11.6	12	N	SE190203	104
Battye Flood Gates		12.3	12	N	SE182208	104
Cooper Bridge Lock No 13		12.5	13	N	SE178204	104
Cooper Bridge Flood Gates		12.8	13	N	SE175207	104
Huddersfield Broad Canal Junction	Junction with Huddersfield Broad Canal River Calder junction	12.8	13	N	SE174208	104
Kirklees Low Lock No 14		13.3	14	N	SE171215	104
Kirklees Top Lock No 15		13.5	15	N	SE168218	104
Anchor Pit Flood Gates	Kirklees	14.3	15	N	SE160218	104
Brighouse Locks No 16	No 17 follows shortly	15.1	16	N	SE148226	104
Brighouse Basin Entrance	Landscaped basin, with moorings, close to the town centre.	15.1	17	N	SE147227	104
Ganny Lock No 18		15.8	18	N	SE139228	104
Brookfoot Lock No 19	Flood Control Point	16.3	19	N	SE134228	104
Cromwell Lock No 20		16.6	20	N	SE130225	104
Park Nook Lock No 21		17.5	21	N	SE113221	104
Elland Lock No 22		17.9	22	N	SE111218	104
Woodside Mills Lock No 23		18.6	23	N	SE101213	104
Long Lee Lock No 24		19	24	N	SE099218	104
Salterhebble Lock No 25	Locks 26 and 27 follow shortly	19.4	25	N	SE095224	104
Junction with Halifax Branch (closed)		19.4	27	N	SE094225	104
Sowerby Bridge Basin	Junction with Rochdale Canal Rochdale Canal junction	21.5	27	N	SE065237	104

NOTE: N and U in the Navigable column above indicates that the node is navigable or unnavigable. If a D appears here it means that navigation is difficult or restricted to smaller craft.

Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.