Standedge tunnel on Huddersfield Canal

[antoeknee]

Standedge Tunnel is the longest (more than 3 miles), highest and deepest canal tunnel in Britain and passes from one side of the Pennines to the other.

The tunnel was completed by the great Thomas Telford

Tunnel1 by tblake2007, on Flickr

These gates control access and depict 'legging'. When the barges were horse drawn there was no space in the tunnel for horses so the technique was to lay on barge and walk on the tunnel roof.

tunnel2 by tblake2007, on Flickr

Here is the barge Mr Bojangles waiting to go through to Yorkshire.

tunnel3 by tblake2007, on Flickr

[Montana 5]

Re: Standedge tunnel on Huddersfield Canal

Well captured and interesting info.

Doug.

[tesarver]

Re: Standedge tunnel on Huddersfield Canal



Tom

[pelliott1954]

Re: Standedge tunnel on Huddersfield Canal

Interesting shots and information. Legging a laden barge through a 3 mile tunnel must have been hard work!!!

Where on earth were the Health and Safety Brigade!!!.

Regards Paul

[antoeknee]

Re: Standedge tunnel on Huddersfield Canal

Just in case you're wondering what the 'Diggle Flight' is referred to on the blue plaque, its a set of locks that bring the canal up from the valley floor at a place called Uppermill to the tunnel entrance.

More info on tunnel here

http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/huddersfield/standedge.htm

[antoeknee]

Re: Standedge tunnel on Huddersfield Canal

Lunch time today a barge was just setting out on journey through tunnel

Tunnel1 by tblake2007, on Flickr
2 guys on high vis wear are equivalent of harbour pilots and take barges and users through tunnel on a journey that takes about 2 hours

Tunnel2 by tblake2007, on Flickr
This image gives good idea of size of tunnel.