Leeds New Line 3

Heaton Lodge - Farnley Junction (Leeds New Line)
1900 - 1965
London & North Western Railway Page: 3 of 6 [ <<Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next >> ]

Contributors: Paul Holroyd / K Evans / Norman Hirst / Paul B / Graeme Bickerdike / Graham Smith / Ralph Rawlinson / Graham Smith

The route Divided into a series of six maps following the route northwards from Heaton Lodge junction Huddersfield to Farnley junction Leeds (north is up)
	You are here: Map 3 Heckmondwike Walkley lane - Well street

Map 3 Heckmondwike (Walkley lane - Well street)
L.N.W.R Leeds New Line shown in red Lancashire & Yorkshire shown in blue (North is up)

48 ft cutting facing N-West (15-09-02)
Taken from a footpath just off Walkley lane. Down in the bottom there is Brunswick street bridge,
the first of 8 bridges through the middle of Heckmondwike.
The house to the left of the church steeple is shown close up next photo.

Note : Graham Smith (19-04-07)
The deep cutting next to Walkley Lane has had a lot of activity over the last weeks. It looks like some sort of landfill activity. I am going to contact Kirlees Council to find out what’s happening as there has been no planning application as far as I know and I thought they were going to make the whole of the old Spen Line onto a cycle path to join up with the onther one along Dewsbury Moor.

Horton street & Francis street Sunnyside facing N-West (15-09-02)
This smart looking house originally built on Church street, was moved in 1887.
It now stands here, on the corner of Horton street & Francis street Sunnyside. Francis street was cut into two sections when the railway came through, the right hand half is called Sunnyside, as the houses all face south.

The 80 houses Francis street & Powel street facing North (15-09-02)

The L.N.W.R re-housed a number of people displaced by the construction of the railway in Battyeford & Heckmondwike 126 houses were acquired by the L.N.W.R in various parts of Heckmondwike. 60% were occupied by what the L.N.W.R called the labouring classes. Plans were approved in 1894 to build 80 new houses at the top of Church street. The land was owned by Sir Francis Sharpe Powell Bart M.P. So the new streets were named Francis street & Powell street. known locally as the 80 houses. Total Cost - Houses - £20,267 10s. Streets - £1,786.
The L.N.W.R argued that they were loads better than the ones they replaced, probably true. The end of each row has this distinctive gable end. They're all built to the same design as the 12 houses on Littlemoor road in Battyeford. (see map 1)

Church st facing N-West (15-09-02)
Back to railways, this is the view from the track bed facing in Leeds direction. Directly in front is Church street bridge, in the distance is the south 50 yard tunnel. It looks like rubbish has been collected into piles ready for removal, I've heard this part of the route was going to become a cycle path.

50 yard tunnel (18-11-07) : Ralph Rawlinson
There is new residential building taking place within the cuttings at Heckmondwike,
but allowances appear to be in place for a footpath link at both ends of the housing estate.

South portal South 50 yard tunnel facing S-East (15-09-02)
Taken from the south 50 yard tunnel & facing back in the Huddersfield direction.
The bridges in the distance are Church street & Brunswick street, respectively.

Heckmondwike Spen station map 1908 (Re-named Heckmondwike Spen in 1924)

Heckmondwike Station - 1st October 1900 - 5th September 1953 Situated in cutting, between High street & Cemetery road. Foot & vehicle access from High street. The station buildings were of timber construction. Platforms were brick with stone flags. Due to the terrain, the goods yard (opened1st of November 1900) was situated further south between Walkley Lane & the L & Y Railway Ravensthorpe branch.
The line cut through a heavily populated area of the old town. This meant the railway had to buy up large amounts of property.
The railway company was obliged to re-house people within one mile of the houses they were demolishing.
This section of line between the Lancashire & Yorkshire line at Heckmondwike Spen goods yard & the oil terminal at Liversedge, remained open up until 1986 (one track only).

Heckmondwike Spen station (c1980) : Paul Holroyd Click here to see selection of Spen Valley railway tickets & handbills.
Heckmondwike Spen - the Huddersfield bound platform and the High Street bridge.

Heckmondwike Spen station (c1980) : Paul Holroyd website - www.ingrowrailwaycentre.co.uk
Heckmondwike Spen station, looking towards Liversedge. The old swimming baths are in the background.

Heckmondwike Spen station (2007) : Graham Smith
Same view in 2007.

Heckmondwike station North portal south 50 yd tunnel facing S-East (15-09-02)
Taken from the site of Heckmondwike station.
Up on the left there looks to be evidence of steps up on to High street (see next photo)
There were wooden station buildings on both sides of the tracks.

Heckmondwike Spen station staircase (1985) : K Evans
Heckmondwike Spen former staircase from platform to street level 1985.

Heckmondwike Spen station facing S-East (1986) : K Evans
Same direction, further back.
There was an island platform on the right. Up on High street, is the Robert Peel pub.

Heckmondwike Spen station facing S-East (1900s) : Paul B
Post Card of Heckmondwike Spen station.

Heckmondwike Spen station facing S-East (15-09-02)
Same view in 2002, rapidly changing in 2006/7. see next photo's.

Heckmondwike Spen station facing S-East (23-07-06) : Paul B
Just thought id send ya this picture, probably the last chance to see where heckyspen station was before the whole area becomes unrecognizable with houses.

Heckmondwike Spen station (08-10-06) : Graeme Bickerdike website - http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/
I passed through Heckmondwike on Sunday and discovered that the site of the Spen station has been levelled in preparation for a new housing development.

Heckmondwike Spen station (14-04-07) : Andrew Stopford
A shot of Heckmondwike Spen. Gone forever.

Heckmondwike Spen station facing S-East (2007) : Graham Smith

Heckmondwike Spen station platform facing west (1986) : K Evans
Still some evidence of a platform back in 1986. Cemetery road bridge visible on the right

Heckmondwike Spen station facing N-West (15-09-02)
Standing on the track bed facing toward Liversedge.
The bridges are (in order of appearance) - Cemetery road, Upper George street, Victoria street & King street.
The first two bridges span three track widths.

Heckmondwike Spen station facing N-West (2007) : Graham Smith
Same spot in 2007

Under King street facing S-East (15-09-02)
Taken from under King street bridge facing back toward the station. In front, Victoria street bridge,
(spanning two track widths). Behind are bridges Upper George street & Cemetery road, respectively.

Under King street facing N-West (15-09-02)
Taken from under King street bridge, facing opposite direction. In front is Jeremy lane, which looks to carry a water or sewer pipe underneath. Beyond is the north 50 yard tunnel under Bridge street.

50 yard tunnel facing N-West (15-09-02)
The North 50 yard tunnel with Cook lane beyond.

Cook Lane bridge facing s-east (22-07-06) : Norman Hirst
Facing back towards Heckmondwike.

Heckmondwike (18-11-07) : Ralph Rawlinson

Recent shots along the route, from Railway Ramblers member Ralph Rawlinson.
The leader considers that walking through the tunnels and bridges here is the ultimate railway rambling experience!

The Old Hall facing East (15-09-02)

At the other side of Cook lane is the Old Hall. It was originally a timber house dating from the 15th century. The original construction has been incorporated into this 17th century building, now a pub. Inside the old timber frame work has been exposed & there is an ornate 17th century plaster ceiling. Joseph Preistley, the discoverer of oxygen, lived here as a boy.
One wing of the building was sliced off when the railway came through. (just visible behind that tree).
The original plans were to demolish the building altogether, but the owners must have reached some sort of agreement with the L.N.W.R

Liversedge Station - 1st October 1900 - 5th October 1953

Liversedge Spen station map 1908 (Re-named Liversedge Spen in 1924)
Situated between Listing Lane & Firthcliffe Lane. Platforms & buildings of timber construction. Goods yard opened on 1st November 1900. Situated between Firthcliffe lane & Leeds road. Consisting of 7 sidings, warehouse & stables.
The site of one of the last parts of the line to stay open.

Leeds road bridge facing East (15-09-02)
Leeds road bridge, looking back towards Heckmondwike.
Bit boring compared to the bridges we've just seen, looks to have been reinforced or rebuilt at some time.

Liversedge Spen Charrington Hargreaves Oil Terminal

Heckmondwike B.R Spur Facing Ravensthorpe (c1987) : K Evans
In 1966 B.R made a new connection at Heckmondwike Spen Goods yard, see Leeds New Line page 2
between the L & Y Ravensthorpe branch & The Leeds New Line to Liversedge Spen.
This was to supply the Charrington Hargreaves oil terminal at the former Liversedge Spen Goods Yard.
This enabled the closure of the Heaton Lodge to Liversedge Spen Goods section of line.
The yard was sold to Charrington Hargreaves in 1967. The terminal was mothballed in 1986

Ravensthorpe Branch Charrington Hargreaves Oil Tankers (c1980)
The only photo I have of Oil tankers on their way to Charrington Hargreaves oil Terminal at Heckmondwike,
on the old L&Y Ravensthorpe branch. Taken from a moving Huddersfield to Leeds train.

Ravensthorpe Branch (31-05-04)
Same view of the Ravensthorpe branch in 2004, taken from under the bridge.
Railway, canal loading bay, cranes, atmosphere, all gone.

Charrington Hargreaves oil terminal facing east (1986) : K Evans
Leeds road bridge visible in the distance.
Liversedge goods yard was used as an oil terminal by Charrington Hargreaves. To supply the terminal
B.R made a connection from the L&Y Ravensthorpe branch to the Leeds New Line in 1966. see page 2

Charrington Hargreaves (2007) : Graham Smith
Standing under the cable post shown in the above photo. This was about 100 yards from where I used to live.
I bet the people in the house don't realise that the trains used to run through their front rooms! see horses mouth

Charrington Hargreaves oil terminal facing east (1986) : K Evans
A wider view from further back.
The yard was sold to Charrington Hargreaves in 1967. The terminal was mothballed in 1986.

Liversedge Spen (1985) : K Evans
Liversedge Spen looking towards Heckmondwike 1985.

Nostalgia : Graham Smith
Have a look at the tree in the centre of the photo. It covers a shallow drainage ditch right next to the track. Me and a fried used to hide under the tree when the train came to Charrington Hargreaves during the summer. The wheels went past not 4 feet from you and you whole body used to vibrate due to the engine noise. The train usually went about 10-15 mph max. One night it stopped right next to us and we had to stay hidden while the crew walked about and smoked for about half an hour.

I also remember once when the train crew were arguing as they had forgotten the key to the gate that closed off the sidings to the oil tanks. Eventually they reversed the loco and simply smashed through the gates at about 20mph. They were sitting around bent double for about 6 months after that. We used them as a make-shift see-saw as they formed a almost perfect 270° curve. The gates are in the centre of the photo.

The trains didn't vary much and were generally 47308, 47373 or 47277. The odd class 40 used to turn up, but the best was 45022 Lytham St Annes. The only 'namer' I remembered seeing in about 10 years (although half the trains used to arrive and leave in darkness. I used to love to be woken up by the noise of the train and the oil trucks clanging together. Some of the neighbours didn't though.

Liversedge Spen : Paul Holroyd website - www.ingrowrailwaycentre.co.uk
The end of the line, just beyond the Charrington Hargreaves oil depot at Liversedge Spen.

Liversedge Spen (1985) : Paul Holroyd
The end of the line:
The run-round loop for the Charrington Hargreaves oil depot at Liversedge Spen, circa 1985

Liversedge Spen (1985) : Paul Holroyd

Liversedge Spen (2007) : Graham Smith
Exact same spot in 2007.

Liversedge Spen (2007) : Graham Smith
Facing back towards Heckmondwike & standing on the exact spot of where the edge of the Leeds bound platform used to be.

Firthcliffe lane facing N-East (15-09-02)
Spanning Firthcliffe lane, this bridge looks a bit tastier, stone with a brick arch, a common design for this route.
To the right was Liversedge goods yard & to the left was Liversedge station, just a footpath now.
(see Liversedge map 1908).

Listing lane bridge facing west (1985) : K Evans
Liversedge Spen looking towards Cleckheaton 1985

Listing lane N-East (15-09-02)
The only remaining iron deck bridge I've seen is this one crossing Listing lane.
Liversedge station was situated just up to the right of the bridge with entrances to each platform from Listing lane.
The Toby Jug pub is on the right.

Well street footpath facing North (15-09-02)
Taken from well street on the edge of a new housing estate, this little bridge provides footpath access to nowhere in particular.
The brickwork & pointing still looking sharp, even after 100 years.

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Maps & photos © Paul Holroyd / K Evans / Norman Hirst / Paul B / Graeme Bickerdike /
Graham Smith / Ralph Rawlinson / Graham Smith / Lost Railways / Reproduction prohibited.