The warm sunny weather continues. I was out for a cycle ride to investigate the reservoir overflow works at Belmont. Although work was still going on after 2 years it was possible to get along the road over the embankment on my bike. My next stop was Ramsbottom where I sat in the town square to eat my lunch before continuing through Rawtenstall, Feniscowles then home.

the new overflow spillway at Belmont

the road has been closed for over 2 years but its now possible to get through on a bike

a sunny lunch stop in Ramsbottom town centre

the route (44.3miles)

Today was a very special day in the history of British Cycling. At the World Road Race Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, Mark Cavendish won to become the World Champion. His win was due to the strongest British Team ever. They controlled the race from the outset before delivering Mark to the line for the sprint finish. The last time we approached this was in 1965 when Tommy Simpson became first Briton to win, outsprinting Germany's Rudi Altig at San Sebastián in Spain.

Mark Cavendish wins the World Road Race Championships (photo from the BBC)

Tommy Simpson wins the
World Championships in 1965

I was looking forward to hearing the details on the BBC News. I tuned in to Radio 4 at 6pm and was horrified to hear the lead sports story was about a Rugby team defeat as Scotland had been beaten. It was almost 15minutes before Mark’s win was mentioned and even then they got it wrong saying it was the first British win in over 50 years. The sports writer is not only incompetent but can’t do a simple calculation. Tommy Simpson won 46 years ago. I watched the 10pm News on the TV who consigned the incredible British win to the end of the sports bulletin. Why on earth can’t the BBC see that sport is much more that football, rugby, cricket and tennis? These are sports populated by overpaid underachievers.

British cyclists have been doing incredibly well and should be supported by the media and news reports. Many thanks to Mark Cavendish, Steve Cummings, Chris Froome, Jeremy Hunt, David Millar, Ian Stannard, Geraint Thomas and Bradley Wiggins for making my day.

Jo Caulfield - official publicity photo

Chorley Little Theatre awaits the start of the show

- - - -

Passing the Blue Lagoon reservoir at Belmont this morning I noticed the rapid level change compared with a couple of weeks ago when it was full. Last week and this it has been dropping rapidly.

the reservoir on the 8 Sep 2011,
just over 2 weeks ago

the reservoir this morning

This morning I judged the photography section of 14th St Chad’s Town Lane Craft, Produce and Flower Show. It was in the new St Chad’s Parish Centre building behind the school. The photo section was very good, as were the rest of the exhibits. It was encouraging to see a lot of entries from children.

the new St Chad's Parish Centre

Cycling through Farington I came across this Centurion Tank by the roundabout at the A582/B5253 junction. Unfortunately the display board says nothing about the tank, when it was made, when it came here etc.

outside at gated Hotel on the climb up Standedge was this horse sculpture made out of horseshoes

large mill on the descent into Marsden

passing under the M62 between
Huddersfield and Halifax

the train arrives at Halifax

the route to Halifax via Huddersfield

the high point is Standedge at around 387m (1279ft)

As part of the Heritage Weekend the Wainhouse Tower on the outskirts of Halifax is open for the day. I drove to Halifax making sure I was early for the 10am opening time as I wanted to be sure of getting in. As it turned out there were only 3 of us at 10am but lots more people arrived shortly afterwards. It cost £2.10 to get in, which is far too little.
It is 84m (275ft) and the tallest structure in Calderdale and the tallest folly in the world. The main shaft is octagonal in shape with a square base and 403 stairs leading to the first of two viewing platforms.

the incredible Wainhouse Tower
403 steps to the top

the Wainhouse Tower and the steep
cobbles of Wakefield Gate

some of the 403 steps

The original concept came from John Edward Wainhouse who owned the Washer Lane Dyeworks, which he had inherited from his uncle in 1854. At the time, Halifax Corporation was urgently trying to implement measures to control the amount of smoke in the atmosphere. As the Dyeworks was contributing to the pollution problem, Wainhouse decided that it would be a good idea to build a chimney, which would be connected to the Dyeworks by an underground flue. Wainhouse had a good appreciation of architecture, and insisted that the chimney be an object of beauty.

the view towards Sowerby Bridge
 

The original architect was Isaac Booth. Work commenced in 1871, using locally quarried stone. Following a dispute with Wainhouse, Isaac Booth left the project and Richard Dugdale was appointed to take his place. Dugdale was responsible for the upper section of the Tower with its balcony and elaborate lantern dome. It was completed on the 9th September 1875 at a cost of £15,000.
John Edward Wainhouse died in July 1883 and the Tower was offered for sale by auction. The Tower had been in the ownership of several people when in 1918, the Halifax Courier organised a public subscription in order for Halifax Corporation to purchase the structure. On May 30 1919, the deed of ownership passed to the Council where it has remained ever since.

Because it has never been used for its original purpose, the Tower is sometimes referred to as Wainhouse’s Folly. However, during the Second World War it was used as an observation post.

as part of the National heritage weekend John Harrison of Chorley Historical and Archaeological Society gave a fascinating talk about Chorley Cemetery.

the Charnock Richard Scarecrow Weekend

Last Thu 1 Sep 2011 I was out on a bike ride via Kirkby Lonsdale and came across an information plaque on the building where the Bronte sisters were educated at Cowan Bridge. I thought it would be interesting to have a look at the house where they were born. The house is in the village of Thornton on the outskirts of Bradford so I thought a cycle ride via Halifax would be enjoyable. The forecast was for rain first thing then clearing my mid morning. I delayed my start, hoping the rain would stop. It didn’t but I decided to set off when it subsided a bit. The light rain got heavier and climbing out of Darwen I had to put on my waterproof top. Over the Grane Road the water was cascading off the moors and flooding half of the road. Through Bacup there is the long climb up the A681, which was OK, but the long descent to Todmorden wasn’t due to heavy rain and lots of water on the road. I was lucky that there wasn’t much traffic.

another old factory being demolished between Todmorden and Hebden Bridge
 

Leaving Todmorden I was looking forward to stopping at the ‘Hot Stuff’ snack caravan but was disappointed when it wasn’t there. I pressed on to Hebden Bridge and stopped at PK’s snack bar in the lay-by. I had an excellent bacon butty. I rode on Halifax with tne magnificent view of the Wainhouse Tower. It was built in 1871-75 and is 84m (275ft) high. I headed north on the A629 then right on to the A644 and B6145 to Thornton. The house I was looking for was easy to find due to a plaque on the wall. It seems odd that Haworth is crawling with visitors because of the Bronte connection but their birthplace is deserted. A few more miles to the east I reached Bradford. The rain was torrential again as I searched out the Railway Station to catch the train to Blackburn then cycled home.

Wainhouse Tower, Halifax.

wide view of Market Street, Thornton.

no 74 Market Street, the birthplace of some of the Bronte family. The date stone over the door says 1802

In this house were born the following members of the bronte Family.
Charlotte 1816
Patrick Branwell 1817
Emily Jane 1818
Anne 1820

the route

Earlier in the week today was forecast to have no wind. Because of that I decided I’d go for a longish cycle ride. The start of the day was windless but later the wind got up and for many miles I’d have a head wind. It was busy through Preston as it was rush hour but things quietened down on the ride to Lancaster. Then I took the A683 to Kirkby Lonsdale where I stopped on Devil’s Bridge for a drink and bite to eat.

Devil's Bridge

Devil's Bridge and the Snack Van.

Clergy Daughter's School, Cowan bridge.

plan of the route