Category Archives: Uncategorized

Come and have a go on our little blue boat on the Huddersfield Canal in Uppermill – you will even get a chance to steer it along the canal! We are a charity running short boat trips in Uppermill (also in Marsden) asking only for donations. With more volunteers we can run the boat for more days. You need to be 16 or over. No previous experience is required as we will provide any necessary training. You can even go on to become a qualified skipper. Just turn up on the day or if you can let us know by email that you are coming so we know how many we need to cater for by contacting boating@huddersfieldcanal.org.uk. NOTE Please note this is strictly subject to there being sufficient water in our section of the canal to operate safely.

The Huddersfield Narrow Canal is currently closed at Lock 11W following damage to the supporting embankment resulting from the heavy rain on 1st January 2025. The problem originated with the culvert near Wagon Road Bridge, which erupted into the canal, sending a surge of water downstream, bypassing Lock 12w before overtopping Lock 11w. It looks as if the bank failure may have been compounded by the River Tame eroding the base of the embankment, causing it to slip away from the lock.

The Canal Society is grateful to Duncan Roberts for allowing us to publish these two pictures taken soon after the bank failed.  Duncan retains copyright of both pictures.

Canal & River Trust is committed to carrying out repairs to the embankment during the coming months but is faced with the challenge of gaining access through tje woodland on the opposite river bank.

Lock 11W in happier times during the Pennine Explorer cruise of June 2022. Photo by Alan Stopher

In view if the inability to traverse the Narrow Canal fully during this lengthy stoppage we understand that Canal & River Trust is considering promoting up and back visits from the east side including Standedge Tunnel passage both ways whne the tunnel reopens before Easter.

On the east side there is still a towpath closure in place between Lock 4E at Longroyd Bridge and Stoney Battery. Though CRT has reported that negotiations with Network Rail regarding working under Longroyd Railway Viaduct continue and before work can commence. Sadly it is unlikely to mean reopening of this important section of towpath until Spring 2025. This closure has no impact on boat movements.

Elsewhere on the canal there are a number of winter maintenance works ongoing.

We will be running trips every day in the Easter school holidays – so grab the kids and come for a ride on our boat. Lots of things to do at Standedge with the café, boat trips into the tunnel (they need booking with Canal & River Trust) & play areas. The music centre has lots of events including an Easter Egg hunt on Easter Sunday and Dixon’s Ice Cream available every day.

Enjoy the holidays and hopefully the sunshine too!

Come aboard our little blue boat on Good Friday through to Easter Monday 2025 and join the pirates for a trip on the canal!

Good news – we are back running this weekend after a battery re-fit over the winter. Join us for a boat ride at either the lock by Marsden train station or at the Standedge tunnel end near the Watersedge café. We’ll be running every weekend, and school holidays, from now on, from 11am to 4pm each day.

Dr Bob Gough  14th Feb 1956 to 4th July 2024

It is with great sadness we report the death of our friend and colleague,  Bob Gough.

Over the 33 or so years he was employed by the Huddersfield Canal Society and its subsiduaries, Bob became the public face of the Society. Working from the office in Mossley Road, Ashton-under-Lyne and later the Transhipment Warehouse, Dobcross, he was the ever willing and knowledgeable representative of Huddersfield Canal Society.

He wrote his own story in our final printed Pennine Link no. 212, the last before his retirement in February 2022 at the link here. pl212.pdf (huddersfieldcanal.com)

After his well-earned break from paid employment he continued to help the Society in a voluntary capacity whenever publishing tasks arose.   No longer can we ‘just ask Bob’ if we need to know anything about the Society, Narrow Canal and their histories.

Relatives and friends joined together at Chadderton Crematorium on 24th July to celebrate Bob’s life and considerable achievements.  We wish his widow, Lyubimka and her family well as they come to terms with Bob’s sudden passing.

Alan Stopher, Chair, Huddersfield Canal Society