200 years of Standedge Tunnel

Construction of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal was sanctioned by an Act of Parliament in 1794 and was finally finished after 16 years of hard labour, completed under the supervision of some of the finest engineers of the Industrial Revolution including Benjamin Outram, John Rooth and latterly, Thomas Telford who was the consultant overseeing the final section.

The first boat went through the tunnel on December 10th, 1810, before the tunnel was officially opened on April 4th 1811. When it finally opened to navigation in 1811, it became the third transpennine waterway after the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and Rochdale Canal.

Unique place

James Dean, visitor services manager for Standedge Tunnel & Visitor Centre, said: “It’s amazing to think that the tunnel and canal are celebrating their 200th anniversary. Standedge is a unique place and this is a very proud moment for everyone who’s played a part in the tunnel’s life, because after 200 years it’s still one of the major landmarks of the waterways.

“This event is a good opportunity for people to come and relive some of our industrial past and have some fun at the same time. The waterways mean lots of things to many people so it’s great that visitors will gain a better understanding of the tunnel and canals importance. Our specialist guides will be on hand to thrill visitors with tales of the people who built the tunnel, how they built it and how they lived. Standedge is a massive part of our national heritage so it’s vital we continue to protect it for future generations to enjoy.”

Legged boats

As folklore goes, the opening of the tunnel on April 4, 1811 was marked with dignitaries passing through the tunnel on ‘legged’ boats, with an expectant crowd at Diggle to see boats enter at the Diggle portal to voyage through to Tunnel End at Marsden with a live band playing ‘Rule Britannia’. The canal was officially closed in 1944 but in 1948, a group of Inland Waterways Association (IWA) members, including Robert Aickman, took a boat along the abandoned canal as an early campaign for its restoration.

Horseboating

As part of the three day celebrations, the Horseboating Society will be re-enacting the opening landmark day. To keep the costs down, the original tunnel was built without a towpath and while the horses crossed over the hill, the boat crew had to ‘leg’ the boat through the tunnel. This was done either by lying on boards across the boat and walking along the walls or by lying on the cabin to walk against the roof of the tunnel which could take up to four hours.

Commenting on their three day legging demonstration, Sue Day, chairperson for the Horseboating Society, said: “We are excited by the prospect of legging the Standedge Tunnel on its 200th anniversary and we hope that members of the public will join the guided walks along the boat horse route over the tunnel top to follow the progress of the boats being legged through the tunnel below.” Enquiries about the walks can be made to Alan Schofield at al@harropcourt.freeserve.co.uk.

Planned activities for the celebrations include:

• The Horseboating Society will be ‘legging’ the tunnel:

Saturday 2 April: legging one boat, Diggle to Marsden. 10:30-11:30am the horse drawn boat will be coming up through Diggle Locks. Then at 1:00pm cheer the boat into the tunnel and join a four-mile guided walk over the tunnel to Marsden to meet the boat being legged through the tunnel.
Sunday 3 April: legging three boats, Marsden to Diggle. From 1.00pm cheer three horseboats into the tunnel at Marsden and join a 4 mile guided walk over the tunnel from Marsden to Diggle to meet the boats.
Monday 4 April: legging three boats, Diggle to Marsden. From 10.00am cheer three horseboats into the tunnel at Diggle and join a four mile guided walk over the tunnel from Diggle to Marsden to meet the boats.

• Guided walks on three days over the tunnel top following the route of the canal boat horses.
  • A wildlife and sensory garden made from recycled lock gates is being officially opened along with an all new children’s playground area
  • Bicentenary mosaic art project continuing throughout the weekend following on from project work in local schools (in conjunction with Artswork Creative Communities).
  • Arts and craft fair from local artists in the visitor centre.

Last updated: 21/03/2011