Halifax Off The Beaten Path

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After leaving Halifax in a NW direction - heading for ... we didn't know where, as we were on the mystery trip part of our weekend! We stopped after about 5 miles, for a leg stretch/ smoke break /Ooooh, Arrrh at the scenery.

Wharley Moor Reservoir (aka Fly Flatts) is home to the RYA affiliated Halifax Sailing Club, considered to be one of the best places for inland sailing, due to its location, over 1200 metres above sea level, with winds that are ideal for sailing. Link

Further proof of the windy conditions can be seen for many miles around - the swirling blades (56ft) of the 23 100 ft tall turbines of Ovenden Moor wind farm, which help provide electricity for 5,600 homes. They are located on Hollin Hill, above Wainstalls.

The wind farm opened in June 1993, partly funded by a EU grant. As with most wind farms in the UK, they cause controversy.
There is a car park and information display, also the chance to walk within 50 yards of the turbines.
Link

It was quite atmospheric, with the turbines appearing and disappearing through the mist.

Curious to get a better view (and photos) of the wind farm I headed up a path (passing by a discarded WC, assorted bottles and cans, and what might have been a fridge- Grrrrrr!!!)

Over the hill was a water filled disused quarry. I took a picture, but decided not to venture further as the grass and rocks were quite slippery - Our weekend had co-incided with severe weather conditions through many parts of England and Wales. Returning down the hill, I was distracted by a small frog (or was it a toad?) hopping onto some nearby grasses.

Rushes that decorate the cart for Sowerby Bridges annual Rushbearing Festival are gathered from Fly Flatts in mid August each year!

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Saturday, September 6 and Thursday September 11, 2008
The countryside and villages around HEBDEN BRIDGE have turned the area into the undisputed tourism capital of Calderdale. Thousands of visitors from far and wide visit the village each year.
The Village is eight miles (13 km) west of Halifax at the confluence of the River Calder and Hebden Water.
Hebden Bridge and the adjoining village of Mytholmroyd were once busy industrial centres with cotton and woollen mills producing corduroy, moleskin cloth and finished garments. Hebden Bridge factories - water-driven at first - gradually replaced the traditional handloom weaving and spinning carried on at area farms and cottages. There are many reminders of the area's industrial past - ruined mills - lonely chimneys!
Hebden Bridge takes its name from the "Packhorse Bridge" over Hebden Water.
The restored Rochdale Canal attracts boaters, fishermen and walkers.
Hans and I spent our time browsing the many shops that fill the streets of Hebden Bridge and St. George's Square, which is for pedestrians only, made it quite relaxing to walk around this lovely town.

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Saturday, September 6 & Sunday September 7, 2008
The RUSHBEARING FESTIVAL is always held on the first weekend in September. Literally thousands will line the streets of Sowerby Bridge to watch sixty men clad in white shirts, black trousers, panama hats and wearing traditional clogs, haul a sixteen foot high, one ton, thatched and decorated Rushcart.
Rushbearing dates back several centuries to the time when church floors consisted of little more than compressed earth. Rushes were used to cover the floor, with new layers being added as they became stale. Once a year, the church cleared out the old rushes and new ones were brought to the Church in carts. This gradually turned into a celebration and holiday involving revelry, music and Morris Dancing.

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The Norland Scarecrow Festival/ Trail originated as part of the 2000 Millennium celebrations. Due to its success, it is now an annual event.

Each year a theme is decided. In 2008, it was Books. This year (3rd - 7th Sept 2010) it is TV Programmes. There will also be a small fair, with a barrel organ and a 20ft tall Scarecrow!

Funds raised through sales of the trail brochure (£2), or donations from passengers travelling on the free bus service etc go towards the village community fund. Sales of the trail brochure fund the following years event - So please buy at least one!

Around 80 or more scarecrows are displayed in front gardens of houses, fields, School yards, pubs etc in a 3 mile trail around the village. Each scarecrow is numbered. Some are easily identified, others take a bit more working out - Was it Bagpuss or The Cheshire Cat?- the jury's still out!

Some repetition is seen - a couple of Mr Men, Alice in Wonderland etc, but all executed differently. Some scarecrows are professional works of art, others are more naive - many of the children of the village take pride in creating their scarecrows.

We arrived in our 49 seater coach, in a torrential downpour, but our ever resourceful Ricky had flagged down one of the 'First Calder Line' Mini buses, that were providing a free tour of the trail. Although the driver was due to finish his shift, he came back to give us an entertaining tour of the scarecrows.

At the end we gave donations, which went towards the village fund.

The torrential rain over the 5th - 9th September, meant that the field for free car parking. refreshments, souvenir stands, entertainments etc; was a 'no go' area.

Cream teas and other refreshments are available at various points- please check the website.

Trail Guides cost £2, though I'm afraid that I didn't see one.

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We were to enjoy this spectacle on Saturday afternoon at Sowerby Bridge, then on Sunday afternoon in the village of Triangle.

In the olden days-many centuries ago, church floors were covered by rushes, gathered from the local riverbanks. After a year of being trodden on by the worshippers and rotting down, they were thrown out, and replaced by new rushes that were brought to the church by carts.

In the 17th century, a Festival arose from this.The occasion was celebrated with music, dancing and much consumption of ale! Brawls were common between drunken rival supporters and builders of the Rushcarts.

Over the years, the festivities declined, partly due to the lessening need for rush flooring, and so, by the end of the 18th century, building of the rushcarts had ceased. Though there were still commemorative festivals.

At the beginning of the 20th Century, Rushcarts were re introduced into the festivities at Sowerby Bridge.

The first weekend in September is the date to put in your diary, to witness this colourful spectacle.

Please check out the website for more info on the history etc.

We arrived, just before the roads were closed to traffic- our coach stopped near to the church of St Patricks, so some of us grabbed a viewing spot here, while others lined the pavements below.

I had a great vantage point, as the internationally renowned band -'The Piece Artistes ' led the procession in front of us. Morris men, sword dancers, Mummers etc passed by, followed by the white shirted teams of men pulling the Rushcart, upon which was perched a local lass astride a saddle, another team of men followed the cart.

While the procession carried on to the canal basin, some of us witnessed a longsword dance in front of the church doors.

I was surprised to find that this team was from Grenoside in my home city of Sheffield. I suppose they are 'rivals' to my local team from Handsworth!

Please nip over to my Sowerby Bridge page for more pics and info.

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Triangle is a small village, on the A58 Sowerby Bridge-Ripponden Road.

This is where we went to see Sundays Rushbearing. We arrived too late to see the spectacular arrival of the cart down Saw Hill. Instead we went to the car park, opposite the now closed pub where despite the rain, we enjoyed seeing some traditional dances

We also got the chance to chat to the performers, and take plenty of photos, before the cart went on its way to its next destination St. Bartholomew's Church at Ripponden.

Triangle is also the Manor of one Lord Ricky52 and his good wife Lady Sheila!

Ricky took us to a row of terraced cottages, and confessed about his mishap with a barbeque- which had us in stitches! I've since heard other stories from Ricky and Sheila about Ricky and Fire-Not to be trusted.....

In 2010, we witnessed the Rushbearing cart arriving at it's new venue - Triangle Cricket Club, which is the perfect place to witness the arrival of the cart, negotiating the narrow bridge, then circumnavigating the cricket pitch, which must be in one of the most scenic, quintessentially English settings. It's address is quite quaint too - Grassy Bottoms!

2011, and Triangle was the venue for our 1st Ooop North 'Carry On Camping' VT meet, at Rough Hey camp site - Fun in the rain!!

Easter 2012, After a mornings Clay Pigeon shooting (Ricky and Phil shooting, me and Sheila watching), we were invited to watch the Duck Race!

Looking forward to September, and Rushbearing here again!

Something that we probably take for granted, driving past and over them day in day out. Though at night and in foggy conditions, we take a bit more notice!

As you can see in the photo, Ricky is holding a cats eye - How he obtained it is a bit of a mystery!

These retro reflective safety devices were the inspired invention of one Percy Shaw, born and bred in Halifax. (He spent 84 years living in the same house that he was born in - he died here at Boothtown Mansion aged 86)

"One dark foggy night in 1933 Percy Shaw was driving down the steep winding road from Queensbury to his home in Boothtown. He had made this journey at night many times before, using the reflection of his car headlights on the tramlines to help negotiate the hazardous bends, but the tramlines had been taken up for repair.
Percy later recalled that out of the swirling gloom he noticed two points of light, the headlights had caught the eyes of a cat on a fence. Percy realised the great potential of improving road safety if he could create a reflecting device that could be fitted to road surfaces. After many trials Percy took out patents on his invention in April 1934 and in March 1935 Reflecting Roadstuds Ltd was incorporated, with Percy Shaw as Managing Director".

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The Norland Scarecrow Festival is held in a village a million miles away and dates back centuries. They also have a scarecrow of Pinocchio here somewhere. Norland is a small sparsely populated village near Sowerby Bridge – very small. They are however very enterprising. The local folks set up a Millennium committee in 1999 and came up with this grand idea. The village dates back to the 1200’s and has always been farmland. The use of scarecrows is nothing new. What they capitalised on was their countryside ingenuity, traditional protection of crops and the huge Rushbearing Festival held every year in nearby Sowerby Bridge. Well done folks.

There are probably over 100 scarecrows, incredible artistry and craft and the roads literally are clogged with traffic one time a year. There is a prize for the best scarecrow and some are amazing. Definitely go for a visit!