Pictures of Sowerby Bridge

About Sowerby Bridge

Sowerby Bridge is a small picturesque town lying 3 miles west of Halifax. It is surrounded by the dramatic scenery of the South Pennines, with the town's gentle scenery being enhanced by the River Calder and the River Ryburn on which the town stands. Part of its scenic attraction is the spectacle of boats parading the waters and the lovely bird life inhabiting the river banks and peaceful water-meadows.

The town is an important for the Rochdale and trans Pennine Canal, for here it meets with the Calder and Hebble Navigation in the heart of the town at picturesque Sowerby Bridge Wharf. At this wharf visitors can see what is the deepest inland lock in Britain - this is number 3 lock, it is next to the Tual tunnel and plunges to an amazing depth of 30 feet!

This is a warmly welcoming town with art galleries, antique and craft shops, and those shops that provide for every day needs. In the cheerful streets there are pleasant pubs and inns. There are also evocative memories of when the town was in the midst of a great textile area.

In this beautiful old town visitors can witness buildings from all major periods, many of them (as with most places) are being converted to provide comfortable domestic accommodation. However, there still remains much to see and enjoy in this pleasant place which historically started off as a small settlement in medieval times. It flourished as various industries arrived throughout the ages, but industries have declined and now Sowerby Bridge acts as a tourist destination largely dependant upon its blessings of wonderful scenery and river waters.