Lee Wood

Wood, Forest in Yorkshire

England

Lee Wood

The Rochdale Canal at Hebden Bridge Credit: Dave Pickersgill

Lee Wood, Yorkshire, also known as Wood or Forest, is a picturesque village located in the county of Yorkshire, England. Nestled amidst the stunning countryside, the village is renowned for its natural beauty, tranquil atmosphere, and rich history.

The village is surrounded by a dense forest, which gives it its alternative name of Wood or Forest. The forest is a haven for nature enthusiasts, offering a range of walking trails and wildlife spotting opportunities. The tall, majestic trees provide a serene backdrop for those seeking peace and solitude.

Lee Wood boasts a small, tight-knit community that takes great pride in preserving the village's traditional charm. The architecture reflects the village's history, with many buildings dating back several centuries. The local church, St. Mary's, is a prominent feature in the village, with its striking bell tower and stained glass windows.

In terms of amenities, Lee Wood offers a range of facilities to cater to the needs of its residents. There is a primary school, a village hall, and a few shops and cafes. The village also benefits from good transport links, with regular bus services connecting it to the nearby towns and cities.

The village is a popular destination for visitors, particularly those seeking a peaceful retreat or an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The surrounding countryside offers opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and birdwatching.

Overall, Lee Wood, Yorkshire is a charming village that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, heritage, and community spirit, making it a truly delightful place to visit or call home.

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Lee Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 53.749827/-2.015112 or Grid Reference SD9928. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

The Rochdale Canal at Hebden Bridge

Dave Pickersgill

Aqueduct in Crimsworth Dean

The aqueduct connects a dam on the west side of Bridge Clough with one on the east. These dams connect with ones lower down the valley and all appeared to service Midgehole Dye Works

Kevin Waterhouse

Bridge Clough

Looking northeast to Green Hirst Wood.

John Topping

Weir on Bridge Clough, Wadsworth

This is one of several weirs on this stream, and as there seems to be no open channel at that level I think that water must have been abstracted directly into a pipe laid in the river bank.

Humphrey Bolton

Aqueduct bridge over Bridge Clough, Wadsworth

According to information attached to a photograph that I have seen on the internet, this bridge carries flow from a millpond on the other side of the stream. There is also a well-used path across it.

Humphrey Bolton

Millpond above Bridge Clough, Wadsworth

There is a string of millponds along the eastern hillside of Crimsworth Dean, above the stream where it is called Bridge Clough. These intercept streams coming down through Purprise Wood and Middle Dean Wood. They were built in 1860-1 to increase the supply of water to Midgehole Dyeworks (captioned Crimsworth Dyeworks on the 1:2500 map of c.1893). The works had been converted from Upper Midgehole Mill (cotton) during the 'Cotton Panic', a depression in the textile industry caused by overproduction and by import restrictions due to the American Civil War. (Information from 'From Fulling to Fustionopolis' website) The dyeworks survived until 2009. The uppermost millpond (they are also called water lodges) was on the other side of the stream, with outflow crossing the stream on an aqueduct bridge (not the one thus captioned on the current 'Explorer' map). There are also some weirs on the stream, but I don't know whether they also supplied water to the dyeworks, or perhaps to the Lower Midgehole cotton mill. A voluntary organisation called 'Slow the Flow, Calderdale', who are investigating ways to reduce the risk of flooding in the Calder Valley, considered recommending that the ponds be restored to store rainfall runoff, but I think that they probably found that the work would cost too much.

Humphrey Bolton

Wadsworth Footpath 35 in Purprise Wood

Here the path crosses one of the many little streams that flow down the hillside.

Humphrey Bolton

Gate on Wadsworth FP34 leaving Purprise Wood

This image looks rather weird at 'thumbnail' size due to the deep shadows of trees (I did not have a saw with me), but makes sense when magnified. The gate is very narrow, covering a 'squeeze' stile.

Humphrey Bolton

The uppermost reservoir in Middle Dean, Wadsworth

The path continues along the dam on the right-hand side, and carries on probably to the weir. You can also take a path up to Wadsworth FP23, which will take you to the footbridge. There is a seat here if you want to sit quietly for a while. A heron flew across just before I switched the camera on to take this photograph.

Humphrey Bolton

Gate on Wadsworth FP34 entering Purprise Wood

This is the gate shown, not very clearly, from the other side in SD9830 : Gate on Wadsworth FP34 leaving Purprise Wood.

Humphrey Bolton

"Follow the clear path ... into Purprise Wood"

Quoted from 'Route 23: High Brown Knoll, White Hill & Crimsworth Dean from Hebden Bridge' in Christopher Goddard's guidebook, 'The West Yorkshire Moors'.

Christine Johnstone

Purprise Wood, east bank of Bridge Clough

This wood is on the earliest large scale OS map, surveyed in the late 1840s.

Christine Johnstone

"Follow the splodges of yellow paint on the trees"

Waymarked public footpath in Purprise Wood. Quoted from 'Route 23: High Brown Knoll, White Hill & Crimsworth Dean from Hebden Bridge' in Christopher Goddard's guidebook, 'The West Yorkshire Moors'.

Christine Johnstone