Yorkshire is a land steeped in history and is home to some of Britain’s most iconic waterways. Among them are the River Calder and the Calder and Hebble navigation, which flow through the historic village of Horbury Bridge. The village takes its name from the crossing over these waterways.
Horbury is perhaps best known as the birthplace of the hymn “Onward, Christian Soldiers”, written by Sabine Baring-Gould, who served as curate of the village. Baring-Gould wasn’t just a clergyman; he was also a novelist, antiquarian, folk song collector and eclectic scholar. It was in Horbury Bridge that he met Grace Taylor, the daughter of a mill hand, who was fourteen at the time. Over the next few years, the two fell in love. Sabine’s vicar, John Sharp, arranged for Grace to live with relatives in York for two years to learn middle-class manners.
Sabine and Grace were married in 1868 in Wakefield and their marriage lasted until Grace’s death 48 years later. The couple had 15 children, all but one of whom survived to adulthood. When Sabine buried his wife in 1916, he had her tombstone inscribed with the Latin motto Dimidium Animae Meae, meaning “Half my Soul”.
The transformation of the Calder and Hebble navigation
Today, the Calder and Hebble navigation is a peaceful and scenic waterway. However, in Baring-Gould’s time, it was a thriving artery and part of the major inland transport system that ran throughout the West Riding and upon which vast amounts of goods were transported. This 21-mile waterway, from Wakefield to Sowerby Bridge – originally an extension of the Aire and Calder navigation – is a testament to early navigational ingenuity.
It was surveyed by engineers John Smeaton and James Brindley before construction began in 1758, making the river Calder navigable above Wakefield and reaching Sowerby Bridge by 1770. The addition of Sir John Ramsden’s Canal in 1776, later renamed the Huddersfield Broad, expanded access to Huddersfield. The Rochdale Canal’s opening in 1804 finally linked Yorkshire with Manchester.
Over the years, the navigation saw several enhancements, including the opening of a branch to Halifax in 1828, featuring 14 locks and rising 110 feet to Bailey Hall. Although much of the branch was abandoned in 1942, the section from Salterhebble to Exley remains active. Approximately half of the navigation follows the River Calder’s course, with man-made cuts and locks strategically placed to bypass weirs.
Life on the canal: the boaters community
Let’s journey back to a time when Britain’s tranquil waterways were bustling highways of commerce. Behind the canals’ beauty lay the stories of the hardworking people who lived and worked on these vessels, known as boaters. or bargees. Life on the canal was hard. Many families, often from farming backgrounds, toiled tirelessly to ensure that cargo reached its destination. Despite the long hours and dangerous conditions, it was a family affair. Children grew up on the boats, learning the ropes from a young age, though formal education was scarce.
Regardless of the hardships, boating families formed a tight-knit community, decorating their boats with care and adding touches of beauty to their mobile homes. Like modern-day truckers, boaters worked with determination, knowing the faster they worked, the more they earned. However, leisure time was a luxury they couldn’t afford and, despite their hard work, boaters earned a reputation as drinkers, criminals, and violent individuals.
The struggles of boating families
Amid the challenges, there were champions for change, such as George Smith, known as the “children’s friend”. He fought tirelessly for the rights of working children, leading to laws that protected them and provided education. This allowed boat children to occasionally attend school while their parents awaited orders, though this was admittedly irregular due to their itinerant lifestyle. While the boats were moored, children were expected to attend mainstream schools but sometimes experienced bullying from local children.
Health was always an issue for boating families. Non-boaters were suspicious of them and often blamed them for the spread of disease. Braunston, Northamptonshire, was known as the boatman’s spiritual home because many chose this place for baptisms and burials. Sadly, in the 1830s a cholera outbreak devastated the community, likely carried along the canal from London. There were 70 cases in a population of 1400, claiming 19 lives. However, the crisis brought boaters and land people together in a shared effort to control the outbreak. Although the fear that canal boats would spread infectious diseases proved exaggerated, it emphasised the challenges faced by the boating community.
The angel of the waterways
From the 1930s until 1965, a woman known as Sister Mary Ward became known as “the angel of the waterways”. Though never formally trained as a nurse, Sister Mary dealt with the health issues and emergencies that afflicted the boaters. She received a British Empire Medal in 1951 for her selfless work. She once said, “You can’t take me away from boat people. There isn’t one of them wouldn’t die for me, or one I wouldn’t die for.”
Despite the hard work and hardship, there was a strong sense of camaraderie among the boating families. They shared stories and traditions that were passed down through generations. The waterways were not just a place of work; they were also home, with families’ lives intimately intertwined with the rhythm of the water.
The decline of life on the canal
As the sun set, canals came alive with the sounds of laughter and conversation, providing moments of joy amidst the hardships of canal life. However, by the mid-20th century, the canals were in decline. Families moved away from the waterways, leaving behind their way of life. Yet, the legacy of the boating families lives on, woven into the fabric of Yorkshire’s industrial past. Their stories remind us of the resilience and spirit of those who called the canal home.
Wakefield’s waterway heritage
In Wakefield, where the Calder was first made navigable in 1702, the economic impact of water traffic was substantial. The construction of the new cut via Fall Ing in 1761 allowed vessels to navigate beyond Wakefield weir, transforming the area into a bustling hub of commercial activity. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the banks of the Calder above the weir were lined with warehouses as vessels like sloops, keels, billy boys, and west country barges filled the wharves.
Shallow river reaches initially limited vessels to carrying up to 25 tonnes of cargo to Wakefield. However, later improvements, including river scourings and lock enlargements, increased cargo capacities to 150 tonnes, with some vessels eventually able to carry up to 500 tonnes. Vessels sailed as far as Knottingley, where they were horse-drawn to Wakefield and beyond. Wakefield’s trade in coal, corn, and textiles thrived, establishing the city a key market for raw wool and corn. Various other goods, including stone, timber, dye-stuff, flax, limestone, iron, general merchandise and passengers, were transported along these waterways. Boatbuilding also became an important industry in Wakefield, with major yards located along the canal.
Wakefield’s vibrant waterways
Notable boat builders like John Collinson and James Craven contributed to the industry’s growth, with the latter’s schooner, the ‘James’, playing a role in opening the Stanley Ferry aqueduct. Boatbuilding continued to flourish, with firms like Edward and Samuel Womack, and George Cradock’s rope-making business adding to the local economy.
Investment in ship-owning grew, exemplified by James Craven’s ownership of vessels like the ‘Cupid’ and the ‘Caroline’. Water transport also provided employment opportunities, with boatmen residing at Thornes Wharf and Lower Kirkgate. Apprenticeships under boatmasters were established, detailing responsibilities and terms for parents and masters alike. Records of voyages undertaken by vessels like the ‘Mystery’ highlight the vibrancy and economic importance of Wakefield’s water traffic during the mid-19th century and beyond.
The history of Wakefield’s waterways is a testament to the city’s rich industrial heritage and the enduring legacy of the boating families who once called the canals home.
