Calder and Hebble Navigation
engineered by John Smeaton, 21.5 miles long with 30 locks

History and General Knowledge of the Calder and Hebble Navigation

Modification for navigation on the River's Calder and Hebble began in 1759. It took eleven years to complete. Branches were added later to connect Halifax via the Salterhebble branch in 1828. Various cuts were added to bypass river sections.

The Calder and Hebble Navigation was a very busy waterway serving the industrial area.

Part River and part canal, this is a broad waterway and is popular with both Narrowbeam and Widebeam alike. Where the river's, in the past, were difficult or impossible to navigate, stretches of canal were added. May shortened the route and bypassed difficult sections. Many locks were added to assist in the rise and fall of the landscape.

Some of these locks are no longer in use today due to later changes. In addition to the 28 Locks, there are 2 'Flood Locks' at South East of Wakefield (Wakefield Flood Lock) and the other at Mirfield near Dewsbury (Flood Lock, Ledgard). These locks are only used to assist with flood waters.

History of the Calder and Hebble Navigation

A canal in West Yorkshire, England, which was constructed in the late 18th century. The canal runs for a distance of 21.5 miles, connecting the towns of Sowerby Bridge, Brighouse and Wakefield.

The Calder and Hebble Navigation was built to transport coal, wool and other goods to the rapidly growing industries of West Yorkshire. The construction of the canal began in 1758 and was completed in 1770, at a cost of approximately £70,000.

The canal was designed by John Smeaton, a renowned civil engineer of the time and included several innovative features, such as the use of locks to raise and lower boats between different levels of the canal.

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Calder and Hebble Navigation played an important role in the transport of goods to and from the region's growing industries. The canal was also an important link to other waterways, including the Aire and Calder Navigation and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, which allowed goods to be transported to other parts of the country.

However, by the mid-20th century, the canal had fallen into disuse and disrepair. The growth of road and rail transport had made canal transport less efficient and cost-effective, and many sections of the canal were closed or abandoned.

In the 1960's a group of local enthusiasts formed the Calder Navigation Society to campaign for the restoration of the canal. Their efforts paid off, and a major restoration project began in the 1970's which included the rebuilding of several locks and the construction of new bridges and culverts.

Today, the Calder and Hebble Navigation is a popular destination for boaters, walkers, and cyclists. The canal is also home to a diverse range of wildlife, including otters, water voles and kingfishers.

The restoration of the Calder and Hebble Navigation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the local community, who recognised the value of preserving this important piece of the region's industrial heritage. The canal is now a valuable asset to the local economy, attracting visitors from all over the country and helping to support the region's tourism industry.