boxfrenzy
30-03-2010, 09:55 PM
Here's the sort of report your mom always tells me she likes. You probably don't even need your seat belt on with this gentle and over-processed trip through the Shibden Valley, a hidden part of the West Yorkshire countryside between Bradford and Halifax. This was a very chilled little solo project that took a couple of visits to take some shots of the ruined buildings that lie forgotten in the fields and the copses and the farm tracks.
First up is this wonderful place. I took about 30 pictures of it as it was great.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4472998843_f7e7c2f5c7.jpg
Like many of the places in the report it is abandoned, roofless and ruined.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4473774836_c9a6a81eab.jpg
The side by side dwellings are Lower Shibden Hall Farm and Cottage and were last occupied in the 1950's.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4473775320_e290132195.jpg
Wonderful carvings out of warm Yorkshire sandstone can be seen on this fireplace. Although no fires have burned here for over half a century, soot still clings on to to the brickwork.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2752/4473774364_79eb1a61ba.jpg
A last view of the farm from the over grown drove road. It was easy to imagine the horse and carts struggling along the rutted surface.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4472999521_0de907c7fa.jpg
Nearby are the remains of Water Scout, originally built in 1618, and later added to in 1701. Little remains here; a few walls and fallen beams.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4472996971_045be1853e.jpg
In the yard was a well. I spent a few minutes trying to find it but couldn't. Water Scout was last inhabited in the 1930's.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4472996351_d0c8b305dd.jpg
At the head of the valley is a fine ruin, and one I have visited before. This is Upper Shibden Hall, and was built in the 1830's. I love ruined manors and halls me.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4473778058_e01542bd26.jpg
It was one of many of the residences owned by the Stocks family, including Lower Shibden Hall, and Scout Hall. (Remember the name Scout Hall - you'll be seeing it later)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2798/4473778560_4b4bf05d66.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2803/4473779014_ffe1563907.jpg
The Stocks family moved here in the 1800's and the house was one of many of the large country residences they owned. The tower was a later addition to the property and was built at the same time as the now ruined gatehouse.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2749/4473780252_8b5f1540d3.jpg
They were heavily involved in coal mining and later Brewing. The Shibden Head Brewery merged with Samuel Webster's in 1932. Michael Stocks was the first elected Mayor of Halifax, although he turned down the role. He died here in 1872. Here is a view inside the tower.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4473779834_d518c2c654.jpg
The tower was built at the same time as this now ruined gatehouse.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4473780616_58a916f7b5.jpg
Very little remains in here. Fireplaces, walls and fallen beams are left behind.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/4473777538_7097891468.jpg
Further down the valley is Shibden Head sewage works.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4473783204_4df9cffe80.jpg
Once a house, it was later taken over by Yorkshire Water. Today it is a ruin.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4473781932_a7b9f28474.jpg
Again it was easy to imagine the horse and carts pulling up to here, like some Sunday evening BBC2 costume drama.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2741/4473782632_1a9ab74db7.jpg
First up is this wonderful place. I took about 30 pictures of it as it was great.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4472998843_f7e7c2f5c7.jpg
Like many of the places in the report it is abandoned, roofless and ruined.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4473774836_c9a6a81eab.jpg
The side by side dwellings are Lower Shibden Hall Farm and Cottage and were last occupied in the 1950's.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4473775320_e290132195.jpg
Wonderful carvings out of warm Yorkshire sandstone can be seen on this fireplace. Although no fires have burned here for over half a century, soot still clings on to to the brickwork.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2752/4473774364_79eb1a61ba.jpg
A last view of the farm from the over grown drove road. It was easy to imagine the horse and carts struggling along the rutted surface.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4472999521_0de907c7fa.jpg
Nearby are the remains of Water Scout, originally built in 1618, and later added to in 1701. Little remains here; a few walls and fallen beams.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4472996971_045be1853e.jpg
In the yard was a well. I spent a few minutes trying to find it but couldn't. Water Scout was last inhabited in the 1930's.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4472996351_d0c8b305dd.jpg
At the head of the valley is a fine ruin, and one I have visited before. This is Upper Shibden Hall, and was built in the 1830's. I love ruined manors and halls me.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4473778058_e01542bd26.jpg
It was one of many of the residences owned by the Stocks family, including Lower Shibden Hall, and Scout Hall. (Remember the name Scout Hall - you'll be seeing it later)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2798/4473778560_4b4bf05d66.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2803/4473779014_ffe1563907.jpg
The Stocks family moved here in the 1800's and the house was one of many of the large country residences they owned. The tower was a later addition to the property and was built at the same time as the now ruined gatehouse.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2749/4473780252_8b5f1540d3.jpg
They were heavily involved in coal mining and later Brewing. The Shibden Head Brewery merged with Samuel Webster's in 1932. Michael Stocks was the first elected Mayor of Halifax, although he turned down the role. He died here in 1872. Here is a view inside the tower.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4473779834_d518c2c654.jpg
The tower was built at the same time as this now ruined gatehouse.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4473780616_58a916f7b5.jpg
Very little remains in here. Fireplaces, walls and fallen beams are left behind.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/4473777538_7097891468.jpg
Further down the valley is Shibden Head sewage works.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4473783204_4df9cffe80.jpg
Once a house, it was later taken over by Yorkshire Water. Today it is a ruin.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4473781932_a7b9f28474.jpg
Again it was easy to imagine the horse and carts pulling up to here, like some Sunday evening BBC2 costume drama.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2741/4473782632_1a9ab74db7.jpg