Sept 11

Anne and Mike arrived, and we spent the first day exploring Huddersfield, and going to the National Coal Mining Museum.

National Coal Mining Museum near Huddersfield

The mine museum was great, and included an underground tour of the actual mine works. Very different than mine tours in Canada, (where H&S means that everything is so coccooned and protected, you really have no understanding of the conditions that miners worked in). Coal mining was especially brutal, with whole families working ‘the pits’ from about age 7. Those laws changed over the years from about 1850, and by 1950, conditions had improved somewhat: showers were provided at the mine! The last pit ponies were taken from the mines in 1994!

The weather continues spectacular, though mornings are cool. We set off from Aspley basin through a very low road tunnel (chimney off!), and then through the first narrow lock I have done since the spring. Mike was somewhat surprised at how narrow the approaches really are.

Aspley basin in Huddersfield. Note the sky!

We continued up 17 locks to moor in very shallow conditions, beside one of the only fully converted former textile mills. This one is now apartments and an hotel/spa. Quite impressive. There are many more that are derelict (see posts from late June along the Bridgewater canal). We will continue to approach Marsden, with a total of 42 locks before we go through the Standedge Tunnel on Monday. There will be a great deal more about that in the coming days.

Titanic Mill, now converted for residential and hotel/spa use

the first lock for Anne and Mike!

narrow overgrown lock approach on Huddersfield Narrow Canal

Huddersfield Narrow canal setting