Mirfield

Civil Parish in Yorkshire Kirklees

England

Mirfield

No Mooring sign by Greenwood Lock The reason for the ban on mooring at this point is that there is a major storm sewer outfall just below this concrete headwall. See <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5624446">SE2219 : River Calder downstream of Greenwood Lock </a>. — No Mooring sign by Greenwood Lock Credit: Stephen Craven

Mirfield is a civil parish located in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Situated on the banks of the River Calder, it is a small town with a population of around 20,000 people. Mirfield is conveniently positioned between the cities of Leeds and Huddersfield, making it an excellent commuting location for residents working in either city.

The town has a rich history, with its roots dating back to the medieval era. The historic St. Mary's Church, originally built in the 12th century, stands as a prominent landmark in the area. Mirfield has a strong sense of community and boasts a range of amenities including schools, shops, restaurants, and leisure facilities. The town is also home to a number of parks and green spaces, providing residents with plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities and recreation.

Mirfield is well-connected in terms of transportation, with regular train services running to Leeds, Huddersfield, and other nearby towns. The M62 motorway is easily accessible from the town, offering convenient road links to major cities across the country.

The local economy is diverse, with a mix of retail, services, and light industries. The town has a thriving arts and culture scene, hosting various events and festivals throughout the year. Mirfield is also known for its strong sporting traditions, with a range of sports clubs and facilities catering to different interests.

Overall, Mirfield offers a pleasant living environment with a combination of historical charm, modern amenities, and excellent transport links.

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Mirfield Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 53.674435/-1.690023 or Grid Reference SE2019. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

No Mooring sign by Greenwood Lock

The reason for the ban on mooring at this point is that there is a major storm sewer outfall just below this concrete headwall. See SE2219 : River Calder downstream of Greenwood Lock .

Stephen Craven

Riverbank path opposite Greenwood Lock

A public footpath on the south bank of the Calder.

Stephen Craven

Double bridge near Lady Wood Bottom (1)

The nearer bridge carried a vehicle track down to Greenwood Bridge on the river Calder (no longer extant). The further one carries the main Calder Valley railway line. There were old mineshafts in Lady Wood beyond the railway and I presume these bridges allowed coal to be brought down to the river for loading onto barges. See SE2219 : Fenced off arch , Ravensthorpe for the arch of this first bridge.

Stephen Craven

Double bridge near Lady Wood Bottom (2)

The right hand bridge carried a vehicle track, now totally overgrown, down to Greenwood Bridge on the river Calder (no longer extant). The left hand one carries the main Calder Valley railway line. There were old mineshafts in Lady Wood beyond the railway and I presume these bridges allowed coal to be brought down to the river for loading onto barges. See SE2219 : Fenced off arch , Ravensthorpe for the arch of the right hand bridge and SE2219 : Double bridge near Lady Wood Bottom (1) for a view through them.

Stephen Craven

Steps down to the river near Lady Wood Bottom

The steps connect a bridleway running along the top of the railway embankment with the public footpath along the river bank.

Stephen Craven

Bridleway alongside the railway

The bridleway crosses the railway a little further on by means of a bridge.

Stephen Craven

Calder Valley railway tracks at Lady Wood Bottom

There are currently three tracks here: there used to be four SE2219 : The Calder Valley main line (1) and plans to upgrade the Manchester-Leeds corridor will see a fourth track reinstated.

Stephen Craven

Retaining wall at Lady Wood Bottom

The wall retains the railway embankment; the 1907 map shows three (presumably narrow gauge) railway tracks between the wall and the river bank, related to a nearby mine.

Stephen Craven

Former mine entrance?

Local contributor Humphrey Bolton describes the small arch within a wall to the left of the photo as a drainage adit SE2219 : Railway drainage heading, Hopton, Mirfield and further to the right behind the tree is another one that may have been the actual mine entrance SE2219 : Partial bridge, Hopton, Mirfield shown on the 1907 1:2500 map at SE22111961 with a single narrow gauge mineral line splitting into three tracks to a riverside wharf.

Stephen Craven

River Calder below Greenwood Weir

The river is non-navigable at this point, being bypassed by Greenwood Cut.

Stephen Craven

Greenwood Weir from downstream

The river is non-navigable at this point, being bypassed by Greenwood Cut. See SE2119 : River Calder Barrage, Mirfield for a view of the full length of the weir from above.

Stephen Craven

Power line termination

A pair of three-phase lines terminates near the river bank, suggesting that cable are laid under the river.

Stephen Craven

The Ship Inn at Shepley Bridge

A Greene King house.

Stephen Craven

Shepley Bridge - top

A bridge carrying a road over the river Calder. Resurfacing seemed to be in progress.

Stephen Craven

Shepley Bridge

A bridge carrying a road over the river Calder. See SE2119 : Shepley Bridge for a closer view of the structure.

Stephen Craven

Swans on the Calder at Shepley Bridge

The River Calder is a river in West Yorkshire. The Calder rises on the eastern slopes of the Pennines flows through alternating countryside, former woollen-mill villages, and large and small towns before joining the River Aire near Castleford, 45 miles later. The river's valley is generally known as the Calder Valley. The name Calderdale usually refers to the large urban and rural borough (centred on Halifax) through which the upper river flows. The lower reaches flow through the boroughs of Kirklees (based on Huddersfield) and Wakefield. However, the river does not flow through the centres of Halifax and Huddersfield, which are on the Calder's main tributaries, the River Hebble and River Colne respectively. The only large town centres through which the Calder flows are Brighouse, Mirfield, Dewsbury and Wakefield.

Stephen Craven

Site of the Swan Inn at Shepley Bridge

The pub was one of three inns shown in the area on the earliest OS map of 1855, named along with the Ship and the Bulls Head, both of which are still going concerns. The Swan was still open in 2008 SE2119 : The Swan - Huddersfield Road, Ravensthorpe but had been demolished by 2021. There were however actual swans on the river just across the road SE2119 : Swans on the Calder at Shepley Bridge.

Stephen Craven