Huddersfield Broad Canal

The Huddersfield Broad Canal, also known locally as the Sir John Ramsden Canal, is a charming and historically rich waterway in West Yorkshire, running for about 3.75 miles from Huddersfield to its junction with the Calder and Hebble Navigation at Cooper Bridge. Built between 1774 and 1776, it was designed to serve the industrial needs of Huddersfield, enabling the transport of wool, coal, and other goods vital to the local economy. It’s a broad canal, meaning it can accommodate wider boats—up to 14 feet wide—than the more common narrowboats on other UK canals.

Locks and Engineering

The canal has 9 locks, which raise the water level by 32 meters (105 feet) between Huddersfield and its terminus at the Calder and Hebble Navigation. These locks are broad, like the canal itself, allowing for the passage of wider vessels. The locks are an impressive feature of the canal’s infrastructure, combining historical engineering with modern canal boating experiences.

Connections

At its upper end, the Huddersfield Broad Canal begins in the heart of Huddersfield, where it once linked directly to the bustling Huddersfield Narrow Canal (via the Aspley Basin), offering a route westward through the Pennines. The canal’s lower end connects to the River Calder and the wider Calder and Hebble Navigation at Cooper Bridge, providing boaters access to a much larger network of waterways, including routes toward WakefieldSowerby Bridge, and further on to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The canal’s position in this network made it a key artery during the Industrial Revolution, facilitating trade and industry in the region.

Scenic and Industrial Features

The Huddersfield Broad Canal offers a mix of urban and rural scenery. As it passes through Huddersfield, boaters can see remnants of the town’s industrial past, with old warehouses and mills, some of which have been repurposed into residential buildings or offices. As you move further out of town, the canal becomes more peaceful, with greenery lining the banks, providing a haven for local wildlife, including ducks, swans, and kingfishers.

One of the interesting features of the canal is Cooper Bridge Lock at the lower end, where the canal meets the River Calder. It’s a notable point of transition between the canal and river navigation, and here, the surrounding countryside opens up, contrasting sharply with the more urban feel of the Huddersfield end. Another point of interest is the Aspley Basin, where the Huddersfield Broad and Narrow canals meet, offering a glimpse into the interconnected nature of England’s canal network.

Despite being a short canal, the Huddersfield Broad offers an immersive journey through a blend of history, industry, and natural beauty, making it a hidden gem in the Yorkshire waterways.

Canal Specification

Max Boat Length57 ft 6 in (17.53 m)
Max Boat Width14 ft 2 in (4.32 m)
Number of Locks9
Length3.75 miles (6 km)

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If you are looking for a canal/river route planner, we recommend Canal Plan, we use it to plan our routes, and then once we have a plan our maps are useful to find what else there is on the way


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